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Original poster

For those of us being hammered by bugs

184 replies

stripetop · 28/10/2021 20:59

Hello

I wondered if we could have a general chat, handhold, tips thread for those of us being hammered by bugs just now.

I have two children, I also have fairly severe health anxiety focused on them.

We have had colds, chest infections, tonscilitis. Conjunctivitis, norovirus, poisoning, and that's just October.

They have a good diet. Im trying to continue groups etc. I've ordered sambucol on a friend recommended basis.

Any other tips.

OP posts:
Opalfeet · 01/11/2021 20:09

@stripetop sorry but late here. We had croup for the first time and it takes about six hours for the steroids to take proper effect and then it gets a damn sight less scary. How is she now?

Opalfeet · 01/11/2021 20:10

My little one had breathing episodes every 45 mins that came and went. As soon as the steroids took effect he was better. I'd say if she's still struggling with breathing now another shot if steroids is needed

Opalfeet · 01/11/2021 20:11

I'd say from what you describe she's okay. My son got croup at ten months and just had the cough, toddler actually couldn't breathe. Only toddler had steroids

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Original poster
stripetop · 01/11/2021 20:12

She's asleep on me sitting up. I tried her in cot but she was so distressed and she's such a good wee sleeper normally.

Dh us out dealing with a cow but when he comes in I will make my bed safe and try her there.

Toddler still upHmm

How are you all?

OP posts:
Original poster
stripetop · 01/11/2021 20:13

No she's breathing ok, coughing reduced from every five minutes to maybe every 30

OP posts:
DressingGown87 · 01/11/2021 20:20

Awww @stripetop I hope your little one gets better soon, and you get some rest. Glad you have some steroids, hope they work quickly. And then you catch a break.

Anyone **ANY suggestions for this horrible night time cough. DD is teething, as soon as she wakes up, it’s cough cough cough. She is so ratty from lack of sleep. She has hospital tests for stomach ongoing issues, which means she can wean properly on Friday and I’m scared they are going to be cancelled again because she is ill! I’ve tired a humidifier, calpol plug in but made things seem worse. She’s 12months

Original poster
stripetop · 01/11/2021 20:22

@DressingGown87

Just the ones you have probably tried

Sitting up, tipping cot
Wet towel on heater
Honey if allowed?
Sipping water

OP posts:
whitehorsesdonotlie · 01/11/2021 21:28

Although I do blame one mum for norovirus, because she brought two to playgroup after them being up all night sick...then posted on Facebook after playgroup saying so. Nice morning snooze whilst kids at playgroup after terrible night for mummy. GAH

Oh, @stripetop, I would shoot all parents who did this. Wtf was she thinking? I hope you told her just what you thought, and told nursery!

KL92xxxx · 01/11/2021 21:28

@stripetop

She's asleep on me sitting up. I tried her in cot but she was so distressed and she's such a good wee sleeper normally.

Dh us out dealing with a cow but when he comes in I will make my bed safe and try her there.

Toddler still upHmm

How are you all?

When we went to a&e with croup (sudden onset of breathing difficulty at 11pm) we ended up being in the waiting room from 11:30pm to 8am the next morning, they gave him one steroid shot at 12am and by the time we left at 8am he was absolutely fine apart from being a bit tired, it was a miracle worker.

We went to the docs this afternoon and I was sort of hoping they said croup so it was a quick(er) fix but we’ve been told chest infection and 7 days antibiotics. I think it’ll be at least one more sleepless night for us tonight.

whitehorsesdonotlie · 01/11/2021 21:31

@MrsSkylerWhite - great attitude!

Opalfeet · 01/11/2021 22:18

You would know about it I'd she was breathing funny and even that seems worse than it is. The out of hours gp told me when I phoned with the younger child if he was just coughing I did not need to go to a and e and get steroids. Though I appreciate being quite far from hospital it's probably worrying.

Ancientdecs · 01/11/2021 22:37

Sorry if this has already been suggested but a liquid antihistamine like piriton can sometimes help a cough. For a child under 6 the dose Is 2.5mls. You could safely enough give it to a baby of around a year old as my dc was prescribed it from 6 months.
The other thing I do religiously is melt dollops of vicks in a big bowl of boiling water and leave them in safe places in dc rooms. No other version of this (plug in etc) seems to work as well.
Medications for persistent coughs/asthma you can ask GPs about would be monteleukast or similar. That has really helped one of my dcs but not every child gets on well with it.

Blue inhaler with a spacer also good to have in the house.

needtogetfit21 · 01/11/2021 23:17

@DressingGown87

Awww *@stripetop* I hope your little one gets better soon, and you get some rest. Glad you have some steroids, hope they work quickly. And then you catch a break.

Anyone **ANY suggestions for this horrible night time cough. DD is teething, as soon as she wakes up, it’s cough cough cough. She is so ratty from lack of sleep. She has hospital tests for stomach ongoing issues, which means she can wean properly on Friday and I’m scared they are going to be cancelled again because she is ill! I’ve tired a humidifier, calpol plug in but made things seem worse. She’s 12months

Vicks on soles of feet , chest and back
Original poster
stripetop · 07/11/2021 21:17

Hello

So that's another week. I'm still not great, baby still not great, toddler seems ok but hasn't been anywhere. One week of sambucol into both.

Croup is not shifting, if it's that, scan at hospital tomorrow morning.

How's everyone else holding up?

I found some u used antibiotics from an infection post section which was not and were same as three weeks ago ones for chest so have started those again. Did another lateral flow and Pcr, both negative.

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 07/11/2021 21:27

DS’s cold is lingering and his cough is awful - really wet and sometimes makes him puke. GP gave him antibiotics but it’s made no difference.

I’ve become moderately obsessive about not catching it from him since his bugs sparked off my last bout of very severe asthma. I’m washing my hands so much, they’re all cracked like peak Covid times, I’m mainlining First Defence and various other things that stop colds, and I no longer allow him to snot right on my face!

And we’re all on Sambucol, but only two days in.

Opalfeet · 07/11/2021 21:31

@stripetop sorry to hear about the croup. Sounds horrid, good luck for the hospital. My two seem okay after being ill again with a cold and I've had back to back colds for about two months now and have awful cough. Feel like shit.

lollipoprainbow · 08/11/2021 07:52

Dd still has her cough but hasn't coughed at night for three nights so I'm keeping fingers crossed. I wonder why the Gp didn't give her anti biotics as I've read lots of children have been prescribed them. I just get told to wait it out Hmm

Chocolatetrifle · 08/11/2021 07:55

Sorry to hear about the continued croup @stripetop. Hope the scan goes ok, keep us updated.

Mine have been on Sambucol a week now. Both have the sniffles again but hopefully not developing any further. Waiting to see if Sambucol is going to make a difference, fingers crossed

DressingGown87 · 08/11/2021 09:22

Morning

@stripetop sorry to hear your little one is still no better. Hope the hospital goes well tomorrow, and you finally start getting a break.

My DD seemed to perk up end of last week, cough started to ease. But back to it today, with runny nose, cranky, restless night and the cough is getting worse! It was a nice 48hours whilst it lasted.

@lollipoprainbow DD had antibiotics but did have ear infections, with the cough. But the general advice on the cough / cold was “ride it out” as frustrating as that is.

MrsMiddleMother · 08/11/2021 13:32

Sorry to hear everyone in the same boat but also grateful to find this thread! Ds is 2.5, started nursery beginning of September and since then has just been constantly ill! In just the last 2 weeks he's had hand foot and mouth and now conjuctivitus besides a near constant cold/cough. Baby 2 will be arriving in 6 weeks and I'm exhausted while feeling so fucking guilty everytime he's not very well.

nopun · 15/11/2021 10:52

Found this thread and sympathise with all of you. It's so shit and bloody exhausting. My 9 year old has been fine for the most part (but probably did give us all Covid over half term).

But my 20-month old has been sick nonstop since the summer, after a fair share of bugs in the spring. (He's been so bad that I'm terrified he's got some underlying condition that's not letting him recover - it's almost reassuring to hear you've all been so badly...) I swear my older one was never this bad.

The toddler has now not really touched any food for a week. GP diagnosed ear infection and prescribed antibiotics, but it hasn't really made much of a difference. The fever is down & ears don't seem to bother him anymore. but he's still got signs of a bad sinus infection - saw snotty gloops of blood in the snot sucker/ nose frieda this morning. Has anyone got any tips for how to handle sinus infections in kids who can't blow their noses or handle hot steam?

nopun · 15/11/2021 10:56

@stripetop so sorry you've had it so bad. How is your little one recovering from croup & RSV? I heard from a doctor friend that they are bracing themselves for a killer RSV season, especially in little kids. Not that this is reassuring, but it sounds as though it's affecting loads of people.

Ancientdecs · 15/11/2021 20:13

Sinus infections can be hard to shake and require stronger antibiotics sometimes - sorry for the bad news. Saline spray up the nose will help but he'll cry.
Run a piping hot bath and put some vicks or olbas in it and let him play in the bathroom floor for a bit with you while it gets good and steamy.

Original poster
stripetop · 15/11/2021 20:18

Evening

Gosh @nopun sorry no that's one I've yet to encounter. Although my mum swears by local honey for her, not sure how old little one is.

I am two weeks into sambucol trial, probably make it to weekend with both in winter dose. So that will be two bottles three weeks. I am attributing cost as a bottle of wine a week, if I were able to drink same.

Toddler and baby were OK Wednesday for first time, I sent toddler back Thursday, runny nose and slight cough since but hasn't come to anymore yet.

Other than that I'm low and have spoken to doctor about anti anxiety medication for me.

Hope everyone else ok, have appreciated this help a great deal.

OP posts:
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 15/11/2021 21:01

glad to hear kids are on the mend, sorry you are still not quite there.

After 5.5 weeks of hell I was finally prescribed antibiotics because whatever this started as turned into a chest infection.
Let's just say the productive cough could easily described as 50 shades of green🥴

On Saturday, so 4 days into AB, I was finally able to take a deep breath without coughing. It was marvellous.
Wednesday mark 7 weeks from the start and I'm still not back to normal, but I'm happy with progress.

Best of luck everyone, hope you'll be ok soon