For those of us being hammered by bugs

[stripetop]

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.

@stripetop sorry to hear you're low. I totally get it though, it's all so draining. I hope you have a sympathetic doctor who will have some helpful solutions. Also try to be kind to yourself.

I was thinking the other day that we've been living in emergency mode in my house since at least the summer. It starts with a call from the childminder that the toddler is poorly, then having to cancel work & deal with feverish, unwell child, completely messed up nights, frustrating trips to the doctor, late night work that can't be put off, etc etc - then toddler starts to get better but everyone else (but mostly me) gets the bug. Finally we seem to be over it, toddler goes back to childminder, and a day or two later we get the call... Sound familiar?

@Ancientdecs thanks, I was afraid of that. Have tried the steamy bathroom the last few evenings, let's hope it will help. Otherwise will have to get some stronger antibiotics soon.

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba yes!! This was, is me. I can't remember the exact dates but started end of September, and because kids so unwell and my covid tests were negative I focused on kids. I had chest infection, pleurisy and dislocated ribs from coughing. I've done two courses and steroids and am alot better albeit sore and tired.

@stripetop

dislocated rib?!😱 bloody hell!
poor you.
That's the thing with having to look after younger kids, you just can't ever rest when you need it the most.

I didn't do any school runs for weeks 2-4 because luckily DH & older kids could do it.
(weeks 2 & 3 I had a 3-4 hour nap every day and was barely out of bed).
But then he was away and it was very taxing.

I really hope you can take it as easy as possible and rest. Hope you recover soon, gentle hugs x

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba 2 left 1 right. Dh is a farmer and was calving. I felt super unwell all weekend but nobody could help. I remember crying to my mother in law but she's very frail and just said it will get better. The Monday dh came in for breakfast and I collapsed. The doctor came and tried to admit me but I wouldn't leave kids. So I went to bed for that day, then the next afternoon. Three weeks ago now and still coughing.

We really struggle as it is.

I'm doing much better but my mental health is shot. I just want my kids healthy. Hope you Are ok.

@stripetop that's sounds truly awful, no wonder you're anxious. I hope you feel better soon.

@nopun very familiar. It took every ounce of me to send her back and sure enough here we go again. Yet others seem untouched, which makes me doubt or blame myself, and so it continues.

@stripetop

please, I beg you, don't blame yourself!!!!

Jesus stripe that's shocking, you poor thing. Does your husband have any relatives that could give him a hand with the farm for a few days or a week? It sounds like you really need to rest?

None of this is your fault, @stripetop. You need rest and to let your body heal. Anxiety sounds like a very normal response to massive physical & mental pressure of the kind you've been under.

@stripetop hope you are ok? How are you feeling now?

For all adults run down i really Recommend taking at least 2000 vitamin c (think it's mg?) with zinc and when suffering with something then take 1000 every few hours till bowel tolerance. It will really help

I have invested in a juicer,use lots of carrots,celery,pineapple,kale,apples put in a container which came with the juicer in the fridge ,children love it .I buy a Riverford box where they sell huge bags of carrots also sell organic chicken carcasses to make loads of clear soup with veg etc.Stop all dairy products .Pure orange juice diluted with boiling water,honey and lemon the best honey you can buy we buy local again with hot water breaks up mucous I realise this is not cheap to do but a lot of supplements are very expensive which you need not buy.Worth a try to try to knock these awful bugs on the head.

How are things? @stripetop. How are you feeling now?

I'm on week 3 of Sambucol now and on bottle 2.
Giving a smaller rose to dS2 who seems to hate the taste. Both of mine have sniffles but am hopeful it is helping the bugs not to develop into anything more and I'm hoping it is boosting their immunity in the meantime.

Dose that should say.

@Chocolatetrifle

How are things? *@stripetop*. How are you feeling now?

I'm on week 3 of Sambucol now and on bottle 2.
Giving a smaller rose to dS2 who seems to hate the taste. Both of mine have sniffles but am hopeful it is helping the bugs not to develop into anything more and I'm hoping it is boosting their immunity in the meantime.

Fingers crossed! I would take a quick note of things as it's easy to think something is or isn't working but having it on paper can make it a bit clearer

Evening,

Yeah so so. Toddler snotty, I think I'm at same stage as you @Chocolatetrifle on the trial. That's a good idea @needtogetfit21 re notes. I have marked on Calendar bugs since September and I think we have had one clear day.

@Ancientdecs no nobody can help me, bit of a sore point. Toddler meant to start nursery next year but what's the chances of her managing that the way we are going.

Everyone is in my bed, spent months getting oldest sleeping wonderfully in her room and now she's back. Baby also there albeit starts night in her own bed.

How are you all doing?

@stripetop

Evening,

Yeah so so. Toddler snotty, I think I'm at same stage as you @Chocolatetrifle on the trial. That's a good idea @needtogetfit21 re notes. I have marked on Calendar bugs since September and I think we have had one clear day.

@Ancientdecs no nobody can help me, bit of a sore point. Toddler meant to start nursery next year but what's the chances of her managing that the way we are going.

Everyone is in my bed, spent months getting oldest sleeping wonderfully in her room and now she's back. Baby also there albeit starts night in her own bed.

How are you all doing?

It's really hard. My two are 4.5 and 2.5. Thy have underlying conditions and I sleep trained them at 5 months and 8 months and was so strict on routine and sleeping independently. But it all went pot last year when my eldest had a long bout of a flare up. So we ended up lying beside him to settle him. We tried sleep training and kept failing - we don't have the willpower or capacity to spend 1 hour + on bedtime every night. So we are back to lying beside him till asleep.

Then 2 months ago my youngest had a flare up and I'm sitting in his room till asleep. Started training and they both caught Covid so back to square 1!

It's so hard. I do bedtime myself as dh works long hours. It sometimes takes me an hour by the time I've sat in dc2 room then moved to dc1 room. It's soul destroying at the end of a long exhausting day.

But it won't last forever.

In your case OP you seem to be in a vicious cycle of illness. Hopefllly once the sambucol does its magic the cycle will break. Sending lots of love

Ah @stripetop you will get there, it's been a terrible few months for you. One day at a time. Mine are just turned 4 and you youngest is two in a few weeks. I have slept in bed with oldest since he was 1 and dS2 does go in his cot but is up about 3 times a night if not more at the moment so I'm with you on the disturbed sleep front as well as the illness front. I really hope you have turned a corner now. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

@needtogetfit21, it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job too. I think we need to remember sometimes that by getting our little ones through the illnesses and hard times then we are nearer to a better time. I agree about the vicious cycle of illness. We are catching all of the bugs that are stronger due to a lack of mixing last year. I got tonsillitis off mine and my husband got hand foot and mouth of them too. It's like before covid this probably would not have happened, our immune systems are taking a hit because we get run down.I've started taking a high strength bit c supplement now too because I was do fed up of it!

My oldest complained of earache again before, hopefully it will not be to anything.

Hope things start improving soon @stripetop. Take care now xx

Yeah some good advice form you both, I've certainly taken a battering and need to deal with that.

I'm not that worried about toddler sleep wise, I secretly quite like it. It's certainly easier having her next to me than worrying she's coughing or unwell alone. She loves her bedroom and I think will go back when needed. Baby is trickier. I did sleep train eldest and it worked very well. Baby I've done some and she is usually ok until some time from 4ish. I'm then broken and just bring her in because I can't face everyone awake.

Dh is so busy all the time. He tends to leave 6am, tries to come back breakfast or lunch for half hour, then pop in for half hour before bed. Then he's out till late. Been a rough year on the farm. Tennant hill ground as well so he contracts for others.

@stripetop

Yeah some good advice form you both, I've certainly taken a battering and need to deal with that.

I'm not that worried about toddler sleep wise, I secretly quite like it. It's certainly easier having her next to me than worrying she's coughing or unwell alone. She loves her bedroom and I think will go back when needed. Baby is trickier. I did sleep train eldest and it worked very well. Baby I've done some and she is usually ok until some time from 4ish. I'm then broken and just bring her in because I can't face everyone awake.

Dh is so busy all the time. He tends to leave 6am, tries to come back breakfast or lunch for half hour, then pop in for half hour before bed. Then he's out till late. Been a rough year on the farm. Tennant hill ground as well so he contracts for others.

How are you doing OP?

@needtogetfit21 I'm not great, how are you? And others?

Kids seem to be sitting at cold level, three weeks on sambucol. Which is not ideal but more manageable.

I've started anxiety medication and beta blockers, have fainted twice which doctor thinks is unrelated but most recent split my head open. I've also noticed today that my section scar has opened up, baby is eleven months!! So I'm thinking that's not good, phoned practice nurse, will see me Friday. Receptionist was a bit like put cream on it but I'm sort of leaning towards get it checked....what do people think?

Have friends with young children and say its relentless this year...i take loads of vits etc but dont make much difference....only thing that works for me is acupuncture...i go every 2 weeks...lucky its very cheap here...i always get ' 4 gates points'....its immune system boost...shifts any colds or virus etc in a day...!!

@stripetop oh my goodness love are you ok, that sounds absolutely terrible for you. I've had two sections, seems strange for it yo have split 11 months on.

Could you call your old midwife for advice? Or 111?

My DS1 has had a cough this week 3 weeks on with the Sambucol...

Hope you are ok, sending you lots of support.

@Chocolatetrifle i just noticed its on a Black Friday deal at 4.49 and if you get four another five percent off. Might get me to new year.

@stripetop, thanks for the tip. I'll get some more. I'm going to keep using it throughout the winter, even if it helps a bit, to me it's worth it.

How are you feeling now?