DC sick again. Will this ever end?

[AtWitsEnd21]

DS started preschool in September. The sickness has been unrelenting. We were looking forward to a nice weekend of activities together and tonight his temperature is up again. I can’t quite believe it. He just finished an antibiotic for a throat infection during the week and we are back on the Calpol again. This will be the 10th illness since September and I honestly can’t face into another weekend of no sleep and anxiety. When will this end?

I don't know if that's normal as mine didn't really get ill beyond a bit of a cough/cold, is it maybe worth talking to the gp? Maybe something to boost their immune system?

I’ve spoken to GP and they’ve said unfortunately typical for some children and he’s on both a vitamin supplement and a probiotic. He eats well and has a good diet.

Oh yup all three of mine were like this at that age.
V and D bugs mainly!
Such a difficult time.
It gets better !

Thank you, I just want to cry. I’m so tired DH has been away all week and I was really looking forward to a break which will definitely not happen now that DS is probably sick

Sorry OP, that's so rubbish. Every awful phase does pass though eventually, not very helpful for this weekend! 😩 Do you let him have screen time? Slobby weekend of blankets and snacks and movies...?

In my experience it helps if you minimise the Calpol to let their body do it's thing and run a temperature to fight it off. Obviously if they're in pain I'll give it, but you don't need to give it just because they have a temperature.

DS was so looking forward to a trip to the forest and taking part in our local St Patrick’s day parade (we are in Ireland) so he will be so disappointed if he’s too ill to take part. He doesn’t usually enjoy staying on the couch- I wish he did!! He sleeps terribly when he is sick so this just means another week of no sleep for either of us and then when his younger DB inevitably gets whatever it is the cycle of no sleep will continue for another couple of days. Younger DS is prone to bronchiolitis and often ends up in emergency GP/ A&E from picking up older DSs coughs and colds so I have that to look forward to too.

Sympathies. I have 3 and they have been ill endlessly since Sept, vom bugs,,tonsilltus. Weve just moved house and had 3 weeks well then tues baby got brocillitus, then 9 year old chickenpox, 4 year old high temp, stomach ache... so another weekend in. I find not being able to go anywhere and being hemmed in a home so hard and frustrating when its so frequent. My friend has had a similar pattern since sept with her 3 and 1 year old. I will salute you a solidarity cheers with my cup of tea tomorrow morn when I get up to yet another weekend in the house ☕️ hopefully everyone gets well soon

Oh god sleep deprivation is the worst 😩 I'm really sorry OP. I know it probably doesn't help but he won't remember what he's missed, and there will be next year for St Patrick's etc, hopefully he won't be too bad and you can dose him up on calpol and get out to the park (a bit without other people around I mean!) and get some fresh air. A drowsy antihistamine might also be worth a try at bedtime..? I might get shot for saying that but I always think sleep is so beneficial for healing that it's worth it.

Gosh you’ve really been through it too!! My sympathies!! I also find being stuck at home so so hard. I really hope this improves soon, poor DS it must be so awful being sick all the time. And I’m exhausted, a shell of my former self at this stage!

We’ve actually been prescribed pirotin the last few times he’s been unwell but when I was at A&E recently with younger DS the doctor said don’t give it ever unless it’s an allergy. The GP said it dries up mucus and as you said helps them sleep and recover. So now I don’t know what to do on that front! I would very rarely use it but it was good to have just in case.

If the GP said it was fine then I honestly wouldn't worry about giving it. It helps the symptoms and the GP saw your dc and knows them. The A&E dr is just giving general advice. Really hope he isn't too bad and you both get some sleep.

It was croup in the end. Luckily I had steroids in the cabinet from a previous illness so I was able to keep him comfortable at home.

I understand and sympathise I had a terrible time with my youngest it was unrelenting and can really take its toll on the parent aswell

Mine were sick from November to May every year from starting nursery at 9 months til 3. Then it stopped, so 3 winters. They are secondary and primary school age and very rarely miss any school due to illness. I’d say maybe 5 days a year.

I hope things will get better soon! Mine was constantly I’ll from Oct-Mar the first winter at nursery which was a truly awful time for all of us but it got a lot better over summer and the 2nd winter wasn’t quite as bad. Trying to do a mentally demanding job on almost no sleep was really difficult and stressful.

I'm in Ireland and our ds started preschool in September as well and I've been the one sick every week since , my gp said it's been the worst winter for sickness in a long time. I'm hoping that the 2 week easter holidays breaks the cycle a small bit and gives us a break

I found it was 6 long months before we turned a corner with this. So painful. I feel for you

We actually quarantined at home before Christmas for a week to avoid being sick over the few days at Christmas and it worked so well so on the basis I cannot wait for Easter hols. Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell, I hope for both of us things improve soon!

We are into month seven (he’s been sick since literally the first week of September) so I’m really hoping we turn a corner soon. DS used to sleep through and because he was up sick a lot during the night in periods of illness he is now habitually waking 2/3 times a night so even when he’s well we don’t get a nights sleep. Exhausting for everyone!

It's hard, keep on going

DS brought home hand foot and mouth in his first fortnight. Passed it onto me and boy did I feel rotten. Then the following month D&V and then topped off before the end of term with chickenpox.

He's now been in childcare for two years and is very robust. I had to pick him up early a fortnight ago but apart from that I can't remember the last time he was really ill.

I’m sorry to hear you had such a hard time. We also had a miserable time with HFM, he was in hospital with it! I wish I could just keep him at home and keep him well, he must be so sick of being sick at this stage