Help! Afraid my son will get sick.

[babiesX2]

I took TONS of antibacterial hand cleaner and EVERYONE washed their hands after every ride, anytime anyone did anything. I was very OCD about this, but we have gone 2 times and not sick (yet knock on wood)

I also carry lysol wipes and would wipe down the dinner table. I know I am crazy over this. But I don't want him sick in Disney!!

Our twins were born at 30 weeks and spent extended lengths of time on vent support (one for 2 weeks and the other for 7 weeks). Needless to say, they both have respiratory issues now. We carry Lysol wipes with us everywhere and clean stuff they will come in contact with also. Employees question us and sometimes wipe what we just sanitized with one of their dirty rags so we have to Lysol it again. We have had good luck with them considering everything. They did get RSV, and one ended up in the hospital. We also carry Wet Ones antibacterial wipes, and keep our hands clean, too.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

One thing I can suggest, and please take this to heart...take him to a chiropractor. I cannot stress to you how this will change your life. Our son has been seeing a chiropractor for health maintenance since he was 9 days old, and is the exact same age as your son, and JUST (this past weekend) had his first illness EVER. This is after traipsing him everywhere, including Florida twice and going out almost everyday to places with hoards of children such as Gymboree, playgroups, etc. And I will admit to being lax about handwashing.
I don't think antibiotics are the answer to the ear infections, as research shows most clear up on their own and antibiotics are not helpful in the majority of cases. The chiropractor can REALLY help you with that, though. I had a double tympanostomy as a child (tubes in both ears) and it didn't do a thing for me. I continued to get infections throughout childhood. Others have good results with them, but why on earth put your child through surgery if something else will work, kwim? I'd try the chiro first.
Oh, another thing...try eliminating dairy from his diet. Best thing we ever did for our health as a family!

 

[babiesX2]

I know.

One thing I can suggest, and please take this to heart...take him to a chiropractor. I cannot stress to you how this will change your life.

You have my interest. Do you go to a pediatric chiro or does a chiro see all ages? What does the chiro do for your child -- as in massages, adjustments, etc.? I'm very curious and wondering if this could help one of our twins. Lydia has a feeding tube, and doesn't do much orally (she has an oral aversion resulting from all the negative NICU stimuli). We go to speech, occupational, and physical therapy for 1 1/2 hrs. 3 days a week. The only thing we see results with is PT. It may be a far stretch, but we are desperate and will try anything. We held off on their 1st birthday party until this weekend because she will now accept food into her mouth (she spits it out), but atleast she takes it in! We wanted her to atleast try a bite of her birthday cake. She had eye surgery 2 weeks ago, and after that is when she began accepting food into her mouth. Thanks.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I know.



You have my interest. Do you go to a pediatric chiro or does a chiro see all ages? What does the chiro do for your child -- as in massages, adjustments, etc.? I'm very curious and wondering if this could help one of our twins. Lydia has a feeding tube, and doesn't do much orally (she has an oral aversion resulting from all the negative NICU stimuli). We go to speech, occupational, and physical therapy for 1 1/2 hrs. 3 days a week. The only thing we see results with is PT. It may be a far stretch, but we are desperate and will try anything. We held off on their 1st birthday party until this weekend because she will now accept food into her mouth (she spits it out), but atleast she takes it in! We wanted her to atleast try a bite of her birthday cake. She had eye surgery 2 weeks ago, and after that is when she began accepting food into her mouth. Thanks.

Hi there, sorry it took me a few days to reply...fell behind on my e-mail notices!
Our son sees the same chiropractor my husband and I have seen for many years. YES, chiropractic can help with a variety of problems! Even children with autism, epilepsy, and other serious medical conditions have been helped by chiropractic care! I would highly recommend it to any parent, but most especially for children with special needs! In your case, I am not sure whether it would be more beneficial to search for a pediatric chiropractor, or one who has experience working with people with sensory issues (which may be harder to find, but I do know a few of them are well-educated regarding autism, and many children with autism have similar difficulties). I know that people have reported great improvements in breastfeeding and other "intake" problems following a few adjustments, so it's definitely worth a shot! Children with traumatic birth or neonatal experiences (my son was born via urgent c-section) are most in need of treatment, IMO.
As for what they actually "do" to the children...all chiropractors approach it differently, but ours does a thermal scan of the back (done quickly with a little wand they roll down your back, first visit) and then very gently palpates the spine to see if he can feel anything amiss. He does a quick adjustment with an activator, which literally looks like the old-fashioned rubber doorstops. The pressure it exerts is about equal to flicking your finger against your arm (yes, I tested it myself! ). It does not hurt them at all, and the only time my son has ever cried while being adjusted is when he didn't want to sit still for it--he wanted to run up and down the hallway screaming and peeking in doors at the other patients, instead! If you need any more information, feel free to PM me! Good luck!

 

[StrikersMom]

Well, we saw the ENT Friday and are now, on his advice, scheduled to get Riley ear tubes on April 27. He said he recommended it over prolonged antibiotic use as we've pretty much been doing that already.

Riley does have trapped fluid in his ear, so this will also hopefully improve his hearing, which they don't even test with fluid present.

The ENT said he's had 5 or 6 infections since his first, which was on 12/8. Here's to hoping we're on the road to improvement!

 

[gris gris]

Just wanted to say good luck with the tubes! My DD got her first ear infection at 4 months - 12 days before her first Disney trip! She had 8 more in 7 months. At 11 months she had tubes put in her ears and the difference was amazing! Her tubes have since fallen out and now that she's older (3 1/2) when she has ear pain she just takes children's motrin. The surgery isn't bad at all, the worst part is seeing the little one laying there on a bed waiting for her to wake up.

 

[belle&beast]

Well, we saw the ENT Friday and are now, on his advice, scheduled to get Riley ear tubes on April 27. He said he recommended it over prolonged antibiotic use as we've pretty much been doing that already.

Riley does have trapped fluid in his ear, so this will also hopefully improve his hearing, which they don't even test with fluid present.

The ENT said he's had 5 or 6 infections since his first, which was on 12/8. Here's to hoping we're on the road to improvement!

I am so glad you are going to be able to get some help for Riley! I know how much better we felt when we had a treatment plan. I am a speech therapist as well as a mommy, so you will probably see a dramatic increase in his communication as well. If you are flying to Disney, he will not experience the pressure change in the cabin with tubes, so that can make the flight better, too! Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[PrincessNED]

Glad your son is getting the tubes in - Our DD had hers put in on her 2nd birthday ( big time presents that year and spoiled by the nurses) and all I can say is wow!! what a difference they made.

The surgery is really short - from the time we handed her off to the surgery nurse til they called us back into the recovery room was about 20 minutes and DD was already coming to when we walked in.

Her tubes fell out even before her first followup at 3 months ( Cdn medicine) but no recurrances except one minor ear infection in three years.

 

[nin8jc]

In addition, prolonged repeated exposure to antibotics as a small child can make the child allergic. And since the antibotic usually given is penicillian, and since penicillian variants are the only thing that will kill some bacteria - you don't want a penicillian allergic child - it may kill them (an ear infection probably won't). (We need to have my daughter tested, she is now six and hasn't had penicillian since about ten months when she had a rash - my nephew is definately allergic through repeated exposure to penicillan.)

My DS(6) is going through the same thing of the 4 antibiotic groups he is allergic to 3! As of right now he can only take zithromax. He has been plagued w/ ear infections since birth at 9 months he was put on propalatic antibiotics and still got ear infections over the summer! He then received his first set of tubes which he out grew, continued to get ear infections, on to second set of tubes, had some success, just a couple of ear infections then finally bill of health from the ENT followed one month later by yet another ear infection!!
Finally have discussed w/ Pedi getting tested for antibiotics let me tell you how difficult it was just finding an alergist to do the testing and I live in the Boston area where we have some of the best hospitals in the world!

Now we are going to DW in 9 days and all 3 of my kids have had strep throat in the past 2 wks which my DS(6) started out w/ was put on zithromax it then turned into an ear infection and had to be put on Cipro! And now my DS(6) is home today w/ the stomach bug! UGH! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!!

 

[ENSOCK]

I too vote for an ent. Both of my ds's were prone to ear infections. My youngest 6 is on his 3rd set of tubes. He was born with an ear infection. He is flying for the first time to WDW in June and I worry about his ears in the plane. Good Luck!

 

[Tink1999]

I don't want to be the monkey wrench, but if you are that paranoid about the baby being sick, or getting sick on the trip, maybe you should ask yourself "is it really necessary to bring a 16month old to Disney?"

He's not going to remember the trip. Why not wait until he's older and not getting sick so much? You and him will enjoy the trip much better then.

Tink

 

[nin8jc]

I too vote for an ent. Both of my ds's were prone to ear infections. My youngest 6 is on his 3rd set of tubes. He was born with an ear infection. He is flying for the first time to WDW in June and I worry about his ears in the plane. Good Luck!

I recommend bubblegum or some other type of chewy candy. Also just bring items to distract him on the flight, my DS loves to bring his leapster, coloring books, puzzle books. Good luck.