How can I get past this?

Question

We almost lost our son two times this summer. He is going to be 2 october 1. The first time he had a severe allergic reaction to ammoxicillan (after 6 days of being on it) , and his airways started to swell up from the inside out, we didnt realize it until he started swelling on the outside because he was taking a nap and we did not realize he was in distress. He was in the hospital for a week... The second time he had cought solmanilla poisoning, we still don't know from what. His fever spiked so fast that it caused him to have a febrile siezure, but they said the high fever may very well have been what saved his life, because it killed off alot of the solmanilla. .but now I absolutly panic when any of my kids get sick... Is there any way to get past the paranoia? I can not sleep when they are sick anymore... I am so afraid of somthing happening to my babies... Please help!

Answer 1

God Bless YOU!! You will get past this, but it will take a while.
My son also spiked a VERY high fever when he was 1 1/2 and had 2 febrile seizures, one lasting over 5 minutes, in the car! I was freaked for months, and to this day (he's almost 4) I check him a couple times a night for fevers. My son is also allergic to Penicillin, so we can relate to that too, just not in the same way you can. You just have to give it time to pass from your thoughts so much. You have a good reason to watch your children so closely. They are your babies! If there were only more mommies like you out there. :) Just give it time, and don't feel you are overreacting, because you aren't. Sleep with them, when they are sick. It'll make you feel better, and them too, knowing you are right there. Our kids are precious to us, and they can slip away VERY easily. It's hard to believe or understand but they would be in a better place if they did...
For now, we take care of them and love them, and you are doing a find job.
Your kids are very lucky to have a mom like you.

Answer 2

I really feel for you. I would be a wreck if this was me.

This is a complex medical problem and apart fom being unqualified I don't know enough about the circumstances.

However I believe in the healing power of nature. I am a vegetarian and so far my kids (ages 3 and 7) are too. They have never had any major health problems. The worst was my daughter had a lot of ear problems when she was a baby which she appears to have grown out of.

I think we have gotten so far from nature we have really messed ourselves up. Most of the diseases that plague our world were almost unknown two hundred years ago.

One explanation I have heard for allergies is infants being fed grains too early. But probably once they have them they have them for life.

Basically I think diet is the most important thing, and it will be trial and error to start. See if you can isolate what is causing each of the problems.

First I would concentrate on fruit and vegetables, and at least half of them raw. As far as possible buy organic. Try cutting out grains altogether. Gluten, which is found in grain and seed products, is a common allergen. You should also cut out meat, eggs and dairy. This will virtually eliminate cholesterol and saturated fat. And avoid refined, canned and processed foods. As well, have them drink only distilled water or juices. No tap water.

Give them a kids' multi-vitamin once a day, to make sure they are getting all the micronutrients they need. Omega-3 fatty acids are also advisable. The best vegetarian source is flaxseed meal, which is a grain unfortunately. The best non-vegetarian source is fish oil. There are also non-dairy infant formulas supplemented with DHA, which is even better.

See what happens. If things improve, great. Then you could try being less strict, one thing at a time. Try tap water again. Use less organic. Bring back limited grains. And so on.

Also drugs would be a last resort for me anyway. Like you said it was the fever that probably saved your child. Fever is essential to optimum functioning of the immune system. At higher temperatures enzymatic activity increases to allow rapid mopping up of foreign invaders. Parents who give their children fever suppressing drugs are just fighting the symptoms and preventing the immune system from responding.

Salmonella and other bacteria are more common in animal foods. Vegetables however are often fertilized with animal manures, so they can also be contaminated. That's why fresh fruit and vegetable are best, which you can wash before using.

Beyond that you can do some web searches. There are some great vegetarian sites. There are also sites for various allergies, mostly support groups started by parents like yourself. One way to get past the paranoiia is to share your experience with others who have been though it.

Answer 3

I don't blame you. Those are two very traumatic events to have to go through. I think in time you will regain you equilibrium. Do you have a baby monitor in their bedroom? That way, you could at least hear if one of your kids was in distress.

One thing I would do though: Tell EVERY doctor who sees your son what happened with the ammoxicillan. It is a derivative of penicillin so your son should not be given either drug.

Be on the alert for food allergies as well and take one day at a time.

Answer 4

I am very sorry! I know what you are feeling about the allergy to medications. My daughter and I have both had near death experiences from it. We are both allergic to most antibiotics. She only has one she can take. I would advise you to write the drug name down and put it on the outside of his diaper bag and inside your purse and your husband's wallet. Write it down for grandparents and sitters!When he recieves new antibiotics be sure to watch him because I never had med. allergies until I had surgeries and then I developed them fast!My daughter was at her dad's once and he took her to get a shot for poison ivy. She was allergic to the shot!It is scary and you never know when it will come. So it isn't bad to be on your toes. Just don't stress about it in between illnesses. It won't help a bit and you will get your health down and not be able to be a functional mom and wife. Give it all to God and let Him take care of it. It is the only way to have peace about these type of problems.My son is allergic to bees,wasps,asps(!), etc. so I have had to watch out for years about allergies.It seems the insects know he is allergic and he has been stung more than all of his cousins and our family together!You might ask your dr. about getting an Epi pen(ins. may cover it-mine was $130) to have on hand in case he has another allergic reaction.I have one and feel much better knowing it is here. I have to drive 20 miles to an ER so it is great to know I can make it. I have taught my grandkids how to use it also in case I ever pass out from my airways swelling closed.You need to talk to your son about how he feels so he can recognize the symptoms and let you know before he gets bad. He will feel itchy,hot, heart racing,and I could see my arms swelling up and I got a deep red all over after a little while.If his lips are white or tinged blue he is not getting much if any air.You have to be calm so you will not scare him but just stay aware and let anyone who watches him know about it. He may never have another reaction but it is best to stay safe and prepared. Best wishes and I pray that he or any of your children ever experience that again.

Answer 5

first you have to look at this as "good job momma" for not loosing your son those two times!! really. could happen to any of us.and being in a heightened state of security about your babies (no matter the ages) is not a bad thing. hard on you at times but i know what your going through. my daughter had seizures at two from fever and i had a one week old too. i slept with one eye open and one hand on the babies for 10 years.i suggest reading about what ever you are worried about at a given time. you have access to info so much better than i did when my kids were little. mine are all in college now and they all made it ! thanks to all that worry. worry when you have a reason to and not until. all else is prevention and there is nothing wrong with being that way.

Answer 6

It sounds like two really rare things happening to your son. You already knew he's allergic to ammoxicillan, so you now know to avoid that. Anyone can get salmonilla, but it's also rare that people get this.

Your paranoia is understandable. But if it continues, get professional psychiatric help.

Probably over time as you see that he has no further life threatening problems, the paranoia will fade away.

Answer 7

The only thing I can say to that is take as much pleasure as you can with the time you got.
You should would worry more if you were going to be around for them, not them around for you.
Our time on earth is short.
The more you worry, the more stress, the less sleep, and the less resistance to illness.
You can do more damage by smother and worry, than letting life be enjoyed day to day.
Everyone goes through these trials, some more than others.
Hang in there, it will get better.

Answer 8

Pray a lot. I also have 4 kids, and one of them was hospitalized two years in a row for her asthma. She never let me know that she was having any problems (she was 11 the first time), and I was working full time, so I guess I didn't notice. I was paranoid to even let her sleep without me checking on her 20 times a night, and then I prayed. I asked God to watch over His child with me, and let me know if there was a problem so I could react before it got too bad. Put it in His lap, and your fear will go away.

Answer 9

I would recommend counciling, or perhaps you can find a support group for what you are going through. I would certainly discuss this with your doctor, because he/she may know of a support group or counceler who specializes in something like this. I don't think that it is important that you get some help, becuase this has to make it very hard to enjoy your children without constant paranoia.

Answer 10

Your feelings are totally natural. I feel the same when my kids are sick. I cant eat all these horrible thoughts go through my head.Its stress your body deals with it in certain ways. I just try to say to myself that it will be over soon,they'll be better soon. Sorry I dont think there's really anything to ease a worried mothers mind,accept for seeing your child get better. Good luck.