Its Allergies...RANT!

[AdoreMyDogs]

Oh what a drag for Jonah and you. I totally understand you being cautious about the allergy label. Do you have any naturopathic doctors in your area? I have one in MI that I still use even though I live in TX now. She's wonderful and I trust her so much. I also have had chiropractic adjustments since I was a baby and I've been getting Quinn regular chiropractic adjustments since she was 8 days old and I couldn't sing the prases of chiropractic enough. Some people think it's a load of crap, but I am such a firm believer in chiropractic.

I know chiropractors can't prevent allergies but they CAN prevent ear infections and help clear up sinus congestion. My mom used to get ear infections (as most kids do) but neither my brothers nor I have ever had an ear infection as a child. My husband and his whole family always got ear infections as well, and Quinn hasn't ever had an ear infection. I am absolutely certain it's from getting chiropractic adjustments since she was just over a week old. I know you didn't mention Jonah getting ear infections, but those little tubes are all connected. Getting everything back into allignment could do wonders in helping prevent (and clear up) any infection.

If you are not open to trying chiropractic and/or naturopathic medicine, disregard this message, but I thought I'd mention it just in case you might be open to trying it.

[Cataholic]

Thankfully, Jonah hasn't ever had an ear infection. There IS fluid in his ears now, but, it isn't to the point of being infected. And, the antibiotics will keep that from happening.
I appreciate the information on DC care!

[Husky_mom]

haven´t read fully all posts... but I have a similar case with mine.. just that mine was always on the "flu".. he was always prescribed antibiotics and cough meds and antiinflamatory meds... he has always had huge tonsils (and whatnot)... so now I´ve learned that unless he has a fever or they are red he´s fine.... his tonsils almost obstruct his airway and when "sick" they practically block it (never had a problem with breathing but still a concern)

then with another dc... he diagnosed sinus.. and he went on a 30 day treatment and got a rest from illness until next year (this year), before he was sick no soon as he was over the "flu" (antibiotic" treatment)... and I didn´t wanted thim to be antis for so long as he could have liver damage so I "allowed" him to be sick from time to time...

after this sinus treatment... he was and has been fine... just this season he was diagnosed with allergies too.. but the kind of seasonal allergies... that because of polen and such... and was given a nasal spray for 15 days and a cough med as he has irritated throat... but those were his only symptoms... cough...

he recovered and now has cough again... in the morning right when getting up, if he agitates too much and/or before going to sleep... so it could well also be cold, temp changes and that... so now I´m just keeping an eye on him... no meds... unless he gets fever or I see him really really uncomfortable... but again, it´s just a couple coughs a day and thats it.. and not even every day....

I don´t want to over medicate... as later he might not get relief from meds if needed later in life...

[Catlady711]

You must not have young children. You can't get an antibiotic out of a pediatrican unless the doctor DOES think it is necessary. I had to argue with the doctor last year to get a one week suppy- which totally solved the secondary infection. It would have been- at least last year- an unnecessary expenditure to get the allergy prescripion. In that case, had I gave up on the antibiotic and just did the allergy medication, my son would have had an untreated sinus infection- which can be quite serious.

It's true I do not have children, however a search on Google will give you an idea of the scope of physician's overprescribing antibiotics and have been for years.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...otics&aq=f&oq=

There are self-limiting conditions which resolve themselves on their own without medication, but when the timing occurs upon demanding an antibiotic, many people will assume that it was the medication that solved the problem, when in fact it did not. This can result in simply money wasted to treat things that will clear up on their own, or be best managed with 'symptom relief' medications; to the more severe consequences of contrubiting to antibiotic resistant strains of bugs.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) even has an entire web area dedicated to this problem.
http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/co...now-and-do.htm

In addidtion, flare ups of Sinusitis may well be caused not by bacteria, but a viral infection, or allergy of which antibiotics have no effect on. In a Britsh medical study, they found many physicians prescribed antibiotics when they really didn't think they were necessary based on several factors, including parental pressure, time pressures, inability to correctly diagnose a bacterial from viral infection, even fear of losing client to another competing clinic.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0111162856.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...usitis&spell=1

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...en&btnG=Search

Allergies, Sinusitis, & Athsma can all play a part in cronic Sinusitis. If your dr. is recommending allergy testing, blood work, or referral to a specialist, you might want to consider it. If there is more than one problem then treating only one will not take care of the other. There are some indications that all of these may have other factors causing these symptoms in which more testing may be necessary.

You mentioned that the main problems started when he started pre-school. There is always a possibility your child is picking up a virus the other kids are passing around, or could be exposed to something he's allergic to there rather than at home.

Since you've been through so many dr. visits, and repeated rounds of antibiotics and yet the problem is still there, it may well be time to consider another course of action to prevent or minimize future sypmtoms. If necessary maybe a second opinon with a different dr. or specialist.

Just a thought.

Regardless I hope whatever is causing the problem goes away soon.

[Cataholic]

You mentioned that the main problems started when he started pre-school. There is always a possibility your child is picking up a virus the other kids are passing around, or could be exposed to something he's allergic to there rather than at home.

I suppose that is possible. Though, last year, at the time he had a sinus infection, he was only in school 2 hours a day, 2 days a week. And, it was during his 2 week break for Christmas that the main thrust of his infection was present. I don't think it is very likely it is school related. And, last year, there wasn't much question it was strictly sinus. On top of the tonsils/adnoids (which were removed for sleep related issues, he hadn't ever had a sinus infection before hand), I think he was just totally worn down and susceptible to everything.

No, I think his main problems (which, to date have been 3 diagnosed sinus infections (2 of them most likely being just one that didn't go away) are pretty typical of kids that enter preschool/daycare.....lots and lots of exposure to the cold germs. We know the sinus infections are not "colds" (lol...the 3 weeks of symptoms after the cold has run its course are a big clue). Jonah wasn't in daycare...not until he went to preschool for the first time last year. So, I knew colds would come...and they did. And, they went away in the 7-10 days.

Since you've been through so many dr. visits, and repeated rounds of antibiotics and yet the problem is still there, it may well be time to consider another course of action to prevent or minimize future sypmtoms. If necessary maybe a second opinon with a different dr. or specialist.

We had one doctors visit and two courses of antibiotics last year, and this year we have had two visits and two courses of antibiotics. Not sure where you are going with the different dr or specialist route. Talk about money. But, I don't think more md visits or a specialist are necessary. I do not want to put him on allergy medication simply as a "hmm..maybe this is an allergy". Allergy medication is still medication.

While I do think it is too early to call it, I think there is a lessening of ALL his sypmtoms after just 48 hours on the antibiotic.

I do appreciate your advice!

[Lady's Human]

Just FYI, we had many problems with MJ with ear/sinus infections.

The cause? Allergies. We found a mad that worked, no more infections.

I fail to understand what the problem with the allergy diagnosis is, it happens, and can happen at any time to anyone at any age.

[joycenalex]

when was the last time you changed your furnance filter and cleaned the air ducts? i was appaled at how much crud/fur/and who knows what was attached to the interior walls of the ducts.

[Cataholic]

ACK!!!

Folks, if it IS allergies, it is 'okay'. BUT, I want to first make sure that there isn't an untreated sinus infection (like last year). I don't think 1 week of itchy eyes (though Jonah doesn't say they itch, he says they are watery/wet), makes an allergy. I have not meant to offend any single person that suffers from allergies. Really, it is not a big deal. BUT, to have a doctor tell me, "well, he is just an allergy child" (or something along those lines) inspite of no symptoms to speak of, seems a bit off. It IS a dx used when nothing else matches up.

I do not want Jonah on allergy medication if he doesn't have allergies. Surely, that makes some sense? To begin an allergy medication on top of a second course of antibiotics (which, btw, I didn't ask/seek, it was plain to the md that there is a sinus infection running rampant in Jonah's nose, hence the comment, "your face is a mess"), rules out the ability to ascertain (short of allergy testing) what the problem is.

If things don't clear up, I will have Jonan allergy tested. I swear.

On the filter thingy, I do switch it regularly, but, my furnace is old, the filters are cheap, and I am not sure how effective it is. I could always improve my dusting/vacuuming, too. And, wash in hot water.

[jennielynn1970]

Wanted to mention one thing, since you said he got sick over the holidays. One thing I have found is that with me, or with kids or adults I work with at school, we'll be ok as we're running around, high on adrenaline, at work/school, but when we get to vacation times, we end up getting sick. My doctor said it was because we kind of let our defenses down in our bodies. We relax and we are more prone to getting sick/infections. Something about the immune system isn't on overdrive like it had been at work/school.

Since I've been out on sabbatical, and not dealing with kids and all that, I've been pretty good in the health department. Sinus/allergy issues, yet, but no flu symptoms or anything that my friends at school are dealing with.

I know we all talk about hand washing and all that, but the number of them that actually do it (adults included) is very low. There's a bathroom that the staff at my school uses right in my office, and I'm telling ya, we don't go through very much soap (we buy it ourselves because the school doesn't furnish it). I know the kids always say the soap is out in the student bathrooms as well. They cut budgets way back, and they cut back on the basic necessities.

honestly, it sounds OCD, but have Jonah take a spritzer of hand sanitizer with him to daycare. Ask if it's ok first, and make sure he knows it's only for when he's been playing with others who don't wash hands, or have runny noses. Those toys in schools and day cares are GROSS!!!! I'll bet they're not washed and sanitized anywhere near the amount they should be.

[Cataholic]

OMG,Jenn the L, we are pretty hand sanitzer'ish, and I can just see it now, Jonah with a pocket sized hand sanitizer!! They wash hands as soon as they come into the classroom, and I asked him if they washed up before snack time and he told me no. Ugh. When we went to Chuck E. Cheese yesterday (gross), I had a sanitizer in my pocket and used it on him before he ate. The BR there was disgusting, and washing at the sink had some pitfalls...no stool for him, water on the floor, the counter. It was gross. I saw some little girl in the climb thingy sucking on her fingers, which she then put on the floor. So, so gross. They have said the are studies that have found fecal matter in those things.

I think last year's sinus thing was directly related to his adnoids/tonsils- he was worn down, and caught a cold. I remember that he was sick on Thanksgiving Day, and by mid December, he wasn't any better and in we went for the sinus infection.

It is hard when they are so little, and can't remember to not put their hands in their mouths/eyes. I do kind of go spastic at him when I see him put his hand to his mouth when we are out and about (not that my house is germ free by any standard).

He is coughing less this am, and his nose isn't as packed as it has been.

Again, I thank everyone for their opinions/advice/suggestions/well wishes. No matter what it is, it is nothing serious, and I am very cognizant of how blessed I am to complain or rant over either a sinus infection, an allergy, a cold, and appropriate medical care. If I made it seem like a bigger deal than it should be, I apologize!

[moosmom]

Welcome to motherhood!!!