Owen has been sick pretty much since day one. In 16 months he's had serious jaundice, 2 bouts of respiratory influenza, 5 ear infections, major eczema issues, allergic reactions to antibiotics, lactose and milk intolerances and now he has a sinus infection. It's seriously frustrating, because short of putting him into a bubble, I just don't know how to keep him well anymore! He was breastfed for 13 months (so much for that!), we give him vitamins every day, and he eats very well, mostly fruits and veggies. He's on soy milk only. I'm not sure what is left to do.

His doctor doesn't think anything is really wrong with him other than he's just picking up stuff at daycare, where he only goes one day a week. She thinks part of it was that he was born almost 4 weeks early. :dunno: I work with the daycare director at the church and she's very meticulous about the teachers cleaning and disinfecting, so I don't think it's sloppy hygience? The doctor thinks that once summer gets here and once he gets his molars in, he'll be well again, because last summer was relatively easy for him, and she suspects his teething is the problem with the colds and ear infections. There has to be something we're missing??? Any ideas of what else we can do for him?

Wrap him in plastic wrap? (cheaper than a bubble, I would think...)

If he has had that many EIs and infections I am surprised that tubes and/or tonsils and an adnoidectomy haven't been suggested.

It could be allergies as well. I know Dylan can't have a lot of milk products because he gets to mucousy. Dylan was on soy milk for the first couple years and even too much of that caused issues.

There was one time I thought he was developing an allergy to celery because he ate it alot for a few days and started getting the sniffles. He isn't but you never know.

I would suggest going to an ENT or a pediatric allergist.

Brookelyn has been super sick for a few months now, even hospitalized 2 times with pnuemonia within 60 days (which is very rare). Her doctor sent us to an allergist and we found out that her sinus' are about 98% clogged, so they're treating her now with antibiotics. We also have to go to a pulmonary specialist at Cedar Sinai. We recently started her on new vitamins, and her doctor thinks they'll help. Also, we bought a genetic testing kit that tests mostly the way your body reacts to B vitamins and detects any difficiencies (spelling?), so that way we can get her on all of the supplements that she needs and maybe it will keep her healthier. She goes to daycare about 2 days a week...
I know that wasn't much advice or help... but you're not alone with the sick kid syndrome!!:)

When my oldest son, Brendan, was a baby (between 8-16 months), he was sick all the time, we even had tubes put in, and he still had ear infections and was always sick. I was at my wits end. Someone suggested I take him to a chiropractor, and after many adjustments (because he was so sick all the time), he was better. He has never had an ear infection again, and while he still gets the occasional cold, virus, etc. he is much better off. We started taking Nathan to the chiropractor when he was 1 month old and he has been sick alot less often as Brendan was. I try to get the boys to the chiropractor a couple times a month, and more often in the winter. Just thought I would share our situation. The chiropractor definitely saved my sanity and help to keep Brendan (and eventually Nathan) feeling better.

Good luck, and I hope you and Owen get some relief soon. I hate when the kids are sick.

Mary
Brendan Michael 1/17/02
Nathan Ryan 3/25/04

Hmn...I am going with the bubble theory :)

Seriously, though? I don't know what else you can do. I don't think 5 EI's is quite the candidate for tubes (trying to think back to Aidan...he had so many when he was in daycare), and aside from that, unless he has another one(s)....

While he's teething, he's going to put his hands in his mouth and he's just going to pick up germs. And there isn't much you can do about it.

Have you taken him to a pediatric allergist to have him tested for allergies? If you haven't, you may want to pursue that route. There could be something environmental that is causing all his sinus/respitory issues. Who knows. I know some drs say that kids under 'x' age don't develop environmental allergies, but I think that is bullshit :lol: My pedi sent Aidan to one and he ended up having allergies and was great once we got him started on meds.

But other than that, I don't know what else you can do. You could try chiropractic, like Mary suggested. It does work for some people. :dunno:

I agree with the chiropractor thing too. Dylan and I go once a week.

I would take him to the chiropractor. If you have a holistic doc there I would do that too. (I'm sure you do- because even we have one and you're right outside such a big city!)