Thursday, April 2, 2009

Rotten

That's how McKenna's feeling today. She started feeling rotten a few days ago with her usual wheezing, coughing, runny nose and ear pulling. So today we're heading to the doctor AGAIN. I'm so tired of her being sick. She's pretty much been like this since last June. I actually think the word "weary" would describe how I really feel. I would love to be able to have one good night of sleep, but that has only rarely happened since McKenna's birth! So today I'm hoping to have a good discussion with our doctor about where we go from here. The ear tubes aren't working and the nebulizer treatments don't seem to get us anywhere. We've got to figure out what's causing all this. I'm not ready to just accept that fact that my kid gets sick for no reason all the time. Does she have allergies or reflux? We need to get some answers and not just another antibiotic (although at this point I'll gladly take the antibiotic).
I did manage to get a little smile out of her in between her wailing episodes and wiping her nose (which she hates)! Thanks for the cute outfit Sarah! I love it and even have the perfect bow for her hair to match if she'll leave it there :)


8 comments:

the mccollums... said...

hey...i am sorry too that McKenna is sick again. I can't imagine how you feel about all this...I'm sure very fusterated. My niece is just about the same time...do you think that it is sinius related? My older niece was sick a lot and ended up having her sinus' reconstructed. Were you sick a lot at this age growing up or Ryan? The way our sinus passages are constructed is hereditaty. I am just pulling at straws and offering suggestions...don't know if any of this is helpful. I really hope you can get some answers. Have you gone to an ENT?

the mccollums... said...

ha, i just noticed all my spelling and grammar errors above...sorry...i'm on a different keyboard that doesn't like to work very well. :) Let us all know what hte DR says.

The Kirkland's said...

Poor McKenna she just can't catch a break..I hope you guys get some answers soon so little miss McKenna can stop being sick all the time :) Good Luck!!

Vicky Bohlman said...

Dear Judy,
I have never left a message on a blog, so I am not sure this will go through. I have prayed for McKenna when she is sick. Something that keeps coming to me is the value of liquid Vit C. to boost a child's immune system. I mailed several bottles to a friend a few months ago who has three children under 4 years old and she called me today to say that this was the first winter none of them got sick. The kind I recommend is made by Country Life and is called Maxi Baby-C. If the child is on an antibiotic, you space the Vit. C two hours before or after the antibiotic. Also, it is good to put any child who is taking an antibiotic on a probiotic for children. These items can be purchased at a health food store or through Vitamin Shoppe (1-800-223-1216). The probiotic will prevent thrush and diaper rash often caused by the antibiotic. If you have any questions and I haven't answered them, please don't hesitate to email me at larryandvickyB@juno.com Sending love and prayers, Vicky

Vicky Bohlman said...

P.S. I have a typo in my e mail address. The correct address in larryandvickyb@juno.com

Holly said...

I must have missed you at the doctor's office - we were there at 2 p.m. yesterday. Ellie has her fifth ear infection and she has pink eye. The words "ear tubes" came up in the conversation, but after your experience, I'm not ready to go there just yet! Summer is coming and things have to get better, right??? I do pray that McKenna feels better soon. When Kate was this age, she had all kinds of wheezing and bronchial problems. She started on a maintenance medicine called pulmacort (in the nebulizer) and she also started taking singulair for allergies. It seemed to really help and we were able to wean her off of them in about 18 months or so. I hope that you got some answers at your appointment. We'll keep McKenna in our prayers!

Anonymous said...

I can understand your frustration. My daughter Alyssa has had similar problems. She is 16 months old and has had a lot of respiratory problems since she was 2 months old. She has been in the hospital three times and we still do not know for sure why she is so sick other than the fact that she aspirates when she swallows. I decided back in October to take her to a pulmonologist in Indianapolis because the one here in Fort Wayne was ready to put a g-tube in. The Dr. in Indy thinks that is not necessary at this point. Like McKenna, the nebulizer does not help Alyssa much. The only thing that really seems to work is oral steroids. She has been off and on steroids since she was 2 months old. I am not crazy about that. Anyway, I am not getting any answer as to why she aspirates. They keep telling me that they think she will out grow it. It is frustrating when you get no answer. I finally told the doctor that I am getting frustrated and want an answer. He decided to do a bronchoscopy and found that she had a lot of mucus and looks like what he would find in a cystic fibrosis patient. She has been tested twice for CF and both times it has come back negative which we are very thankful for. Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to let you know that I understand why you are frustrated and I will keep your family in my prayers. Kim Wagenschutz

Katy said...

ugh judy - i so hoped that the tubes would transform her into a new child! Apparently there is something else going on...praying that you got some good answers from the dr.