Earlier this year I wrote about how our middle child struggled with daily headaches and stomachaches for two months. Doctors were baffled as to why she was experiencing this. The most likely explanation we arrived at was that she was suffering a viral illness made more severe by her uncontrolled seasonal allergies and food sensitivities. Through daily allergy medication and strict avoidance of known foods that bothered her (I still need to blog about the food issues), she experienced several months of good health and a mostly pain free summer.
And then it was back to school time. Just before her 9th birthday she came down with a nasty bug that kept her out of school for three days. She was prescribed an anti-viral med that helped her recover and go back to school. Our oldest daughter also was sick for several days, so we knew it was more viral than environmental this time. Everyone recovered and was better: for approximately 3 minutes.
We are on another round of virus, on the heels of the last one that seems to be provoking the illness pattern we saw with middle child earlier this year. She's having daily headaches that don't respond to over the counter meds and stomach upset that keeps her appetite down. Our oldest is also suffering simliar but not as severe symptoms. The youngest seems to have only an amazing amount of boogers and cough from the drainage.
I'm feeling alternately anxious and depressed about these issues. Being strong for them takes its toll on my mental and emotional health. We've been here before. Feeling ineffectual is the biggest stressor in all of this. As I learned with my husband's two month hospitalization in 2009, there is no asking why; there is only what, how, and now. What is this and what do I do now? How do I make it through today? How do I help them?
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