Immune Support for Children

I can't make suggestions without knowing that.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

We do have a nice multi-vite for he, though we are very inconsistent with it.
Here's a sample of what's in a daily dose of the vite (spread over 4 tablets, 2 each twice a day):

80mg Vit.C
400 IU Vit. D
30 IU Vit. E
6mcg Vit B12
16mg Zinc

I'm thinking -- stop wheat? stop dairy? It seems like it would be hard to tell what the impact is this time of year. It would have to be a loooong experiment.

I've also thought of Acidophilus supplement, though she doesn't really have gut issues. She spikes really high fevers and becomes incredibly listless and lethargic for days on end.

More turmeric and garlic?

I'm really clueless here!

Shaun
www.redseahomeschool.wordpress.com

This could be either or both. If you don't want to get tested, try stopping gluten and see what happens; it really sound gluten-y to me. But I do suggest going to a naturopath and getting the tests.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

If she has a food intolerance, like dairy, the constant battle her gut is waging with dairy products can suppress her immune system and make her more prone to illness and slower to recover. Something like 90% of our body's energy is used in digestion. If a food intolerance is slowing down or inhibiting, or otherwise stressing the digestion, the immune system is one of the first things to take a hit from the energy drain.

Practically everything suppresses the immune system it seems. Sugar even supresses it. Does you DD eat food with sugar, or with hidden sugars often? I've been eliminiating it from my DD's diet and though hard, is helping. I have finally found a brand of ketsup that does NOT contain sugar (she does not like my homemade ketsup).

Also, something that flashed into my head that I almost don't even want to mention is the possiblility of an immune deficiency or autoimmune disease. This may be the point at which you start talking to Dr.s and ruling it out.

Dr.s may say, "This is normal for her" but the fact is that ill health is not normal, there is a cause, and sometimes we have to rattle some cages to get to the root of them.

Have you done any kind of research along the lines of chronic illness in children?

I certainly don't want to stress you out or be Ms. Doom & Gloom, but with my DD's Juvenile Rheumatiod Arthritis and with my health problems ignored or poo-pooh for years by Dr.s I'm a little mililant in this area.

I'm hoping for you that it's a simple food intolerance issue. Although it's a royal pain in the @$$, it's fixable. Autoimmune diseases are not so easy.

Basically, my advice is, "Get thee to a homeopath." Best of luck, my dear.

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Was she born premature? Does she eat quite a bit?

*~* GLITTERY.HOMEMAKER *~*

She was actually 10 days late, just like my first. I predict that if I were to have more children s/he would be late too -- it's just my way.

Sadly, DH and I have talked and he is *dead set* against a naturopath or any kind of alternative medicine. His view is that DD4 is fine and so there is no need to take a risk -- if she had cancer or something and nothing else was working he says *then* go to a naturopath. Why a naturopath would suddenly know more because your child has a terminal illness is beyond me, In any case he says that the thought of sending his baby to some kind of unscientific non-MD (apparently only allopathic medicine is science!) makes his heart race and his palms sweat, so I have agreed that I do not want to make him uncomfortable and won't take her without his agreement.

I knew he'd think it was nuts, but I had no idea he'd be so strongly negative!

However, our allergist -- who is very traditional -- has suggested further immune testing if the current treatment does not reduce her rate of illness, so it may be that we can do that in the fall or early winter if needed.

And I will raise the issue with her pediatrician as well.

Next month we are doing the VCUG again to confirm that she is 100% done with her ureteral reflux (last time it seemed totally cured but then the follow-up test was suspicious so we kept up the antibios). At that time we will also be discussing whether there is a physical problem that prevents her from knowing she needs to pee until it is too late. So that'll be first.

In the mean time we can try to watch sugar and dairy and push produce. Right now she's on sugar overload after not eating much during her illness -- we still have this big box of popsicles to get through! We were basically giving her sugar water for a while, as it was all she'd have. (BTW -- those Kool-Aid singles packs are great if you want to keep Kool-Aid around for illnesses only!)

Shaun
www.redseahomeschool.wordpress.com