Long NWs, no crying - just trying to sleep, any new eyes very welcome!

[mmom]

Can you insist on a sleep study?  If they are just going to call you with more suggestions that you have already tried, can you just say enough is enough it is time?  I know that when we were struggling with my LO's health issues, I had to literally walk in the office and demand certain treatment.  You are definitely at the point where you have exhausted all of your options.

Regarding your GP, the same thing goes. He needs to prescribe something to get your LO to sleep.  Forget just being OT, it has to effect his health, his ability to learn, his overall well being, not sleeping at all.  By now they have to know that you have done everything they suggested and there is a bigger issue that they need to help you with.

[babybarr]

Kara - I completely agree. I just find it really hard being firm when I am so tired. I literally had to fight to be listened to last time and I'm just struggling.  DH is sweet but tends to just take what a doctor says as being gospel!    I KNOW you're right and I have to find the strength somewhere somehow!

It's the same old saga with drs as we had before... "he's putting on weight, he's developing normally so there can't possibly be anything wrong and it can't possibly be affecting him"   sigh...

[mmom]

Laura, I got the same crap with fighting for my LO.  They said the was healthy, gaining normally, and that he was just "playing me" when he was screaming around nap/sleep times.  He was on a really high dose of reflux meds and the ped thought there was no way he wasn't in pain.  I was a lunatic.  I called every day and I would often call when he was screaming.  Finally, one of the other doctors in the practice referred us to a GI.  Go figure that after testing we found that he had a disease and we had to make several changes.  I went back to the ped and practically threw all of this information in her face.

I know how hard it is to fight when you are exhausted. At the time, I was working full time and never sleeping.  I would cry at almost every doctor appointment because no one would listen.  Plus, I was doing all of the fighting.  DH didn't know what to say. 

Even if you have to do it through tears, fight.  This really has been going on way too long and you are not some mom who is just letting things go.  You are working very hard for your LO and it is not fair that they don't take you seriously.  I know a PP said that maybe you should find another GP and I think that if you go back and he says he won't do anything, you really should.  Your LO has a serious health issue and you should always feel like you have support and compassion.

[*Becky*]

Completely agree with Kara xxx

[becky1969]

Hello my dear! I meant to get here sooner, but chaos broke out at home. 

Anyway, here's my ideas:

*Absolutely try a naturopath/acupuncturist.  They don't use needles for children.  They actually use this cool little roller that feels lovely when it's rolled over you.  So no worries there!  My naturopath/acupuncturist has done wonders for various ailments I have.

*I think it's also time to do some food allergy testing, esp. if done by a naturopath.  The run-of-the-mill testing a regular doc does isn't going to catch food *sensitivities* or *intolerances*.  This has been a problem in our family.  My son shows a 'mild' allergy to wheat.  We did incredible tests with a pediatric GI to see if he had celiac disease due to lack of growth and tummy ahces.  Nothing showed up.  On the advice of another doctor we went on a gluten free diet and VOILA!!! My son is growing again, a lot of behavioral stuff is clearing up, and he just feels so much better!! There could be something like that going on with your little guy.  Reflux is often accompanied by allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances to food.  As you can imagine, having a poorly developed digestive system can go from esophagus to gut.  He very well could have stuff going on in his gut that just haven't been dx yet.  And since he has immune issues, that very well be linked to digestive stuff.  a good naturopath would probably be able to think of the connections right off the bat or with a bit of urine/blood/stool testing.



And then YOU.  YOU need some rest.  You've been through SO MUCH!!!!!!!  Exhaustion takes it's toll.  I think you need to take a weekend to sleep somewhere else.  It's fine by me if you go back home during the day to care for DS -- I'd have a hard time leaving my 20 month old for a whole weekend! But once night comes around you need to be OUT OF THE HOUSE.  Having someone do the NWs while you're there just doesn't work.  Most likely you'll still wake up when DS cries, and may even be tempted to intervene yourself if it sounds like things aren't being handled quickly enough.  A weekend of good sleep could really recharge your batteries,  and I think I'd advise doing that once a month until he starts sleeping thru the night on his own.


Yes, he's chronically OT at this point.  The good news? He'll slowly grow into the A times and the lack of daytime sleep won't be as important anymore, which may help the nighttime sleep.  I think in 4 months you may see a positive change in daytime sleep habits.  Hopefully by then you will have received additional medical advice that iwll help as well.


Good luck my dear.  You've been through SO MUCH! 

[Rileysmum]

Sorry to hear things have not improved yet. Hope the homeopathic remedy gets there soon, and helps a bit. Until then, I have to agree with going to see someone for alternative therapies, and look into food allergy testing. I know you said he would likely have a problem with someone he sees as being a doctor, but if you think you both could handle it, I would try it.

DS has reflux and is MPI, so I have been trying a lot of different things to see if they help. Our experiences:

Acupuncturist -I took DS to one when he was about 7 months old, and she used 1 needle (but asked me beforehand if it was okay, and I agreed). For the rest of the appointment, she did cupping and acupressure.

Cranio sacral therapist - does seem to help a bit with his sleep. He just explores her room or plays, and she follows him around while she works on him. He sees it as more of a play session than an appointment.

Naturopath - I recently went to see one for both DS and I for sleep issues. She suggested a diet change for both of us, pro-biotics, and suggested we both take flaxseed oil every evening. For me she also suggested calcium/magnesium supplements, which apparently can help promote sleep, and B vitamins to help with the stress. Of course these suggestions are from our medical histories, but I am just throwing ideas out there.

I would also suggest a chiropractor (can't remember if you have been to see one). DS had a bone behind his right ear out, which was putting pressure on a nerve back there, and made it harder for him to sleep. It improved things slightly when he got adjusted.

Hoping for a sleep study for you! 

[babybarr]

And so it get worse.... he refused point blank his nap today!!!  He *usually* only ever refuses a nap if he is UT, but I don't see how this is possible with all his NWs.  Fed up - again.

[mmom]

I have nothing good to offer but hugs.  Are you home today?  Can you take him for a walk or something and AP a nap out of him?  Or lay down with him?  My LO would never sleep with me like that, but my friend is always able to get her LO to sleep this way.

[babybarr]

My mum had him today as I was at work.  I personally think she tried to put him down too early and then that caused problems and he just refused then to sleep.  He had 40mins nap in the car when she went to do the school run which meant he napped from 3.20pm - 4pm.... so who knows what time he'll finally go to sleep tonight.

[mmom]

Oh, I am sorry!!!  Will he still go to bed early?  My LO refused a nap as well today, so bed at 5 it is!

[babybarr]

Given he napped till 4pm he went to sleep at 7.30pm, which could of been a lot worse.  I'm secretly hoping that this may just have been the solution (yeah right!!!)

both take flaxseed oil every evening. For me she also suggested calcium/magnesium supplements, which apparently can help promote sleep, and B vitamins to help with the stress

What is the flaxseed oil for?  I've also read about B vitamins, calcium and magnesium helping but want to check amounts etc with the GP first.  After lots of reading I'm still thinking it may be his daily medication - or due to it interfering with other things.  I don't know if they'll let us trial him without for a bit.

Thank for all your support.

[Rileysmum]

What is the flaxseed oil for?

 
Honestly, I don't remember. I know with him it was supposed to help a bit with his bowel movements to get him off of lactulose. And she recommended taking it in the evening for something to do with the sleep, but I don't know why.  Sorry.

[babybarr]

taking it in the evening for something to do with the sleep, but I don't know why

I'll google it!!  Thanks

Well last night I *think* (and I say think cos sometimes I sleep through regardless if he's awake) he slept from 7.30pm - 6am straight.  Now only 10.5hrs but a straight 10.5hrs.

The thing is there could be 4 reasons and I guess none may be relevant!
1. The later nap - so he didn't go to bed completely knackered
2. I made his room warmer
3. He had barely wee'd in the night - normally his nappy is fit to burst but not this morning.
4. Cos it took him a good 45mins to get to sleep he didn't need to do it in the night - iyswim?!
What do you think?

I don't think it was the later bedtime although I'm sure my mum will say otherwise.

So quick response please....  shall I do a later nap even if the nap is only still and hour so he goes to bed less tired?  WWYD?

[MummyToBen]

That's really great that he slept through  - I thought he might!!!  Perhaps it is also that it was a total change from what happens normally and so it just threw him a bit (in a good way!).

I can't see that it's going to do any harm to replicate what happened yesterday, and because things are so rough for you anyway with his sleep I suppose it is not going to harm things whatever you try out at this stage 

xx

[babybarr]

because things are so rough for you anyway with his sleep I suppose it is not going to harm things whatever you try out at this stage

I guess you're right!!

I can't do exactly like yesterday as we're out this afternoon, but I might move the nap 45mins-an hour later and see what happens and do lunch before.