[sadashamed]

So just as a partial vent of frustration I'm going to tell my whole story. It's not a big deal, but I'm a little sad or frustrated over this.

First, Grace's tear duct has been draining all sorts of stuff since she was itty bitty. Which is fine. I know it can be "clogged" for up to 6 months and still fix itself. I would put a drop of BM in there every once in awhile when it got extra crusty and that always helped. I just didn't think anything more from her eye goop because of this.

However, one month ago, just about exactly, Grace started not feeling well. After a week of it only getting worse we go to the doctor. I'm suspicious of an ear infection (fever, she pulled on her ear a few times, and just cranky and out of sorts). On Dec. 17 we saw the doc and she checked her ears and all but no infections. Great! Just a cold that we have to live through. OK fine. We can do that. We pull out all the stops we can for the sweet girl. Elevated head of her mattress. Humidifier. Tylenol, when needed. Extra cuddling, mommy/boob time. Whatever we could do. It seemed to help, for the most part.

Her cold symptoms lessened and it all kind of plateaued where she still has a cough, her nose is still crusty, and her eye goop is just nasty! Even a stranger mentioned it! It's not just your average clogged tear duct eye goop!

I thought it was just worse from her cold, knowing all those draining systems in the head are interconnected and work together. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized something more has to be going on because her eye lid got swollen and red! Poor baby! And the 48 hour prior to yesterday she had slept VERY little. No naps and then awake every hour about at night (man! Was I exhausted at work yesterday!!).

Today we get in to the see the doc (they were filled up yesterday) and sure enough she has an ear infection and her eye is worse because of it. So now we're on eye drops for the eye goop, Amoxicilin for her infection, and Tylenol for the pain. :( I HATE giving her so many meds at once. I know they'll help her sleep and to get better soon...

I've been praying over her every night (I do anyway) and I just pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort her where no meds can and that her infection clears up through His loving hand. I am so thankful for the wisdom and ability He has given us for being able to get help for our illnesses too.

Anyway, I'm just frustrated that we couldn't ward off the infection and that the doc didn't do anything about her eye last time we were in (she noted it and mentioned it looked pretty goopy). I'm sad that my baby is in more pain and I'm sad that I didn't think to get her help sooner. :???:

Does it get easier to know when to seek medical help?

For any of you that made this far, THANK YOU! I just wanted to tell our little story. I know it's not a big deal and she'll be fine. It's just a little frustrating.

Oh, also, do any of you do Probiotics with your LOs? Even as a baby? If so, where do you get? How much do you give? Name of it? Did you talk to your doc before starting them?


I feel better already just having written this! Thanks ladies! :D [lovewuvu]

Michelle, it sounds like your poor baby has been through a lot. Give her a hug for me!

I do probiotics for my little ones. My naturopath recommended probiotics after the yeast tests came back positive. I do a liquid soy based probiotic since my kids are intolerant to dairy products. I also take the probiotics myself.

Probiotics are actually recommended when kiddos take antibiotics since antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria which upsets our intestinal flora, so I would definitely recommend looking for a good probiotic for Grace to take. Your doctor may have ideas on which one to use.

Good luck!

Here is a link that shows the type of probiotics that my kids and I use:

http://www.myvitanet.com/livilimifrac.html?rfr=FRG&zmam=1000941&zmas=28&zmac=117&zmap=livilimifrac

Thanks Ruth! I appreciate the information. I'm definitely looking into it more. :)

ETA:
Ruth, do you take probiotics on a regular basis or just when you have to take antibiotics too?

Thanks Ruth! I appreciate the information. I'm definitely looking into it more. :)

ETA:
Ruth, do you take probiotics on a regular basis or just when you have to take antibiotics too?

I take probiotics daily, as do my kids. (well, I try, some days I forget :) ) We all came back positive for yeast, so I don't forsee us quitting the daily probiotics anytime in the near future. But even if a person doesn't have yeast overgrowth or similar issues, probiotics couldn't hurt! (although most people have some level of yeast, as most of us have taken antibiotics or similar drugs in the past or had other things that encouraged yeast)

HTH!