1 day shy of giving in to antibiotics

[bellamausi]

I am so frustrated, disheartened and discouraged right now. My daughter is 3, still nursing and 100% raw since birth, apart from my breast milk, because I am NOT raw.

She has had a lymph gland problem on her left side, ever since she had cat-scratch-disease almost two years ago. The left lymph node was huge at the time, but expected to be. Doctor said there is nothing to be done then to wait it out. Her gland did shrink to about the size of a pea, and it stayed that way.

About 1 1/2 month ago, her gland started swelling to about 2 cm, and it has stayed that way. When the skin area also became a little red, I took her to a doctor.

They did blood tests for mono and cancers, negative. But the cause of the swollen gland is still unknown. I have to go back if the gland gets bigger or the redness gets worse.

So the redness has gotten a bit worse, and I think I can feel a little bubble below her skin on top of her gland, which I think would indicate infection.

Tomorrow my husband is probably going to pick up the prescription antibiotic, that the doctor prescribed, just in case.

My daughter has not really been sick with anything serious. I remember a fever a few weeks ago, but only for an afternoon. Maybe a slight runny nose here and there .....

The doctor said, she could just be fighting a virus, the general answer for a lot of unknowns, I think.

I am not hopeful to receive any information, that will help me at this point, to avoid antibiotics. But I am really wanting to find out the cause of my daughters gland trouble. Could she really be affected by my breast milk? To this extent? I do have coffee and milk, to name the worst offenders.

Well, I have to go now, we are off to the park, but I will check back in the evening. :)

[Raene]

If those were the worst offenders, I really don't think it's from you. As a mom I can see how we play over every thing we've done and keep blaming ourselves, but really, give yourself credit. You breastfed and did what was best for your daughter! It's not your fault.
I'm sorry I have no other advice, but please lighten up on yourself. Being a mom is so tough. You're doing great, I'm sure.

[bellamausi]

Thanks for the encouragment. I do have a lot of guilt about not being raw. Especially since my 5 year old is starting to really get persistent about wanting to eat SAd food, the food mom eats. :(

[Raw Angel Mom]

Sorry to hear this about your child.

You can enrich your milk from considering to take greens. Do your best to read the label and make the best choice you can. For instance, if you crave for chips, buy the organic one or regular with no msg. etc.... Coffee, is the same, buy the organic one. I read that some coffee shop do add MSG to make it addictive. In the mid time, treat yourself and order the dvd greens can save your life from Victoria Butenko. I was raw for 60 days and not knowing better, i went back to cook food. I was eating cook food for 2 years and wanted to go back on raw. I didn't know how to motivate myself until that day that i saw this DVD. Immediately after watching this, i juice some persely, salad that i had with some fruits. I felt an immediate buse. For one month i was only cunsuming my greens and keeping the same diet, except toward the end of the month, i wanted to do raw food again and recommited. What is funny, my daughter gave me this motivation because she only wanted raw food, lol... they are clever those little ones. Greens heal addiction and do so many great thing.

Yes, we do have stuff that can be pass on in our milk but sometime, this isn't necessary our fault, it could be something else. Your milk is a good nutrition value for her, don't forget that. You will figure out what is her needs . You are a good mommy and very intuitive.


Blessings

[bellamausi]

Hi Raw Angel Mom! Thanks for the encouragement. Funny you would mention Boutenko. I have her book, and we had green smoothies for a while last spring, but haven't had any in over a year. :(

But I had just made up my mind to start making smoothies again the other day, to get some more greens into my kids. Maybe I'll read her book again, to get even more motivation.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I had the book too but no compare with the DVD. There is something magic about the greens, i just can't live without them, lol....

Best wishes!

[domestic goddess]

My children and I have chronically swollen glands. The Dr's have no explanation for it. If they have tested for all the 'big ones' and have no results, and she is not actively sick...no offense but why the worry? My glands are HUGE. All the time. All 3 of my kids glands are big enough to feel at any given time and I do not remember the last time they were sick. My current Doc said to me "Looks like their bodies are doing their jobs!" and sent us on our way. (This was at a well-child visit)

If you really think something is wrong (and I fully believe in the mama-gut) then ask for a referral to a specialist. Perhaps and Immunologist or Endocrineologist.

Good Luck...sometimes its really hard to be a mom!

[bellamausi]

RawAngelMom, I might have to try and get the DVD. ;)

domestic goddess, thanks for your reply. I think if the glands would just stay the way it is, we wouldn't feel the need to give antibiotics. My biggest concern is the redness of the skin on top, which I believe is an infection of the glands? I can also feel and see what seems like two small bubbles on top of her gland. The doctor said, sometimes glands get infected and then they have to drain them, and I do not want my daughter to have to go through that!

We haven't actually started her on antibiotics yet. On the weekend it seemed that the red parts got worse, so we agreed to get them this week. But by Monday it seemed to have gotten better, but it's hard to tell. I'm wishing so much for it to get better, maybe I'm seeing things. My husband says it doesn't look better, and wants to get the antibiotics.

I've been putting chewed up wheatgrass on it, and will keep doing so.

[domestic goddess]

Maybe a warm compress too? Does she have a fever? Hmmm, that is definitely a pickle. As much as I abhor antibiotics, sometimes they are needed. My son was on them once after a tick bite/Lyme symptoms, and my daughter was on them once for an ear infection that we could not get rid of (and had become scarey). My 3rd has never been on them. Sometimes things just need to run their course, and sometimes you have to step in. If she seems fine, and has no other symptoms other than the gland being swollen (ie trouble swallowing, fever, etc) I might be inclined to just let it be. If she has a fever or some other concerning symptom, I may be more inclined to take other measures. The body is an amazing thing and is designed to take care of things, yk? This could be her body's way of dealing with something that is not right and to throw antibiotics into the mix may mess with that 'system' ykwim? Listen to your gut and do what *you* think is best. If she does need the meds, be sure to supplement her diet with lots of acidophilus, however you would do that. (I'd say yogurt as that is what I would do but this is a raw vegan site ;) )

Good luck and many healing vibes for your little one!

[bellamausi]

Thanks for your kind advice, domestic goddess. Cora does not have a fewer and is acting as she always is, healthy and squirrely!

It's just so strange that it will not get better! :(

[bellamausi]

Was taking a picture of Cora drinking a green smoothie for our journal, and realized it is also a good shot of her gland. Still no antibiotics, but her gland has gotten more red looking the last couple of days, so I'll probably be getting them on Monday. :(

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b301/bellamausi/Cora_smoothie_2.jpg

[firefaery]

you could try a castor oil pack. Google it if you want more info as I'm too exhausted to see straight right now! Basically castor oil is amazing for inflammation and lymphatic drainage. I would also see a classical homeopath. The right remedy could go very far in this case.

[Raw Angel Mom]

What about waiting a little and go see an homeopathic doctor???? A friend of mine were talking about vaccine and apparently some good homeopathic can reverse the damage done from those vaccine so can you imagine what they could do for your daughter. Try your options. If you can stay away from antibiotic and do another alternative, it could be worth to check this out.

I pray for your daughter
Blessings!

p.s She is so beautiful!

[domestic goddess]

By any chance, could that be a spider bite? You would see a miniscule red pin-prick mark in the 'lump' somewhere. WHen I saw the pic (she is SOOOO cute, btw) that is the first thig I thought. Every once in a while I (or the kids) will get one and they look very similar to that! That may explain the lack of symptoms otherwise. Just a thought...

[bellamausi]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm pretty sure it's not a spider bite though. That gland is the same one that has never all the way disappeared ever since she had that catch scratch disease 1 1/2 years ago.

I have taken Dillan to a homeopathic doctor before (only twice though), but I don't think she is the right kind for us. She was pushing vitamins and protein, and I just don't think she was too informed on the whole raw thing.

Maybe it's time I tried and found a different one, hopefully closer, because the other one is a 1 1/2 hour drive.

Castor oil I will do some research on. Thanks! :)

[firefaery]

FYI a naturopath is very different than a homeopath and no trained homeopath should ever push supplements or talk too much about diet. IT sounds like you saw a naturopath. I would HIGHLY recommend seeing a homeopath. The difference is that homeopaths will only use homeopathic medicine and look to support the body in it's return to balance and health. A naturopath will talk diet, supplements and herbs. In my opinion it is extremely different...more often than not naturopathy feels like allopathy with herbs and supplements instead of drugs. I just don't see it being very helpful in most cases. OF course there are GREAT naturopaths out there (just as there are great MD's) so I'm not knocking the modality. I'm just saying when I recommended a homeopath that's not what I was thinking.

http://curezone.com/cures/castoroil.asp
http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/castoroiluses.html