Very Itchy sleeper

[sammysmama]

Hello
My son Sam is 17 months old and has never slept through the night :(
He has very bad eczema which covers most of his body. During the day it seems to be slightly settled, however at night time it flares up badly causing him to itch constantly.

The longest time he stays asleep for is approx 2.5 hours before waking. In general it takes between 1 to 1.5 hours to get him back to sleep and so the cycle goes till morning.

I have been to see - GP, Dermitologists, Paediatric Allergists, Kinisiologists, Natropaths and my local nursing care. The chemist knows me very well as I have systematically purchased all that he has on offer off his shelves.

I am beside myself with frustration and tiredness. I have a husband who works nights and goes to uni during the day and have just plain run out of ideas. It doesn't help that I am also expecting our second child in less than 3 months.

If anyone can offer any suggestions I would be very grateful.

Frazzeled Mama

[vonnie100]

Hi,
I dont know that I can give you any real solutions but I can give you a little encouragement . Caitlin my 13 month old has eczema (maybe not as bad as your bub) but I can understand how frustrating it is. Cait usually itches her neck untill it is red raw and bleeding and there is not much I can do. I have stoped using any soap and use a product called dermoveen in the bath as a soap sub. and a cream also. This seems to help a little. Also less clothes and less heaters. uummmm I have cut out so much dairy and only use bottles a couple of times a day.
Anyway I hope you are feeling better and can find a little rest when you can. Good luck with bub2
vonnie100

[ktm14mom]

I understand how you feel..It's VERY fustrateing not being able to help your child. My son is 4yr (just turned) and we have been battling Eczema for I guess 2 1/2 years, We've been to Peditrician, a pedi allergist, and just finally went today to a Dermatolgist. Only to hear the same thing. I don't think I was all that nice to the doctor today, b/c she told me the same thing the others told me. My son itches mostly at night or when outside playing when the humidity level is high. I give him a double dose of Benadrly (as per doctor) it seems to work, but I just wanted answers on helping him not to get to that point.
I've switched to all Cetaphil products (as of today)and in the process of washing all his clothes, towels, sheets in fragrence free detergant. So, well see. Also we are trying new creams. and instead of Benadryl we are going to Claritin (that will be taking every morning)I will let you know if all this helps.
I did find giving him baths at night helps, you might try that, I know how you feel and Iam like you, looking for other parents who are going through the same thing that can help.

I have an older son who had Eczema when he was 3 months and he out grew it around 4 1/2 years of age, but we didn't deal with anything like this.

[mumof2girls]

I know I shouldn't be advertising but a friend of mine's little girl had eczema real bad (pretty much head to toe) and she had tried everything. She heard about a MLM company called neways that had some products that she used and she said they were great but expensive (not sure how much). If your interested they have a website on the internet under neways. Not sure if you want to try their products but have heard they are good. Good luck guys :)

[calmessence]

I have had eczema since I was a baby and I am now 38, so I know everything there is and I have tried the lot, there has been no real advances in the treatment regime, it still includes emolients, steriods and antihistamines. I am a nurse and aromatherapist and have been on a lifelong search to manage my eczema, 2 years ago I starting making my own creams with the aim, to reduce the itch and inflammation and soothe, and my eczema is much more managable, I have done lots of research.Some basic info is only use sorbolene to bath with, as it is mineral based it actually coats the skin prior to the water stinging the eczema, it acts like a barrier and softens the skin, Use only vegetable based creams, our skin is liphophilic, and mineral based emolients like qv and sorbolene do not actually moisturise our skin, vegetable based creams do. I t is commonsense to nourish the skin and feed it as it is the biggest organ on the body, but feed it with the proper moisturisers. I am treating a little girl at Bargo with positive results, I am in this to help people I know exactly what it is like to scratch youself red raw and be so irritated you could rip yourself apart, you can ring me on 02-46556727 9-5 mon-fri ask for melanie, I do believe a healthy diet helps, less dairy and processed food. I take Evening primrose oil and fish oils regularly, baths instead of showers and cotton clothes, I could put you in touch with the little girls mum if you needed to speak to her for a testimony.