DS with deviated septum

[Deana]

I have been searching for answers but with no avail. Where do I begin...
My DS was an angel as a newborn, slept all night from 4 weeks. Since he turned I think around 8 months old, this all changed. His eating became poor and his sleeping is now a nightmare for me and DP. He had constant ear infections which became an issue as he couldn't hear (understand back then for his waking a several times a night), saw a ENT specialist (DS was around 13 months old) who booked him in to have grommets and adenoids removed. Op went well. The ENT specialist said that DS has just a little deviated septum but the deviate septum can change as his nose grows and matures. The ENT also said that he would consider taking DS's tonsils out after he turned 2 as they will not operate on and kids under 2. The specialist said that after taking his adenoids and putting grommets in that I would see difference in DS's eating an sleeping habits. Nothing had changed. His eating and sleeping habits got worse. Took him back to my GP who then booked us into QEll. DS was then again around the 19 months when we went in and stayed for the 5 days. While in there his eating habits did improve, not all that much but was a lot better. His sleeping did not. After the 5 days the nurses assured me if I kept the same routine going on home that things would change. Again I stuck with the exact same routine and his eating and sleeping habits got worse. DS is always fine putting to sleep, but staying asleep is the issue. GP ran blood tests to see if we were missing anything but the tests came back all fine. GP sent referrals to pediatrics and a specialist for sleeping but again have been no help. The sleep specialist wanted to book him into the sleep unit in Sydney but being private it was way to expensive and as I had only just upgraded our health insurance, I had to wait 12 months if the issue is ore existing which we would have to wait till January 2013.

Now DS is 2 and his sleeping and eating is so poor I'm now at my wits ends of what to do. After reading up on deviated septums in toddlers and how dangerous it can be, had got me thinking that this may be the reason why DS is constantly waking and screaming several times a night. DS's nose is constantly blocked at night and when he sometimes wakes up he complains about his nose being blocked. I use to out it down to him maybe just being sick but DS is always fine during the day. I don't know for sure if this could be the reason for his wakings, but I have ran out of things to what it could be.

Does anyone else believe it is his deviated septum or am I just totally on the wrong track with this? If it is his deviated septum, what can I do about it? They says they won't touch any deviated septums on anyone under 16 as they must let the nose fully develop before they can operate but if it is then I can't keep going with all the constant night wakings as I'm just becoming a zombie and I feel within myself that I can't continue doing this. I need help and I feel like I keep getting brushed off from everyone because DS is only a toddler but they just don't understand.

Opinions please!!!

Thanks in advance

[Santosha]

Wow, that sounds utterly exhausting. TBH, I have no idea.... and agree it could be anything from the septum to restless legs, apnoea, diet, allergy, separation anxiety, sensory issues or temperament. A sleep unit does sound like your best bet to rule in or out any physiological issues.

Bu I just wanted to say, both my kids have deviated septums - both came out with really squashed little noses thanks to the odd way they were resting on my pelvis. The Pead identified it in both of them, but didn't think it would cause too many issues, except that their noses would get more blocked up during colds. This has been the case, but they just start breathing through their mouth and are no more unsettled than your averag child with a yucky cold.

My DH has a quite significantly deviated septum and it's only really started to bother him a lot in the past 5 years or so, as he's developed sleep apnoea and reccuring sinus infections, which in turn give him nasty headaches. He is on the list for elective surgery to have it corrected some time in the next year.

All the best figuring I out and I hope you and your little man get. Good night's keep very soon. xo