YIPPPPEEEE it was the last one!
For those of you have been around here a while you may remember some of my rants and raves about KM's allergies and asthma issues. Well we went to see her wonderful specialist today, and though he has been a wonderful physician, I am very happy to say we don't have to go back unless there is a serious issue that arises! The doctor said that he has been seeing this same thing more and more - children having serious adverse reactions to household chemicals and once those chemicals are removed - poof the asthma is gone! Just another wonderful reason to homeschool!
The trials and errors of a home educating family finding our own way and getting saner by the day!
Showing posts with label asthma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asthma. Show all posts
Jun 29, 2009
Apr 3, 2008
NO MEDS!!!
So it has been nearly a month since KM was taken off of all her asthma and allergy medications by her specialist.I had asked him to reevaluate her since she was showing no symptoms at all since she was taken out of PS. He is such a great doctor, he called today to check in and see if she was doing alright and still not on any medications. She has continued to show no signs of even the slightest sniffle! Yippee!!!
He said he wasn't surprised and had been seeing more and more children that appear to be allergic to the strong cleaning chemicals used in most households, daycares and schools. I had been questioning for a while what the cause of her asthma could be. KM was diagnosed at 3 after a very difficult winter of three bouts of bronchitis and two cases of pneumonia. KM nursed til she was 2 1/2 and had never even had a cold! Just before she turned 3 she had started preschool and it was all down hill from there. She had all sorts of testing done and they had said she was allergic to a wide array of weeds, molds, dusts and pollens. I was adamant with her doctors that I only wanted her on medications that she HAD to be on. So every so often we would try to ween her off different ones. The thing that really confused me was that most people with allergies have it the worst in the spring and summer when all the trees are pollinating and blooming, however KM would go off her medications in late May and would not need anything including her emergency inhaler all summer. Usually near the end of September, early October she would start to get sniffly and we would get her right back on her meds to avoid any real problems with bronchitis again. I never understood how this could be caused by seasonal allergies when she didn't have the symptoms at the peak season.
A light went off this winter. KM was sick one time before she was taken out of school and then wasn't the least bit stuffy for the rest of the winter. We use almost all organic cleaners, except for laundry, dish and dishwasher detergent. So I asked the doctor if he thought it could have anything to do with the cleaners. He said she was a prime example of what a lot of respitory specialists are beginning to notice more and more. There is no test to prove that this is the case as who wants to be tested to check if you are allergic to breathing in bleach or other harmful chemicals. However the pattern is the same in all these kids, they started to get sick in mid-fall when the teachers start closing the windows in the classrooms and using more and more disinfectants to prevent the spread of germs and illness. They are on meds and/or dealing with severe illnesses all winter and through the start of spring, until it gets warm enough to open those windows again and let the fresh air in. Seems a bit coincidental to me!
It is one less thing to drive me crazy though - having to remember to have her take the meds, calling in refills in time, but not too early and remembering to pick them up and the thought of putting all those chemicals in to KM. I am also wondering if this is part of the change in her attitude and attention span that I have seen as well.
Just thought I would spread a bit of awareness and share a happy triumph!
He said he wasn't surprised and had been seeing more and more children that appear to be allergic to the strong cleaning chemicals used in most households, daycares and schools. I had been questioning for a while what the cause of her asthma could be. KM was diagnosed at 3 after a very difficult winter of three bouts of bronchitis and two cases of pneumonia. KM nursed til she was 2 1/2 and had never even had a cold! Just before she turned 3 she had started preschool and it was all down hill from there. She had all sorts of testing done and they had said she was allergic to a wide array of weeds, molds, dusts and pollens. I was adamant with her doctors that I only wanted her on medications that she HAD to be on. So every so often we would try to ween her off different ones. The thing that really confused me was that most people with allergies have it the worst in the spring and summer when all the trees are pollinating and blooming, however KM would go off her medications in late May and would not need anything including her emergency inhaler all summer. Usually near the end of September, early October she would start to get sniffly and we would get her right back on her meds to avoid any real problems with bronchitis again. I never understood how this could be caused by seasonal allergies when she didn't have the symptoms at the peak season.
A light went off this winter. KM was sick one time before she was taken out of school and then wasn't the least bit stuffy for the rest of the winter. We use almost all organic cleaners, except for laundry, dish and dishwasher detergent. So I asked the doctor if he thought it could have anything to do with the cleaners. He said she was a prime example of what a lot of respitory specialists are beginning to notice more and more. There is no test to prove that this is the case as who wants to be tested to check if you are allergic to breathing in bleach or other harmful chemicals. However the pattern is the same in all these kids, they started to get sick in mid-fall when the teachers start closing the windows in the classrooms and using more and more disinfectants to prevent the spread of germs and illness. They are on meds and/or dealing with severe illnesses all winter and through the start of spring, until it gets warm enough to open those windows again and let the fresh air in. Seems a bit coincidental to me!
It is one less thing to drive me crazy though - having to remember to have her take the meds, calling in refills in time, but not too early and remembering to pick them up and the thought of putting all those chemicals in to KM. I am also wondering if this is part of the change in her attitude and attention span that I have seen as well.
Just thought I would spread a bit of awareness and share a happy triumph!
Feb 13, 2008
First Snow Day! 1-15-2008
We had a great day yesterday! It was our first "snow day" at home and it went a lot smoother than I thought it would, especially due to the fact that the schools took their first snow day in nearly three years (just KM's luck really!).
We were going a little bit slower in the morning as CJ left early to go plow,but other than that we were right on track. She finished her work, we had lunch, and then she went outside to do her artwork using the most readily supply we had SNOW!
She had a great time sculpting, forming and creating with the snow! I have never seen anything like it. She was going, going, going! All on her own and without any prompting.
It amazes me how many opportunities she had been missing to really be able to DO things.
KM has asthma and has always spent the majority of the winter not being able to play outside because of bronchial or sinus issues. In fact the two weeks before the Winter Break (when she was still in school) we had her at the doctors' office 3 times for coughing, wheezing, and chest pains. She also had this wretched cough that didn't go away until just after Christmas.
However she has been fine since then. I had always thought that it had a lot to do with the temperature changes that we have here in New England (20 one day, 55 the next, -10 the next), but last week we had four days of weather in the 50s during the day and 30s at night. KM was outside everyday ~ before, during, and after the warm spell~ and she has not had one sign of any asthma, breathing or nasal problems.
HMMMMM.....
Well KM & CJ will be going out later today to work on physics, construction, and cooperative learning by building a sledding hill!!
Hope you can take some time out of your day to enjoy the snow...if you have any that is!
We were going a little bit slower in the morning as CJ left early to go plow,but other than that we were right on track. She finished her work, we had lunch, and then she went outside to do her artwork using the most readily supply we had SNOW!
She had a great time sculpting, forming and creating with the snow! I have never seen anything like it. She was going, going, going! All on her own and without any prompting.
It amazes me how many opportunities she had been missing to really be able to DO things.
KM has asthma and has always spent the majority of the winter not being able to play outside because of bronchial or sinus issues. In fact the two weeks before the Winter Break (when she was still in school) we had her at the doctors' office 3 times for coughing, wheezing, and chest pains. She also had this wretched cough that didn't go away until just after Christmas.
However she has been fine since then. I had always thought that it had a lot to do with the temperature changes that we have here in New England (20 one day, 55 the next, -10 the next), but last week we had four days of weather in the 50s during the day and 30s at night. KM was outside everyday ~ before, during, and after the warm spell~ and she has not had one sign of any asthma, breathing or nasal problems.
HMMMMM.....
Well KM & CJ will be going out later today to work on physics, construction, and cooperative learning by building a sledding hill!!
Hope you can take some time out of your day to enjoy the snow...if you have any that is!
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