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 First-Person Stories
February 22, 2009
These past few weeks been hectic and draining for me. Ugh! The main reason is my young son's sickness from bacterial infection and me taking care of him besides working. Hope I don't sound like an uncaring mother. As I mentioned before, I recently learned of his allergy related conditions like nasal polyps and asthma in addtion to allergic rhinitis.
It seemed his entire body was aching with severe sore throat and totally stuffed up nose which caused pretty loud snoring at night. Well, the silver lining in this madness for me is a crash course in learning about diseases that are closely associated with sinusitis and rhinitis. And of course, I am glad to see my son resembling more like his ususal (independent, energetic, back-talking, hilarious) self. Actually, I am already kind of missing the "sick" son...when he was quieter, needier, sweeter, and more compliant. He willingly used neti pot for nasal flushing, took vitamins and herbs, practiced steam inhalation and saltwater gargle along with other natural home remedies. I just hope he sticks to these helpful practices, knowing my constant reminder or "nagging" as he puts it, can only go so far before he rebels.
Anyway, I will be sharing more info and experiences with you in the future as I learn more, firsthand, what works for these conditions.
February 15, 2009
Medical researches at times leave me very perplexed and confused when they present contradicting findings. One day, a study says something is good and then next day, that very same thing is not so good. Well, which is it? Which one do I believe? I have come to believe that it's usually a good practice to view any finding with healthy skepticism and to see for myself how true it is for me. What may work for one person may not work for me.
Take for example this recent article about "blowing nose." So far I have been taught that I must blow my nose when it's stuffy. And the common sense tells me it's a good idea to get whatever ails you out of your system...like bacteria. But this research indicates that blowing your nose when congested can be harmful. I think it contains important points about further infecting and adding pressure in the sinuses. It seems to me what is crucial is how you blow your nose, which should be gentle and one nostril at a time. Anyway, read about it more and hope it gives you a better insight into an activity we, the nasal allergy sufferers, all have to deal with.
February 08, 2009
Understanding that many things can trigger or aggravate my sinus and allergy symptoms, I am more vigilant to take steps to reduce and manage them than ever before. I implement all of the following suggestions to combat indoor allergies. And the result is my and my son's conditions have greatly improved over time. Less sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, stuffy/runny nose, post-nasal drip, coughing, and headache! Both of us are far less grumpy and enjoy each other's company more. So I highly recommend doing these things outlined below to keep miserable symptoms away:
- Seal you mattress to keep out allergens: Using dust-mite-proof covers on mattresses and pillows slashes allergen-exposure by 75%.
- Suck up irritants with steam: Steam cleaning removes 87% of allergens from carpets - and lasts for at least a month. You can rent one at Home Depot.
- Dodge dust with a damp cloth: It captures 93% more allergy-triggering particles than a dry one! Good to do this before vacuuming so the scattered dust get picked right up.
- Avoid this culprit when decorating: Rugs, pillows, and upholstery made of wool. It sheds microscopic particles that fuel allergy-causing mites.
- Whisk mold from front-load washers.: Wipe the door gasket and glass after each use and run a hot water cycle with 3/4 cups to 1 1/4 cups of bleach once a month to clean the washer.
- Make vacuuming safer with a mask: Even vacuum cleaners with high efficiency HEPA filters stir up microscopic particles in the air, temporarily worsening allergies.
Source: Woman's World Magazine
February 01, 2009
Nasal polyps were not my problem. But now they are because my son has them. He often had stuffy, runny nose during early childhood but didn’t think much of it until  we recently made a major “ewww” discovery (as my son puts it) in his nostrils. Believe me; polyps are not nice to look at. Now he joins millions of folks who have this condition. Poor kid!
So What Are Nasal Polyps?
Nasal polyps are round, fleshy growths formed when linings in the sinuses and nasal passages get inflamed. Fortunately they are not cancerous. Polyps are shaped like a tear drop and tend to vary in size. You can have just one or few clustered together and usually they are present in both nostrils. Many are harmless but when some grow larger, they obstruct air flow in the nose and cause breathing difficulties. People with hayfever and other nasal allergies are most prone to nasal polyps, as are people who overuse nose drops and nasal sprays.
To learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments, click here.
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