Re: Gave my Allergies to Montanna

[Guest guest]

Anne R wrote about her daughter's allergy tests:

> We decided since I reacted so violently

> to the skin tests, we would try the blood tests 1st.

Hi Anne

I have allergies and past them on to my kids. When they were little, I

didn't make any fuss and put on quite a nonchalant air while we were

quickly driving the 30 miles to the nearest doctor during extra violent

asthma attacks, bee stings, etc. They learned while still tiny, to hold

still for the giant prednisone needle going into either their arms or

their chests. Their doctors always acted relaxed too. Consequently, my

sons never developed a worried or " poor me " attitude about their

difficulties. They had/have a healthy respect for the problems, but

never let it run their days. Even as teenagers, they quietly carried

their asthma medication and their prednisone kits.

Now they have kids of their own and a couple of them have inherited the

allergies too. The parents have adapted the same " routine " attitude

that I used when my kids were little. (even though, like me, they get

scared witless inside, they don't let it show on the outside). Their

little ones are growing up with the same relaxed, respectful, attitude

towards their allergies.

The best part is - my eldest, who just turned 40, has outgrown almost

all of his allergies. He hasn't been stung by a wasp or a bee for about

10 years, so we don't know about that one, but the rest are pretty much

ancient history. He still needs his fast acting inhaler on occasion, so

he keeps that on his person when he is out and about. Skin reactions

still happen sometimes. He had to be hospitalized a few years ago,

because of a sinus infection, that started out from an allergic

reaction. They took out his adenoids and got rid of his deviated

septum, and that helped too.

My youngest still is allergic to all kinds of poultry, but he can now

eat all kinds of fish and most seafood. He hasn't had a serious asthma

attack in about 10 years. Nasal and ear infections are long gone,

though hives and other abrupt skin reactions pop up from time to time.

We are all still allergic to the adhesive on some bandages, but have no

latex reaction. Both my youngest son and I have been stung recently, so

we know that we both have outgrown our life threatening reaction to bee

and wasp stings.

My brother and his wife, made such a big deal out of my nephew's

allergies and trips to the hospital, that the poor kid was scared of

almost everything. Once he was in his teens, my kids and I sat down with

him and talked it out. He's 30 now and getting married this month. He

can eat all sorts of things that used to send him to the hospital, or at

the least, send him for two inhalers and a prednisone kit. When he does

have a reaction to something, he doesn't get bent out of shape.

I don't know how you react with your daughter to the allergy thing, but

our experience, going back to my mother's relaxed on the outside,

attitude with me, has allowed all of us to participate fully in almost

everything. Heck, even aa a violent asthmatic, I ran cross country and

was a gold medal winning track and fielder.

Attitude, with an understanding that, while respect for various

conditions is necessary, it doesn't have to always be a big deal, makes

life easier for everyone. If you make it a routine thing, your daughter

won't get upset when she gets sick or has a violent reaction to

something. And, as you know, the calmer you are, the calmer she'll be.

Serious allergies or not, we still can participate in almost all the fun

stuff the world has to offer.

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

Anne hello! It isn't your fault that Montanna has inherited allergies which

you suffer from. As moms we usually always absorb blame for everything our

kids get that is genetically passed on. Thats just the nature of the beast

we call love. Don't have be so hard on yourself. Like its not your fault

what happens. You are not to blame. I do not blame my mother for the

genetically inherited high cholesterol numbers I deal with and the meds I

take. I do not think my sister her son etc blame her for the same. Do we

blame our parent for our neurological diseases? My son has a similar spinal

disease to mine and we don't do a blame game for that.

Moms and dads too I am sure, takes on guilt for no reason. We love our kids

and want the best for them. Use your energy for loving your kids not blaming

yourself for innocent actions. You are a loving parent. Any kid would be lucky

having you for a mom. Have a good day Anne.

[Guest guest]

We treat allergies as allergies. Montanna has been able to do the

" pre-arrival instructions " with 911 since she was 4 because of my

allergies. So she has seen me on more than one occasion almost DIE from my

allergies... to stuff most people don't think twice about. She has seen me

on Bi-pap ~the step before intubation and being on a ventilator~

I used to be a full time paid Paramedic so I am good at the freaked on the

inside, calm on the outside thing.

I just have lots of bottles of liquid benadryl on hand where ever we go,

and now she has her nasal inhaler to do twice a day to try to prevent

further severe reactions from happening.

I didn't get my allergies until I was 22, so I get to keep mine for life,

but hopefully since she is only not quite 9 she will out grow most of them.

I am not preventing her from going to GS camp, I'm just bringing emergency

meds along (more for me than her).

I always have liquid benadryl and liquid ibuprofen in my truck for her which

will come with us to day camp in a couple of weeks. I just have to find

the fragrance free (for my allergies) bug repellent for our troop to use

around me so we can have as few problems as possible. Planning not to have

one of the leaders picked up by the paramedics if at all possible...

paramedics don't make good patients, and since I have no veins (therefore

have a port-a-cath in my chest which paramedics can't access) I frustrate

paramedics who would really like an IV but can't get one. So we usually go

" Lights, Sirens, and God " to the nearest hospital or trauma center that can

handle me and my situation.

My allergies are to the point that I carry about 6 Epipens with me wherever

I go, after 2 I have to call 911 or go to the ER (neither of which I am

real good at). Plus other meds too.

I am not having a good day so I am going to bed now at 6:45p before

anything else goes wrong today.

Anne