04.20.06

I Hate Allergies!!

Posted in Life, the Universe and All that Jazz at 12:04 pm by Meg

Allergies were a non-issue in this house about 2 years ago. Hubby suspected a little seasonal sensitivity in the boy, but aside from a sniffle, it never amounted to anything. I’ve always had a couple of little things, but aside from metal in earrings and eyeglass frames, it wasn’t anything to be concerned about.
HAH!!

First it was Boy. He was about 13 and all of a sudden we had blazing seasonal allergies. How’d we find out? Well, the inlaws were in town and we were out driving. it’s April, with all the changeable weather that that means in Indiana. The trees were in full bloom. We started down a city street (30ish mph) and then decided to turn off the ac and open windows.

****WE DID NOT GET EVEN HALF WAY DOWN A FREAKING BlOCK **** and he was sneezing like crazy. The eyes, the nose, poor kid. But aside from maybe some sensitivity to the cat (he avoids holding her), it’s only lasts for about a month in the spring. Not bad overall really. OTC pills seem to manage it, and once the month is over, he’s been fine. ahuh, until this year. I’ll get back to it.

Then it was Girl. She was about 10ish. I had bought new sheets for her bed. Funky 60’s/70’s sheets with big flowers that weren’t the normal bedsheet material. They were made out of T-shirt-like material that made them very soft. She loved them.

The next thing I know, she’s got a full body rash from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet. Total. Absolute. Guess what? She has her grandmother’s (my MIL) allergy to soap!! and something that they had treated the material with put it in full reaction mode. Overnight the house went to additive-free laundry detergents and soaps. But the kicker with all that? In triggering her soap allergies, she also developed extreme metal allergies that puts mine to shame.

And how did we find out? You know how jeans have the little metal disc on the back of the snap or button? Well, she gets a huge rash all over her tummy from it rubbing. Initally, covering it with clear nail polish was enough to protect her.

And that brings me to this year. Let’s see:

Girl - well the soap problems seemed to be under control (but only because I’m very careful), but now she’s reacting to her deoderant! Furthermore, the metal sensitivity has gotten worse. And now everytime she gets a new pair of jeans (or shorts) I’m sewing little patches over the metal disc. Let me tell you, it gets real tiring, but it’s elastic waistbanded pants otherwise and I won’t do that to her.

And Boy? thanks for asking. You see, we’re on this extended trip (for hubby’s work) to the Southwest. I’d always figured that as dry as it is out here, allergies would be much simplier to deal with. ROFLOL. The poor kid has been dealing with terrible symptoms since the beginning of February!! The pills barely even make a difference, let alone let him feel normal. First it was the trees. I guess juniper is really reactive, then that went away and we had about a week or so that was nearly normal. But now, Grrr. It’s back again. I’m assuming it’s something flowering.

And when he’s reacting. He’s totally dragging. and I don’t blame him. I really don’t think he’s faking anything. But everything he does goes at half speed or less and watching him just drives me nuts. I just keep telling myself, ‘He’s in high school. If he was in PS, he’d be totally floundering dealing with this. At least here he can take part of the summer to finish things up.’ But it still drives me crazy!

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