My Life as an Asthma Mom

( Utah Asthma Program ) School is out, and it's time for daughter Kitty to go to summer soccer camp. It makes me nervous to send her to camp because of her allergies and asthma. What if she has an asthma attack? Her allergies are really bad too, even though she's been having allergy shots for 5 years now. Her last skin test showed that she's no longer allergic to grass-kind of a big deal if you play soccer!! But what if she has problems with other allergies due to nearby flowers, plants and bushes? What if she has an asthma attack? Will the coaching staff know how to handle it? It's not Kitty's normal coach-summer camp is usually run by a bunch of college aged kids. Last fall I asked Kitty's coach to watch Winning With Asthma . It's a FREE short online video from the Minnesota and Utah state health departments. It teaches coaches what asthma is and how to treat an asthma attack. Coach watched it and said he felt he would be able to help Kitty if ...

     My lungs are accustomed to dry air (as we live in a desert). Our recent vacation with the teenagers took us to the beach. And my lungs DID NOT like the change in temperature or humidity.  Did you know that changes in weather can affect your asthma? The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has a section on their website about what causes or 'triggers' asthma.  My asthma flared up while we were at the beach, my body wasn't used to the moisture in the air. I used my rescue inhaler several times during the week we were at the beach. But the scenery was worth it! Check the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website for more triggers. Asthma triggers are different for everyone and they can change over time. I once had an asthma attack at a movie theater when a group of college girls with strong perfume sat down next to me. I've never had it bother me before that time or since then. Always carry your inhaler with you, just in case you have an as...

     I read this story in the New York Times the other day and thought, "Huh??" The article, "Sucking Your Child's Pacifier Clean May Reduce Allergies, A Study Finds" quotes a study from Pediatrics. It shows that infants of parents who sucked on their baby's pacifiers to clean them had lower rates of asthma, allergies and eczema. The study was based in Sweden, and isn't sure whether it's just the fact that the parents clean the baby's pacifier with their own mouth that passes some sort of protection to their baby. Or is that type of parent more relaxed about germs and letting their kids be exposed to things early in life? The article says that rather than being overly protective of our children, it's good for them to get a little dirty and be exposed to things in the environment early in life. Does help them start to build up an immunity?   The study also shows that babies who are born vaginally are exposed to different bacteria (on ...

       We were helping a family member move and were loading boxes from a garage into the trailer, driving to the new place and unloading the boxes.Up and down the stairs, up and down the stairs. It was hard work!! And the garage we pulled boxes out of was VERY dusty. The next day, Hubby and I were so tired we could hardly move. (We're not as young as we used to be.....) Then he said that 'his chest felt tight and it seemed like he needed to cough every once in a while'. I said, "Welcome to my world!!!" That's what it feels like when you have asthma!! He doesn't have asthma, but has allergies. He's never experienced asthma symptoms before. I usually tell people that when your asthma flares up, it's like trying to breathe through a straw (with your nose pinched shut). It was weird to have someone who has never experienced asthma-like symptoms complain about it. I guess I get used to the symptoms. But for other people, or for someone who is ...

Inhaler companies are finally putting counters on inhalers. It can help you know how many doses are left.  Back in the day....there was no way to know if your inhaler was empty. Doctors would tell patients to put a hash mark on the inhaler with a black marker. And once they got to 120, the inhaler would be empty.  You can imagine how well that worked.... I mean, inhalers are small.  How would you ever be able to put 120 hash marks on an inhaler? The other old school remedy was to put the inhaler in a sink of water. Depending on if it would float or sink, it would let you know how much medicine was in it.  NOTE: Do NOT try the water float test. Not only does it not work - but you will ruin your inhaler and have to buy a new one. Counters help you actually know how many doses are left.  Since the inhaler mixes a propellant with medicine, you may not notice it's empty. The propellant will still come out, even after the medicine runs out.  The problem is tha...

                  A new report says that skin and food allergies are increasing . I guess misery loves company!   I am allergic to seafood, and Son #2 is allergic to tree nuts. Daughter Kitty is having horrible problems with her eczema. Son #2 and I have to carefully inspect food anytime we eat out. We were at a friend's house last night and they had a candy bowl with plain M & M's, peanuts and almonds. I took a handful but told Son #2 not to eat any because there were almonds mixed in. "Ya, I know" he said confidently. I know he's headed to college, but I'm still in the habit of checking things for him. It's nice to know that he's watching out for himself. There are A LOT of other people also inspecting their food. The CDC estimates that 1 in 20 people have food allergies (which is a 50% increase since the 1990's). And 1 in 8 people have eczema. So why are there so many people now who have to carry Epi pens? And w...

(American Lung Association Utah) For those of you that have kids with asthma, you know how scary it can be. The thought of sending them to camp (without you!) can make your heart race. How do you let your kids experience summer camp without worrying nonstop about them? "Normal kids" have a list of things they take to camp, and maintenance medication, rescue inhalers, allergy medicine, Epi pens and peak flow meters aren't included. But they are for kids with asthma. In fact, all those supplies are mandatory for a camp out.  They are out in nature after all, with trees, bushes and dust and all the other things that can trigger an asthma attack. Every child with asthma is different and they can all have different asthma triggers. It's best to be prepared and pack all allergy and asthma supplies-just in case. So how can you send a child with asthma to summer camp? And not worry? One option is a Camp Wyatt   which is sponsored by the American Lung Association ...