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Showing posts from January, 2017

Learnin' the lingo

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If there's one thing I learned being a mom to 3 kids with asthma, is to know oxygen levels. When they were little, my kids were hospitalized 12 times for asthma (2 of those were ICU.)  In addition to watching for their skin color, fingernails, or lip color to change, I checked their peak flow meter , listened for wheezing , and gave breathing treatments. I also learned how to use an oxygen monitor. We had a hand held monitor we borrowed from a friend, similar to the photo above. (I just did a quick search online and found that you can buy a finger tip monitor for $20-$40!) Wow! The one we used back in 2000 - 2007 was about the size of a paperback book and cost $800. Once you have a monitor, how do you know if your oxygen level is low? Mayo Clinic says: "Normal pulse oximeter readings usually range from 95 to 100 percent. Values under 90 percent are considered low."  When my kids would get REALLY sick, I always pulled out the oxygen mon

A tip if you end up in the ER

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Last week, a family member had an accident and we had to call the ambulance.  While we were waiting for the ambulance, I told daughter Kitty to throw some snacks in my purse. Unfortunately, we have had LOTS of experience with the emergency room. When my kids were little, they were hospitalized 12 times for asthma. So I knew that there were a few things that would make our LONG wait in the ER a little easier. Here are a few things I have learned: It can be unexpected and scary to be in the ER You are going to be there for a LONG time They are busy, so all they can help you with are medical problems Snacks help grab trail mix, granola bars, etc Grab your favorite water bottle  Don't forget a portable power bank/phone charger   Humor can help - people are usually shocked and scared and may say or do things that normally wouldn’t The medical staff are your friends - treat them that way! With my kids, we first go through the triage area , then they u

Colds, asthma and the straw exercise

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Well, I jinxed myself. Remember last week's post how I talked about not getting a bad cold yet this year?  Yeah, well as careful as I was - I finally caught a cold. The photo shows my medicine pile for work. (By the way - I am NOT endorsing any of these things....nor do I get any money from any of the companies. I just wanted to show what I have to haul around between work and home when I get a cold.) These are a few of the things that seems to help sooth my throat, help my congestion and cough. Daughter Kitty was sick, so I knew it was just a matter of time until I caught her cold. Even being as careful as I could be with hand washing, etc. it caught up with me. It took a day or two, but it's now affecting my asthma. Hubby is sick too, but since he doesn't have asthma, he doesn't get as sick as I do. In fact, he seemed surprised when I told him my chest was tight and I was having a hard time breathing. People who don't have asthma have a V

Don't even think about sitting next to me if you are sick

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If you are sick (sneezing, wiping your nose and coughing), I will get up and move. It doesn't matter if I am at work, church or the grocery store. I have changed seats in a movie theater and church, and swung my grocery cart around in the middle of the aisle to get away from someone who was coughing (and not covering their mouth of course!) When my kids were little, their teachers would teach them to cough and sneeze into their shoulder or elbow and NOT THEIR HAND! Why? Because you cough or sneeze into your hand, then touch doorknobs, elevator buttons, the copy machine, etc.  And then some unsuspecting person comes along and touches the doorknob, elevator button, copy machine and then innocently scratches their nose or touches their face. And BINGO! They are sick. Am I over - reacting? Nope. With asthma, you can have swelling in the lungs and not know it. You can't see it or know that it's there. So, a cold or flu on top of asthma can spell disa