Severe Infantile Eczema Update - May 2014

Hey guys :) Well, it's summer! I'm loving it. It's gone from being a beautiful winter to being a beautiful summer. Yipee!

With summer coming along Mr. T has been spending more time outside in nice weather which generally would suggest that his skin is also slightly better due to not being inside in heated rooms or outside in gale force winds. On the grander scale of things this is probably true. Six months ago he did look worse, but I think the herbalist that I am going to see also has a lot to do with any improvement. Unfortunately there hasn't been much improvement past the fact that his cheeks are just less 'angry' looking. We seem to have come up to a stumbling block yet again. A month ago when I saw the inflamed red patches calming on his cheeks I was really hoping this was the start of the next step. 

I am still continuing with the herbalist treatment, in one way I am afraid to stop. I guess we'll see what another month brings. It's one of the most difficult aspects of severe infantile eczema. It's also a big waiting game, one that taxes both your body and mental state in the process.

This update will also include a message for other mothers and fathers out there trying to cope with this. Look after yourself in every free moment you can get, and try be good to yourself! I learned my lesson over Easter, a month ago;

After a year and a half of struggle with Mr. T, trying to help his skin stay on his body, not get infections, get the correct foods, have emotional support, keeping the family running and the house detergent/allergen free my body finally decided it had enough of being pushed and pushed and made me listen to it and stop. 

I have suffered from cardiac arrhythmia since 2011, but there are times when it gets worse like during pregnancy, when I don't drink enough water, when I exercise too much, and when I consume alcohol or caffeine. Well last month it was getting worse and worse and then one day it went scarily crazy. My rhythm was skipping and hopping, with pauses that made me cough and gasp, beats that felt so strong it was like they were going to jump out of my chest. I got stabbing chest pains in my chest, a heavy feeling like I had concrete blocks sitting on my rib cage, and a headache like someone was pouring hot water over my head. I was grocery shopping and had to gasp for air while clutching my chest when I decided OK, enough was enough, I have to listen to myself. I always pushed myself harder and harder, knowing that in reality one has more left in the tank than one thinks, well, I think this was the end of my tank. 

I text Tom and said I needed to get home, and once I got there I wouldn't be able to do anything. Once I got home I went to bed, darkness, regular breathing, no talking, and lying on my right hand side seemed to calm it down. Three hours later my heartbeat regulated somewhat. The next morning I went to the doctor who said I should have gone to A&E the day before, well to tell you the truth, A&E didn't even enter my mind. All I wanted was bed, rest and darkness. Diagnosis: Exhaustion. Over the next week my heart wouldn't let me do much. Climbing the stairs left me shattered, simply being awake for three hours had my arrhythmia going mad again. Chest pains, pressure, and headaches were unnerving.  

Well it has taken me a month of extra rest to recover from this (thank you Tom, Mum & Chloe), which was followed by a bladder infection, throat infection, and cold. I am also going to see more specialists to see if there's any fibrillation going on, which would be a little more sinister. 
Now I am just left with a hoarse voice and a cough but I'm nearly better. The cardiac arrhythmia is a condition that I might have for life, but I now know that when it plays up I need to just give myself a little love and stop to think that if I keep going to the point of collapse I will be no good to my kids or family either, so take it slower! 

A burn out as they call it, physical and mental collapse due to exhaustion, if you want to call it that, also has emotional problems. In the last month I have been unable to be as strong as usual when Mr. T has a break out, or when I have to explain to someone about his condition. Where before I was able to speak and act with motherly strength and confidence, I now crumble and cry. This too though will improve with time as I tell myself it will all be OK. We are lucky that Mr. T is not terminally ill, or in a hospital etc. On the grander scale of things he is suffering less now than he was this time last year. We should be proud of that. 

If there are parents out there on the same venture as us, please take a moment. It is so difficult to take a few minutes to yourself, especially when you think there must be something more I can do to help my little one, what's the missing link? Well even if you haven't found the missing link, remember you need to listen to your own body too. Without you your child wouldn't be getting the love and care it needs. Be kinder to yourself! It is difficult to sometimes remember that you ARE really trying your best. It is not your fault, and you are not a failure as a parent. The road on this journey is tough, but you need to be ABLE to be there for them, truly, from the heart. Not just in a zombified state of mind that is merely functioning to upkeep your efforts and survive yourself. Someday it might catch up on you. Give yourselves a pat on the back, or a hug.
Ye deserve it :) 

Mr. T :)

My happiness project: February - Be healthier (part 2)

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 

I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 

So my February happiness project was to be healthier. I did a detox, and came up with a healthier meal plan that suits our family, you can see this post here. On top of that though I planned on excercising more and giving this new fad ; oil pulling a go. I figured those things together would create an all round healthier me. :)

Unfortunately I didn't get as much excercising done as I'd hoped. I just didn't find the time. I'm sure you mums out there know what I mean. Where oh where do I squeeze it in? Argh! I can't get up any earlier,  and during the day it's impossible to get an hour for myself. After kiddie bedtime I feel like a sleepy pot belly pig from dinner and the days running around so no hope of excercise then.

I decided I could only do my best, and that was little spurts here and there, like when I'm supervising the kids in the bath (obviously always staying next to the bath, facing them, in case of accident) or folding laundry. I also started trying to get the kids to do work outs with me. Miss J happily joined in, delighted to be practising counting to 12 and 20 over and over. Mr.T on the other hand decided it was much more fun to sit my head or use me as a climbing frame.

Mr. T deciding excercising was too boring. 

I have always been into staying fit and excercising so I attended Pilates and various different work out classes in the past, and I also went to see a physiotherapist after Mr.T's pregnancy as I had a three finger gap in my stomach muscles called diastasis recti. The work out that I do is my own personal culmination of these excercises as well as some I found on you tube and in a post pregnancy book called Superfit Mama.

Every body shape is different so if you're  planning on getting fit I would advise to attend some classes and do some research as to what suits you. It also of course depends on health and injuries. What current state of health and fitness your body is in should be the first thing you assess. For example I was in a car accident 8 years ago and still suffer from whiplash if I'm not careful so any excercises I do, I bear this in mind.
Well, if you'd like some ideas and would like to read how I went about my excercise plan here goes:

Firstly I measured myself. I have no weighing scales in my house but I'm around 52kg, and 5ft4. That works out at an 'average' though slightly small 30 year old woman. I took measurements of the places I would hope would tone up with the work outs which are the following:

- Bum/hips (widest part of bum)
- Belly (measure at same height as belly button)
- Waist ( thinnest part)
- Bust (seeing as these are still changing and recovering post partum I wanted to   observe change in these too)

Everybody wants to achieve different goals, so what you aim for is entirely up to you, your health, time, and ability. My body shape is rectangular ie. not much curves going on, so not much bum & boobs and not much of a waist, but fairly athletic and though i eat like a horse I rarely put on weight. My goals weren't anything drastic, but after two pregnancies some toning and core strength is needed. You know yourself, exercise results might not be noticeable to others, but it could be the difference between looking in the mirror before you get dressed thinking 'rrrraaaarrrr! :)' or thinking 'hmpf! :/'. Measuring yourself is a good way to stay motivated and know whats happening.

I decided to try the exercise plan in the Superfit Mama book mentioned above. It's basically short 10 minute routines focusing on butt, belly, flexibility and a general circuit work out to cover all areas. That way I could maybe squeeze in 10 minutes here or there. I still have to tell myself: relax! It's ok if u can't get it all done. At least you're doing something. Breath! The time will come.

Obviously I can't copy everything from the book here due to copyright, but I've had a look online to find some similar exercises, and also some videos I think are suited.

So here's some of the excercises I have on my list:

- Hip flexor stretch (tight hip flexors get in the way of seeing results from stomach exercises. A good idea to throw some in)

- Butt work outs, and here's some more :) Just found another one that Miss J always wants to copy: Booty kicks

- Belly workouts: Reverse crunch, Toe Dip, and here's a work out from Tracy Mallet.

- Hoola hooping! I used to steal Miss J's hoola hoop and after 60 seconds of keeping it up I was sweating and my stomach muscles were screaming for help! Great fun too. I now bought myself a hoop that fits me, and one for each of the kids so we can do it together. It's hard work at the start, but great for warming up everything when you haven't got an opportunity to go for a warm up walk. Here's the video I watched to get me started: Beginners Hoola Hooping

I haven't got the opportunity to upload my own exercise routine via video, so I've just come up with that collection by searching for some of my usual exercises online. I mainly use the ones from the Super Mama book mentioned above, which I would highly recommend. (Please note I am not being endorsed for this article). Of course I adapt anything I need to in order to make it work for my whiplash, so please, be careful! Also, not all the exercises and movements above are what I would call suitable, some are too harsh on your body I think, but use your common sense, and listen to your body. You know best. And if you don't, consult a professional trainer or fitness expert. 

Now where do I find the time to fit all this in? I have no idea! I'm a real mum, with a real life, and one of my children needs a lot of extra care. For more info go here.

I basically just do what I can. 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there, and sometimes, god help me, try to do it with the kids :)

Getting everyone ready to exercise ;)

As for the oil pulling. Gosh! I tried and failed. I get up in the mornings between 6am and 6.30am and get the kids ready.....I failed to not talk for 20 minutes. Miss J thinks its hilarious to try make mummy talk when she's nearly gagging on coconut oil. I've decided to leave it for a while, and keep it as an interesting venture to do in a few years time. I am definitely interested in it, but right now, it wouldn't work. You just can't shut me up :)