I have had allergies for as long as I can remember. Growing up and spending my whole like in the mid-west, every late summer, like clockwork, I could expect the misery to start. From about August until the first frost, my life was fuzzy. Those that do not suffer from allergies can't understand what is so bad. Those that do, know exactly. Your body is itchy, scratchy, weak and so frustrating. You can't go outside. You can't do the same things you usually do. You feel downright poopy!
Since we moved to Texas, things have actually been better for me. The stuff that floats in the air in the midwest doesn't seem to float the same down here. But there are other things that float around down here. Apparently Austin is one of the worst areas of the country for allergies - great. They say if you don't feel affected right away, just wait a few years. I'm hoping it'll continue to hold off for me.
Unfortunately it has not held off for my baby. Sweet Cheeks got hit with the itchies last spring. Her skin was very irritated and bumpy. She also had a runny nose and sneezing. This year it has come on in a different way. For about the past three or more weeks, she has been itching like crazy. She spends most of her days rubbing her head and her eyes raw. The over the counter stuff was working for a few hours; but I couldn't take watching her anymore - watching her eyes become little red puffy slits.
Yesterday we went to the doctor. One look at her, and it was clear, she needed more than some over the counter meds. She needed more than that - a special trip to a pediatric opthamologist too. My heart was breaking when I realized just how badly she has been itching her eyes.
When all was said and done yesterday, after two different doctors and two pharmacies, my girl ended up with a nasal spray and two eye drops - one for long term and one steroid for short term to heal up the rubbing damage.
I was really worried when we got home late last night that all of this new medicine was going to be worthless. I'm not the holistic, anti-medicine type. However it's another story when it comes to having to give your child a bunch of new foreign drugs. I am a paranoid parent, what can I say. And even if I weren't a paranoid parent, it was another thought in my mind as to how I'm going to convince my three year old to let me squirt stuff up her nose and put drops in her eyes four times a day - yeah, right!
I got Cheekers all bathed last night - and washed that mean old pollen away. Then I sat down and showed her the medicine to make her itchies go away. It became clear pretty quickly that I need not worry about her not cooperating. I think this child has had it with feeling bad - and was willing to put up with squirts and drops. She took it all like a champ! I was so pleased.
I was even more pleased this morning to see that it had already actually shown some signs of improvement. Her eyes were way less puffy, and I even saw a big smile on her face....something that has not been as present lately.
So we have probably at least another month of this. And who knows how many years. I'm hopeful it'll fade as she grows. But if not, at least we now know the signs and the time of year and a way to get the ball rolling to prevent the itchies!
