rootofnewt | Jan. 10th, 2002

boy talked to him mom last night. she's a nurse and really good for talking to about health things. she knows when to let things pass and when to call the doctor. :)

well, boy has been having what have seemed like allergic reactions. the ones to the mushrooms i'm pretty sure *are*.

but a couple days ago, he had another reaction like that... he hadn't had any mushrooms... just carrots, cottage cheese, and a piece of fresh rye bread... the bread isn't moldy. i know that.

the night before, i told him to go to the ER the next time he had a reaction like the one he had that afternoon to mushrooms. that day, he sat it out and didn't told anyone. felt like a tight collar around his neck, "weird feeling", hot and red of face... i know all too well how fast reactions can escalate, so i ordered him to seek medical attention the next time...

which was the next day... the day of no mushrooms. a coworker took him to the hospital, where boy cycled in and out of the reaction. the did an ekg and kept an eye on him. he'd already taken benedryl... the ER docs figured he was right--allergic reaction.... and told him to come back if he had trouble breathing.

well, he talked to his mom, as i said... and she told him that several of her friends and coworkers have something going around that presents itself the same way--almost like an allergic reaction or panic/anxiety attack...

boy hasn't really felt well for a week... so we're wondering if that's what it is.

and i'm so disjointed, i can't do anything to help. the clonazepam still has me all fuzzy-headed. i keep an eye on him... make sure he's breathing. he has asthma, so these weird attacks really worry me. and i really hope that it's just some passing bacterium or virus...

sometimes i feel like my mother. i sometimes think her fibro was exacerbated by not sleeping deeply so she could hear my brother if he started gasping from an asthma attack. it's frightening, waking up at night and feeling for the rise and fall of the chest... listening for the telltale gasp...

i'm so glad his asthma isn't as bad as my brother's was. but i remember how scared i used to be when i heard mom run up the stairs to take care of my little brother. how scared i was that i'd lose him.

now, when i'm in bed beside boy, i get flashbacks of being a little girl again... and i feel so helpless.

so i really hope these weird attacks pass. i asked him to call the doctor today... i was shocked that he didn't yesterday. we're not the type to run to the doctor with every little problem, but he fucking went to the ER and he has no explanation for this... if it affects BREATHING, one goes to the doctor, period.