Navigating Spring Allergens

We had to find something to help with our son’s miserable allergies. Enter a new player on the team: the allergist. One blood test and we had the results of what causes him so much woe!

Turns out, nothing I expected. Cats? Nope. Dogs? Nope. Surely dust! Uh-uh. (Thankfully!) Gotta be the trees then. He’s out in them at school for hours every day- oak, cedar, elm? Okay, well, cedar caused a mild reaction, but none of the others. So what is it? His nemesis is mold. And mold is everywhere! How are we going to handle this one?

We began giving him daily antihistamines and his behavior has deteriorated. I’m left with the chicken-or-the-egg conundrum. Is he grouchy and easily frustrated because he feels icky from the allergens or is because of the antihistamines? I’m going with the medication since it’s the newest and he has had a paradoxical effect to Benadryl in the past. I’ve withdrawn them to see what happens next. But it’s been wet and I’m expecting molds to be high during the upcoming spring season!

It’s hard to know with our kids since so many things seem to affect them. I feel like I’m trying to whack-a-mole! Remember that game? The heads pop up here only to pop up there again. That’s what this feels like! We get one diagnosis down and think “Okay, we’ve got this” when here comes another at us!

Sometimes I feel like I’m trying to make the world perfect for our son. Like right now. I’d like to scrub the entire outside with a stiff brush and bleach! But as much as I’d like that, I know I can’t. So it’s left to us - well, him - to cope with what is instead of what we want it to be. That could be said about so many things in life for all of us.

In the meantime, pass the tissues and where’s that Neti pot? Never mind - he’s never going to buy into that one!

Search using the Find Services, Groups, and Events or talk with other parents to find help with your child’s allergies.