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Like Auntie Mame, we need a little Christmas….
- This topic has 10 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 1 month ago by
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….right this very minute, or at least soon.
Our family has been bombarded by health issues lately (both physical and mental), and caring for my 90yo dad with Alzheimer’s is kind of taking its toll on all of us. My 19yo is facing female-type surgery soon, my youngest is not sleeping well (and her sister has her convinced that there is something mentally wrong with her….I think it’s a case of “misery loves company”), and I have been having such a severe eczema flare-up for the past two months that I am constantly itching and in pain. Thank goodness it is autumn and I can wear long sleeves to cover it up! Natural remedies are working to some extent, but the stress is even more than tea tree oil & coconut oil can handle.
So, to combat her conflicted emotional state, DD17 keeps asking if it’s too soon to put up Christmas decorations. She has just finished reading Hound of the Baskervilles, so I would like to assign her something holiday-themed for literature in November and part of December. She read Dickens’ A Christmas Carol last year, so I’m trying to think of something else.
Any ideas? I would probably love to make it a read-aloud.
Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
https://www.amazo n.com/Letters-Father-Christmas-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618512659/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509234583&sr=8-1&dpID=51DC8SH6TNL&preST=_SX258_BO1,204,203,200_ QL70_&dpSrc=detail
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry – a short story you can find online
The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman
Christmas Stories of Louisa May Alcott. For ex:
As for stress, there are herbs I could suggest to help you, if you’re interested.
Sorry for all the troubles. Maybe Thanksgiving decorations would help or maybe she can make some Christmas decorations that take awhile.
For eczema, have you looked into food allergies? Milk or grains?
Praying you find relief soon, in many areas.
@ Rachel White,
Thanks for the book suggestions. I am going to look into those, especially The Nutcracker as I think it would interest her….and then we could listen to the music and/or watch a film version of it if we can find a good one. (I’m sure there are many out there, even on Youtube.)
I have been diffusing lavender (sometimes combined with other oils), and I’m sure it’s helping, but there is so much going on between caring for my dad, my own health issues, and difficulties with my oldest daughter (some her own “drama” and some things that have just happened to her/not her fault, per se), it’s hard to keep stress at bay. It seems as though every day something new piles on.
If you have any other ideas beyond lavender essential oil, I’d love to hear them. You can email me at sue(dot)mosack(at)gmail(dot)com. By the way, are you the Rachel who has written about the issues between your husband and daughter….I don’t know how to really phrase it, but if that’s you, I’m sure you’ll know what I’m talking about!
@ retrofam,
Thanks for your comments. I do think there are some food issues. I was diagnosed with many food allergies as a young child. Either the concept of an elimination diet was around back then (the 1960’s) or my mom was way ahead of her time because when she started reading labels and realized just how often corn is an ingredient in food products, she decided that there was no way she was going to take away all of these foods for good. After a few months without, she began to slowly reintroduce most of the foods in very small amounts, starting with corn. It worked, because I didn’t have to restrict any foods by the time I was in high school.
I have been considering an elimination diet now….but then there are the holidays coming….*sigh* I cut out sugar, regular flours, and just about all processed foods 5 or 6 months ago, and I felt great for awhile until this huge eczema flare-up occurred.
It started in late August, it got so bad that I caved and went to the emergency room over Labor Day weekend. They started me on a week-long course of steroids…which in my case turned out to be a big mistake. Oh, it cleared up the eczema patches about 75% of the way, but it brought on fatigue and other infections. And now, the eczema is back almost as bad as before.
This time, I am treating it with probiotics, increasing anti-inflammatory foods such as cabbage and cruciferous veggies, and frequently applying a moisturizing and healing salve I made from coconut oil, shea butter, and various essential oils (such as tea tree, lavender, geranium). It is helping, but very, very slowly. That is why I think I need to consider an elimination diet to see if foods are the problem.
Thanks for your prayers and concerns.
A few other ideas to help eczema (based on my 5yo’s dermatologist):
Shower/bathe daily in lukewarm water. (Seems counter-intuitive but goes with the next step). Don’t use soap until just before you get out. Stick with a mild soap or cleanser like Dove for Sensitive Skin, Cetaphil Cleanser, Vanicream Soap, Cerave Soap.
Gently pat skin dry (no rubbing) and within 3 minutes you should have a complete layer of moisturizing cream/ointment applied to your skin to seal in the moisture from the bath water that has soaked into your skin. (You have to be fast.)
Moisturizers: Can be used several times a day, but especially after bath. Generally, creams and ointments are thicker and more effective than lotions. Avoid moisturizers with scents. Examples of eczema friendly ones: Eucerin Cream, Aquaphor Ointment, Vaseline, Cetaphil Cream, Vanicream, Aveeno Advanced Care, Cerave Cream. A key – it should not be a bottle with a pump. If it can pump it is not thick enough. Look for a tub/pot.
There are also steroid based ointments for the skin to help with flare ups, at varying levels of strength, but those have to be prescribed by a doctor. These would go on first, under the moisturizer of your choice.
Other tips:
- Dress in cotton clothing. Wool and other synthetic fabrics may irritate.
- Avoid nickel if it triggers your eczema. Blue jean snaps, jewelry, and razors are often made of nickel and can irritate the skin.
- Keep fingernails short to minimize scratching open skin when itching.
- Use milk laundry detergent without scents or added chemicals (such as Tide Free or All Free). (We actually make our own laundry soap)
- Avoid fabric softener sheets for everyone in the household.
Eczema is no joke! While several of my kids have dealt with it before, Mason’s has been the most severe and coconut oil didn’t touch it. He’s battling a flare right now because we’ve moved into different weather/season and the heat in the house is now on, drying the air. Adding a humidifier is another thing to do.
Hi Sue.
Yes, I am that Rachel. I don’t know about eczema, other than consuming raw milk ( goat if possible) and strengthening your immunity via your gut, especially using traditional ferments:
sourdough breads, yogurts, kefir (this helps the gut repopulate healthy bacteria by attaching to the walls), cottage cheese, veggies in brine, etc.
But stress…now that’s been a constant. I have syringomyelia and migraines; both of which have gotten substantially worse since March, as stress exacerbates these conditions. So, I understand the necessity of trying to keep oneself sane, without resorting to klonopin or valium (of which I am grateful for during the worst times over these past few years, but I took myself off voluntarily).
I would be happy to email you.
First, I wanted to say that I love your voice on here Sue! I always enjoy your posts and comments.
Eczema wise – I am right there in line with Tristan’s suggestions. We have had great success with Eucerin cream used as she suggests although that was a battle in and of itself! Don’t you know that my child with eczema is also my one with sensory issues?! The thickness of that cream almost drove him over the edge.
Sent too fast ….
I’m also hoping for less stress for you Sue! Life is crazy sometimes and I wish I had more comfort to offer you. I have empathy and am sending love! 🙂
Sue, I was at Wal-Mart today and saw that the Shea Moisture line has a few products for eczema and psoriasis: soap, body wash, lotion. Their ingredients are wonderful. My dd uses their hair stuff. Here’s the African Black Soap collection which includes the eczema choices:
https://www.sheamoisture.com/products.html/?product_collection=233
HTH
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