Get Down with the Sickness

I had to chuckle when I thought of this title. If you knew me in my high school years, you'd know that this is a rock song title of a band I saw twice in concert...but that's beside the point. What I mean is to learn about illness. Learn about the sickness and what it's doing and what your body does as the amazing machine that it is.

All three Faithful Children are sick with Croup. If you've never experienced it, you are lucky. It's not as bad as some viruses, but it's not the average cold or flu.

Croup is a condition that causes an inflammation of the upper 

airways — the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). 

It often leads to a barking cough or hoarseness, 

especially when a child cries.

Most cases of croup are caused by viruses. 

Those involved are usually parainfluenza virus 

(which accounts for most cases), 

adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

Croup is most common — and symptoms are most severe — 

in children 6 months to 3 years old, 

but can affect older kids, too.

Most cases of viral croup are mild and can be treated at home, 

though rarely it can be severe and even life-threatening. 

Some children are more prone to developing croup when

they get a viral upper respiratory infection.

(for more info go to:  http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/croup.html)

I learn as I go. I never paid attention much in science class, but now wish I had. Did you know our bodies are capable of working a battle to keep us feeling good if we treat it nicely? Our bodies are always working, always moving. When a virus or bacteria comes along and interferes with our zen, our wonderfully made body pulls out defenses. When it's the flu, or croup, or any other illness, our body pulls into its memory and says 'oh ya, we know this icky thing...we have to do this (or that) to get it gone!' Amazing! Did you know that fevers are sometimes a good thing? I know, sounds crazy right?! If a fever is not out of control, it should be left alone. No medicine to get rid of the fever...yep you heard me right. A fever means that your body is working to fight off either a bacteria or virus. If you mess with it by taking a fever reducer, you are prohibiting your body from doing its job to remember what the problem is. Am I starting to make sense? Here is an explanation I found...

Fever refers to an elevation in body temperature. 

Technically, any body temperature above the normal

oral measurement of 98.6 F (37 C) or the normal rectal 

temperature of 99 F (37.2 C) is considered to be elevated. 

However, these are averages, and one's normal body 

temperature may actually be 1 F (0.6 C) or more above or 

below the average of 98.6 F. Body temperature can also 

vary up to 1 F (0.6 C) throughout the day.

Fever is not considered medically significant until body temperature 

is above 100.4 F (38 C). Anything above normal but 

below 100.4 F (38 C) is considered a low-grade fever. 

Fever serves as one of the body's natural defenses against 

bacteria and viruses which cannot live at a higher temperature. 

For that reason, low fevers should normally go untreated, 

unless accompanied by troubling symptoms.

Also, the body's defense mechanisms seem to work 

more efficiently at a higher temperature. 

(taken from:  http://www.medicinenet.com/aches_pain_fever/article.htm)

Amazing right?! If someone would have told me not to give Faithful Boy 1 Motrin if he had a 99 degree temperature at 12 months old I'd have told them that's neglect!! Boy was I wrong!! Like I said, I learn as I go. I am now a Mom of three boys, usually healthy. They have the croup now and we're working with their bodies to get it out. We experienced the scariest fever in our parenting thus far. Our oldest Faithful Boy woke in the middle of the night with a 103.7 temp. That was scary. And he was wheezing like he couldn't catch his breath (started the croup), which made him scared and start to hyperventilate. We went with gut instinct. We took him into the bathroom. I sat with him and put his hot head on my chest and calmed him by talking gently and letting him know to breathe with me. We turned on the shower to hot for the steam to help also. I soothed his breath as Mr. Faithful ran cold water on washcloths that we proceeded to put on his burning head, neck and shoulders. His fever reduced naturally within 20 minutes and continued to drop down to about 101. We never once gave him a fever reducing medicine the first two days. We did end up giving him some motrin on day three, but only because his throat was so swollen, and you can't find an anti inflammatory without fever reducer unfortunately. Middle Faithful Boy was doing ok, just coughed a lot for the past week. Our Youngest Faithful Boy, at 20 weeks old, sounds terrible when he coughs. We called the doctor this morning to make sure it wasn't something worse, like whooping cough or RSV. He told us we are doing everything right and to just keep going. It gets worse before it gets better. It's scary to see your babies get sick and be uncomfortable. I've taken them to get adjusted at our chiropractor, which helps build up their immune system....

 

Children who have regular Chiropractic adjustments 

have fewer colds, ear infections and flu. "People who receive regular 

chiropractic adjustments have immune system competency 

that is 200% greater than those who don't." (Dr. Ron Pero. New York 

Preventative Medicine Institute and Environmental Health at NYU)

Even though you are not sick, your body may be acquiring 

misalignments of the spine (subluxations) that are interfering with 

your nervous system and thus your immune system. Regular chiropractic 

check-ups can help you to maintain a healthy immune system 

and stave off illnesses or allergies. A chiropractic adjustment will restore 

the balance of your nervous system and restore the flow of energy

and information throughout the body, thus validating one of the great benefits of chiropractic care!

 (taken from: http://www.immunesystemremedies.com/benefits-of-chiropractic-care.html)

So at the on site of illness, we get them adjusted. They love it, and it's so cool the see them lay down wanting to get it done. We've also given the older boys a homemade remedy of raw honey, onions and garlic syrup. It sounds and smells pretty strong but it works!! I think what we are doing with all three has helped them immensely. And we are not giving them as much strong man made chemicals that hinder their tiny bodies.

 

Sounds crazy, I know...I used to be Miss Mainstream. I am not that scared Mommy anymore. I learn as I go and get down with the sickness.