my 8 yr old has made a new friend, he lives a few doors away. this is not a judgement on other peoples housekeeping, each to their own i say, i'm like adrian monk myself<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0"> my son goes into their house to play regularly, i'm just wondering whether the dirt and stuff in his friends house could affect him in any way( it is very dirty ,my sons clothes smell when he comes home, again. i am not making judgements they are a very nice family) what do you think ? are household bugs a problem to people with cf<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
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? for parents of cfers
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
EVERYTHING is a risk for people with CF! How you deal with it depends on how sheltered you want your kids to be. Some people don't think about it, some obsess about it. In my case, we have been super careful of the cleanliness of our home and cautious about things the boys come in contact with, BUT we still let them be kids. They play in the dirt, hang out at the farm, fish and swim at the pond etc.
I also have a friend whose house is unclean. I'm always on edge when we visit there and have instructed my kids to wash their hands frequently.
I also have a friend whose house is unclean. I'm always on edge when we visit there and have instructed my kids to wash their hands frequently.
Hi,
the smell could also have its reason in not opening the windows daily or cooking special things or having pets, it must not necessarily mean, that the house is dirty.
I´m no "germaphobic" myself, i´m often too tired to clean everything<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
I do also think, everyones immune-system needs "training".
I´m 43 now and have never been extremly careful; the only thing I do really try to avoid are hospitals!!!
Uli,43,Germany
the smell could also have its reason in not opening the windows daily or cooking special things or having pets, it must not necessarily mean, that the house is dirty.
I´m no "germaphobic" myself, i´m often too tired to clean everything<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
I do also think, everyones immune-system needs "training".
I´m 43 now and have never been extremly careful; the only thing I do really try to avoid are hospitals!!!
Uli,43,Germany
rebekahphillips
New member
I have Cf. so i can say that going to other people's houses was never a problem unless someone smoke. all you have to tell your child is to go to another room if an aroma is bugging him.
My girls have a friend that lives down the street and has about 20 animals in various shapes and sizes. I used to let them go play down there quite a bit until I became friends with the mother and was down there myself and found dog poop on the floor of their house that had been there for days it seemed. I just decided at that point that if they all wanted to play that she could come to our house and if my girls wanted to go up there that I would go with them and limit the time to about 15-20 minutes. I was honest with the mother and told her that I just did not want my girls around that many animals in such a closed environment. Basic things that I ask when I send my girls to a house is:
Do you smoke? They can't be in a smoking house.
Are you remodeling a room in your home? Just because there can be so many things airborne that can irritate their lungs.
I also ask if there child has been coughing or sick latley?
I know I can't control everything, but if it means that me asking these strange questions may prevent a hospitalization, then I ask. Sometimes you may offend people by trying to keep your child healthy. That is not your issue, it is theirs if they can't understand your concerns for your child. This is much easier said than done in a friendship situation.
I would say in this situation to get to know the mom better and get in the house to take a look for yourself. If anything stands out and your "mothers intuition" is screaming at you to keep away from there, then thats what I would do. It's okay to be a little nuerotic in dealing with CF, it's complicated and unpredictable, and mothers always reserve the right to change their minds.
An added thought is that in some situations I just let go and pray. Like if they are invited to a sleep over party and would be totally devasted to miss it. Or if we are invited to Chuck E Cheese for a birthday (lots of germs especially on weekends). You have to gauge where your child needs to feel in control and choose the situations that you think will be of benifit to him mentally in dealing with CF and taking time out for him to forget about it for a few hours or over night.
Sorry this is so long. Hope it helps.
Do you smoke? They can't be in a smoking house.
Are you remodeling a room in your home? Just because there can be so many things airborne that can irritate their lungs.
I also ask if there child has been coughing or sick latley?
I know I can't control everything, but if it means that me asking these strange questions may prevent a hospitalization, then I ask. Sometimes you may offend people by trying to keep your child healthy. That is not your issue, it is theirs if they can't understand your concerns for your child. This is much easier said than done in a friendship situation.
I would say in this situation to get to know the mom better and get in the house to take a look for yourself. If anything stands out and your "mothers intuition" is screaming at you to keep away from there, then thats what I would do. It's okay to be a little nuerotic in dealing with CF, it's complicated and unpredictable, and mothers always reserve the right to change their minds.
An added thought is that in some situations I just let go and pray. Like if they are invited to a sleep over party and would be totally devasted to miss it. Or if we are invited to Chuck E Cheese for a birthday (lots of germs especially on weekends). You have to gauge where your child needs to feel in control and choose the situations that you think will be of benifit to him mentally in dealing with CF and taking time out for him to forget about it for a few hours or over night.
Sorry this is so long. Hope it helps.
It can be something as simple as moisture in the basement. Well thats not really simple, but it might not have anything to do with the housekeeping. Moisture brings out the smell in EVERYTHING even the slightest odor so when you have old smells from cooking or animals or unseen dirt in the carpet etc & you throw mositure in....the house can smell like it & it will be obsorbed into your hair & clothing just like cigarette smoke. I had a friend whose house was very, very wet & I always smelled like it. It wasnt from her housekeeping, but that the water problem needed to be addressed! There are many variables when it comes to housekeeping.....now the dog poop on the floor is a bit much!
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>
Well, moisture in the house would also be bad because its ideal for fungus and thats not even good for healty persons...
Uli,43,Germany</end quote></div>
I guess I should have addressed that as well. I had it in my mind, but for some silly reason didnt. Thanks Uli!
Well, moisture in the house would also be bad because its ideal for fungus and thats not even good for healty persons...
Uli,43,Germany</end quote></div>
I guess I should have addressed that as well. I had it in my mind, but for some silly reason didnt. Thanks Uli!
thanks for your replies. they do have dogs and they do their business on the carpets. my son has told me that. in our house you have to take your shoes off at the door, when my son told me about the dogs and the pooping i said i hope you don't take your shoes off in there!!!!!!!!!!!!! janet mum to joe. ps if you have seen "how clean is your house" with kim and aggie that would give you an idea of the house i'm talking about, yikes!!!!!!!!
Kind of related to what you all are discussing here-
How do you all deal with public situations? We've been super cautious about taking Maddox out in public places - no grocery stores, restaurants, etc. He's so young right now we figure he's not missing out on much, but what about when he's older? I imagine he will want to go to Disneyland, but the thought of all the germs and all the people sneezing and coughing..Yuk. Anyway, I was just wondering how some of you balance protecting from germs and leading a normal life.
Ari
How do you all deal with public situations? We've been super cautious about taking Maddox out in public places - no grocery stores, restaurants, etc. He's so young right now we figure he's not missing out on much, but what about when he's older? I imagine he will want to go to Disneyland, but the thought of all the germs and all the people sneezing and coughing..Yuk. Anyway, I was just wondering how some of you balance protecting from germs and leading a normal life.
Ari
Mockingbird
New member
If you always keep him away from public places now, then isn't he going to have problems later on because he hasn't had the chance to develop any immunities? I mean, it's like people who have a water purifier in their house; they don't devolp any resistances, so when they happen to drink normal tap water that is safe for others, it makes them sick.
Just a thought...
Just a thought...
That may be true, but I assume he is exposed to enough from what we (his family & care givers) bring around. I do bring him out in public as long as it's not an enclosed place. We go to brunch at an outdoor cafe when we eat out, or we go to the park and beach often. But, maybe some more exposure would help build his immune system. It's just so hard for me to know what is best for him and I want to help him have the best health possible. Just thought I'd ask what other families do.
jonandlindsay
New member
I have a 2-1/2 yr. old who was dx at 6 months, and I felt the same way you do. When she was young, I did try to limit where I was and when... as she got older I have just been conscious of where I take her and when.... not to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon in the middle of winter (cold season). I would just be careful of the people that are around. People have a tendency to want to touch cute babies. Don't let them! I also got a great shopping cart seat cover that we use everywhere and then can wash at home. Immunity is important, but within reason. It's very hard to not be over-protective... but you have to strike a balance that you are comfortable with. We also always carry hand sanitizer with us everywhere we go.
-Lindsay
Mom to Ella
-Lindsay
Mom to Ella
Thanks for the reply Lindsay. The whole balance thing is hard for me, but I understand. Do you take Ella to restaurants as well? Do you think she has ever caught something from being out and about? I know what you mean about strangers wanting to touch cute babies. I even find myself wanting to hug all the cuties I run into (so irresistible). I do, somehow manage to turn slightly or kind of back up just enough to keep Maddox out of reach. And hand sanitizer is wonderful. We have it in our cars, offices, etc as well. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Ari
I've been concerned about germs during cold a flu season -- indoor playground at the mall gives me shivers, as do the playrooms at fast food restaurants -- especially when there are so many children who don't vaccinate their kids anymore. But, DS needs to live a normal life, too. He goes to daycare and goes on field trips. I take him out shopping -- when he was really little I just kept him in his carseat carrier. Older -- I wipe down the cart with a sani-wipe before I place him in it and wipe down my hands and his with antibacterial wipes or gel when we get back to the car, wash hands when we get home. Restaurants, I wipe off the table in front of him, high chair before he uses it. Playgrounds, I wipe off his hands when we leave, wash his hands when we get home.
My major concern is being around other cfers. The one clinic we go to has a community waiting room. They ENCOURAGE interaction and I get sooo stressed from that. DS has cultured hib and pseudomonas -- I don't want him passing on his bugs to other cfers and I don't want him catching any new ones from anybody -- mrsa, staph, cepacia.... Liza aka ratatosk, mom to a 3-year old wcf
My major concern is being around other cfers. The one clinic we go to has a community waiting room. They ENCOURAGE interaction and I get sooo stressed from that. DS has cultured hib and pseudomonas -- I don't want him passing on his bugs to other cfers and I don't want him catching any new ones from anybody -- mrsa, staph, cepacia.... Liza aka ratatosk, mom to a 3-year old wcf
Thanks for sharing how you deal with public situations.
I think it's strange that your CF center encourages interaction. I'm realitively new to this whole thing, but I thought the new thought was no interaction between CFers. I thought this was the biggest area of concern as far as exposure to infection. At our CF center they schedule so that there is never more than 2 CFers in a time slot. And, we usually wait outside (suggested to us by the CF nurse) or they will "room" us right away to avoid us possibly being in the waiting room with another CFer.
I think it's strange that your CF center encourages interaction. I'm realitively new to this whole thing, but I thought the new thought was no interaction between CFers. I thought this was the biggest area of concern as far as exposure to infection. At our CF center they schedule so that there is never more than 2 CFers in a time slot. And, we usually wait outside (suggested to us by the CF nurse) or they will "room" us right away to avoid us possibly being in the waiting room with another CFer.
I know how you feel. I have a 9 year old son with cf and was dx when he was 6 months. The day he was dx I quite my job and opened a gym so he could be with me 24/7 and I could help him build an immune system. His dad is a college football coach and I took him to all the games. He is a healthy, happy, energetic, athletic little boy. Protect them but don't ruin them. Don't bring them up scared, raise them to be smart. I know the more stressed out about things I become, the more stressed out he to becomes. I thougt about home schooling him to keep him away from all the germs. My mind has been changed, to see my son interact with his classmates, in the classroom or on the play ground. Wow, I wouldn't take that happiness of being an inocent child away from him. I just want to arm him with knowledge.
Mother of Derek w/cf and Peyton no/cf
Mother of Derek w/cf and Peyton no/cf