AccuClean

After spending the day outside planting, my allergies have kicked in full swing. This spring seems to be particularly bad as my usual meds aren't helping at all. Little J is suffering as well and has now developed itchy red eyes to compliment his runny nose. He's rubbed one eye so much, it triggered a nasty case of eczema on his eyelid which required a trip to the pediatrician yesterday.

All of this brought back a conversation I had with my furnace repair guy this past winter. (We use a small company and they come out twice a year to maintain our furnace and air conditioner and are starting to feel like family.)

One of the (many) really cold days this past winter, we woke up to the furnace cycling on and off about every 45 seconds. Not a reassuring sound when the scheduled high is -5. The furnace repair guy came out right away and after an hour of fiddling around determined that the furnace was having trouble sucking in air through the filter. I had bought the ultimate-clean-all-allergens-out-of-the-air super thick filter to help with allergies. Turns out it was putting a bit of a strain on the already running 24/7 furnace.

The repair guy suggested that I look into a whole house filter as it would ease the strain on our furnace and is much more effective than what I was using. I figured it would be complicated to install and cost a ton, so I kind of put it on the back burner for a while.

This spring has brought it back to my attention!

So imagine my delight when MomCentral came looking for people to explore the AccuClean Whole Home Air Filtration System by American Standard. I immediately checked out their website and was thrilled with what I learned:

• It removes allergens: AccuClean filters airborne allergens like mold, dust mites, pollen, even pet hair and animal dander, before they can land on your rugs, floors and upholstery.


• It prevents odors: The majority of irritating particles like cooking grease, even smoke from burnt food, can be removed from the air. (I often avoid cooking fish in the winter because I can't stand the smell lasting for days after.)


• It removes up to 99.98% of unwanted particles and allergens from the filtered air in your home. (Standard 1" throwaway filters and ionic-type room appliances can't even begin to match that.)


• It removes the flu virus from the air...after the winter we had here, this is a HUGE plus for me!


• It has a reusable filter that can be easily washed or vacuumed.


• It can be attached to your existing furnace or air handler, so you don't need to renovate your home to install it.

There were quite a few dealers in my area who carry American Standard products. If this sounds like something that might help your family, head over and check it out.

A better way to deal with lice

It's the moment all mothers dread - the moment you realize that your child has caught head lice.

There is such a stigma attached to lice, like it is a character flaw or something. Many people don't want to admit that their child has it. They are afraid that they will be judged as bad parents, unclean, sloppy. They fear that their child will be shunned and ridiculed. The treatments have not helped the situation. In the past they have been smelly and horribly unpleasant. Some have even been unsafe. In fact, in 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency even went so far as to ban lindane, an ingredient found in some lice treatments, as an agricultural insecticide due to its toxicity. Yeah, just what I want to put on my child's head.

Lice MD is a new treatment for lice that puts an end to most of the fears moms have about treating head lice. It is pesticide free (which also means the lice cannot develop pesticide resistance to it) and completely odorless. It works in 10 minutes and conditions rather than dries out your child's hair. It will eliminate the lice, eggs, and nits which is important to prevent continued outbreaks.

The box also includes a comb to help eliminate the nits and eggs and detailed directions on how to rid your house of the little buggers. LiceMD is sold over-the-counter at food, drug and mass retail outlets and wherever lice treatments are sold. It doesn't make having lice pleasant (nothing could!) but it does make treating them a little less unpleasant.

Dare to Wear White

So you may remember that a while ago, I posted about some, um, feminine issues I was having. And how I had a minor meltdown in my ob-gyn's office when she decided that there was "nothing wrong" with me and that I should just go on the pill.

Well, I am happy to report that the pill has somewhat helped with some of the issues I was facing, mainly the incredibly heavy periods I have been having since giving birth to Little J almost four years ago. (Migraines are still an issue.) However, I am not thrilled with the idea of spending the rest of my menstruating life on the pill and I can't bear the thought of going back to the ways things were before.

Turns out there is another option. Who knew? Not me - which makes me wonder WHY didn't I know this? Which also made me jump at the chance to help Mom Central spread the word about this option. It isn't for everyone - you need to be sure that you are done having children. But if you are, be sure to check out the Dare to Wear White (I love that name!!!) website and take their survey. If you are one of the first 250 women to take the survey, you will get a $10 Amazon gift card. (Please only take the survey if you have heavy periods AND are done having children.)

Here is some additional information about heavy periods from Barb, the resident nurse at Mom Central:

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers about Heavy Periods

By Barbara Dehn NP
MomCentral.com
AskNurseBarb.com




How do I know if I have heavy periods?

Although many women may feel as though they are the only ones experiencing heavy periods, women of all ages have heavy periods that interfere with their day-to-day lives. You may have heavy periods if your period:
• Lasts a long time
• Is so heavy that you need to change pads or tampons every 1 to 2 hours
• Is so heavy that you often have a tampon AND a pad for more protection
• Is so heavy that you have to change pads at night

Is it normal to miss work or other activities once in a while because of heavy bleeding?

Many women are surprised to learn that it’s not considered normal for periods to disrupt their normal activities and life. Heavy periods may be interfering with the quality of your life if you:
• Wear dark clothing because you worry about “accidents” during your period
• Miss work or social activities because of heavy periods
• Find that your mood is significantly affected by your heavy periods
• Have had to significantly alter sexual relationships because of heavy periods
• Feel that your life would be much better without your periods

Who is likely to experience heavy bleeding?

Women of all ages may experience heavy bleeding, yet many women in their 30s and 40s may develop heavy bleeding for the first time. Women who have stopped taking birth control pills, those who have had their tubes tied (tubal ligation) and women who are pre-menopausal are especially likely.

What causes heavy periods to occur?
Hormonal changes are usually the cause of heavy periods. This tends to be most prevalent in younger girls and teens who are beginning adolescence, and women in their late 30s and early 40s, due to big swings in their hormone levels. These hormone fluctuations usually mean that she is not ovulating regularly and heavy and long periods may result.

What else may cause heavy periods?

Though most heavy periods are caused by hormonal changes, there are other medical conditions that can also cause heavy bleeding. Before considering any treatments for heavy bleeding, the following possibilities need to be ruled out:

• Polyps – Small, non-cancerous growths attached to the lining of the uterus
• Fibroids – Non-cancerous growths of the uterus that are common in women over 30. Fibroids may be within the lining of the uterus, within the muscle, or on the outside wall of the uterus. While some women experience no symptoms, some fibroids can lead to irregular bleeding or pain
• Pre-cancerous or cancerous changes within the lining of the uterus – The lining of the uterus is known as the endometrium, and cancer here, thankfully, is rare. However, if a woman over 35 has been bleeding continuously for more than a few months, she should consult a health care provider to rule out this possibility
• Adenomyosis – In this condition, the lining of the uterus grows into the muscle of the uterus and causes heavy and painful periods
• Thyroid imbalance – Too much or too little of the thyroid hormones can interfere with normal cycles

Are there safe treatment options available for heavy periods?

There are a number of different options available to women with heavy bleeding. The treatments depend upon whether a woman wants more children, the results of any tests she may have had, her age, and how long she’s been dealing with heavy periods.

For a complete list of treatment options see: www.DareToWearWhite.com

What tests may be performed on a woman experiencing heavy bleeding?

Depending on how long a woman has been bleeding heavily, one or more of the following tests may be recommended:
• Pelvic Ultrasound – This test looks at the size and shape of the uterus and ovaries, and measures the thickness of the lining of the uterus
• Endometrial Biopsy – A thin, flexible tube is passed into the uterus to obtain a small sample of the tissue, which is analyzed for any abnormal or cancerous cells
• Sonohysterography – During an ultrasound, a small amount of fluid is introduced into the uterus through a thin, flexible tube to look for polyps or fibroids that may be interfering with regular cycles
• Hysteroscopy – A thin flexible scope is passed into the uterus to obtain a view of the uterine lining. Polyps or small fibroids also can be easily removed during this procedure. Anesthesia is necessary for this test
• Other lab tests – Health care providers may order blood tests for anemia, thyroid issues and bleeding disorders