My Breast Cancer journey - The Results are in!

On Monday the 7th of October, I was called in to meet with my oncologist for the very first time, during my journey I have only had to meet with my breast consultant who is lovely I had been quite apprehensive about meeting him not just because he is a new consultant to me, but because it was in oncology - a place where I started my journey in the NHS I was a health care assistant there for five years before I went to do my nursing training I learnt so much there, I gained a lot of friends some of whom I am still friends with now, it taught me a lot about life and also a lot about cancer which I am not sure is such a good thing now I am a cancer patient myself sometimes knowledge is not a good thing.

I met with my consultant he was friendly and really nice enough I felt at ease, I sat myself down in the chair and I could see my results on the computer screen my OncotypeDX score was high which means my reoccurrence score is high, in a nutshell, I have got to have chemotherapy.

I have been really well since my mastectomy surgery and in actual fact the last few weeks I have felt a bit of a fraud having time off work, I have felt really positive and motivated somehow in my little brain I thought my journey was going to be over I had envisaged my score to be low,. I thought the oncologist would give me hormone treatment in the way of tablets for the next ten years and that would be that I would be skipping back to work before Christmas.

It wasn't meant to be I am now facing at least another four months off work, I have eight sessions of chemotherapy ahead of me I will have one session then a three-week break then another session then a three-week break and so on until I get to number eight. I know the chemotherapy Journey is going to be a long and gruelling one and honestly this week I have been in shock, I try to pretend its fine I will get through it and I will, I have to, but inside I just feel so sad and scared, I'm not scared for me I'm scared for the kids in the last ten years I have had four c-sections a hysteroscopy and a mastectomy and nothing has bought me to my knees I am so frightened that this is going to make me ill enough so I cant look after the kids.

The Consultant went on to explain some of the most common side effects, Nausea, vomiting diarrhoea, constipation a sore mouth and throat, taste changes, bruising or bleeding, tiredness and feeling weak, anaemia, numbness or tingling of the hands and feet, fluid retention, watery eyes, I will lose my hair within the first three weeks and I could lose my nails - I need to stay away from people with infections as my immunity will be low (easier said than done when you have five children that are walking bugs!) I also had to sign a disclaimer that says in rare cases chemotherapy can cause death - Its not surprising that I left the appointment and sobbed and sobbed I have just been so positive and felt so well - I just kept thinking Why does it have to be me? What have I done wrong? needless to say, I haven't really felt great this week smiling on the outside but on the inside, I'm cracking. Next week is a new week though next week I am going to find my motivation again, next week I am going to try not to overthink, I'm going to try to enjoy the half term with the kids I know I will get through this for myself and my family

I won't ever give up.

A Mums Guide - Coping with kids with a stomach bug

After the last few days of having a house full of sickly children and going through copious amounts of disinfectant, cleaning cloths and washing powder.  It seemed fitting to write about coping with kids with a stomach bug. Sometimes even though it seems simple when you have one child or five children being sick the task can seem massively over whelming from where do you start and what to do next listed are my top ten tips.

1.  Cleaning, Keep stocked up there is nothing worse than a child falling ill and you have nothing to clear up with, keep that cleaning cupboard full i'm talking disinfectant a cheap packet of cloths carpet cleaner a good air freshener that nutrilises smells and I always keep some disposable plastic gloves this some in handy for everything.
2. Have a designated bowl or bowls, you don't want your child being sick into your best baking bowl so set aside a bowl or a bucket specifically for stomach bugs. 
3. Stock up on paracetamol, most children will get a high temperature with a stomach bug I know not always will they be able to take it or keep it down if they are being sick but usually the high temperature comes before the sickness and carries on until well after your child has finished being sick it will make them feel better, help them to get some sleep and get rid of any aches and pains they might have.
4. Drinks, The last thing you want is the whole house with a stomach bug so try and contain it if you can with little ones they like to pick up juice cups and drink from each others cups try and be really strict and only let them drink from there own cup.
5. Bath time, this is not always possible if its the middle of the night but as soon as you can get them into a nice warm bath this will help calm them down and also it will wash away all those nast germs!
6. Hand washing, you cant wash them enough when dealing with a sickness bug the last thing you want is to be transporting the virus round the house I also always have a good hand sanitizer which kills all the germs 
7. Vitamins, this time of the year is a good time to give your child vitamins even the best eating kids can be lacking some key vitamins and this time of year with all the bugs flying around it is important to keep immune levels high - it isn't going to hurt to give your child a multi - vitamin a day.
8. Rest, having a sickness bug is absolutely exhausting if your little ones need to sleep let them while they are sleeping they are healing.
9. Re-hydration, it doesn't matter if your child isn't eating much food they will eat when they want to but it is really important to make sure they drink plenty of fluids to stop them from getting dehydrated 
10. You should contact your Doctor or Health care profesional if

Your child is repeatedly vomiting and is unable to hold down fluids

You think they're dehydrated – symptoms of dehydration can include a dry mouth, crying without producing tears, urinating less or not wetting many nappies, and drowsiness

Their vomit is green or contains blood

They have been vomiting for more than a day or two

Back to school and the illnesses are back

I haven't posted anything for the last few days and this is why, this week has been full of illness Jack came home on Sunday from his dads not feel very well at all with a high temperature and he was very wheezy so after giving him his inhaler and Calpol he settled down for the night but Monday morning he could hardly talk with out becoming breathless, off to the doctors we went where they said he had a really bad chest infection he was given a nebuliser, and a prescription for steroids and antibiotics Jack hasn't been to nursery this week, with being so poorly although he has been pretty quiet.

Then Monday night Demi-Rose was up crying and when we got up in the morning she didn't wake up  we left her to sleep a for bit longer thinking she was tired, then when she was finally bought down stairs she started being sick goodness knows where she had picked up a virus from but I guess a lot of these viruses are airborne she was poorly all day then on Wednesday poor Eva-Jen started being sick and five clothes changes later she started to settle down a little bit.

I thought well at least its just the babies but then Wednesday night I should have known, Liam didn't eat hardly any of his tea and was very quiet, around ten o clock last night Liam started shouting me, now in the boys bedroom they have triple bunk beds and Liam sleeps on the top.

He was physically being sick from the top of his bunk bed onto the floor so you can imagine the amount of mess it had made. I had to get all the boys out of there beds because the splash from Liam being sick had gone all over Jacks bed and it was all over Adams quilt this morning my washing pile is astronomical and I am currently typing this while the kids are all laying on the settees with there blankets keeping them comfort feeling sorry for themselves and I have just had a phone call from the school to say Adam has a high temperature and has fallen asleep on the carpet so the school knowing that all the kids are poorly have offered to give him a lift home wish me good luck because it doesn't look like my washing pile is going to be reducing any time soon one more child and it will be a full house, signs the kids are all back at school.

          

Top tips for coping with babies and children with cold's #Competition

Autumn isn't quite upon us but, the horrible weather is and lets face it all those nasty bugs/viral infections are flying around like its party season. With that its inevitable that the colds are doing the rounds its horrible when you are suddenly struck down with a cold - you know the symptoms bungy nose, headaches, sore throats and aching bones, not to mention usually a cough and high temperature which lets face it can make you feel pretty unwell, so what do we do take to our beds? grab a bit of sympathy, take some paracetamol/Ibruprofen, walk the house at 4am cause your having a coughing fit you cant control, or grab a pint of water because your mouth is that dry you feel like you could drink the entire contents of the ocean and more alright so a slight exaggeration but you are probably thinking you know the feeling.

however for babies and children that cant talk, a cold can feel like the end of the world, they don't know that you have to blow your nose to clear it, or that in a few days they will probably start to feel better - a day for a young child is a lifetime an for an adult looking after a child with a cold 24 hours can seem like a lifetime and leave you looking around for those sticks to prop your eyelids open.

Im hoping this list will help you, although there is no cure for the common cold just having ways to manage them makes life so much easier so you can try and get at least get a few hours sleep and be able to function the next day.

• Drink Plenty - dont worry too much if your baby is off there dinners as long as they are drinking plenty for babies that are weaned offer you baby and extra bottle of milk or an extra feed on the breast if you are breast feeding, try and keep a cup with water, or diluted juice near by breathing through there mouths drys it out and will make them have a sore throat. with smaller babies you could try giving them a couple of ounces of water inbetween feeds to keep them.
• Rest - make sure if you little one needs to sleep, let them, as long as they are getting plenty of fluids inbetween.
• Raise the mattress - if your child has blocked nose, you can make their breathing easier by raising the pillow end of your child's bed or cot by putting books or bricks under the legs, or placing a pillow under the mattress (you shouldn't put anything under the mattress of a baby younger than one year old).
• Medicine - Liquid paracetamol and ibruprofen will keep temperatures at bay and will also ease there time when they are sleeping, make sure you follow all directions on the bottle

• Atmosphere - warm moist air can help with breathing and a blocked nose so you could take your child into the bathroom and run the tap or shower.
• Temperature - make sure the room they are sleeping in isn't too hot or stuffy keep clothing normal and use a thin sheet - also invest in a good thermometer this way you will have an accurate reading and if you notice there temperature is to high you can act. 
• Medical attention - Always seek advice from a doctor or medical professional if your child has any other worrying symptoms other than the cold it self also if you are unsure or worried better to get them checked than to leave it until they are worse.  

      Have you got any tips for treating a cold or anything you would like to share?

below there is a competition to win a £25 boots voucher so you can stock up on your, winter medication or save it for Christmas gifts the choice is yours enter via the rafflecopter below good luck! 

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Meningitis in children

I wrote about my experience in the hospital with Jack and probably most frightening time I have experienced with my children, I know that there is lots of information about, regarding meningitis but as this lays close to my heart, I thought I would write a reminder of the facts for us to remember to be vigilant with our children.



There are two Common types of meningitis, Bacterial meningitis and Viral Meningitis 

Viral Meningitis - is mainly seen in children up to five years old, However that does not mean you cant get it when you are above this age, the outcome of this virus is usually better and viral meningitis can resolve on its own.

Bacterial Meningitis - is contagious, and is life threatening up to 40% of children with this will die and half of adults who get this will die - this is still the case even with the correct treatment - scary stuff

Symptoms in different ages will vary but looking at symptoms in babies and young children this is what too look out for.

• A Tense or bulging soft spot (this is in young babies located on there heads)
• High temperature (However in young children under three months this could be low)
• They could be very sleepy have a staring expression or be too sleepy to wake up
• Breathing - this could be fast or seem like it is difficult 
• They could have extreme shivering
• Rash - this could be small pin prick or purple bruising (this could be anywhere on there body)
• They may get diarrhoea 
• they may make unusual grunting sounds
• they might be vomiting or refusing to feed
• your child could be irritable when picked up, with a high pitched, moaning or odd cry
• blotchy skin, becoming pale and or turning blue
• Cold hands and feet (but still have a high temperature)
• A stiff body with jerky type movements or on the other scale be still and lifeless
• pain when moving muscles, joints or limbs.

A lot of the symptoms can be mistaken for other things, and there is no sequence in which way the symptoms will appear, only your child will become quite ill in a short space of time. Also watch out for the rash, tiny red or brown pin prick marks that can change into purple blotches or blisters, the rash can be much harder to be seen on darker skin and also check everywhere, like the palms of there hands, soles of there feet, inside the eyelids and the roof of the mouth.

Carry Out the "Glass Test" this is rolling the glass over the area where the rash is, through the glass any marks they have should disappear, and reappear once the glass is lifted off if you can still see the rash through the glass and it is not disappearing, you should seek medical attention straight the way. always remember if your child is very ill they need medical attention don't wait to see if a rash forms take them to be seen by a medical professional.

A few decades ago the outlook for bacterial meningitis was not great at all, and almost everyone would die - however now days most deaths are caused by Septicaemia which is blood poisoning and this is what causes the rash. A quarter of people may suffer complications such as hearing loss or loss of limbs.

As a parent its important to stay vigilant remember a lot of the symptoms above can be caused by lots of different illnesses, but if you are worried or suspect it could be meningitis, you need to get that person in question to a doctor straight the way, if you are a mum trust your instincts as parents we don't usually get it wrong to find out more information on Meningitis you can visit Meningitis Now Or The Meningitis research foundation.

Jack had Viral Meningitis - I never thought it would happen to us

A week ago Wednesday we had, had a great day, I had took the boys to playgroup, then my sister had popped over and we had took all the boys over to the wacky warehouse down the road, Jack seemed to be fine at playgroup and once in the pub had become a bit irritated didn't really want his bottles he was a bit whiny, and unsettled but I put it down to his teeth, he was teething and I knew was not unusual for babies to behave the way he was, eventually I managed to get him to settle down for a nap.

At around 7pm he still hadn't woken up, so I decided to wake him as the other two boys had gone to bed and he needed his last bottle and his pyjamas on, as soon as I lifted him out of his pushchair, he started to cry, well he was screaming hysterically, I could feel he was really hot too touch, I picked up the thermometer and checked his temperature it was 38.9 which is really high for a baby - I gave him some calpol but an hour later he was still crying and his temperature hadn't budged.

I rang Jacks dad and we took him straight down to the walk in centre, the doctors were really concerned about his noisy breathing and the fact his temperature was so high, they sent us up to the children's admission unit, where they gave him more calpol, and ibuprofen, after a couple of hours his temperature had subsided and they told us, the reason for his temperature was most likely due to a viral infection and to take him home.


I wasn't really happy as he still wasn't well, but I was relieved they didn't think it was anything more serious we took him home it was the early hours of the morning, I was still really worried about him - I didn't sleep very well I got up a few times, to check on him by 6am he was awake and crying again, his temperature was high, so I did what the hospital had told me I gave him calpol and ibuprofen which settled him for a while.

He still just wasn't right, at around 10am it was time for his next bottle he was really warm again, I started trying to give him his bottle, to be honest he didn't really want it, he was messing about, as he pulled his neck back I noticed a dark mark under his chin, it was difficult to see as Jack is quite a chubby baby. On closer inspection it looked like a little purple bruise, I pressed it remembering all the information I have seen around it didn't disappear, I must have repeated this about four times, I put his bottle down and stripped his vest off him he was covered in a rash - it wasn't all the same, some of it was pin prick rash with raised red bumps, that did disappear under a glass then in between that rash, there were little bruise type spots that didn't disappear.



This is when I started to panic, I asked my neighbour to look after Liam and Adam, my dad had come over so he took us straight down to the hospital, and to be honest thank god I did, the doctors were not happy with him and as they were examining him, there were more of the rash and purple type bruises appearing, his temperature was high and he was really unsettled, it was heart breaking seeing him so poorly and not being able to do anything for him - the doctors decided there and then they were going to put a cannula in, take bloods and give him some big doses of antibiotics and fluids through a drip, as they suspected meningitus.



He would have to stay in hospital to determine, for definite what was wrong with him, he was really poorly those first 24 hours Jack was really ill, as a mum it was heart breaking, his temperature remained the same he was sick and had diarrhoea as well it was horrible, and really frightening, I don't think any of us had slept much for a few days it was physically and emotionally draining for us all.

By the time a few days had passed his temperature had subsided and remained the same, he was beginning to feel a bit better and he looked a bit better, although the rash - the pin prick one had spread all over it was on the bottoms of his feet to his hair on his head but the purple bruise type ones had started to fade.

By Monday morning he had been free from his temperature for over 24 hours he was crying less and was smiling more they diagnosed him with viral meningitis - the doctor just said how lucky he was, I am not really sure he was lucky I am just glad he is still here to tell the tale, although he is like a different little boy he is very clingy and cries a lot more now - but its too be expected when he had been so ill. I still don't think he is 100% well, but he is getting there - I never thought meningitis would happen to us I thought it was something that happened to "other people" I am glad I went with my instincts, I am glad I took him back to the hospital, sometimes as a mum you don't want to be a nuisance, sometimes I think I am worrying for nothing but the best advice I can give any mum is if you think something is wrong with your child take them somewhere to be seen, its always, always better to be safe than sorry.

   

Temperatures & Fever in Illness

When it comes to illness A high temperature is very common to run alongside it making us feel lousy you know that feeling when it feels like someone has been hammering on your head, or every step makes your head hurt and the room feels like it is bouncing as we go.

After this week and the boys suffering with high temperatures I thought I would talk a little about them always helpful information to know and refresh yourself if you cant remember.

What is a High temperature? 

Most people think that 37' is a "normal" temperature to be but this isn't always the case normal temperatures can vary from person to person based on different factors such as,

• The person

• Their age

• What they've been doing

• The time of day

• Which part of the body you take the temperature from

Having said all that  It is generally accepted that normal body temperature ranges between 36.1C (97F) to 37.2C (99F). Although most health care professionals wont usually think its a temperature until its starts to get above 37.5.

A high temperature or fever is not a separate illness, temperatures usually co-inside with an infection and its a good sign the body is fighting against it, although it still isn't pleasant to experience.
Part of the brain called the hypothalamus may decide to regulate the body's temperature to a higher level.

There are lots of reasons why we might get a temperature common causes are;

• Colds and flu
• Gastroenteritis stomach bugs
• Infections of the ear, lung, skin, throat, bladder or kidney
• Inflammatory conditions
• Side effects of drugs
• Cancer
• Routine vaccinations

Less Common causes,

• Blood clot or pulmonary embolism
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease
• Hormone disorders such as hyperthyroidism
• Illegal drugs that increase heat production such as amphetamines and cocaine
• Infections abroad, such as malaria

Temperatures are usually easily managed, Fever or temperature like I said earlier can make us feel pretty lousy and uncomfortable, and steps may be taken to reduce the fever, by taking age-appropriate medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Make sure you drink plenty the recommended amount to drink is eight glasses of water or other clear fluid a day. you could try Iced drinks or ice lollies as they may have a soothing effect. Make sure you wear lightweight clothing and don't use blankets and duvets in bed to avoid getting too warm. Make sure the temperature in the room is comfortable and let fresh air in where possible. As with any illness get plenty of rest and avoid heavy activity.

Temperatures and fever is a natural bodily defence against infection. There are also non-infectious causes of fever. These include the temperature related condition  hyperthermia and dangerous rises in body temperature. This may be due to a heat injury, such as heat stroke, or the side effects of some medications.

If you are unsure of anything you get other symptoms alongside this or you cant maintain your temperature with medication you should always seek medical advice from A GP, local Health care professional Or you ring NHS Direct.

 

A week of sickness....

Normally I write a little round up on a Monday, but I thought I would write a little tonight. This week started off not too bad apart from the weather being absolutely awful and it doesn't seem to be going away, I also got my driving license back, I needed this for proof of address for my CRB check - as it was registerd at my parents im glad it finally came back so I have taken that into the hospital but it could be another month before I start - as you can see the beginning of the week was alright....

Then Monday night Liam started with a cough, a cough that was keeping the whole house awake for the whole night I was an exhausted mummy by Tuesday you know that feeling when your body wants to do things but your eyes just want to go to sleep well that's how I was feeling, although Liam was alright tired but not generally unwell. 

I had noticed Adam wasn't quite himself a bit off his food and whingy, I kind of put this down to, he must be getting what Liam has. By the time Adam had, had his tea he was crying saying he was poorly so out of the highchair he came onto the settee, as I went to the kitchen I heard a loud scream dropped what I was doing and went back into the front room, you guessed it Adam was vomiting everywhere poor little thing didn't know what to do, he looked so poorly it had drained the life out of him. That was my night about every hour I was with Adam rubbing his back and giving mummy cuddles the time on the clock hit around 4am, he eventually settled in my bed tempreture raging but the sickness seemed to subside.

6.30 came and Liam was up bouncing around for his breakfast, I was like a zombie but mummy was up and Adam was like a little dolly not moving very much his temperature still raging on, I managed to get some calpol down him but this didn't seem to have much effect, he was just crying when I moved him, I thought about not taking Liam to school because he was really tired and was still coughing but he wanted to go so I took him, poor little Adam cried all the way there and back although I had the raincover on the pushchair and he was well protected. 

 After we got back from the school run I settled Adam down on the settee, stripping him down into his vest he was like a little oven - temperature still raging on, he drifteted off to sleep in no time still obvioulsy feeling very poorly. He had been asleep for around half an hour when he woke suddenly, screaming, shaking and pointing into thin air, I have never heard him scream like that before I wasnt sure if he was hallucinating or if he was going to start fitting, I didn't know what to do I thought about ringing an ambulance but I rang the doctors they said they had no apptments, in that moment I decided to take him straight down to the urgent care centre at the hospital, he was shaking all over, as you all know I am a nurse, panic isnt something I do easily however I did I cried hugging him, telling him he would be alright it phsyically made me feel ill myself. 

At the hospital they checked all of Adams vital signs his pulse was high co-insiding with his tempreture which stood at 40.1 I dont know how much you know about temperatures but this is ridiculously high, they checked him over and gave him some more pain relief, a higher dose to help bring his temperature down and make him more comfortable as he was still saying he hurt, the doctors said it was just a nasty virus and to take him home it sounds like not much but he was really poorly.

That night he settled down in his bed quite early only to wake around an hour later screaming again like earlier, it was really horrible this waking and crying carried on un till the early hours of the morning, he settled in my bed again. 5.30 on Thursday morning Adam woke me up with his big eyes and a smile on his face and quite cheerfully said "moma I wanna my brekbrek" I hugged him and thought to myself  mummy just wants some sleep sleep!

As quckly as that horrible nasty virus got here it dissapered just as fast as it came and I was so glad he was smiling granted he wasnt 100% himself but rather him better than like he had been the day before.

Maybe when the boys are around eighteen I might get a good nights sleep oh and dare I say it a lay in! I guess a mummy's job is never done I think I will be awake worrying about them for different reasons when they are eighteen. You see my week has gone by so fast, to be quite honest I am glad to see the back of it.    

The house Of the sick

This week hasn't been the greatest, I had come to the conclusion that bar the odd runny nose that descends on me around twice a year I am almost immune to illness but I guess my long run with just a sniffle has finally caught up with me this week.

I woke up on Wednesday morning with a real churning stomach - now I have been a little worked up lately worrying about different things, nothing major though just the usual stresses that this time of year brings the churning didn't seem to last very long as I found myself running towards the bathroom as quick as my legs would carry me............... well you can guess what happened next and continued to happen up until around midnight last night, today I thought I was feeling slightly better and proceeded to eat again half an hour later I was running back to the toilet I have also had the most horrific stomach cramps and a temperature.

I guess I should be grateful that the boys dad had half a day yesterday and offered to come and take Liam to school I was dreading leaving the house he also sat with Adam and myself until it was time for him to go to work sometimes you need the sympathy I did have to pick Liam up though which took a great deal of energy, for once though when Liam got back from school he was really good he organised himself and Adam, they both picked all the toys up off the living room floor, he also told me he was my best friend and he would look after me, which made me cry sometimes kids say the cutest things!

I am really hoping tomorrow is going to be a better day and tonight I am going to be  to get a full nights sleep without spending every other hour running back and forward from the toilet, I have been washing everything that I touch and trying not to go near the boys to much I really don't want them to get poorly so fingers crossed.......

Braun ThermoScan 5 Ear Themometer

With Liam being at school now mixing with lots of other children it was only going to be a matter of time before he brings coughs, colds and sickness bugs home, We all know as parents that children playing and mixing in groups is a mass breeding ground for those horrible germs that us as parents come to dread at this time of year!

One of the best bits of equipment I would recommend any person or parent to have in the home is a thermometer, now being a nurse I have come across a lots of different types of thermometers, their are, Digital thermometers, Digital thermometer's can be used to take someones temperature from either their armpit or their mouth. However, for children under five, take their temperature from their armpit, because they may bite the thermometer, Strip-type thermometers, which you hold on your child’s forehead, are not an accurate way of taking their temperature. They show the temperature of the skin, not the body and Ear thermometers, Ear thermometers are quick and easy to use, but they are expensive. Read the manufacturer’s instructions to find out how to place the thermometer in the ear and how long the reading will take.The reading may not be accurate if the thermometer is not correctly placed in the ear.

By far I have found the best thermometer out of all the ones I have tried and tested is the ear thermometer, Of course It has to be used in the correct way to get an accurate result this Is easy as long as the manufacturer instructions are followed.

I was recently asked If I would like to review the Braun Thermoscan 5 ear thermometer.

The Thermometer is really quick easy and simple to use, gives you an accurate reading in seconds using a unique pre-warmed tip. I mentioned about positioning earlier, well Braun have obviously done their research, realising that incorrect positioning can lead to inaccurate results and have created a warning within this thermometer so If you haven’t displayed the probe correctly inside the ear, you will hear some warning beeps and POS will show on the display.

The ThermoScan 5 is designed to measure the heat that is generated by the eardrum and surrounding tissue, the eardrum shares blood supply with the temperature control centre in the brain.
The ThermoScan 5 has a new innovative technology, called ExacTemp. Which is why this makes the thermometer different from other thermometers on sale. ExacTemp means it has a pre-warmed tip. This improves the accuracy of the reading and what is more because it has a soft, flexible speculum and tip it ensure the thermometer is gentle and comfortable on a child’s ear. The ear accurately reflects the body’s core temperature making it ideal for measuring a child’s temperature.
Basically you insert the pre-warmed tip, you press the I/O button on the front of the Braun ThermoScan 5, wait for the ready signal and beep, fit the probe snugly into the ear canal, then push the start button. If the probe has been positioned correctly you will hear a long beep and the temperature will be displayed.

It is so easy to use it makes the process of monitoring a temperature much easier for both parent and child. If you have a child that doesn't like things in their ears or they are sleeping you can still take their temperature with ease and without disturbing them. It has a memory function that stores the last eight temperature readings. A fantastic idea if  you forget numbers or are in a hurry/panic. This means you can track your child's temperature accurately and if needed you can read them back to a doctor - can be very handy in emergency situations. 

The Braun ThermoScan 5 will automatically turn off after 60 seconds of non-use.When you’ve finished you can store the thermometer away neatly in the protective cover.

The ThermoScan 5 is safe to use on the whole family even newborns, the thermometer can be easily cleaned and switched between users because it uses disposable lens filter, The thermometer comes with 20 lens filters to start you off - these need to be changed after every reading as they are single use only for hygiene reasons, you can buy more separately It costs £7.99 for a box of 40 lens. It’s RRP is around £43.90 and is available from Boots, Mothercare, John Lewis and Mamas & Papas.

It really isn't the cheapest thermometer on the shelf, However in terms of accuracy it is very accurate, I would be quite happy, and recommend paying that bit extra for that peace of mind, When some one is Ill in the home accurate equipment like this is very important.

For more information on Braun products and in particular their ThermoScan 5 you can visit there website HERE

This Product was sent to me for the purpose of this review all opinions expressed remain honest and my own.   

Health awareness; Nappy rash

As parents we all know how horrible it is when your baby/toddler has nappy rash, it can range from mild to severe I don't think there is anything you can do to stop your child from ever getting a nappy rash, however as parents we can try, by having the right knowledge about the causes and prevention.

Nearly all babies and toddlers will get nappy rash at least once in there early years up until they are potty trained.

Nappy rash can either be quite mild as in their is just a small area covered in a pink or red rash made up of small spots or blotches and usually with cream disappears as quickly as it has arrived.
However sometimes symptoms can be more severe these are often more advanced and cause distress and pain to a child, they can be in forms of bright red spots, dry cracked, broken skin or swellings ulcers and blister. This can sometimes spread further and move to be on their legs tummy and lower back. Also common in children is thrush.

Nappy rash is more likely to occur when,

• You have a baby that is premature
• During teething
• Your child is unwell or have recently had a vaccination
• when their changing from breast feeding to bottle feeding
• After antibiotics as this can upset there stomach and give them diarrhoea
• starting on solids or when they have cows milk for the first time

Many things can combine to the be cause of nappy rash one of the main causes is wearing a nappy for too long and here are some of the other reasons why a child might have a nappy rash.

• Sensitive skin
• soap, detergent or bubble bath
• diarrhoea
• rubbing or chafing
• baby wipes
• long contact with bodily fluids (wee & poo)

 

Simple but effective steps can prevent nappy rash occurring:

1. Probably everyone knows this, change you child's nappy frequently, keeping your child clean and dry will prevent nappy rash in the first place.
2. let your child's bottom air, we all know children love to be naked let baby's have some time on a towel with there nappy off and older children run around for a bit it lets the air circulate  around their skin
3. When your changing you child always wipe from front to back, clean the whole area thoroughly, using water or plain baby wipes and make sure its dry properly.
4. Use a barrier cream after each change
5. Avoid using talcum powder as it can role in to balls clog together causing friction. 

For a mild nappy rash you can seek advice and support from your local pharmacist or health visitor or a GP/ local health care professional whom will be able to give advice on the best treatment for your child.

You should always seek help from a health care professional if you think your child's nappy rash is getting worse and not better, or if it is accompanied by a high temperature.      

Breathease Cleaning products #review

Following on from my last post, with over 5.4 million people suffering with Asthma in the UK,  Solent International have come up with a fantastic new range of cleaning products which has been especially designed for people suffering with Asthma and other allergies.

The product has been scientifically tested and has gone through extensive user trials with those suffering with the condition 90% of 126 have reported improved respiratory effects compared to there usual cleaner. 

Introducing to you Breathease

 

Breathease is the first UK cleaner to have earned the Asthma and Allergy Friendly accreditation and to work in partnership with Asthma UK. 

The products available in the range include, multi-purpose cleaner, kitchen cleaner, Bathroom cleaner, shower and tile cleaner, window glass cleaner.

I was sent four of the Breathease products to review, multi-purpose cleaner, Kitchen cleaner, shower & tile cleaner and bathroom cleaner. When they arrived the bottles and labeling are quite clear on what each individual product is for and its function. The bottles are all quite bright and the pictures on the front of the bottle correspond with the room the cleaners are for. They are all clearly labelled with the Asthma and allergy friendly logo. 

                                                        

Breathease Kitchen cleaner; I have been using this all week mainly because I wanted to put the product to the test. I have been using this after cooking each meal to clean down the kitchen sides and the top of the cooker.

Now I must admit I am a bit of a cleaning freak so my

kitchen is never that dirty, with two small children and lots of germs about I like to know that its clean. So putting this product to the test, first of all the smell, I cant really describe the smell its like a fresh smell, Its not over powering, you know how some cleaning products kind of hit the back of you throat when you spray them or you feel like you have been eating them rather than cleaning with it, well there is none of that with this, the smell is quite mild and it doesn't linger it is the type of product you spray and then you cant smell it any more!

This was before using the kitchen cleaner

This was after cleaning, it was quite good at removing the grease from around the oven hobs

          

      

Breathease is easy to use         










This picture isn't the greatest picture but the cooker was sparkling after using Breathease 

 

Next up I tried the Bathroom cleaner I have purposely not cleaned my bathroom for a week I wanted it to be dirty, so I could see what this product could do.

After a week of not cleaning my bathroom the sink, bath and tiles were quite grimy water stained and dirty, its a good job not many people have been round to visit, so this is my dirty bathroom sink.

 




Before Cleaning

As you can see the sink is quite dirty, the plug looks like it seen better days too!

 The pictures below, are the pictures I have taken after using Breathease

After using Breathease I actually think the sink looks cleaner now than I have seen it for a long time. 

A sparkling sink!

The fragrance of the Breathease bathroom cleaner is pretty much the same as the kitchen cleaner smell. Often when I use cleaning products in my bathroom they make me cough and I get a headache, there is no window in my bathroom so the ventilation isn't that great, I have to say with this product there was no coughing I found it was again very mild and not to over powering like some products can be.

The shower and tile Cleaner again it was very mild in smell, it did remove the water stains and with a bit of elbow grease removed the stains off the tiles from around my cooker, although I think I didn't leave it on just quite long enough, for the grease to start lifting with out too much work!

Last but not least is the Multi-Purpose cleaner I love this one great for cleaning the kids table and high chair down after lunch, Plus for cleaning the doors and the skirting boards where the kids have dropped or thrown food and wiped there fingers all over them. Again a very mild cleaning agent but it does what it says on the bottle.



Over all I love the Breathease cleaning range, The products do what they say they do and are great cleaning products, but looking at the bigger picture and how serious asthma as a condition can be, preventative measures are crucial In looking out for your well being, this company has taken into account Asthma triggers and have done a fantastic job at designing a range of products to help prevent "Attacks" and to ease symptoms around the home. This product Is definitely worth buying and trying not only will it help improve your breathing around the home its also a great cleaner and all round great product.

To find out more about the Breathease cleaning range you can visit there website over at  www.breathease.co  and to find out more about Asthma you can visit Asthma UK 

Health; Asthma Awareness

Over the last few days I have been doing some reading and research on Asthma. Being a bit of health geek I thought I would share some facts and information about the condition, as I was quite shocked about some of the figures that I have come across.

Through out the United Kingdom, there are many people that suffer with chronic respiratory diseases, one of the most common being Asthma.

Definition: 

A respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity

Facts;

• 5.4 million people in the United Kingdom are currently receiving treatment for asthma - 1.1 million of these being children.

• Which means across the country one in five house holds are are affected

• At least three people die every single day because of asthma most of these deaths are avoidable

• Cost; The NHS spends approximately one billion per year, treating and caring for people with Asthma.

No-one knows what causes asthma (although genetics and environmental factors have been thought to play a part). It is characterised by inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways leading to acute episodes known as ‘attacks’. - See more at: http://www.improvement.nhs.uk/lung/NationalImprovementProjects/Asthma/Whatisasthma.aspx#sthash.wg3pQ8rj.dpuf

All age groups are affected by attacks, most mainly starting in childhood, the disease is characterised by breathlessness and wheezing in recurrent attacks. Imagine not being able to catch your breath to speak, to ask for help, fear taking over this is what, for many Asthma feels like.

Asthma once carried through in to adult years is a life long condition although there is no cure for Asthma it can be managed well through medication and preventative methods.

Once diagnosed with Asthma knowing what triggers an "attack" is Important, Some triggers are seasonal so its unrealistic to completely avoid them all, but you can try to prepare as you see fit.

Specific triggers include allergens like dust mites found in house dust, carpets and pillows, molds, foods, grasses and pollens. Try to keep your house free from dust and change bed linens regularly to avoid dust build up.

Others triggers include viral infections such as cold and flu, irritants such as smoke, air fresheners, aerosols, paint fumes, hairsprays and perfumes, breathing in cold air and weather changes. Avoiding things like the cold air or cold and flu is practically impossible. You could talk to your GP about further medication and how to prepare for such occurrences.

If you suffer from Asthma its always a good idea to have an action plan in place, detailing what to do if you can feel an attack coming on, medication should always be carried with you and be stored in the same place, so that its easily accessible at all times and there is no confusion. Tell people about the condition, How many people do you know that has asthma but you never talk about it? Hospitalisation can be avoided and Attacks can be managed if the people around you have the appropriate knowledge and they know how to help, what is more you can maintain a free asthma card from Asthma UK so if you out and about on your own you can show anyone the card and it gives them the correct information on what actions they can take to help.

Recognise when an "Attack" has become an emergency, follow the action plan that is in place but if symptoms haven't started to subside within five minutes you should always dial 999.

For further Information on asthma visit Asthma UK or if it is for Asthma attack plans, medication, or any other information you should contact your GP or your local asthma specialist.

No-one knows what causes asthma (although genetics and environmental factors have been thought to play a part). It is characterised by inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways leading to acute episodes known as ‘attacks’. - See more at: http://www.improvement.nhs.uk/lung/NationalImprovementProjects/Asthma/Whatisasthma.aspx#sthash.wg3pQ8rj.dpuf

No-one knows what causes asthma (although genetics and environmental factors have been thought to play a part). It is characterised by inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways leading to acute episodes known as ‘attacks’. - See more at: http://www.improvement.nhs.uk/lung/NationalImprovementProjects/Asthma/Whatisasthma.aspx#sthash.wg3pQ8rj.dpuf

No-one knows what causes asthma (although genetics and environmental factors have been thought to play a part). It is characterised by inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways leading to acute episodes known as ‘attacks’. - See more at: http://www.improvement.nhs.uk/lung/NationalImprovementProjects/Asthma/Whatisasthma.aspx#sthash.wg3pQ8rj.dpuf

Dear Cold

I feel miserable, I definitely have a fever,                   

I think my cold has been delivered.

shivers and shakes right through to my bones,                

the pain in my head makes me moan.

A scratchy throat, and a tickly cough,
dear cold I wish you would just die off.

Winter is coming I need to turn up the heat,

and dig out my socks and blankets for snugly feet.

lemsips and tissues at the ready,

I know im going to have to take it steady,

Its my birthday on saturday I hope im well,

please take me out of this dear cold hell.

I know in the morning when I awake,

my bed will look like a tissue, snow lake.

For now I have no energy I can not write,

so tonight everyone im going to wish you good night.