Moments in My Life

Backdated post 10/2/09.

This was Brandon’s first ever visit to the dentist. Did I prepare him at home? Just a little bit.

1. But we brought him to my dental office once during my regular check up in June 09. He watched for a little bit.
2. We know that he likes to brush his teeth and keeping them feeling clean. We also help him floss his teeth after dinner time every night.
3. We told him at the dentist, he has to keep his mouth open wide so the dentist can clean his teeth nicely.
4. We didn’t read him any books about dentist or show him any DVD about dental visit.
5. We told him, if he did good at the dentist, we would take him for ice-cream.

When the day came for his dental appointment, I was hoping he was ready. And he was. I was amazed and so proud of him.

We visited Dr. Janelle Holden DDS in Manhattan Beach. She specializes in Pediatric Dentistry. Just like a regular (or may be more) pediatrician office, her waiting room is full of toys. She even has video games console in the waiting room. The process of registration for first time patient was a breeze. Our appointment was at 11am and we arrived at 10:45am and we were called inside at 11am.

Brandon met with with Dental Hygienist, Christina. She let Brandon pick out a toothbrush to bring back home. Then she asked me to sit on the chair and have Brandon sitting on me. She was very good in explaining everything to Brandon. Every little things she went into detail. She showed and told him what she was going to do before she did it on him. She talked to him a lot during the cleaning process, practically non-stop. Brandon wasn’t actually listening to her because I knew he was busy watching Monsters vs. Aliens on the hanging LCD TV in the room (good thing to keep the kid distracted).

Next she asked Brandon what is his favorite flavor, whether is cherry, bubblegum or strawberry. We picked strawberry. Then she showed Brandon how she was going to count his teeth but asking me to open my mouth and counted mine. Brandon opened up his mouth and she counted 10 on the bottom and 10 on the top.

After the counting, she did the scrapping of the yellow stuff that stuck on his teeth between the gum and the tooth - we called that the plaque. This was the longest part of the whole cleaning process. When she was done with all the four quadrants, she showed him the water gun that will squirt water into his mouth to clean it. Also, she showed him a small little vacuum that will suck the water out. She touched it on Brandon’s hand to show him how that little thing functioned.

Then she brushed his teeth with the special flavored toothpaste. Again she touched Brandon’s hand with the electronic toothbrush like thing and then only started brushing his teeth with it. After that, she helped him rinsed his mouth again. The second final step was flossing. Since he was familiar with this part of the process, it was no problem. The final thing that Christina did was to apply a coat of liquid fluoride on his teeth and asked us to leave it on for an hour, with no eating or drinking.

Christina gave Brandon some stickers and she left to get the Dentist. While waiting for the dentist to come to check his teeth, I took some pictures around the room.

Dr. Holden came in for less than 1 minute to check on him and gave us some advice on how to take care of the teeth - no gummy bears, apple juice (acidic and too sweet - mostly sugar), ice cream is OK, eat more apples and carrots (clean teeth), keep brushing two times a day (even better if is after each meal) and to come back to see her in 6 months.

Then we were done! It was a 30 minute visit. We took Brandon to Baskin Robbins for ice cream of his choice after one hour. He picked the Vanilla flavor.

Just came back from my OB/GYN for consultation.  The reason for my visit was to find out why my period is over a week long.  This is nuisance to me because it is just too long and there are 2-3 days in between with really heavy period.  And on top of that, I’ve been having spotting in between period.  I think it is hormonal issue because I do get really emotional and easily stress lately. 

My first visit to the OB/GYN was on Tuesday where he ordered a blood test for CBC (Complete Blood Count).  The result for the CBC was fine, within the normal range.  I returned today for an ultrasound to check for uterine polyps.  After the ultrasound was done, we went into his office to talk.  He gave me two options. 

First option is to take medication to correct my problem.  He said somehow my brain is giving out the wrong signal to the uterus/ovary to produce hormone at the wrong time.  He said may be with taking the medication, it will artificially tell the brain to start functioning correctly and hope that it will continue with that pattern once the medication has stopped.  For this, I am taking Megace (megestrol acetate) for 10 days (kinda to clean out the uterus lining). Taking 2 pills one time 2 times a day for 10 days.  He said I might see some slight spotting in these 10 days.   After that, I will start taking birth control pills for 3 months.  He said with the birth control pills, my period will be shorter than before.  And to go back to see him after 3 months to disucss the result. 

Second option is to put a camera inside my uterus to check for any uterine polyps.  This procedure will be done at the hospital under general anesthesia.  And if there are, then he will take them out by scrapping.  This could be one reason why I am still not pregnant after trying over a year.  I asked if the ultrasound has any sign of the polyps, and he said that the ultrasound highly suggest to have this procedure (camera) but didn’t really say if there is any sign or shadow or image.  I guess is a liability issue since he cannot said there is none because I might come back to sue him if later I found out I have. 

He suggest to go with the first option first.  He gave me the presciption for Megace.  So now I am on my Megace medication for 10 days.  After that will start on my birth control pills.  He gave me the samples for the 3 months.  I will be taking Loestrin24Fe.  This is my first time ever taking birth control.  I wonder how it is.  I really look forward for shorter period.  Will see how.

Update 10/20: The pharmacy gave me one Megace pill less than required. So I only took 1 time 2 tablets of Megace on Sunday morning and skipped the evening time. Began the pill on Monday 10/19. Will try to remember to take it about the same time everyday. I picked 8pm, right before my shower. Just have to remember to take it everyday before my shower.

It was a great experience at Dr. Janelle Holden’s pediatric dental office this morning.  We went through the whole procedure calmly and peacefully.  Brandon was such a good boy that he opened up his mouth for the hygienist to count, clean, brush and floss his teeth.  Total time around 30 minutes.  After that, the dentist came in for a minute to double check and everything was good.  He was so good, the dental office let him choose a small toy.  And he got a little toy car.  He was so happy because we promised him ice cream after his dental check up.  We went to B31 after that.  Will upload pictures later.

Do you run or walk everyday? You know it is not good to be sitting in front of the computer all day right? You need to get out of the house or your office and enjoy the fresh air and scenery. For example, instead of driving to the fast food restaurant by the corner of the block, why not walk there? I know I will. I love to walk a lot. I used to walk a lot when I was in college. I walked everywhere (most of the time) back then as I did not have a car.

Now, I go out for a walk or a stroll with my little boy. We walk around our neighborhood a few times a week. It is a short walk, probably around 1 mile round trip. Sometimes we run chasing each other. It is fun we get to do some exercise while helping out a good cause. Yes, I am walking for BeeWell Miles sponsored by Bumble Bee Foods LLC. From April 1st 2009 to October 31st 2009, Bumble Bee Food will donate $0.15 per mile (up to $200,000) to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength.

You can also find other helpful information from BeeWell Miles website. There is the ‘Easy Moves‘ section with Coach Jenny where you can read interesting articles about health benefits through walking and running. There is the ‘Wise Choices‘ section with Willow and Stephanie where you can pick up a few tips on diet and nutrition, which I really enjoy reading.

So, come and join me at BeeMiles, staying healthy at the same time contributing to a good cause.

Do you realize that our bodies are like a waste collector? We eat too much junk food and other food with too much preservatives and chemical. Besides eating, we use a lot of products that if applied or inhaled may harm our system indirectly. Sooner or later, our bodies will be like a dumpster. That is why we need to cleanse our system by detoxifying our system.

You might want to start cleansing the colon as there is the place where a large amount of your food is absorbed into the blood system. You can buy the natural herbal formula Dual-Action Colon Cleanser to eliminate most of the toxins that built up in the digestive system. When the toxins leave your body, you will have a healthier body with an increase in energy.

LifeSize Healthcare is helping to provide our world with better health care through Telemedicine. With this new technology, it opens up many possibilities in the medicine field. It helps to bring surgeons around the world together as a team to develop a treatment plan, delivery of heath care to rural communities, provides remote education and training purposes, diagnostics and much more.

All these are done through true high definition video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels at 30 frames per second). Students can learn and view how a surgery is performed and what how exactly the surgeon is doing it. There are many more benefits using LifeSize Telemedicine and I do hope all physicians and health care centers will implement this technology into their system.

His fever was gone but now he has hives.  We call hives in Chinese - “Fong Mok” or “Fong Lan“.  I know what it is because I had an attack before and my whole body has hives.  I was able to withstand the itch and not scratching them but they grew more some how.  I had to take steroid that time and it kinda helped a little but then the hives came back.  I went to see a Chinese doctor and she told me to put down all dairy and chicken related products (including eggs, cheese, milk, etc) and HOT SPICY food.  She explained that my internal system was overly heaty.  She gave me some herbal medicine to boil at home.  Then later I was put on mung bean water.  I find the mung bean (green bean) water help a lot. 

When I was pregnant with Brandon into the 3rd trimester, the hives came again.  Then I wasn’t suppose to take any steroid so the Chinese doctor told me to make the mung bean water.  It helped and the hives went away in a week or two. 

So I made some mung bean water for Brandon, but he hated it.  I asked him to drink a little bit at a time or else we had to go see the doctor.  He drank but very very little each time.  So I had to call the doctor.  The nurse told me to get Children’s Benadryl to give him 5mL every 6 hours.  I drove out to the nearest store to get it and fed to him at 10:45am.  The hives that were there disappeared within about 1 hour or more.  But on his body, I could still see tiny red dots that haven’t developed into hives yet. 

At around 3:45pm, the hives came back … it was close to 6 hours.  I had to give him another dose of Benadryl around 4:40pm.  I dislike giving so much medication to a young child but I had no choice at this time.  I called the nurse again and she told me to continue giving him Benadryl every 6 hours if the hives come back.  She said they should go away by themselves.  The Benadryl only helps to reduce the symptom and not to cure the problem.

I searched online on Toddler and hives and found an article on KidsHealth dot org titled Help With Hives.  This problem may be caused by allergic reaction to food, viral infection, heat, cold or stress.

After eating some big, red strawberries, you decide to walk to your friend’s house. Just as you’re turning the corner, you notice reddish bumps and patches on your arms and chest. What are these itchy welts or blotches on your skin? Should you turn around and head home?

What Are Hives?

Hives are pink or red bumps or slightly raised patches of skin. Sometimes, they have a pale center. Hives usually itch, but they also can burn or sting.

Hives can occur anywhere on the body and vary in size and shape. They can be small like a mosquito bite or big like a dinner plate. Hives also might look like rings or groups of rings joined together. Hives can appear in clusters and might change locations in a matter of hours. A bunch of hives might be on a person’s face, then those might go away. Later some more may appear on a person’s arms.

Hives are common - between 10% and 25% of people get them at least once in their lives. They are usually harmless, though they may occasionally be a sign of a serious allergic reaction. (So, yes, you should go home and tell your mom or dad.)

The medical term for hives is urticaria (say: ur-tuh-kar-ee-uh). When a person is exposed to something that can trigger hives, certain cells in the body release histamine (say: his-tuh-meen) and other substances. This causes fluid to leak from the small blood vessels under the skin. When this fluid collects under the skin, it forms the blotches, which we call hives.

Why Do I Get Hives?

People can get hives for lots of different reasons. Often, the cause is not known. One common reason for getting hives is an allergic reaction. Some common allergic triggers are certain foods (like milk, shellfish, berries, and nuts), medications (such as antibiotics), and insect stings or bites. Other causes of hives are not related to allergies and these can include:

• exposure to the cold (like diving into a cold pool)
• exercise
• sun exposure
• nervousness or stress
• infections caused by viruses

No matter what the cause, a case of hives can last for a few minutes, a few hours, or even days.

What Will the Doctor Do?

Doctors usually can diagnose hives just by looking at you and hearing your story about what happened. The doctor can try to help figure out what might be causing your hives, although often the cause will remain a mystery. If you’re getting hives a lot, or your reaction was serious, your doctor might send you to another doctor who specializes in allergies.

Sometimes, doctors will suggest you take a type of medication called an antihistamine to relieve the itchiness. In many cases, hives clear up on their own without any medication or doctor visits.

Less often, hives can be a sign of a more serious allergic reaction that can affect breathing and other body functions. In these cases, the person needs immediate medical care. Some people who know they have serious allergies carry a special medicine to use in an emergency. This medicine, called epinephrine, is given by a shot. Ordinarily, a nurse gives you a shot, but because some allergic reactions can happen really fast, many adults and kids carry this emergency shot with them and know how to use it, just in case they ever need it in a hurry.

Can I Prevent Hives?

Yes and no. The answer is “yes” if you know what causes your hives - the strawberries at the start of this article, for example. If you know they cause you trouble, you can just avoid them. If you get hives when you’re nervous, relaxation breathing exercises may help. But if you don’t know why you get hives, it’s tough to prevent them.

Some kids get hives when they have a virus, such as a bad cold or a stomach flu. Other than washing your hands regularly, there’s not much you can do to avoid getting sick occasionally. The good news is that hives usually aren’t serious and you might even grow out of them. Who wouldn’t want to give hives the heave-ho?

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: October 2007

His fever started on Saturday afternoon.  As usual, I was the one whom found him having higher temperature than normal.  After we came home from running errands on Saturday morning, I was busy preparing lunch for him, Hubby and me.  Hubby was looking after Brandon and he was watching DVD.  They were eating lunch together while I had mine last.  I only realized his elevated temperature after lunch when he came running to me.  The ear thermometer recorded a temperature of 100.4° F.  It wasn’t that bad but it is still a fever. 

Later on it went up to 102° F, so I gave him 5mL of Children’s Motrin at 1pm.  Then at night, I gave him again around 8pm.  He woke up around 5am this morning with a high temperature, and I gave him the medication again.  Two more times at 11am before we went to Ikea and at 4pm.  He was basically himself most of the time, a little whinny. 

But just now his temperature shot up to 103.9° F (39.9° C) right before he went to sleep.  So I gave him another dose of ibuprofen medication.  I called the hospital to find out if we need to visit the ER but was told to monitor his temperature after an hour he took the medication.  Each dose of ibuprofen medication will only help to lower the temperature for 6 hours.  If the temperature went down after an hour taking the medication, then not to worry as long as there are no other symptoms.  But the nurse (Mary) suggested for us to visit Urgent Care tomorrow morning since our doctor office will be close tomorrow for Labor’s Day.  Now I need to go find an Urgent Care that will open on Labor’s Day. 

As I was searching for information on fever’s temperature, I found an interesting article about A Kid’s Guide to Fever from KidsHealth dot org that I would like to share with you all. After reading this article you will have a better knowledge what is fever and why your body’s temperature is elevated to fight with the infection.

It All Begins in Your Brain

To really understand what a fever is, you need to say hello to the hypothalamus (say: high-po-tha-luh-mus). The hypothalamus is in the center of your brain. Think of it as your body’s thermostat — like that thing on the wall in your house that you use to set the heat or the air conditioning. Your hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

Most human beings have a body temperature of around 98.6° Fahrenheit (37° Celsius). Some people will have a normal temperature that’s a little higher; others will have a normal temperature that’s a little lower.

Most people’s body temperatures even change a little bit during the course of the day: It is usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening. For most kids, their body temperature stays pretty much the same from day to day — until germs enter the picture.

The Germs March In

Remember that strep throat that made you feel so rotten? Or another time when the flu made you feel tired and achy? These kinds of infections are caused by germs that make their way into your body, usually in the form of bacteria (say: bak-teer-ee-uh) or viruses.

Once these germs march in and make you sick, they can sometimes cause certain chemicals to flow into your blood. When your hypothalamus gets word that these chemicals are on the scene, it automatically sets your body’s thermostat higher. Instead of saying your body should be 98.6° Fahrenheit (37° Celsius), your body’s thermostat might say that it should be 102° Fahrenheit (38.9° Celsius).

Why does the hypothalamus tell your body to change to a new temperature? Researchers believe turning up the heat is the body’s way of fighting the germs and making your body a less comfortable place for them. A fever is also a good signal to you, your parents, and your doctor that you are sick. Without fever, it would be much more difficult to tell if a person had an infection and how severe it was. That’s why grown-ups are concerned when you have a fever.

Shiver, Then Sweat

Once your hypothalamus sets a new temperature for your body, your body takes action and starts to heat up. When a fever starts, your body tries to get hotter and you may shiver without thinking about it to create more heat. You may feel very cold even though the room isn’t cold and even though you have your pajamas or nightgown on and lots of blankets around you.

If your body reaches the new temperature that’s been set by the hypothalamus — say 102° Fahrenheit (38.9° Celsius) — you won’t feel cold anymore. According to your hypothalamus, your temperature is where it should be!

After the cause of the fever disappears, your hypothalamus will set everything back to a normal temperature. When your strep throat medicine starts to work, for instance, your body will begin to cool down and you’ll no longer have the chills. You’ll begin to feel warm and will need to get rid of the extra heat that’s been in your body. You may sweat and decide to change into some lighter-weight pajamas.

Fighting a Fever

For almost all kids, fevers aren’t a big problem. Once the cause of the fever is treated or goes away on its own, your body temperature comes back down to normal and you feel like your old self again. Most doctors say that kids with a fever less than 102° Fahrenheit (38.9° Celsius) don’t need to take any special medication unless their fevers are making them uncomfortable.

It’s a different story for newborns and very young infants, though. They should be evaluated by a doctor for any fever that reaches 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) or higher.

If a kid has a higher fever, the doctor usually will tell a parent to give the child medicine. The two medicines most often recommended are acetaminophen (say: uh-see-tuh-mih-nuh-fen) or ibuprofen (say: eye-byoo-pro-fen). The medicine blocks the chemicals that tell the hypothalamus to turn up the heat. Kids should never take aspirin to treat a fever because it can cause a rare but serious illness.

If you have a fever, your mom or dad will probably ask you to drink fluids. That’s important because as your body heats up, it’s easy for it to get dehydrated (say: dee-hi-drayt-ed), which means there isn’t enough water in your body. You have a lot of choices when it comes to fluids — juice, water, sports drinks, soup, flavored gelatin, and even ice pops. Before you know it, your mom or dad will pull the thermometer out of your mouth and say, “Your temperature is normal. No more fever!”

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: April 2007