A General Update on the Cooper-Lermans
I have to start out by thanking you all for the overwhelming support I received after posting about my recent struggles with asthma. I received so much great advice and insight from you--much of which I have already put into practice (more on that in a moment)--but most valuable of all was hearing how many of you have gone (successfully!) through similar struggles and what you've done to get the best of them. Talk about inspirational! Please know that I do read every single comment on this blog, even if I don't get to respond to them individually. I don't know that I deserve all the unconditional support I get here, but I do strive to be worthy of it. :-)
This past Saturday I had the very great honor of appearing at a "campaign fundraiser" (actually a fundraiser for Animal Allies and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria) for Hank, the cat who's running for Virginia's open Senate seat. I was able to meet many of Homer's and my readers and online friends (and it was SO wonderful to finally meet in person!)--and, of course, I had the enormous privilege of meeting Hank himself.
All I can say is that Hank's humans are clearly doing something right, because there's no way I'd ever be able to get Homer to wear that adorable little bowtie!
I am pleased to report that spending an entire day right next to Hank--as well as in a pet store with many cats and dogs roaming around--did nothing to trigger my asthma whatsoever. Even the time I spent hanging out in the store's storeroom with the four (formerly feral) felines who live there didn't produce the slightest sniffle.
Unfortunately, however, the second I walked back into our apartment late Saturday night, my chest started closing up again. Since I was clear as a bell in Virginia and DC, as well as a couple of weeks ago at our friends' home in Connecticut, I'm starting to think that I'm allergic to a) my apartment, b) Manhattan, c) recent changes in the weather (it was warm and dry in DC and Connecticut, chilly and rainy when we returned to NYC Saturday night), or d) some combination of the above.
So Laurence and I are attacking the apartment with renewed vigor. This week our new bedding arrives, as well as our new air purifiers. We've gotten rid of yet more stuff. And we're researching professional cleaning services that specialize in cleaning for allergies and asthma to give us a great, one-time shot in the arm.
I'm keeping up the changes in diet, exercise, et cetera, and am hoping that those will pay some longer-term dividends. I also took the advice that many of you suggested and researched the effects of various vitamins and herbs--including D3--on asthma, and have begun including increased dosages in capsule form to my daily vitamin regimen. Apples have become my new best friends. :-D
Tonight at sundown Yom Kippur begins, which marks the end of the Jewish High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, was just over a week ago. According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah the gates of Heaven are opened, and God begins to inscribe the fate of all souls for the coming year in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement, Jews fast and pray and repent all our sins and transgressions of the previous year, the gates of Heaven are shut, and the Book of Life is closed, with the destinies of each of us for the coming year written and sealed.
I generally do fast every year, although I'm not sure how well fasting and steroids will go together this year. But I'm going to try. To all my Jewish friends, I wish you an easy fast. And to all my friends of every creed and denomination, may your names be inscribed in the Book of Life, and may you enjoy all good health, happiness, and prosperity in the year to come.
Comments
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
It was so good to hear you are doing better and are doing everything you can to keep your kitties. Doctors don't always understand our attachment to our babies and how miserable our lives would be without them. Thank you for standing up for Homer, Fanny, and Clayton. Best wishes to you and Laurence and continued improvement in your health.
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
It was so amazing to finally meet you and Laurence. I loved your reading from Love Saves the Day. I wish you and Laurence a happy, healthy, and allergen/asthma free new year (easy fast too). Sending pats to Fanny, Clayton, and Homer. Good luck with your apartment cleaning and at least it is the best time of year for apples!
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
So glad you were able to make it out to VA to support Hank for Senate and the "campaign fundraiser". I live in the area, and was sorry to miss seeing you at the event. I was off helping other kittes find their "fur-ever" homes. We had five adoptions! Anyway, a friend of mine and fellow cat blogger made your event and had a great time! Hope to see you out my way with a book tour for Love Saves the Day soon :-) P.S. Love the picture of Fanny "helping" clean. Reminds me of how my Fanny helps out ;-)
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Years ago, at age 13, a family friend became allergic to everything under the sun, out of the blue. She had previously only been allergic to cats. She went thru EVERY medical treatment. Every inch of their house was cleaned and altered to benefit her. Nothing helped. She missed a year of school. Finally, her mother gave in to a friend's "weird" suggestion and took her for acupuncture treatments. Not only did it resolve her new allergy issues, it cured her of her previous allergy to cats! That was 36 yrs ago and she's absolutely fine. If I hadn't seen this, I wouldn't believe it. Something to think about...
Shana tova and good health to all Cooper-Lermans! -
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Terrific! I'm so glad things are going well for you, Laurence & your furry family.
I've also heard that old books can sometimes be the cause of respiratory problems for some people...
Here's to hoping the deep cleaning does the job!
Hugs! -
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
I started a re model project a few weeks ago. It's taking longer than expected because we keep discovering hidden water leaks and mold. Mold has been cleared from upstairs but also discovered in downstairs bathroom. Even though the house is a mess with opened up , , building materials piled everywhere I seem to feel better just from getting rid of the upstairs mold. The list of vague symptoms in addition to obvious allergy/asthma that can be from mold is really long.
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
My God continue to work in your life and be encouraged, you do so much good for both felines and us humans
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
I do hope you find the relief you need from the symptoms. The last sentence in your post brought tears to my eyes - thank you!! So beautifully put.....
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Thanks for the update Gwen! Continued good health to you and yours and I think you are right on target with the environment investigations and changes and NOT the cats! Follow your "gut" Mama!
Peace. -
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
So glad to hear your asthma is better. From reading the posts, I agree you might want to research mold. We had mold in a closet once, because the roof was leaking and the water was seeping into the walls and we did not know it. We could not figure out what was wrong but we finally did. We ended up having to gut the whole closet and re-plaster it all but it was worth it. There is an answer somewhere, it just needs to be found! And in the meantime, you are getting nice new bedding and filters. Neat! Wishing you only the best! Whiskerisses to Homer, Clayton and Fanny.
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
It definitely sounds as if there is SOMETHING in your apartment that is triggering your attacks. I think that your idea of having a professional cleaning service that specializes in this type of thing come in is an excellent one, and hope it all works out for you.
As the sole shiksa in my household, I will not be fasting, but my husband and mother-in-law will be. I wish you an easy fast as well! -
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Gwen,
You don't have to do anything to deserve the unconditional support you receive. You just have to be and allow and receive it.
Glad you are finding solutions and taking care of yourself.
xoxo -
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
I see some of your friends mention mold. Definitely could be a problem. Mold is very sneaky and not easily seen. Hope your fast goes well. Fasts are very cleansing but a bit tough on steroids. God will give you strength! Love to Homer, Clayton and Fannie!
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
You are such an inspiration, Gwen! I have been following ya'll since I Homer's Odessey. I love reading your posts! I give my best to you, Homer, Laurence and the kitties
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Hi Gwen. Dr. Jane from MN here.
What Mary Ann said above. In a word...Mold.
That is a very likely culprit given your description that (A) you were around critters all weekend while out-of-town without so much as a sniffle, and (B) things started to act up as soon as you arrived home.
Kitties are obviously NOT the problem. But an older apartment in an older building could very well be.
Check not only your own apartment, but with the building as well. If there is mold anywhere in the building itself, it MUST be addressed, for your welfare as well as for the other tenants. If there IS mold in the building and it is not/cannot be eliminated, you may have to start searching for new digs.
Many of my friends/colleagues/patients here have asthma and/or allergy issues, and mold is Enemy #1 in many of the cases I see.
Good luck w/ everything. Your plan sounds good and I hope you have much success. And Belated Happy Holidays to You & Yours!
Hugz from MN!
Dr. Jane & Tripod & Bette Davis (who are doing great, BTW >^..^ -
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Continue to take care of yourself and the critters Gwen. Hang in there. Tell Homer hello for me and my cat, Tiger.
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Gwen, it was so wonderful to meet you and Laurence this past weekend! I'm glad you were able to make it out here. L'Shana Tovah, Happy New Year and have an easy fast! Warm wishes and hugs to Homer, Fanny and Clayton!
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
So glad to hear you are doing better. Someone mentioned mold. I hadn't thought of that but it may be worth having an inspector check it out. My mom has asthma and weather does affect her. She seems worse in the rainy wintertime that is California. May you have a blessed year and a good Yom Kippur to you and your family.
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Tuesday, 25 September 2012
I really think it might be your apartment that you are 'allergic' to... have it checked out and maybe even move... (not an easy thing to do in N.Y. I suppose) good luck..!
I'm guessing you have had the apartment also checked for mold? That would obviously require a different kind of service but if it's something IN the walls unfortunately cleaning and air purifying won't help. I know you will find the answer but it does seem its the apartment and NOT your cats thank God. I am rereading Homer's Odyssey for the 6th time- there is something so hopeful and uplifting about it I reach for it on my IPAD whenever I feel a bit down. Thank you for sharing your story, I can't wait for the new one!