I think it's back!

Quick Post!!!! I'm afraid that I have hypothyroidism "again"! Yup I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism 15 years ago and I was advised to take a hypothyroidism medicine to replace my thyroid hormone. My endocrinologist tells me that it can take a year before the symptoms disappear after the treatment begins. What is hypothyroidism and what are the symptoms? Ok! Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This tends to slow down the body's functions. Symptoms include tiredness, depression, constipation, sensitivity to the cold, thinning hair and brittle nails. Once you are diagnosed, treatment is usually straightforward. It can take you a month or a year but most people need to continue taking thyroid hormones for life. I think my hormones are imbalanced again because I feel that the symptoms are back a month ago. Last year my endocrinologist told me that my hypothyroidism is cured and I don't need to take any medicine at all. I'm getting nervous. What if it's back?Oh well I should find out if my intuitive feeling is right :( I'm scheduled to visit my endocrinologist next week... Excess!!!! I miss you all! Please accept these hug and kisses from me o(*-*)o happy weekend!

Bad breath Go Away!!

Here are the common questions; Are breath strips any better at eliminating bad breath than mints, gum or mouthwash?

None of these things will cure chronic halitosis, but they'll all mask coffee breath, for example, says the dentist. The strips work a bit better than mints and gum because they contain oils that break down bad breath. They're also sugar-free. (Mouthwash is good,too, but less portable.) Stop at using five or six strips a day because the strips can kill good bacteria, which promotes infection.

~RD~

How to keep bad breath away? Bad breath will cause big problems when you want to be really close to someone. Mints and gum will cover up bad breath for a short time but they do not cure bad breath because they do not get rid of the cause of bad breath. Remember that Dental Hygiene is very important. Cavities can actually create a bad smell. So here are some tips to say bye~bye to bad breath. * Eat healthy food and drink 6 to 8 glasses of water everyday. * Brush your teeth and make sure to brush or scrape your tongue regularly. Brush the space between the tooth and the gum precisely (pockets may be as deep as 9-10mm). Brushing can clean 4-5 mm. When your dentist tells you the pockets are deeper follow a strict cleaning instruction from the dental hygienist. * Flossing will do wonders. Try flossing between the teeth and do it everyday, it will get rid of all the junk that gets stuck in your teeth. * Visit your dentist every 3 to 6 months.

Pixel Bug Weekend- I wish I could take the bugs away and suffer it myself.!

Welcome to Pixel Bug for my PBW this week is all about our freaky and stressful week in the hospital.

Quick post! My two girls are generally a healthy kids but last week both of them tested positive for influenza A and had a 39.2-40.3 °C ( 102.6-104.6 °F) fever with horrible cough during the night to the point that it takes them a second to catch a breath or inhale when they are done coughing. It is so hard for me to see my kids like that. It is just a horrible feeling not be able to help my kids to feel better. If I can only just put my hand on them to take away their pain and sickness gosh, I can do that every minute and every day. For me there is nothing worse than having a sick kids! It makes you feel so helpless. Grabe!!!

My kids in the hospital room.

The days are really long and boring inside the hospital. As their mom I gave them something that they can focus on and laugh at to distract themselves from the situation they're in. It means we did something fun and special things while they are in the hospital room. We made some cute paper cut outs , drawing, coloring and playing their favorite games in PSP and gameboy.



Now!!! The long and freaky week is over my kids are home sweet home again and finally the bugs are gone hurray were healthier than ever!!! Thank God for the early Christmas present...

I love you Kei and Rio =)

Join us here in Pixel Bug!!! Have a lovely day :)

get well soon dad!

My dad just had a blood test today his cholesterol level is 8.1. I've heard that it is reasonably high. Other than that he has another health issues, he had a BP of 175/120. Oh my gosh he needs a diet for both!!! My dad is in the hospital for 3 days now. Get well soon dad, I hope you learn to maintain your diet without breaking it! I love you po!!!

flu virus? Best way to control it.

During my 8 years in Japan, I always seem to be the one who get sick every winter . so in order for me to prepare myself for during cold and flu season. I was advised to get the flu shot in October or November. But still there's a chance that I could catch one of the other flu viruses that do circulate. They say that the vaccine protects us against the main one, but not all. So I can still catch the flu but it doesn't mean that the vaccine didn't work. What should I do???

Other than flu vaccination. What is the best way to protect our family from getting sick?

Answer!

* Washing your hands can kill viruses and bacteria *

The single most effective method of preventing the spread of any infectious process is simple hand washing. Good old soap and water at least every hour, and if soap and water are unavailable then an alcohol based hand sanitizer will do. (soap and water really are more effective, but the sanitizer is better than nothing)
Avoid touching your face until after you have washed your hands, do not share drinking glasses or eating utensils, avoid large crowds in enclosed places, and wash after you touch any public surface, like door handles, telephones and shopping carts . Cold and flu viruses are NOT airborne in transmission, they are transmitted hand to mouth, touch any infected surface, touch your face and bingo, you get sick.

To avoid nasty surprises.

Don't mix your medicines to avoid nasty surprises

You took your blood pressure medicine an hour ago. Is it safe to take a motion sickness tablet now? Drug-Digestion.org can tell you. The Interaction Checker database has more than 5000 over the- counter drugs,supplements and prescriptions. Pick your pills from the list to get information on 11,500 possible interactions,plus any known problems with food or alcohol. Mix ginkgo biloba and aspirin, for instance, and you can increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Experts at the American Pharmacists Association say the site is safe and has good info. but warn not to discontinue any drugs until you talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

~RD~

benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give the body many nutrients you need to keep going.

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases.



To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, and white onions.

get well soon Rio

Quick post!!! We came home from our trip to Nirasaki city today as part of our summer vacay. While were driving, I notice that my five year old daughter was extremely tired and running a little over a 98.6°F (37 °C) to 99.6°F (37.6°C) fever. She had no other symptoms though. We gave her some medicine and she seems fine { actually she's here beside me watching Disney channel }, anyways! As I said there were no other symptoms other than a fever and I'm getting more concern. Is this normal to run a fever for no reason? Right now as I checked her temp. from 102°F (39°C) it went down from 100.4°F (38°C) . Get well soon Rio, I hope you feel better na honey....Love you baby!!!

I'm not feeling well today.

Quick post. I am so irritated and not feeling well today. I have a terrible stuffy nose and teary eyes for two days now and it won't go away OMG super annoying already .I took some medicine a while ago,but sad to say it didn't help much. I think it is more likely to be allergies than stubborn cold, oh my!!! No dusting and vacuuming for me today! Thank God husband is home and as usual he helps me out with thing's around the house.

FC

Shydub of Simple Happy Life

I can't sleep

As of this week I only spend four to five hours in bed each night, I become exhausted. I was irritable during the day it was difficult to concentrate. I am afraid I wasted everything and I hadn't accomplish my obligation these past few days. Oh life! I feel so slow and weak....
I love to try some sleeping pills so that I could sleep better and calm my anxiety but hubby won't allow me to take those over the counter antidepressant medicine, hubby told me that taking those pills can only create problems and I might experience unpleasant dreams or morning fogginess. Gee! I am afraid I'd kill my household duties by forgetting the important things and not doing enough -best for my family. It hurts!!!






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Clarissa of Kizuna

relieved!

Around 1:15 P.M. My seven year old daughter had to be rushed to the nearest hospital because of two straight days of dizziness and headache. I'm getting concern about her condition that's why hubby and I took her to the nearest hospital. She had a series of laboratory test and CT scan. Honestly! I am so scared and worried about the test results. But again. Thanks GOD she's fine and all the lab test and CT scan results are negative...Praise GOD!


FC
Willa of Smart Mommy

kids sleep independently

Mommy are notoriously troubled sleepers.But when kids sleep better,so do mums and dads.
Have little kids sleep alone.Lying down with younger kids as they fall asleep is fine,until they wake up in the middle of the night.Try the sleeping bag trick.Have your child go to sleep in it on the floor near you,then night after night,gradually move the bag away from your bed,out the door and down the hall to your kid's own room.It can take a while,says PhD.Jodi A Mindell of Sleep Center at the Children Hospital of Philadelphia,but eventually your child gain confidence to sleep independently.Yeah,we know it's a challenge.Still,it's worth the push.
Another tips!!Establish a bedtime routine.Kids should always do three or four calming activities before bed and they should be exactly the same activities every night. Bath,reading,prayer or whatever- daily repetition cues your child's body for sleep.And a routine is just as important for a teenager as it is for a toddler.RD

FC
Chris of Mommy Journey

Soon to be mom? You can fly!

Pregnant to be know to stay grounded. After all, cosmic radiation from the sun can harm the fetus? Not necessarily. A new report reveals that the amount of radiation is so small,the risk is negligible for most women.Guidelines state that exposure to 1 millisievert (mSv) of radiation a year is safe in addition to 3(mSv) we get yearly from background sources.
For example: On a 12 hour return flight from Singapore to Tokyo,passengers get just .06 mSv.
Woman may want to postpone flights in the rare case of a solar flare a sudden burst of radiation that occurs every few years and may last several days.At their peak,they can expose a traveller to more than 30 times than amount of radiation she'd get in single flight.If you're worried about a solar flare,your airline may know if one is occurring.Frequent fliers,of course, may be at higher risk.For casual travelers, while there may be other health reasons your doctor doesn't want to fly(hypertension,for example),don't let cosmic radiation make you miss a trip. RD


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Shydub of Simple Happy Life

Our Family Legacy!

Five days ago my mom had to be rushed to the hospital for a severe asthma attack her doctor gave her presidonze which is steroid and some antibiotic medicine to prevent infections in her throat and lungs. I was so scared because last year my grandma passed away because of asthma attack and until now we are still in stage of mourning and it is hard for us especially for my mom she told me how difficult it is to live without a mother. I love my mom so much and I can't imagine my life without her =( .
Today I finished all the household duties that means it's my time to surf in the internet to find out more about this symptoms and I was wondering if is it true that asthma is hereditary? And this is what I found out. One of the site I visited it tells us that YES unfortunately it is hereditary and sad to say there is no cure is found yet but the diseases can be controlled in most patients with good medical care and we have a 30% chance if one parent has it and 70% if both parents has it. My gosh that is so alarming because both hubby and I had a same asthma attack before. I remember when I was a child, I used to be suffered by a series of mild asthma attacked. I just had a breathlessness and wheezing during an asthma attack. If you have anything to share about this disease. I am very glad to hear it from you. Thanks in advance =)



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ramintessahsworld

too conscious

For the past few weeks I've been getting a really hard time I can't sleep at all. Too bad because my hay fever is throughout the spring season and it makes me feel miserable. I know that there's no way to avoid this seasonal allergy =(. Since the pollen is everywhere and I can't escape it and neither can the millions of people suffer during this season like I do.

I feel a little self-conscious wearing a mask all the time.

When I first came to Japan, I was really shock seeing people at the train station wearing a surgical mask, my gosh, it freaks me out lol, but hubby explained it to me he said that the main reason why the Japanese wearing a surgical mask are to keep others from getting sick, to keep yourself from getting sick, and to avoid inhaling too much pollen.

All the Japanese markets-drugstore sell a variety of surgical mask with awesome style and art designs like this one ( Hello Kitty). I think it is a good manner to wear a surgical mask in public if you are sick, maybe in some countries like in the Philippines is too embarrassing but here in Japan it is necessary. This mask is also know as a fashion statement for kids and teens here in Japan =)

FC
Little Bites of Heaven

Are we too clean?

Have you ever heard that asthma rates in kids are on the rise. Surprisingly, some experts say it may have to do with our sterile lifestyle and overuse of antibiotics. Exposure to bugs puts the immune system into fighting mode-and that is the good thing. Kids with H.pylori bacterium are half as likely to have asthma as those who don't, according to recent research. Since the invention of antibiotics, this bacterium has been on the decline. The discovery could lead to the development of a preventive treatment.Until then, replace antibacterial soap and cleaning products with normal ones. And when possible, avoid giving your child antibiotics.

first visit to dentist

Between ages two and three my kids went to their first dental appointment. Our family dentist counted their teeth and he did a basic cleaning then he applied fluoride as simple as that and my kids got used to it and it seemed work out perfectly.

If you want to know more about your child first dental appointment please do visit

http://www.dentistry.com/daily-dental-care/pediatric-dentistry/your-childs-first-dental-visit

benefits of good food

I was flipping through the channels today and I came across this morning show it seems to be interesting though, its all about the nutritional foods and how it works in our body. One of the most important responsibility of a mother is to make sure that we are preparing healthy and nutritious food for our family. I love food, so I like to cook, there was this feel-good experience that I enjoyed all along seeing my family appreciate my effort no matter how simple the food is ohh love it. OK this are the list of nutritional foods that our body needs....

Brain: Carrots, broccoli, fish, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants.
Eyes: A variety of foods rich in vitamins C , E , and lutein ( kale, collard greens, citrus fruits, melon)
Lungs: Food high in beta-carotene ( mangoes, carrots, pumpkins, spinach, red pepper)
Heart: fruits, vegetables, grains, fat-free and low fat foods, fish, lean, meats, legumes
Bones: Dairy products, dark green leafy, vegetables, almonds, sesame or sunflower seeds
Skin: Again those beta-carotene rich foods
Colon: High fiber foods ( oats, fruits, vegetables )

HEY! oh hay fever

It has been five days since my last post. I feel bad not greeting everyone Happy Valentine's day "sorry." So what have I been doing? Well I feel really bad these past few weeks my eyes is teary and itchy, runny nose sneezing like crazy and I can't sleep at all what could be worst than having a HAY FEVER that you feel you've been too miserable. I used to suffer this seasonal allergic rhinitis, also know as HAY FEVER since three years ago and I tried some medicine but nothing ever worked for me. For some people HAY FEVER are a minor, temporary nuisance. But if your symptoms are more persistent like mine they make your life worst and even lost most of you day hiding and wearing a dust mask. Finding the right HAY FEVER treatment probably won't completely eliminate the symptoms — but for most people, I think it makes a big difference.


At the moment of thinking of breaking down :(( and trying some over the counter medicine hopefully this one works for me.... By the way to all my readers with hay fever, have you ever tried any other natural hay fever remedies? I would be very happy to hear about your stories!.

versatile calamansi

About this fruit. Calamondin or calamansi is a fruit tree in the family rutaceae and very popular in Southeast Asia , especially in the Philippines.The fruit of the calamondin resembles a small, round lime, usually 25-35mm in diameter, but sometimes up to 45mm. It has the inviting odor of a tangerine with a very thin green or orange colored peel. In spite of its appearance and aroma, the taste of the fruit itself is quite sour, though the peel is sweet. Popping the whole fruit into the mouth to combine the sweet and sour tastes is quite pleasant, though a surprise the first time.Wikipedia
Bringing back the memories. Calamansi juice used to be my favorite drink to bring in school. My mother also use this fruit for herbal medicine and it works in our family, I remember when I was a child suffering from a bad cold, this juice was all I needed. And now whenever my kids suffer from coughing and sore throat during our stayed in the Philippines, I also used calamansi as a remedy and I would like to share it with you.
I used to cut in half a couple of calamansi to rub on their throat then wrap a clean handkerchief around their neck and also drinking a warm calamansi juice helps loosen congestion and good for oral remedy. I used to squeeze two to three piece of calamansi and add one teaspoon of honey. Here in Japan we use lemon as an option. The versatile calamansi is even use for personal hygiene such as deodorant and a whitening agent. Some expert says that after several application of calamansi to elbows and armpit will helps the skin exfoliate. Other soap manufacturers are incorporating calamansi in their products. But still, most Filipinos are following the old fashion way. During bath time, rub calamansi in dark areas of the skin and leave for at least 10 to 15 minutes then rinse off. Others use it as detergents, removing the grease from the hands, and as a cleansing scrub to dirty or stained clothes. What a fruit!!!