How would you explain this to the school (or, am I crazy?)

[deerhart]

I was not trying to offend you and i doubt the other poster was that said the same thing was either.

I was simply saying if a medical condition is so severe that it requires out of state travel every year to control it maybe you should be looking for more medical support (maybe you need to spend the "travel" time visiting national specialists). I am sorry to hear that the best doctors in the area can not help you - how sad your son has to feel like this. No child deserves to feel so horrible.

My statement simply stated - what is going to happen if a vacation is not possible - what if when he gets older his employeers does not understand and does ont allow the time off work? Maybe the PP is on the right track - maybe a permanent move is medically necessary for your son.

When it comes to severe allergies, there really is NO treatment except to hope that over time and with exposure the allergies will get better.

I have a severe allergy that they cannot treat. I did allergy shots only to have them make me even sicker because he natural amount of my allergy in the environment was already more then my body could handle. My allergy shots were at 1:1 millionth concentration and I STILL reacted after each shot (head to toe hives, sleeping 18+ hours a day, it was fun). My allergy is present year round, except in the very very dead of winter (as long as its stayed below freezing for several days).

Today (almost 14 years after my allergy was first dx) exposure has lessened my reactions. I still react, just not as bad and I can handle more exposure now then I could back then.

The only advice anyone has been able to give me beyond medication (which traditional allergy meds do not control my symptoms at all, singular does a decent job at it and controlling the asthma symptoms) is to move to a different location (southwest, Colorado etc) and OUT of the midwest river valleys. it's not always possible to just pick up and move far away. FURTHER, for people with really severe allergies, there is a very high likelyhood that you will just become allergic to something your exposed to in the new location (this is what happened to me, when I lived at home with my parents my mold allergy wasn't very bad at all and rarely bothered me - hives when mowing the lawn, and my biggest problem was corn pollen, I went to college and the mold allergy just went bonkers due to the change in location)

 

[pickle's mom]

My sons will be in 8th grade and 4th grade next year and I am pulling them out of school for 3 days for a Disney trip. I figure this is my last chance to pull the older one out of school. I have done this two other times over the years, but only for 3 days. My younger son really doesn't do well with crowds. My kids are bright, they work hard and it doesn't impact them. We give the teachers plenty of notice and get work ahead of time. Only one teacher has given me attitude, but she was not nice about anything really. Travel is educational and there is NOTHING like family time. Our school district actually has forms to complete for just this reason. At the end of the day you make the decisions for your children - don't sweat what others think. Kids grow so fast and these memories and the bonding time with them is priceless. They will talk for hours about the our trips to Disney. BTW, both of my boys have asthma and allergies - I am sending you good thoughts. Relax and have fun planning your trip!

 

[sk!mom]

If he's only missing one day, I wouldn't tell them anything. I'd just send a, "please excuse ______ for his absence last week" note when he returned to school.

I'm sorry to hear about the out of control allergies. Keep trying to find a solution as I know first hand how miserable they are. I had a similar situation every Fall- Nasacort ended up being my miracle drug. It has honestly changed my life. My older sister had a siituation like your son with allergies aggravating her asthma. She now gets regular allergy shots and is also much better.

 

[disfan07]

I agree with the other PPs. If his allergies and asthma are that bad you need to see national specialists.

You should probably consider taking a trip to denver instead and going to National Jewish Hospital.

Unfortunately, just because you have the best specialists in your area, does not mean that there are not ones that are a lot better and ones that can help.

We thought we had excellent specialists in our area back in virginia but my health problems were not well controlled. We now do have some amazing specialists at cedars-sinai and have a much better handle on everything (I have steroid dependent asthma, severe chemical, environmental and food allergies, eczema which is immunosuppresent dependent) plus heart problems and neurological problems.

I think you need to take a step back and realize that people here are trying to help adn that you should probably begin looking for nationally recognized specialists to help.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I agree with the other PPs. If his allergies and asthma are that bad you need to see national specialists.

You should probably consider taking a trip to denver instead and going to National Jewish Hospital.

Unfortunately, just because you have the best specialists in your area, does not mean that there are not ones that are a lot better and ones that can help.

We thought we had excellent specialists in our area back in virginia but my health problems were not well controlled. We now do have some amazing specialists at cedars-sinai and have a much better handle on everything (I have steroid dependent asthma, severe chemical, environmental and food allergies, eczema which is immunosuppresent dependent) plus heart problems and neurological problems.

I think you need to take a step back and realize that people here are trying to help adn that you should probably begin looking for nationally recognized specialists to help.

Thank you for your post - I was starting to feel like a bad person for suggesting that she needs to seek further medical help. It is always nice to be supported.

Thanks

 

[kayrosek]

I'm with alot of others here. One day is really not a big deal. I took my kids out for 4 days for a disney trip this winter and my oldest was in 7th. grade.

 

[PrincessMom4]

My school is extremely mellow on the absence from school issue. We just call in before and tell them we are going away. I am glad we did miss a week of school this past February to see my parents because we found out about a month later my mom has/had cancer. She had the cancer removed but is not under going chemo. I am really glad my kids got to spend a week with their grandma because life is too short. Not that I am saying missing a lot is good, but my son took his work with him.

 

[3girlsfun]

I wouldn't tell the school anything. Just me though!