Day 108 | Bringing Ramona “Home”

June 25, 2017

My family brought Ramona over this morning so that we could experiment with spending the day with her. I was cautiously hopeful. I was a bit anxious that I would react to her again but I had reason to believe things could be different this time.

For one, my family kindly took her to the groomer for us and got her hair shaved really short. They also washed her with charcoal soap which is supposed to bind to toxins. Plus, I wasn’t planning to hold or touch her until I was sure it was safe.

When she arrived Brett let her explore around the ranch while I worked on the laundry. I didn’t feel anything from her so I let myself get excited. Maybe getting rid of all that contaminated fur really helped! I have a good feeling about this! I think we’re going or be able to keep her!

I still felt well enough to finish all the laundry and make lunch for us. When I sat down to eat Ramona wanted to cuddle. I wasn’t planning to let her sit on my lap today but since I was doing so well I decided to try it. I didn’t feel anything right away, so I ate lunch with her curled up on my lap.

Big mistake! Eventually, I did start going downhill. When I got up again my symptoms were undeniably worse, I was fatigued and in pain. I decontaminated but didn’t feel much better. So I took my chair far away from Ramona and sat down to rest.

I was sad and discouraged. What now? What does this mean? Are we going to have to send her back with my family? Why is my health still so fragile?

I texted Brett to let him know I wasn’t feeling any better. He came over to ask me if I had changed my pants when I decontaminated. I hadn’t. I had only rinsed my hair and exposed skin and changed my shirt. That’s often enough but he was right that in this case, it made sense to change my pants too since Ramona had been sitting on my lap.

So I decided to decontaminate a second time and change my whole outfit. I started to feel better immediately. What a relief! Maybe we can keep her!

I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to hang out with my family after that episode but I was able spend two whole hours with them tonight! Yay!

Now, we’re going to try having Ramona spend the night with us. Only this time, she’ll be sleeping in the front of the van instead of next to our bed. Sara Mattson, my mold avoidance mentor, suggested this idea. It can make a big difference to put a few extra feet of distance between the mold sensitive person and the source of contamination. I’m really hoping it works out!


By the way, Brett and I made a beautiful PDF of my favorite resources for suffering souls. I created the content and he made it look fancy with his superduper graphic design skills. It’s available for free to my email subscribers. Click here to sign up and receive 5 Resources for the Suffering Soul.

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13 Comments

  • Natalie Julson

    Praying! I really hope this turns out right and that you will be able to keep her. <3

    June 28, 2017 at 7:19 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thank you Natalie! So far so good. 🙂

      June 29, 2017 at 2:07 pm Reply
  • Audrey

    Glad that there is potential to keep Ramona. She looks adorable with her new haircut. 🙂

    June 28, 2017 at 10:00 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      I know! I was worried she would lose her cuteness but she’s still just as adorable. 😊

      June 29, 2017 at 2:07 pm Reply
  • Katherine Forster

    Awwww, Ramona is adorable! ❤

    June 29, 2017 at 7:25 am Reply
    • Ana Harris

      I think so too! 💕

      June 29, 2017 at 2:08 pm Reply
  • Hannah Mead

    Oh my goodness, Ramona is SO CUTE!!! And I’m so glad that things are looking up with your situation!

    June 29, 2017 at 8:52 am Reply
    • Ana Harris

      😊

      June 29, 2017 at 2:08 pm Reply
  • Maiysa

    I hope you can keep that sweet thing. She is precious. I had to rub several dogs on my face during severe reaction season, and I landed on a female mini schnauzer. If I am unwell she doesn’t leave my side. I have to keep her pretty clipped and I have to wipe her off overtime she comes into the house from the outdoors. I also have a lint roller that I roll all over her including her paws, to take off the pollen and so forth. It is a big help. So glad to see you are progressing in your healing.

    June 29, 2017 at 11:48 am Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thanks for the tips! We’re planning to wash her frequently. That’s so sweet about your mini schnauzer! I like the lint roller idea. Thankfully pollen doesn’t really trigger me.

      June 29, 2017 at 2:10 pm Reply
      • Maiysa

        That is so wonderful pollen doesn’t affect you. So hard to get away from it. There are still mushrooms in the grass here, but they look like they are dying. So grateful. I took some flucoanozole just in case. I don’t know about you but I start getting facial breakouts if I get yeast in my intestines and woke up looking like I was 14…only pimples and wrinkles are a double whammy. I hope Ramona is not causing too many issues. PS I found a documentary called Moldy. Similar stories to your own. God Bless. Tommi

        July 1, 2017 at 4:25 pm Reply
  • Lauren C

    I commented on the mold avoiders post with what has worked with us but in addition I thought I would add that our dog sleeps across the room from me next to the air cleaner and I rarely hold her 🙁 My son isn’t as reactive and can hold her. She gets a short haircut every 4-5 wks and is washed frequently (with bronners and with Downey is she gets hit with HT). Good luck- so adorable! 🙂 Everytime the house is cleaned she gets a new towel to sleep on. Her bed is in a plastic bag w a clean towel on top. Blessings 🙂

    June 29, 2017 at 4:20 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thanks for sharing these tips Lauren! I’m so sorry you’re dealing with the same thing. It’s so hard not to be able to cuddle! I didn’t know you could wash dogs with downy. She hasn’t had any skin problems from that? I was worried it might be irritating. If it’s not, I might have to try that.

      June 30, 2017 at 7:34 pm Reply

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