recovering doormat
Lapsed CDer
Havent' posted in a while since difficult child 1 & 2 are relatively stable, it's easy child going through nightmare puberty who is graying my hair and grinding my teeth in my sleep.
But even though difficult child 2 is finished with his juvenile probation, is currently attending substance abuse counseling and going to school consistently, he hasn't completely stopped smoking weed. He just doesn't do it enough to go above a certain level when his urine is tested weekly or every other week. The levels have been going down, his counselor says.
But the damage to his lungs is serious. He has had asthma for a few years now, but it has been relatively mild. It got worse a couple of months ago, we had him put on maintenance medications, and he was doing fine. Then a couple of weeks ago he had a major asthma attack while in my car on the way to the orthodontist. His rescue inhaler wasn't working and he needed to get to his nebulizer, quick. He was nearly in tear of panic by the time I turned the car around and got him home, the whole time he's swearing that he'll never smoke weed again.
Fast forward to this past Monday, when he came down with a cold (probably passed on to him by his girlfriend) and stayed home from school. Next day, he's even more congested, runny nose, looks a little feverish. Wednesday, he's in the doctor's office. His oxygen is still a bit low after three nebulizer treatments but they send him home and tell him to come back first thing in the morning for a recheck. That night he has to sleep sitting up in bed (he lives with dad nearby) and borrows his father's CPAP machine (for sleep apnea) so he can breathe, but he only sleeps about 10 mins at a time.
Thursday morning back at the doctor's his oxygen is so low that it's a done deal, he has pneumonia, maybe Swine flu, and he's being admitted.
he's got an oxygen mask on and is being given steroids and antibiotics via IV. When he takes the mask off to speak or eat, the machine starts beeping obnoxiously because his oxygen levels have dropped below 92 (at 88 or below you pass out).
The doctors and nurses have given him the talking to of his life about how his recreational pot smoking has impacted his asthma and affected his lung function. The damage is not irreparable, but considering what it is going to cost dad and I for out of pocket medical expenses, and him missing over a week of school, it's a pretty darn big inconvenience.
I can only hope that the boredom of being stuck in a hospital bed on a weekend night while all his friends are out having fun, will stick with him a while.
But even though difficult child 2 is finished with his juvenile probation, is currently attending substance abuse counseling and going to school consistently, he hasn't completely stopped smoking weed. He just doesn't do it enough to go above a certain level when his urine is tested weekly or every other week. The levels have been going down, his counselor says.
But the damage to his lungs is serious. He has had asthma for a few years now, but it has been relatively mild. It got worse a couple of months ago, we had him put on maintenance medications, and he was doing fine. Then a couple of weeks ago he had a major asthma attack while in my car on the way to the orthodontist. His rescue inhaler wasn't working and he needed to get to his nebulizer, quick. He was nearly in tear of panic by the time I turned the car around and got him home, the whole time he's swearing that he'll never smoke weed again.
Fast forward to this past Monday, when he came down with a cold (probably passed on to him by his girlfriend) and stayed home from school. Next day, he's even more congested, runny nose, looks a little feverish. Wednesday, he's in the doctor's office. His oxygen is still a bit low after three nebulizer treatments but they send him home and tell him to come back first thing in the morning for a recheck. That night he has to sleep sitting up in bed (he lives with dad nearby) and borrows his father's CPAP machine (for sleep apnea) so he can breathe, but he only sleeps about 10 mins at a time.
Thursday morning back at the doctor's his oxygen is so low that it's a done deal, he has pneumonia, maybe Swine flu, and he's being admitted.
he's got an oxygen mask on and is being given steroids and antibiotics via IV. When he takes the mask off to speak or eat, the machine starts beeping obnoxiously because his oxygen levels have dropped below 92 (at 88 or below you pass out).
The doctors and nurses have given him the talking to of his life about how his recreational pot smoking has impacted his asthma and affected his lung function. The damage is not irreparable, but considering what it is going to cost dad and I for out of pocket medical expenses, and him missing over a week of school, it's a pretty darn big inconvenience.
I can only hope that the boredom of being stuck in a hospital bed on a weekend night while all his friends are out having fun, will stick with him a while.