Christmas Tree

[Lynn777]

Yes, I am post happy today. Do any of you get a real tree? Any issues with the smell of the tree bothering tics? DS doesn't seem to have sensitivities to chemicals, smells, etc. But honestly it hasn't been long enough for me to know for sure, so I worry about every new possibility. This is just so hard, I keep wondering if it will EVER get easier.

 

Thanks again, hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Familyof5]

Hi!

In our case, I don't think a real tree is the issue...a fake tree may cause my family a lot of problems. I have to take out all the decorations that have been stored in the moldy/dusty/musty basement or attic and "air" them out outside and even wash them down before I bring them in the house. Otherwise, my children's tics will increase.

 

Another great problem Christmas brings for us is that the wrapping paper is usually contaminated with mold spores that my family has become so sensitive to. Tearing the paper off the gifts releases any spores on the paper into the air and it stays in my house for weeks.

 

For my son's birthday this year I wrapped the presents in the garage (in 30 degree temperatures). I wiped all the gifts down with swiffer wipes (they have the opposite charge of a mold spore so that it will attach to the spore removing it from whatever you are wiping) before I brought them in the house. Although I became ill from doing this, at least my son didn't have to breath in "as many" spores as he might have and I reduced the exposure for him. I definately did not eliminate the exposure for him, but his tics from the birthday were much reduced than what we have been used to.

 

I just love Christmas.

[mythree]

Hi!

In our case, I don't think a real tree is the issue...a fake tree may cause my family a lot of problems. I have to take out all the decorations that have been stored in the moldy/dusty/musty basement or attic and "air" them out outside and even wash them down before I bring them in the house. Otherwise, my children's tics will increase.

 

Another great problem Christmas brings for us is that the wrapping paper is usually contaminated with mold spores that my family has become so sensitive to. Tearing the paper off the gifts releases any spores on the paper into the air and it stays in my house for weeks.

 

For my son's birthday this year I wrapped the presents in the garage (in 30 degree temperatures). I wiped all the gifts down with swiffer wipes (they have the opposite charge of a mold spore so that it will attach to the spore removing it from whatever you are wiping) before I brought them in the house. Although I became ill from doing this, at least my son didn't have to breath in "as many" spores as he might have and I reduced the exposure for him. I definately did not eliminate the exposure for him, but his tics from the birthday were much reduced than what we have been used to.

 

I just love Christmas.

 

I was actually wondering about this -- getting the tree out of the damp garage where it has been sitting for a year. I was wondering about the effect of the dust and molds etc - hmmmm more to think about now.

 

Why is the wrapping paper contaminated with mold spores? Is it because you've stored it away? Or is all wrapping paper contaminated?

Thanks!

[Familyof5]

I'm not sure why new wrapping paper is contaminated. One of the best food sources for mold is paper, so if the wrapping paper is stored in big warehouses, for long periods of time, where air quality is not the most important detail, then the spores just adhere to it, feeding off of it and multiplying. I am going on our third xmas where I've finally realized why xmas made my kids relapse. It wasn't until my husband and I both got sick not just from unwrapping the presents, but from wrapping them, that we realized what was causing the problem. My kids and myself are so hyper-sensitive to mold spores that I can tell immediately when they are present: I'm like a mold dog! I never would have known what caused my children to tic if I wasn't sick myself.