My mother has told everyone he cannot have flowers or plants in the house, because "it might take away his breath". I feel the flowers/plants are good for him, since last I heard, they give off oxygen and take in the carbon dioxide he breathes out. Am I wrong to feel she is denyinig him something he may enjoy during his illness? How do I convince her she is wrong?
2007-12-27 06:49:39 · 7 answers · asked by Possum 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
Let me clarify one thing, he has no allergy to flowers, and show me proof there is pollen in house plants (maybe) or floral bouquets that are already uprooted and not exposed to outside, to even have pollen in them! If you go to a hospital, even in ICU where patients are on oxygen, they allow flowers to their rooms, so long as there are not too many. I still think my mother is taking it too far. Prove me wrong with some kind of evidence and references, please.
2007-12-27 07:09:31 · update #1
My father is not yet so advanced that he cannot do some things and only just has been diagnosed, he is at home and not in bed 24 hrs. Also not yet hospitalized at any time for this. He just needs help breathing for the time being.
2007-12-27 08:06:30 · update #2
Live plants give off oxygen in the daytime, during photosynthesis, but at night, the process is reversed and the plants use oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.
But, I think that is superfluous to your question because your father is on tank O2 and that will supply him the oxygen he needs and any plant or flower in the room will negligibly impact the O2 available for him.
Talk to his doctor and get his advice about the flowers. His own doctor's recommendation will trump anyone on YA's opinion.
2007-12-27 08:23:11 · answer #1 · answered by FishStory 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Living green plants give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. Cut flowers I love but I am not so sure about. She needs to understand that they do not take in the oxygen.
It sounds depressing with out any flowers. Get him a plant with some silk flowers in it, she shouldn't have a problem about that. You could get a Video frame and Load it with family photos for him to see. They work like a slide show.
Is your Mom in her 80's it sounds like a very old wives tale. Some Ideas are hard to change.
God Bless and Good Luck to your Dad and the changes that come.. Be strong life can be difficult.
I went through all of the same thing with three parents. They all died one at a time in about 20 months.
2007-12-27 07:29:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most ICU's do not allow flowers because anyone who is in there is typically on oxygen.
Flowers all have pollen, whether in the ground or not.
Why would you purposely put your father in the position of having any sort of irritant close to him? That's what's going to take his breath away........irritants make it harder to breathe. So do perfumes, scented candles, cleaners, etc, etc.
His lungs are not functioning properly.
Don't make it harder on him than it already is. Don't be mad at your mother. Drop the subject and enjoy what time you have left with your dad.
2007-12-27 08:52:49 · answer #3 · answered by beut_els_guese 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are wrong.
The pollen from the flowers can hurt his lungs, especially if he has allergies. Also, the amount of CO2 flowers convert to oxygen is irrelevent
All plants have pollen or spores! Especially if they flowers.
Buy him a picture of everyone in his family. Or take a picture of flowers. It's not like he's going to be picking them up or anything. He can get more enjoyment if you just visit him.
2007-12-27 06:58:47 · answer #4 · answered by Malina 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your correct it's not because of the pollen. Flowers have tiny parasites on them that when given an opportunity they cause disease or infections. This is not all that common, it takes someone with a lowered immune system such as someone in ICU. If your father is in ICU you shouldn't take him flowers. If you must, take him fake flowers. The real ones can cause more problems than you think. Thanks and God Bless.
2007-12-27 07:33:50 · answer #5 · answered by RRT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand all you are saying. My husband had very bad lungs. But rather then upset your Mom & take the risk of what flowers might do bring your Dad something else....a book on tape, or spend maybe an hour reading him some type of story he likes.
I wish you & your family well. I know how difficult this is.
2007-12-27 07:59:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lola is right..........that is why hospitals do not allow plants or flowers in the ICU.
I understand you want to give him pleasure and make him smile during this rough time but you can't do it this way.
2007-12-27 07:04:45 · answer #7 · answered by Birdie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋