Allergies Support Group
When the immune system responds to a foreign substance in an abnormal way, it is classified as an allergy. When the body first contacts the substance, it will not cause any reactions, but the immune system will start to produce antibodies to it and subsequent contact will trigger more dramatic responses. Depending on the allergy, the response could be mild or very severe...
I have developed severe allergies to cat and dog dander and dust mites. I have beengetting shots for 8 months now and will be having a re-eval appt soon.I know longer break out in a rash or hives but still develop severe facial redness,hoarse voice,red eyes almost immediately when coming in contact with these allergens.I think the allergist will titrate my allergy shot if I am not mistaken.How do you deal with family members who all have dogs that are in there homes some multiple.Immediately when I am exposed to them when they come over i feel the onset of symptoms.It is not an enjoyable time and I feel terrible for the rest of the day or days and spend multiple hrs cleaning everything that was touched or where ther items were.I know they do not understand and I am definitely going to not allow any items that I can keep outside inside but how does anyone deal with loved ones coming into the house when you know they are and there clothes are covered with dander.Outdoors is not a problem!!I have been thinking about an air purifier but I have a large home.Can anyone give me ideas how they have delt with this problem.I am hoping the allergist will be able to help.I am on zyrtec,singular and right now on a maintenance dose weekly.Would going twice a week help.I also have a dog but mine is outside not an inside dog and I now have to minimize any close contact with my pet.Any suggestions or tips I will a appreciate.It is better for me to go to there homes and expose myself vs them bringing all the dander into my house.Would taking extra premedication help when I do go to there homes!!
I took singulair for a year back when I was living with my exboyfriend/father of my son for two years. At first the singulair worked magically, and that is why I moved into a home with cats and a dog. When I became pregnant, I started having asthma for the first time ever, and had to go to ER many times for breathing treatments, was sick all the time, tried everything to minimize dander but when the animals are in the home, it was impossible. After I gave birth I gave my now-ex the ultimatum, its us or the pets, I cant suffer like this I feel like Im going to die, and he told us to leave, so I left with my newborn, sick, back to my parents home who just had one dog. He brought handfuls of my winter clothes and dumped them into the small room at my parents home I was staying in even though I told him not to, that I had what I needed. I got so sick, my dad took me to the ER, I thought Id just need steroids and a breathing treatment, turns out I had a heart attack (at age 26) caused by allergic eosinophils surrounding my heart and I was diagnosed with Churg-Syrauss Syndrome and had to spend 2 weeks in the hospital getting chemo medications and insane doses of steroids, away from my then-3 month old, I nearly died, and now I am extremely sensitive to dander and pissed off about it, lol. Not ever going to medicate again! Im just making sure my home stays clean and clear. (I now have my own home, free of dander! And my parents found a home for their dog so that we can visit them and they host family events at their home so other friends and family who have cats or dogs can attend events hosted at their house, not mine, so thats how I get around that).
There are studies about kids with allergies and asthma who have significantly worse asthma when there are more cat owning kids in their classes because of the dander brought in on them.
Ive had horrible asthma attacks, and contact hives from danderorMy son is severely allergic, he is 6 now, and I have court orders that he does not have to di timeshares in homes with cats or dogs.
Im so sorry you have to navigate the work environment. The only thing I can think of is, allergies can be considered a disability that affects your breathing, and you can request reasonable accomodations be made. Id recommend no animals in your work area, and that you be able to keep a HEPA air purifier in your work space.
Singulair is a medication now correlated (causation has not been proven) with my disease Churg-Strauss Syndrome, and the pulmonologist who saved my life by identifying the disease and performing a heart biopsy to confirm it, then treat it aggressively, he told me singulair is a bad medication.
Im not a doctor, but I wish Id had a warning, that is why I am telling you this.
In my home I have a HYLA air cleaner, it acts as a vacuum and air purifier and I love it--its my little robot. Someone recommended it to me and I had a home demonstration and was very impressed. Its expensive, so I used their payment plan for low monthly payments that will take forever to pay off, but I felt I needed it and I have no regrets. Ive had it for over a year, and it is the only vacuum that hasnt caused my skin to break out, hasnt lost suction, is durable as heck, AND you also turn it on once a day as a purifier, its on a timer and its loud but it has huge suction and no need for filters because it uses water and some kinda cyclone technology to suck in air, clean it, and push out clean air (I add eucalyptus and tea tree oils to mine) and it really helps.
Ive had many bad responses from outsiders with pets, they dont understand, they wont ever not have pets, some have allergies and developed asthma as a response to living with their peck themselves.... I will never put me or my son in a home with dander after my experiences that is for sure (my son was born with dander allergies). Even if they dont get it, everyone is respectful of my rules since I put my foot down: no one in my home with dander, and i dont visit homes that cats or dogs reside in.
I just want to say to you, as a fellow human being, that your life is valuable, and your health is a right, and you are way more important than a pet, no matter what anyone says, and I hope those around you can understand that!