Hi;
Joined the wonderful world of allergies in my early twenties with allergy to sunbathing; I'd had prickly heat before, but this skin rash was much worse, the only relief was lying in a bath of cold water.
This was followed by an allergy to skin products which turned me into the incredible hulk but red instead of green...including, ironically, sun allergy specific suntan lotions.
Later came a mild hayfever and the incredible hulk came back when I slept at my sister's house in my niece's and her (very furry) cat's bed!
I'm now getting all the classic allergy signs( itchy skin ,swollen eyelids,pink eyes, sore throat, cough and snivels) from sleeping in my own bed.It came on after three weeks holiday abroad.
I use feather/down pillows and duvets, and first noticed swollen eyelids after buying new pillows but buying new pillow protectors seemed to solve this problem and I take this pillow on holiday with me!
Can anyone advise me on what worked for them in reducing this problem?
I always thought that getting rid of feather products was required, but I read on this site that they might be better than synthetic pillows, so now I'm confused!
Thanks.
Hi Liauq,
You could buy Dust Mite- and Allergen-Proof Pillow Encasings. That would solve your pillow problem. You could put these over any pillow. Good luck!
I do not believe a feather pillow is better than a synthetic filling. Too many people are allergic to the feathers. And the synthetic stuff is from all different kinds of material.
You might consider taking a daily allergy pill. They worked for me for years and before they stopped working. And I was off of them for several months and then I started them back up and they started working again. You might also want to read up on allergies so you can allergy proof your home. There are certain things that are just more allergy prone than others. For instance nut trees in your yard might bother you when in the spring when they are shedding.
And finally you really ought to consider getting an allergy test done. And if you live in the US I think it's very important for you to choose an ear nose and throat doctor to do your allergy test rather than an allergist. The allergy test done by the ear nose and throat doctor is so much more comprehensive than the one the allergist actually does. Seems contradictory but it's the case. I can explain why if you want me to.
As a five year sufferer I would love to hear why an ENT allergy test is better. My allergy test were done by my Allergist
Okay when an allergist does their type of allergy test they give you a minut amount of the allergen and see if you have a reaction. If you have no reaction they assume you're not allergic to it. But an ENT gives you the allergen and if you do not have a reaction they give you a little bit more to see if you react to a higher amount of the allergen. If you then react to the higher amount they consider it and allergy. They also put the allergen in by injection just under the skin. Where as an allergist does a scratch test. So there you have it. :-)
Thank you I have recently switched allergist because I felt my first Allergist was not doing enough. The second Allergist did a blood test instead of the scratch test and found three different allergen that I am allergic too. the first Allergist refused to send me for a blood, and the results from the scratch test came back negative for my three new allergen. My first three were grass, dust mite and cockaroach. The blood test revealed that I was also allergic to trees, weeds and mold. All three came back negative with the scratch test. So once again thanks for ur information. Mybe I will also reach out to my ENT.
I would suggest you do that because I insisted to my allergist that I had an allergy to animal dander. I had had the allergy on an an ENT allergy test many years ago and I was reacting when I was around my daughter-in-law's cat. And I have two dogs in the house which was why I was taking a regular OTC allergy pill and that was working fine until all of a sudden things changed. Anyway I got off track so I told the allergist I knew I was allergic to animal dander so she did a blood test on just that and said I was not allergic even with the blood test. That's when I knew I had to go back to an ENT. Even she suggested I see an ENT. She had me on two pills and three nose sprays and I was not getting any relief. I'm saying this as if it's past tense but I have not yet had an allergy test done by my ENT. It's scheduled in November. I'm really looking forward to see what comes up on that test.
I'm sorry liauq that message about my allergist and ENT was meant for deemac7949.
I gotcha I am on allergy shots now to see they can provide any consistent relief to my symptoms . I am in NY And I have not heard of ENTs performing allergy testing My ENT always recommends that I go back to my Allergist. R he will say what did the allegerist say.. this can be very frustration especially because my sinuses also take a beating,, which then causes pain. due to the mucous build up Maybe next time I visit my ENT I will mention testing.. r try another ENT which will be my fifth one. Lol thanks again
Be sure to mention your sinuses to the ENT it might be that you need sinus surgery. It's a very simple procedure you go home the same day. It was a miracle cure for me and my sinus headaches. But one word of warning it hurts horribly because they pack your nose with like 6 ft of gauze and that's in each nostril. But once they remove the gauze the pain is gone. And in my case it was just a few days until they removed my gauze.
My ENT knows about my sinsus .my first ENT mentioned surgery but I have stayed away from that option. I do not have polyps and I have a mild deviatation in my septum. So besides from the inflammation cause by my rhitinis there is really nothing blocking my sinsuses. what turned me off to that the idea of surgery is that the ENT could only give me a 50-50 success rate.i thought that would be to evasive not to have a better success rate . The ENT stated he was going to shave down my turbinates and other area of the nose so that I can have better drainage. I was not cool with 50-50. I have had the ballon procedure done and that only provided minimal relief but have been told that, that particular procedure can be done a second time. Thinking of going that route if the shots do not help with symptoms . At this time ENT number 4 has not mentioned surgery, although he did state that there were several option available and I am sure surgery was one of them.
Well obviously that's your choice and we have to make choices for our own bodies. I hope you get some relief for these allergy shots.
Dust mites are extremely tiny bugs that belong to the spider family. They live in house dust and feed on the dead skin cells that people regularly shed. Dust mites can survive in all climates and at most altitudes. They thrive in warm environments, preferring those at 70°F (21°C) and 70 percent relative humidity.
When you breathe in the waste products of dust mites, your immune system kicks into high gear, producing antibodies against the normally harmless substances. This overzealous immune response causes the symptoms associated with a dust mite allergy, such as sneezing and runny nose.
Dust allergies also make it difficult to breathe and may trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Dust also just makes some people itchy.
People with dust allergies often suffer the most inside their own homes or in other people’s homes. Oddly enough, their symptoms often worsen during or immediately after vacuuming, sweeping and dusting. The process of cleaning can stir up dust particles, making them easier to inhale.
Hi
To quote my GP, once you start with allergies, you become a collector. He was right! Hoovering the bed/base can help but it needs to be a Hoover that says it's designed to deal with dust mites and the like. Hope you find a way to sort the allergies
Yes!!! After 15 years of dust mite war I found a remedy for myself, hope it will help you as well. I’m a male, 34yo, live in UK (wet climate) in flat with carpets. I know carpets are key point in my allergy, but unfortunately I can’t get rid of them as it’s a rental property. When I stay in properties with hard floors, I normally have no symptoms or much fewer allergy symptoms. Never used any steroid inhalers as I don’t trust them. However used Salbutamol, in worst periods up to 5-10 times a day which for sure isn’t good practice.
Things I tried with no or little success: various natural herbal remedies (tried about 10-15 different herbs in total), minerals and vitamins, powerful dust extractor with HEPA filter, expensive air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters, wet carpet cleaner with special anti-dustmite additives, special anti-dustmite spray for carpers and other upholstery, anti-dustmite laundry detergent, mattress and pillow covers, steam pressure cleaner for carpets mattresses and upholstery.
What helped me? Dehumidifier! I bought a powerful compressor dehumidifier for our 2 bedroom flat. I bought the one that is designed for 5 bedroom house, which you might think is an overkill. But it works! After 2 days of use I could fill results. Almost all symptoms disappeared! I was so happy with results that I bought another one and now keep 1 in each bedroom.
I read that dust mites can’t survive in low humidity conditions during prolonged periods of time (which is less than 40%). Now I’m trying to keep humidity level around 35% at all the times and since dehumidifier purchase I had no dust mite allergy symptoms. Dehumidifiers are extracting now about 1 litr of water a day each. Hope this helps you!
I’d suggest rather than making your home allergy proof, you should work on your body to make it allergy proof. My story was no different from yours 6 months ago. I had severe dust-mite and cat hair allergies. Almost instantaneously my body would start reacting. I was on the allergy pill for the longest time and this was infact causing me other complications. My misery didn’t seem to end until I chanced upon a website dealing with natural allergic remedies. I consulted a doctor and he maintained that allergies result because of a derangement in the Ptta humour of the body. Pitta is loosely translated as digestive fire. This imbalance leads to increase in histamine production and the manifestation of an allergy. he menttioned the best ways to calm our pitta in aurveda is by taking herbs that work to harmonize the imbalances such as Yavani, Katikarohini, Tejapatra, Sthulaila, Sukshamela, Kustha, Swarnapatri, Hareetaki. I had no knowledge about these herbs , and he also recommended a kit that had ayurvedic , homeopathic and nutritional ingredients. I consumed the kit for 6 weeks and my symptoms never returned.
Hello Joseph
A friend of mine is Ayuverdic practitioner and has given me useful ideas on dietary changes that really helped. I'm pleased you have benefited from the guidance you have been given.
Hello, liauq. I could recommend you getting rid of all your feather pillows, old carpets, blankets and matressess and get a new ones. You know, you may have allergy for feathers as well, so getting a synthetic bed linen would be a decent choice here. There's nice to-do list on pestcontrolhacks about dust mite problem.