Conference misery::feline_v1

    Asthma is a result of severe allergys. My mother has had asthma all my
    life that started as allergies. As her body became sensitive to more
    and more things, it got to the point that her body was suffering a
    contiuous allergic reaction. It is worth getting tests done to see what
    is causing the reactions, so the environment can be changed to releive
    them if possible. Lots of poeple are allergic to cats, but all asthma
    sufferers are not. My mother is allergic to dogs,horses,goats,birds,
    but NOT cats.
    Sandy

    People can, over time, build up an immunity to certain allergens
    they are exposed to on a regular basis.  I have seven cats, and
    am also allergic to cats.  I am not, however, asthmatic to cats.
    (all sneeze, no wheeze ;-) )  Other peoples cats will bother me,
    but my body has adjusted to the dander of mine, and built up an
    immunity to it.  
    
    Many things can cause asthma to kick up.  Dust, pollen, the 
    formaldehyde residue in new carpeting, forced hot air heat.  Also,
    some people (like me) have asthmatic reactions to, in additional
    to other things, foods.  In these cases, scratch tests will not 
    confirm a reaction.  I believe you can be allergic without having 
    an asthma reaction.  As .1 said, it depends on the amount of an 
    allergen in proximity to you, which can vary.  People who have hay 
    fever are at a 50% risk to develop asthma at some point in their lives.  
    I was 27.  It is also not uncommon for the asthma to improve, worsen 
    or disappear completely over time.
    
    It is an elusive and frustrating condition.
    
    Mary-Michael

    By teh way, there is a new medication called Seldane which generally
    works very well in controlling allergies to cats, without causing
    side effects like drowsiness.  However, if holding the cats
    doesn't make the asthma worse, I would guess that the cats aren't
    the problem....

    Just a caution on seldane, which I take occasionally for allergies.  I
    have heard that women who take it must be careful that they are not
    pregnant or even suspect that they could become pregnant while taking
    the drug because it could harm fetus..  I guess thats true with most
    perscription drugs but having read that some where I just thought I'd
    pass it along.  My sister has bad allergies and was perscribed seldane
    but after weighing the pro's and con's and the possibility of her
    conceiving while on the medication she opted not to take it.
    
    I have used it and it does seem to work well without causing drowsiness
    but be careful..
    
    Valerie
    

    I take Hismanal which is stronger than Seldane, is a single
    24-hour daily dose and does not cause drowsiness.  I take one
    every day.
    
    I also asked my doctor about conceiving while on medications,
    since I Theophalline internally as well as by inhalation in
    addition to the Hismanal.  She told me should conception occur,
    the fetus is in much greater danger if the oxygen supply is
    inadequate or erratic.  
    
    Mary-Michael

    My husband is allergic to cats, among other things, and also has
    asthma.  We have 8 permanent cats and one temporary one at the
    moment.  The count has reached a maximum of 11 cats when we had
    some foster kitties.
    
    Jack takes Seldane and Slobid twice a day (Slobid is for asthma) and
    seems to do quite well with the cats.  As a previous reply mentioned
    you can become desensitized to your particular cats and Jack is living
    proof.
    
    BTW - it is my understanding that asthma is a common component of
    cat allergies.  
    
    So allergies don't automatically mean that you have to get rid of the
    cats.  Oh - other things you can do...vacuum regularly and bathe the
    cats once a month.  Keeping cats indoors also helps since they can't
    carry in pollens and other allergens on their coats.
      Nancy DC

    Thanks for all the replies. 
    
    I know that my husband and my son are more allergic to short hair
    cats. When we go visiting and if there are short hair cats watch
    out because these two have to leave real fast.
    
    We have had felines in our home now for 18 years. I know I can not
    get rid of them and I know my son would not want to see his buddies
    go. We have a blue persian who will be two in Sept he picked this
    one out of a litter of four. They have this special bonding. It
    seems like he knew my son wanted him real bad. My son is 11 and
    he loves to watch him play.
    
    A few months later we all were having a real great time raising
    this kitten, so we decided to get another kitten. We searched around
    and found a breeder who had himilayians. So my daughter came with
    me and had her choice of this litter. 
    
    All this came about when we had a blue persain for 11 years and
    we had to have him put to sleep. He got real sick on us and we did
    everything we could. We laid him down on a Wed and when Sat came
    around we found ourselves looking in the paper for a breeder of
    persians. We were lucky. We found a woman who lived right in Worcester.
    
    But I know I will not give up my two little kids. I know this would
    not solve the problem of my sons or my husband asthma. I did have
    my son tested and his is allergic to almost everything. Inside and
    outside. His is on three different medications.
    
    I also have know people who have given up there pets because of
    asthma and they still have the same problem years later.
    
    Thanks Again for your knowledge on this topic..

    Asthmatic cat (pet) owner here!
    I have 4 cats, 2 rabbits and a horse.  It's not the animals that
    bother me, (cause the attacks), it's dust,cigarette smoke, and
    mild hayfever, and also temperature.  I'm on a prescription inhaler,
    and have presc. pills, Theodur, as I am considered on the mild side.
    If it's cold outside, I will start to wheeze badly as my bronchial
    tubes constrict, the same from cig smoke, dust or hayfever.
    The doctor years ago had mentioned maybe the cats were a problem,
    but "the look he got back" ended that theory.  My asthma has a
    strange reaction to a virus infection (common cold) in that I
    develop pnemonia (sp?) easily. (4 times, 2 times severe bronchitis)
    
    And my cats where there to sit on the bed and give me comfort! :-)
    
    Lynne   

    Lynn,
    
    This is what I love to hear. My son also gets bronchitis real easy.
    He two is also on Theodur twice a day with a persription inhaler
    not to mention ventolin pills 3 times a day.
    
    I have a allergie doctor who is a cat lover so he isn't going to
    tell me to get rid of my cats.

    Intersting string of notes as I just got back from my allergist (i.e.
    less than an hour ago) and he said that he wants to switch me from
    Seldane to Hismanal. I'm glad to hear that someone has had success with
    it.
    
    Deb (who is currently suffering from all of those ugly, smelly
         disgusting lilacs that are polluting the atmosphere with their
         pollen)

    Hmmmmm.  Maybe that's why I have been so stuffed up these last 
    few weeks!  I never thought of lilacs!
    
    E.

    I am very happy with the Hismanal, although I have to 
    occasionally "layer" it with a over-the-counter 
    antihistimine for real relief.  Unfortunately, when you
    take them every day, you can become desensitized over time.
    
    I also use the ventolin pills - 8 a day.  Ventolin is a 
    big improvement over the Proventil I was on.  Theocron 
    twice a day and Intal 4 times a day.  In case you haven't
    guessed, I'm classified as moderately severe! ;-)
    
    My doctor also mentioned the cats - once!  When I responded
    that if she were allergic to her children would she get rid
    of them the discussion stopped dead.  Besides, like your son,
    I'm allergic to 3/4 of the earth's substances anyway!  When
    you get to that point, the impact is kind of minimal.  Of
    course I also love knick-knacks and Victorian furniture....
    
    The kitties are worth every sneeze and more.....
    
    Mary-Michael
    

    Question for you Seldane/Hismanal users.....
    
    >>  Do you feel like you need to take it all the time?  
    
    	I wish I didn't have to, but I get so stuffed up, and my ears
    	get all blocked up and make weird noises, and the headaches!  I 
    	hate to be dependant on a drug (but I was more miserable for the 
    	5 years it took to figure out what was wrong).
    
    >>  Also, do any of you feel like it dosent do any good anymore?
    
    	My allergist told me it would be a matter of time before I became
    	desentised (SP), and then we'd move on to other stuff......but it
    	goes back to the I'm young, and hate the thought of *always* havig 
    	to take medicine....
    
    Michele
    
    p.s.
    I have an appoint. coming up, I'll have to look into the Hismanal.

    RE: -1:
    
    Yes, I think it does still do me some good.  I stopped taking it
    for a couple of days just to make sure - yes, it still works!
    It may take years to become desensitized.
    
    I wish I didn't need to take it everyday, but I do. Having
    been very healthy my entire life until I developed asthma
    at 27, I was very reluctant to take any medication for about
    the first 1 1/2 years.  Then I went to the emergency room at 12:30 AM
    one night because I couldn't breathe.  I hate taking medicine
    but the Suffrin shots they give you are ten times more painful,
    not to mention the hangover you get the next day!
    
    I still get bad sinus headaches certain times of year and my eyes
    will itch and water - but a little extra over the counter medication
    usually does the trick.  BTW, my doctor recommends Benedryl or
    Dimetapp if you have an occasion where the Hismanal alone won't
    cut it.  It's a pain in the neck, but I'd really rather breathe....
    
    Mary-Michael

    RE.10
    
    Deb, I have been using Hismanal for over a year, its GREAT. I have
    never been able to take the run-of-the-mill antihistemines due to
    the side effects. The ONLY effect that I notice from Hismanal is
    relief!
    
    Kirk

    Me, too!
    
    It's easier to name the things I'm not aleergic to, but cats, horses,
    dogs, ferrets, hamsters, and basically anything that ever thought
    it might have been seafood or tobacco.  The asthma is accompanied by hives
    and upper respiratory infections.  I take intal, ventolin, and an
    prednisone.  But give up the cats?  NEVER! We cope with lots of 
    vacuuming, baths, and air filters.
    
    Since I'm moving to Marlboro soon, I'd appreciate a recommendation
    of an understanding allergist.
    
    -maureen
      

    maureen-
    
    I'd like to recommend Dr. Sakowitz in Westboro, MA.  366-4811
    He is a little expensive, but insurance covers most of it.  Plus
    he is conviently located for me.

    I also take my Seldane year-round.  In the winter I can drop the
    dose to one a day but there's something in the house that kicks 
    my allergies off.  Probably mold and/or cigar smoke.  The guy who
    owned the house before us left a coating of cigar smoke over 
    EVERYTHING.  I think the heirs to the house just plastered over the
    smoke-soaked wallpaper and then painted so there's still plenty
    of the stuff in the house.
    
    at this time of year I tend to get sinus headaches but have a nasal
    spray called Beconase that shrinks the sinus membranes and clears
    up the headaches.
    
    I suffer NO side effects at all which is in direct contrast to my
    reaction to ALL other allergie medications.
      Nancy DC
    

    Oh dear, is this ever familiar.  Glad to know I am not alone!
    (well, with that many cats, how could I EVER be alone  :-)
    
    I seem to have developed moderately severe asthma about 2 years
    ago.  I am allergic to molds and...cats.
    
    The doctors and I agreed that I "would avoid cats as much as
    possible."  Of course, not very much is possible :-)
    
    I take a variety of antihistamines, inhalers, and theophylline,
    and they seem to work as long as I remember to take them!
    
    	Pennie

    You know, this is strange, but my asthma eased up a year or so ago
    and I'm taking no medication for it at all now.  Of course, my
    asthma was very mild to begin with and only caused me problems
    when I was exercising and it was rather hot and humid.
     N
    

    Re: -1
    
    Actually, it's not strange at all.  My doctor told me that
    your body goes through puberty-like stages in your mid-twenties
    and mid-thirties.  So, it is possible that you can develop
    allergies and/or asthma in your mid-twenties and thirties
    that you never had before and also have them disappear for no
    reason.
    
    I think only 2-3 % (or some ridiculously low number) of all
    people over the age of 50 have asthma.  Of course, that could
    mean two things ;-) ;-), but I take it to mean that a lot of
    it goes away.
    
    Mary-Michael (who is patiently waiting for her mid-thirties
                  with her fingers crossed)

    My son has been seeing Dr. Sakowitz in Westboro also.
    
    I really don't think he will tell you to get rid of your cats because
    he is also a cat lover.
    
    Great doctor...

    
    RE: .22
    
    He did start the usual speach on animals......But one `look' from me, 
    and he said something along the lines that he *has* to say it, but
    since I am allergic to so many other naturally occuring things
    that it would make no sense.
    
    He did tell me he love animals too!
    
    

    since we are on the topic of allergies, and someone (I think)
    mentioned getting a series of shots for immunology, I was just
    wondering if anyone knows if you can do this for poison ivy? I'm so
    severely allergic to it that I swell up just by walking by it, and I'm
    sick of spending spring through fall going on and coming off steroids. 

    Deb

>    since we are on the topic of allergies, and someone (I think)
>    mentioned getting a series of shots for immunology, I was just
>    wondering if anyone knows if you can do this for poison ivy?

Last I heard from my allergist, no.  Unfortunately, EVERYONE is reactive
to poison ivy and poison oak - they have biologically designed defense
chemicals that "burn" the skin, directly, as opposed to an allergen
which inappropriately stimulates your body's defense mechanism....and
you then spend time suffering while your body attempts to "throw out"
the allergen.....hence the runny eyes, sneezing, coughing, even hive-like
reactions and breathing problems...all of which are caused by the
immune system's overreaction to the allergen(s).  That they can fix....
but, short of a suit of armor, your only protection from the ivy and oak
is to not go where it is.  

I know that it seems that some people aren't reactive, but, if they
get enough on their skin, they get itching and blisters too.  I'll bet
you are fair skinned, right?  We "pale-faces" are notorious for having
a really bad time with the ivy and oak....

		8^}

    Yeras ago my cousins used to get shots to  protect against poison
    ivy.  I don't think that this means they could bathe in it or
    anything :-)  My guess is that is helped make them more
    resistant;  my aunt used to get it if someone even burned a poison ivy 
    patch in the neighborhood for example.  It's worth calling your allergist and
    and asking, no?
    

    That is too bad, but it is interesting. Oh well, at least I won't feel
    like an idiot asking about it. thanks for the info.

    >I'll bet
    >you are fair skinned, right?  We "pale-faces" are notorious for having
    >a really bad time with the ivy and oak....

    Nope. Typical Mediterranean olive skin, although I do seem to burn
    just as easily as the "pale-faces" ( I blame this on my mother as she had an
    albino aunt).

    Deb

    Karen, looks like our notes collided.
    
    Someone burning poisen ivy is one of the easiest and most dangerous 
    ways to get it. My allergist wanted to put me in the hospital for that
    a couple of years ago. Basiclly, what happens is when you inhale the
    burnt poisen ivy, you burn the insides of your lungs. My problem is
    that I'm so darn sensitive to the stuff that I just have to walk by it
    and I'm going to break out. I have to see my allergist again next week
    so I'm going to ask him about what you are talking about. 

    Deb,
    
    *Many* years ago, I used to get TERRIBLE poison ivy -- never ended
    up in the hospital, but it took weeks to clear up, and left my legs
    totally covered with scabs for a while (great time a summer camp,
    huh?).
    
    My doctor finally gave me some kind of pills.  Never got poison
    ivy again.  (of course, it is also possible that I finally built
    up an immunity after than final, massive attack)
    
    good luck!
    
    	Pennie

I've had pills - but they were a kind of steroid that can "interrupt"
the reaction (I was also informed I could only have this medicine a
few times a year, and not any "back-to-back" periods...potential damage
to the liver was the reason given)....regrettably, this didn't make
me immune to the initial reaction.

Of course, now, I just get a shot when afflicted.  same stuff, and it
works in a snap...however, I ALSO work real hard to avoid the original
it...it is miserable stuff.