I'm so frustrated

I've had asthma for years, but never too bad. The last few years, I've been getting cold after cold. Often I get bronchitis or even pneumonia. Today I couldn't stand the pain in my chest anymore so I called to see my family doctor. I've recently switched to her and she's awesome. Well she was very concerned. She made sure I know asthma still kills and was worried about me. She sent me today (!) To the specialist who usually takes 6 months to see. He has now put me on new meds and did allergy testing. I was a pin cushion, he tested for so many things. It turns out I am quite allergic to cats, horses and dogs, mold and some grasses. Luckily not feathers So aside from my birds, I am kind of hooped. We have 2 cats in the house and the dogs come inside a bit. I've just bought my daughter a horse (and we have another) and was hoping to start riding with her again. There is no way I can move the cats out, as the one is my son's very cherished pet and the other is about the only animal my husband cares for. I think he would rather get rid of me . Its easy to say I'll vacuum more or bathe the cats, but in reality, I have so much to do, that's probably not realistic. This is my dream lifestyle. I don't want it to change. He said if I don't avoid my triggers it will continue to get worse. Lovely.

very sorry to hear this Susan, seems like everything you like to do will trigger this..it would be nice to stay healthy for sure, but too bad you have to avoid your pets and animals to do so...

Susan I know it is not a cure all to end all but I have COPD and asthma, Try just give it a try ACV and Mission Falls Ionic Silver, my symptoms have just about disappeared, Can't hurt to try and it will not harm you unless you have an allergy to silver.

For the cats try adding a tablespoon or so of what ever fabric softener you are using (or can use, so you know you are not alergic to it) to a spray bottle of warm water. Mist the cats every couple of days, just a light misting. They wont get ick, but it will help hold the hairs and dander to the coat.

MOst people are actually alergic to the saliva, but with asthma I would guess that inhaled dander would be the big concern.

Thanks you guys, I really appreciate the responses. Pops where. Do I get the silver? I've only had it from you. Artic, unfortunately, it is the saliva I'm allergic to, but I may try that anyway- thing is I don't use fabric softener because my son has excema . I wonder about allergy shots. That wasn't mentioned today and I never thought to ask. Has anyone had them?

Is asthma triggered by allergies? I have no asthama, but there are certain things that will set me off, cleaning the hen hosue without a dust mask is a biggy. At some point I became VERY reactive to chicken dust, but a mask takes care of that problem.

I have a friend who is allergic to everything on the planet. Everyday she takes a mulitvitamin AND a non-drowsy antihistamine. She would rather not take a daily antihistamine, but says it's either that or live in a plastic bubble. SO she takes her once every 24 hour tablet and carries on with life. This does not cure her asthma, but it does stop her allergies. THe two are separate for her. Maybe it's time for a daily antihistamine?

Keep all animals out of your bedroom, clean it well and put a hepafilter in there.

Take supplimental bioflavonoids- a natural antihistamine.

Do not touch the animals and if you do, wash your hands before you put them near your face.

Remove your rugs and carpets and upolstered furniture. Have lino, wood, tyle and leather.

All this works for me. I am the allergy queen.

Sue

Wow this is daunting. Very good advice here, keep it coming please . Of course I have just replaced the bedroom carpets with "allergen reducing" carpets. (They were old). When we did we found a corner in my bedroom where there was mold, apparently from a crack. Wonder how long that was there? Of course its right beside my head when I sleep. I am trying to downplay this in my mind, but it just keeps running over and over in my hed how concerned my doctor was. Who gets in to see a specialist within 2 hours of the appointment with their family doctor? Yes, great service but????? I'll take all of your advice seriously and once again, thank you

Ask your good doctor if she thinks you should have a chest x-ray. My sister had similar symptoms to you and after years of no interest she got a new doctor who sent her for a chest x-ray and found she had bronchial problems probably from mould - suspect from when she lived in Bahamas and the a.c. was carrying it. Not good news but now she knows what to do.

Sounds like you are on the right road to deal with it though. Isn't it shocking when you get a good doctor to find what you've been missing...

Thanks heda, yes she wants a chest X ray. She wondered if I might have some fibrosis in my lungs as well. I just don't have time till next week. Its getting cold here and I still have to get everyone moved. She had prescribed an antibiotic yesterday because she thought I may have a bit of bronchitis, but the specialist said not to take it. I'll run it by her today. Yes- a great doctor is amazing.

Good, that all sounds good.

Now, when you get the chest x-ray ASK IF YOU CAN HAVE A COPY - they can likely put it on a disc for you. Then if (let's say "if" but in this part of the world it is "when") your good doctor moves on you have the 2011 x-ray copy yourself. Then the next (good) doctor can have something to compare your chest x-ray in future to. If (not when I hope) your file goes missing.

I'm learning how to take care of my own health care.

Oh Susan, that is a dreadful thing to hear. I can't imagine what it would be like to have allergies, I am blessed with none.

I am not sure if the use of colloidal silver water would work or not, but it certainly is worth a try. Does Arctic make it? If so, I would get some more from her and try it out. I think the silver water that was mentioned (Mission Falls Ionic Silver)is the colloidal silver water that one can make at home, but sold in a store. That stuff really costs so much more than making it yourself. I would agree though, try some, and also I would think that you should try apple cider vinegar.

I was reading an article on raw cow's milk and it is something that can also help with allergies. Do you have access to this? I would give my kingdom to have raw cow's milk available to me. Good luck, try things, search maybe even health forums on the internet. Sometimes there are very valuable informations on the net. Have a wonderful day, CynthiaM.

Thanks heda, I'll do that! Cynthia, I read your post this morning. Funny you should mention raw milk. I get it every week (as well as cream). I was finding it too rich so my husband and sometimes my son are the only ones drinking it. I really only liked it for the first 3 days after getting it, then found it got a bit strong tasting. But I had a great big glass of it for lunch today! I'll give it a go again. Thanks for the reminder!!

I have allergic asthma which has nearly killed me twice. I am allergic to dogs, hay, horses, horses, wood (yes really!), grasses, birds, latex and new things all the time. I own a dog, a horse, a house chicken, outside chickens and live out in the country!

I own a nebulizer for really bad attacks, and use Symbicort everyday. It's a daily steroid to keep inflammation down. It's pricey, but it works! I haven't had a bad attack on it. I also use ventolin for any times I feel "tight" or wheezy, generally cold and wet days, which is a lot in the Pacific Northwest, but as long as I keep on the Symbicort I'm ok.

I use daily anti-histamines for spring when the plants decide to through pollen about as well as keep down my allergies to wood because there is a lot of wood out in the country!

My asthma is not as bad as some people, but I do have scar tissue in one of my lungs from a very bad lung infection and that makes me susceptible to respiratory disease. I get the flu shot every year. Lots of people will try to convince you not to get the shot, b/c of vague unsubstantiated rumors of them being bad for you, don't buy the bull, get the shot!

Holistic homeopathic treatments aren't necessarily bad for you and I believe work for people with mild cases of asthma, but if you are truly bad off, USE THE BIG GUNS and use the DRUGS. We as a society have benefitted from the use of modern medicine and for goodness sake's use it for your benefit.

Eat well, drink lots, look after your general health and that will help your asthma. Sleep well, keep a clean bedroom, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! I get wheezy when I keep dirty clothes in the bedroom and allow the animals to get too much hair on my bedsheets and when I don't keep on top of the general cleanliness of the bedroom. Definitely agree with the above suggestion of the filter, just don't run it all the time when you're in it especially if it has the ionic filtration. The ions can bother your lungs b/c of the interaction of positive and negative charges across membrane potentials.

Anyhow, best of luck. Asthma sucks, I hate it. I feel like it rules my life, but that's life.

Oh yeah, drink a cup a day of coffee, caffeine is a natural anti-inflammatory.