Anyone Else with Cat Allergies?

[malibuconlee]

About three years ago I developed an allergy to cats. Had never been allergic before, but am now. I sneeze and my eyes itch, which I could handle, but also I get wheezy after beeing in a house with a cat for a couple of hours. Two years ago we put new carpet in a house we just bought because of my allergy.

What do you take? I have Zyrtec, but it doesn't seem to help much with the wheezing. I have an appointment with my Dr. tomorrow, but am not sure what he can/will prescribe me. DH's family has decided to have his mothers side of the family's Christmas at SIL's house where she has a cat.

Thanks for listening, I was just wondering what everyone else takes and how well it works for them.

 

[luckywife]

I have allergies to cats and besides taking allergy medicine daily, my doctor also gave me an inhaler to use incase I am around a cat and start to wheeze.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My daughter is and we have 4 cats. It is limited to her sinuses and results in her "snorting". The Zyrtec is completely useless for her and getting rid of the cats as of now is out of the question. She loves the kitties and the snorting is more of a nuisance to others as opposed to being an inconvenience for herself.

I'd love to know what kinds of other meds are out there. She has been allergy tested so we do know in fact she has this allergy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am not that allergic but you can go see an allergy specialist and see if you can get regular allergy shots to help you.
I did shots for 3+yrs and it did help. However I was only mildly allergic.

As far as the celebration well since you are "wheezing" you need to get yourself an Epi-pen. This is a sign of severe allergy and could send you into shock.

I do not think a regular doctor will be of much help but it is worth it to make sure you have nothing else going on.

See an allergy specialist as well as your reg. doc.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'm allergic to cats, too, but I'm around them so rarely that I don't take anything. I can be in the room with them, but I can't pet them or have them sit on the furniture with me.

 

[cepmom]

DD9 is allergic to cats...had her tested and cats came back positive as well as tree pollen. She takes Allegra, Nasonex and Singulair. She has been doing gret on this combination of meds. My Mother has a cat and DD never has any problems around them while taking her meds. She also has a rescue inhalor just in case, but hasn't needed it yet.

 

[Charade]

I'm slightly allegeric to cats but unless I forget to wash my hands and rub my eyes, I usually don't have any problems. I do have seasonal (fall) and I use Nasonex. That works GREAT!

 

[Christine]

I am allergic to cats and I just avoid them. If someone has a cat, I just do not go to their house...period. Not worth the discomfort.

Anyway, my allergist told me that there is a 6-week allergy shot program you can go through to rid yourself of the allergy. I think you get several shots a week for 6 weeks and it can make you very uncomfortable. The allergist only recommended it if I *had* to visit someone with a cat.

 

[disneymama73]

I'm allergic to cats and dogs. I have both. I take Clarinex, Singulair and Flonase.

 

[NMAmy]

I am allergic to cats and I just avoid them. If someone has a cat, I just do not go to their house...period. Not worth the discomfort.

Me, too. When dh and I first started dating, he had a cat. She was really the first experience I ever had with a cat and she and I adored each other. I just took Benadryl when I was over there since it wasn't all the time. When we moved in together, though, we had to find her a new home. While I would have muddled through with my allergies, dd is allergic and also asthmatic and can't even be in the same room with a cat. We found her an excellent home with friends and visited her when we could.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

My daughter is and we have 4 cats. It is limited to her sinuses and results in her "snorting". The Zyrtec is completely useless for her and getting rid of the cats as of now is out of the question. She loves the kitties and the snorting is more of a nuisance to others as opposed to being an inconvenience for herself.

I'd love to know what kinds of other meds are out there. She has been allergy tested so we do know in fact she has this allergy.

Has she seen an allergy specialist? Because that is the way to go for sure. There are lots of meds on the market. She should be taking nasonex and singulair. Zyrtex doesn't work for everybody and was useless for me (and made me tired). Allegra is a much better alternative for some people.

May I also recommend allersearch products? Allersearch contains tanic acid which helps neutralize allergens such as pet dander and dust mites. I use it on our carpets twice a year and I get amazing results from it. There is a powder for carpets and a spray product for curtains and stuffed animals and stuff. And tanic acid is very, very safe.

It can be a very painful thing to give up family pets. But I would recommend talking to an allergist about your daughter. When I was her age I had similar symptoms. My allergist begged my parents to find homes for the cats and I begged my parents to ignore the doctor. As time went by, my allergies became worse and worse until I developed life threatening asthma and had no choice but to get our home pet free. So it's important to watch carefully and make sure the problem doesn't get worse over time; that would be a very bad sign! Allergy shots work well if she isn't afraid if getting shots once a week for many years. I've done the shots myself and now have a cat...something I thought would never happen! They really do work!

Just one more thing; you mention that she snorts a lot. That could be something more than allergies! She should be checked (again by an allergist) for a condition called a deviated septrum. I had this condition and when I was 14. I had corrective surgery which put an end to the snorting! My daughter is now 15 and developing the same condition and will have to have surgery next year to fix it. Loud breathing, snoring, and snorting are all symptoms of this obstruction and it tends to get worse as the child gets older. And nasal allergies definitely makes it worse!

 

[CathrynRose]

About three years ago I developed an allergy to cats. Had never been allergic before, but am now. I sneeze and my eyes itch, which I could handle, but also I get wheezy after beeing in a house with a cat for a couple of hours. Two years ago we put new carpet in a house we just bought because of my allergy.

What do you take? I have Zyrtec, but it doesn't seem to help much with the wheezing. I have an appointment with my Dr. tomorrow, but am not sure what he can/will prescribe me. DH's family has decided to have his mothers side of the family's Christmas at SIL's house where she has a cat.

Thanks for listening, I was just wondering what everyone else takes and how well it works for them.

Yes - terribly so. It stinks cuz I really love them.

This past Saturday I stopped by my Grandma's for all of 10 minutes. I was sicker then poop until the next morning. COULD NOT BREATHE AT ALL. It was scary.

FOr me - allergy pills do not work, my inhaler does not work. The only thing that works is not going anywhere with Cats - at all.

Be careful. Mine have gotten worse through the years, and Saturday's incident was really really odd. Normally - with removing myself from the allergen, Im okay within a 1/2 hour tops - it went on for hours.

ETA: I have asthma, as well as allergies - hence the breathing problems.

 

[Christine]

Yes - terribly so. It stinks cuz I really love them.

This past Saturday I stopped by my Grandma's for all of 10 minutes. I was sicker then poop until the next morning. COULD NOT BREATHE AT ALL. It was scary.

FOr me - allergy pills do not work, my inhaler does not work. The only thing that works is not going anywhere with Cats - at all.

Be careful. Mine have gotten worse through the years, and Saturday's incident was really really odd. Normally - with removing myself from the allergen, Im okay within a 1/2 hour tops - it went on for hours.

I have the same issues.

Not only do I feel bad when I'm in the "cat" house, but I will be stuffed up and wheezy for a few days afterward.

 

[malibuconlee]

Thanks guys, glad to hear I'm not the only one. Mine seem to be getting slightly worse over time. I don't have asthma, but I get wheezy for a few days after, I'm guessing until I get all the irritant out of my lungs.

Over Thanksgiving we went to some friends house and my brother told me the cat was always downstairs, and that it shouldn't bother me. After about two hours in the house I was wheezy for three days. Granted I hadn't taken any allergy meds, I just didn't think I'd be going anywhere there was a cat.

I'll let you know what my doc says when I get home tonight.