How do you deal with chicken / dust allergies?

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!
I've never been sensitive to pollen / dust / pet hair/ or any common allergen.

Last year, just about this time, I had an allergic reaction (that I attributed to a food allergy) --- a day of violent sneezing, that turned into a sinus issue.

Aparrently, it wasn't a food allergy.

It happened again last week.
Started with a day of violent sneezing, escalated into a night and day of over-active sinus (I took allergy meds and cough supressants).
Bad idea. The next day, no coughs, but I couldn't walk ten steps without being out of breath.
That night, I thought I was going to die because I *couldn't* get a breath. I may have but I spent most of the night in the bathtub constantly adding steamy water (and that was the extent of the energy I had for 2 days) --- and I didn't know what the heck was wrong.
It's not a good idea to suppress a cough when your lungs are filling with mucus.
All this happened while Hubby was out of town and I didn't think I was ill enough *to get anyone else involved*.
Take care of yourself!

Lisa

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

Dipsy - have you tried using the masks??? you know the ones like doctors and dentists use??? When I was having allergy problems a couple weeks ago... I went to Tractor Supply and bought some... they worked wonders!!! Good Luck hun....Tes

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I don't have surgeons masks, but I use painters masks.
Right now , I can't go outside at all without pulling my shirt over my face like a bandito --- the pollen (or what ever) is so heavy.
I've been spraying the pens just to keep the dust down. And I still have to wear a mask.

Happy to be alive,
Lisa

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

Lisa, I know how you feel hun... I too have allergies and asthma on top of that... if you find something let me know okay... I have been using the masks... they do seem to help... but I too would like something better..

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

If you don't mind a question...
How do you tell an allergic reaction from an asthmatic reaction.

I didn't know I was such an insensitive jerk, but my best friend was alllergic to shellfish / sensitive to every plant that bloomed ...
Lisa

 

[nccountrygirl]

I have allergies and asthma to, mine get really bad in April and September when the weather changes. I can't catch my breath, I have a tickle in my throat, then I'll start coughing and it will turn to Bronchitis, but the mask do help. Good luck

PS I do use an inhaler ( Albuterol)

 

[jackiedon]

Zyrtec is wonderful. It's an allergy medicine. I have to take it mainly starting in August thru November and then March - May.

I have thought about the Orec air filter in my house to cut down on the dust when I have baby chicks.

jackie

 

[BirdBrain]

If you don't already, see a doctor about this. They can prescribe daily allergy meds (as mentioned, Zytec is great) and they can also give you a rescue inhaler and/or nebulizer that will do wonders for getting you opened back up. Singulair (sp?) is also good for the coughing/asthmatic part.

Anytime you have something like this that gets to the point where you are unable to catch your breath, it is an emergency and should be treated as such. Too many people think that "it will pass" and they end up doing the passing. Take this seriously and get some help.

Please take care of yourself and get some help. We enjoy you on the forums!!

 

[SpottedCrow]

I agree. I use a dust mask when I do a detailed cleaning of the chicken room.
I've only had one asthma attack because of the birds.
I take Allegra and I have a Proventil inhaler.

 

[Sheila]

I buy surgical masks from this site:

http://www.allheart.com/n95-masks.html

50 masks for $6.00 for the flat type. Can't beat that. They also sell scrubs, and although I haven't bought any yet, the prices for the tops (with the big pockets) are low.

Shipping was fairly inexpensive too, as I recall.

I had a bad bout of bronchitis last winter that lasted about four months. Apparently I also picked up a couple of viruses. When it was all over, I was diagnosed with asthma, which the specialist said affects half of people past middle age, but very often it isn't diagnosed unless you have a life-threatening event.

I am going to keep a couple of masks in the car, and possibly wear them when I have to go into crowds this winter, i.e., for shopping. In some countries, this is quite common. Even in cities where there is a large Asian population, you will see people in public wearing them. Probably started becauses the air pollution is so much worse in the Far East.