What does the development from allergies to asthma look like?
September 10, 2018 5:18 AM   Subscribe

I’m allergic to my pets – mildly to cats, quite strongly to guinea pigs and their bedding – and it seems to be getting gradually worse with time. I’d like to know what the progression from allergies to asthma looks like in practice so I have some idea of when to start getting seriously worried and consider drastic measures like giving up my guinea pigs, especially as I’m seeing an increase in respiratory issues that may be related.

A mild allergy attack will involve itching in the soft palate and throat, and a more serious one (guinea pig related) will be like that but much worse and with a lot of sneezing.

I’ve also started periodically getting flu-like symptoms without much sneezing, mostly just sore throat, reflux, fatigue, aches and pains and a lot of mostly unproductive coughing, but without being as wiped out as I would usually expect with flu – unsure whether or not this is connected.

I’m acutely conscious that allergies can lead to asthma and also generally get worse until they are a very serious problem, so I’d like to know what that looks like in practice to have a better idea of when I need to take more serious action. I’ve spoken to my GP about allergies before and they weren’t in any way helpful, so while “talk to your doctor” is obviously good advice for a medical issue it isn’t going to help me very much with this. I take steps like using a respirator mask for cleaning out the pigs (who have their own room) and running an air filter before bed, both of which help, but it doesn't seem to be enough.

I'd really appreciate hearing some experiences with pet allergies, asthma and development between the two.
posted by Otto the Magnificent to Health & Fitness (9 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Have you had allergy testing done? I recovered from my pet allergies with allergy shots. I realise they don't work for everyone, but they worked very well for me. I have both allergies (pre-shots I was allergic to fur, feathers, dander, dust, and pollen) and asthma. I have never understood them to be on a continuum. In contrast, my asthma did not emerge until my allergies were under control. The asthma is quite mild and now is only triggered when I have an infection.
posted by frumiousb at 5:45 AM on September 10, 2018 [6 favorites]


Seconding allergy testing which allowed me to keep my cats. But I would also consider the allergy may not be to the piggy but to the piggie's bedding or the hay/clover they eat.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:10 AM on September 10, 2018 [3 favorites]


I have allergies and asthma. Allergies for me are itchy skin, very runny nose, coughing and eventual sore throat. Asthma feels like you can't catch your breath: deep, noisy, wheezing, it feels like your lungs can't pull in enough air, and that you can't exhale fast enough to inhale again. It leads to chest and rib pain. Unlike allergies it will remain after you've removed the allergen from your environment.
posted by jennypower at 6:14 AM on September 10, 2018 [2 favorites]


Asthma for me was coughing and coughing and coughing, sometimes some weird sputum would come up at the very end of a coughing fit. I also had these fits whenever there was a thunderstorm. When I told my doctor that, she ordered a lung function test to help diagnose me.
posted by dawkins_7 at 6:26 AM on September 10, 2018 [2 favorites]


The unproductive flu cough you mention reminds me of asthma attacks my daughter had over the years. Her asthma developed when she was young, but the dry, hacking cough was an indicator of an attack and didn't subside until we used an inhaler and respirator.

These coughing attacks would generally lead her to feel pretty awful, I suppose like a "flu" - was just exhausted, in a bit of pain, couldn't get enough air, felt crappy.

After taking allergy shots for some time (and probably from getting older, stronger) she hasn't displayed any asthmatic symptoms - she still gets allergic reactions to cats or dust, but not the chest tightening, hacking cough indicative of asthma.

Like everyone is saying, allergy test would be helpful.
posted by RajahKing at 7:57 AM on September 10, 2018 [2 favorites]


I have mild asthma which didn’t show up until I was twenty. Mine is primarily allergy-triggered, which means if I am in an environment (inside or out) with too many allergens, then my asthma is much more active.

Yes, my allergies have gotten worse over my lifetime; I used to be able to spend the night in a house with cats as long as the cats weren’t allowed in the room I would sleep in. Now, I sometimes have to leave friends’ houses after less than an hour if they have kitties. And don’t get me started on dust, my natural enemy.

Even the other things that trigger asthma (cold, exercise) trigger it much more easily if I am not treating my allergies. For me, allergy treatment involves avoidance as well as antihistamines and pseudoephedrine. There are several different OTC antihistamines (ceterizine, fexofenadine, loratidine, and of course Benadryl, the big guns but it will knock you out too). Some people get more effect from one of these than another, and I’ve even noticed changes in myself in how I respond to the drugs over time.

I don’t tolerate any of the steroid nasal sprays well, but if you do they will reduce post-nasal drip which may help lower the lung reactivity. Several are now over the counter.

As for me, the only reason I haven’t gotten allergy shots earlier is that up to now I have moved too frequently. I am getting the last in a series of allergy tests today, and hopefully will start shots soon. If yours do not respond to other treatment, they might be worth considering. (And depending on your allergens and location, you might be able to do sublingual drops or tabs instead of shots!)
posted by nat at 8:39 AM on September 10, 2018 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Thanks folks. My unhelpful doctor interaction was about allergy testing (apparently not available on the NHS where I live unless you're taken to the hospital turning blue, and she was "not aware" of anywhere legitimate where it could be paid for). I'll pursue it again now though, and more persistently (spent the day off work trying not to cough up a lung so there's definitely a sense of urgency about the whole thing!).
posted by Otto the Magnificent at 8:44 AM on September 10, 2018


I have had asthma attacks from guinea pigs and rodent droppings, they took the form of coughing and retching. I was diagnosed with asthma in the ER after I couldn't catch my breath. Daily inhaled steroids helped to get the asthma under control until I could remove the allergens from my environment.

Given the cough, you could go back to the doctor for asthma testing (spirometry) and forget the allergy tests.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:39 AM on September 10, 2018 [2 favorites]


You might consider using a hepa filter immediately beside the Piggies' cage, as well as moving to a polar fleece bedding system; that would reduce any issues you might be having with shavings.
posted by NorthernAutumn at 8:00 AM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]


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