Severely allergic to Mr C

[Corygal]

This ain't good. I went to the GP about my breathing - Mr C's nighttime attacks having left me blue-lipped and breathless - and peak flow is ghastly. Asthma diagnosed. Six Ventolins a day from now on.

I'm also on antihistamines - separate ones - for

skin
eyes
nose
throat
general systemic ones

As it is the sheets are boiled the whole time, I wash hair and body with vigour daily, I never wear clothes or nightclothes twice and wash everything the second it's been worn inside for more than 5 min, the hoover is practically never off and all the doors and windows are open 24/7. Furniture is hoovered or swabbed down more regularly than is sane.

The hives from last week's 35-puncture session are healing, but much too slowly, because I can't reach down into my shoulder to dress the wounds. He went for my hand, playfully, earlier - although I shrieked and pulled away, it's puffy and sore, with two long deep scratches that, from past experience, will take a fortnight to scab up.

I try and groom him to keep the clouds of fur he produces down but at the mo he is resistant, prob still sensitive about The Leg.

I don't know what to do. I've just folded yet another pile of clean washing. Mr C has sat on it.

I love him. What hardcore treatment is there for cat allergies? In 8 hours time he will be under anaesthetic, poor little cat, and I will be signing up to the asthma clinic.

[cozietoesie]

Lordy. Has this just manifested?

[RubbishMantra]

Oh bugger!

Like Cozie says, is this a new development? New allergies can present throughout your life though. Are the hives around the scratch sites? Could it be other allergens about this time of year (ie. pollen) exacerbating it?

I think the only "cure" at the moment is exposure to the allergen (Mr. C), but will be a bit crap for you in the meantime...

[RubbishMantra]

...I meant to say, try not to react (difficult) when he gets slashy. They enjoy our shrieking because it makes it more entertaining. So they file away that little nugget of fun to repeat in the future. Calmly place him on the floor and ignore him. Don't give him any dreamies at the end of ignoring time to apologise for ignoring him.

[Butterflywings168]

Oh no poor you.
YY to not reacting to bad behaviour. My Madame is generally good but if she does scratch she gets, well, the haughty Madame treatment - I calmly remove myself/ her and ignore her for a bit. Funnily she is always all snuggles after a few minutes

[VenusRising]

Re home him.

I know it's hard, but he's killing you.

I had to rehome a beautiful kitten (what kit isn't?) and my health improved almost immediately.

I was on steroids, anti hists and still had blisters coming up from being licked.

Totally devastating to rehome her, but better than a fatal asthma attack.
People do die from asthma you know. He'd be rehomed then anyway.

[SlantyBaws]

Gosh it is awful isn't it :(

We have just had to rehome our little kitten as DH is severely allergic. He said he felt like his eyeballs were bleeding and skin permanently on fire.

DS and I are in bits as we loved that little mucker, but at least he is going somewhere he can be his crazy little self, rather than be locked in a room.

(Sorry for shameless hi-jack)

I really hope you get through it.

[sparkysparkysparky]

Can Petal Cleanse groom and an air purifier help with the dander or is the asthma too strong?

[rembrandtsrockchick]

Your allergic reaction sounds extreme. I have a similar reaction to horses and have to avoid them. Interaction with horses puts me in hospital.

My allergy to cats gets less with exposure but the horse thing just gets worse and it sound as though you have the same problem when it comes to cats. I'm sorry but it looks like you might have to rehome him.

[GallopingFoxley]

You have no choice but to rehome him. Unless you enjoy feeling this way.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

If you are determined to keep him it will be steroids as your only option.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I was thinking hard flooring, air purifier and petal cleanse too. Are the antihistamines prescription? there's some really good ones on prescription.

Asthma takes a while to be managed, they need to see which inhalers suit you best. But if they cant control it I don't know what you'll do.

[DameMargaretOfChalfont]

He really has to go - it is the only common sense and logical reason.

He is a cat and you are suffering badly - rehome him.

[Felyne]

I have a cat allergy but it gets better if I continue to be exposed to the cat. I am off on holiday soon and when we return I will spend a day or two sneezing, itchy runny eyes and hayfevery when I pick the cat up from the cattery but after that I will be ok. Your reaction sounds much more extreme though and I'm not sure my own brand of 'therapy' would work in your case. You poor thing.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd try everything before I re-homed my cat.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Same here Fluffy, it's not as simple as 'rehome him'.

Thinking of you and Mr C Coreygal

[Corygal]

I'm not going to rehome Mr C. I'd rather rehome myself. What sort of steroids can I get? Hooray for a solution. I am googling petal cleanse.

It has just come on, which isn't good. I've always been a bit allergic to him but much worse recently. The scratching attacks are the bugger - it triggers the wheezing. I am hoping it could be hayfever as well. Hopefully it is. The pills are prescript but I don't think they're the strongest ones - I will ask.

I am hoping the claw-clipping they are giving him when he is under anaesthetic will help. it might fix it, with any luck - if he can't inject me with allergens from his needle claws, I should be ok. Also, it might just be a phase - allergies come and go, don't they.

Sorry if I sound a bit strung out - a sleepless night was enjoyed by both of us as Mr C ate nowt before his op. He was moody. Every time I shut my eyes, he hopped onto my chest and punched me up the nose.

[sparkysparkysparky]

Not tried Petal Cleanse myself but heard good things. Use it as part of grooming. You can get it on Amazon. We'll be getting a kitten after hols and we're going to try it because of dh allergy (milder than yours by the sound of it). I've also promised to buy an air purifier which is supposed to help.

[Corygal]

Petal and air cleanse ordered! Thanks a million.

Mr C now on the slab getting his fangs done. I gave him a massive kiss and told him he would be all right and it worked (a bit).

[cozietoesie]

Good luck to him on the slab - are they to phone you and let you know how it went?

I'm afraid that allergies are not my strong suit but I'm wondering if there could be an overload on you what with the pollen count and the time of year? (As opposed to just him.) I know that I never used to be allergic to anything but over the last two years, I've developed quite dreadful attacks at this time of year - eg I thought I had raging toothache until we established that it was actually aggravated sinuses from pollen.

When are you to go to the allergy clinic?

[Corygal]

Mr C has come round!! Phew. Thanks a million cozie. Unfortunately the vet forgot to clip his claws but he is recovering well and the op went perfectly.

Your allergy doesn't sound fun, tho, ow. Anything that fakes toothache should be beaten to a pulp, what a nasty beast. Hope it is better and that meds are working. Haven't got date for the asthma apt yet - I am hoping like you that it might be a combo of everything - very active new job, grass, cat, maybe even a new cleaning product that I haven't realised yet.

If it's any help, I find sticking my head under a tap for a good minute works with pollen. And steam baths for the sinuses - those steam rooms you get in swimming pools are good, as are shutting the bathroom door and letting it fug up. 15 min. Medical advice has given it up but my doc says it works and so do I.

[cozietoesie]

Oh that's good news - he's such a trooper. (I wonder how many teeth he has left.) I'm guessing that the vet was very keen to get him out from the general as quickly as ever could be which was mainly why they forgot - perhaps the recovery nurses will take care of the deed while he's still dopey and in his cage contemplating things?

Luckily I haven't developed an allergy to Seniorboy but the sinus/toothache trouble was the very devil - it was actually my dentist who started the process of work on it because I'd gone to her to complain of problem wisdom teeth and while she couldn't find anything wrong, she described the relatively close positions of the various nerves in the face. Lightbulb moment for me!

Anyway - I seem to have got on top of it this year likely by virtue of my new lower-gluten diet. (Itself a product of 40% research and 60% proof-of-the-pudding diet modification.) I can't be certain that that's the reason but the diminution of allergies and other things is a dashed huge coincidence.

Good luck with the allergy appointment.

[GallopingFoxley]

I'd stop kissing him for a start. You sound like a glutton for punishment. And I like cats

[Corygal]

That's good news cozie, brilliant idea re the diet innovation. Hope Seniorboy approves of your diet, at least it's not vegetarian.

Just heard from vet where I was on hold for an unfeasibly long time as the nurses were distracted by the 'lovely chunky boy.' He is in overnight on a drip but is absolutely fine.

'He's so laid back' said head nurse - I burst with pride and secretly wondered whether the flailing fur 'n' fangs explosion I had wrestled into a cage at 7am was the cat they were talking about. I bet it was - little Mr C, man for all seasons.

I don't know how many teeth he's got left yet - too busy checking he hadn't snuffed it. He is back tomorrow morning with, wait for it, clipped claws - heading for a day in bed with chilled minced prawns and cat milk plus warm lumpy human.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I had a thought today, have they given you a "spacer"? it increases the amount of drug you get from the inhalers.

If you don't use them correctly it all goes on the back of the mouth or in the lungs but not far enough.

The gp can prescribe them if you ask.

www.asthma.org.uk/knowledge-bank-treatment-and-medicines-spacers.

All dhs blood relatives bar one in his family have asthma. It's becoming more common to get it as an age related thing from what I can tell.

I show symptoms but test neg so the gp isn't interested.

I'm so pleased he came through his op. Is he home now?.

[poisonedbypen]

As a cat lover I empathise. I am allergic but it wears off when I have been with a cat for a while. but for heavens sake keep him OUT of your bedroom & stop kissing him. You are just being silly & irresponsible.