My house is attacking me! AIBU to panic?

[ConfusedRabbit]

I've had an inflamed throat and nose for the last three weeks. I get stuffed up and my breath starts whistling every time I encounter dust (I didn't think my house was dusty but every time I sit on my (6 month old) couch, off I go). I've got a nasal spray and I'm waiting to see if it works, but I'm scared and miserable, and I'm scared my throat might close up more. There's so much to do like buying expensive anti-mite bedsheets and deep cleaning my home, which I can't afford but apparently if I don't do it I will get worse.

Background is that I've had a truly awful 2016 and was hoping 2017 would be better, but it's started out with scary symptoms and a huge to do list. Am I overreacting? A chorus of "yes" from those in the know would be entirely welcome, as would any advice.

I'm trying to find my BGP and pull 'em up but I can't seem to find them at the moment.

[lovingmyginandiphone]

Could it be something in your couch? If it's relatively new it may be given off some chemicals....

[scurryfunge]

Poor you, sounds grim. I know cost may be an issue but can you swap the couch for leather if dust is a problem? Maybe borrow a pet vacuum that will clear any dust? I vacuum mattresses regularly too.

[ConfusedRabbit]

Thanks for answering me Unfortunately I've only just started having problems and the couch has been here since the summer :( I knew I was mildly allergic to dust from an allergy clinic visit (pet-related) last year, but it's never bothered me at home before. I don't know why it's got worse.

[ConfusedRabbit]

Thanks Scurry I'm thinking of changing the couch but it's gutting because it's new and so comfy It may be the only option. I have a HEPA filter Hoover, could hoovering the mattresses and couch help do you think?

[poochiepants]

You might have developed an allergy, brought on by something in your house. Try antihistamines to control while you clean/work out the source, and also sinus rinsing might help....try a Neilmed system. It's only temporary but worth trying.

[poochiepants]

You might have developed an allergy, brought on by something in your house. Try antihistamines to control while you clean/work out the source, and also sinus rinsing might help....try a Neilmed system. It's only temporary but worth trying.

[scurryfunge]

Yes, I think so. I have annoying nasal irritations constantly from a dog and cat. It's my choice to have pets but I found vacuuming mattresses, carpets, curtains regularly keeps the blighters down. Fresh air with windows open as much as possible helps (providing rape seed is not an issue in the summer!). Smooth surfaces and fewer dust attracting ornaments/ furnishings seems to help. Hygge is not your friend

[lborgia]

Hoovering can make things a lot worse. .it takes hours for the dust to settle back down again - we were advised to leave vacuuming and then only do it when we were going to be out for the rest of the day.

Have you been sick recently? Sometimes having a bad child etc seems to set off our allergies, maybe we're not as strong then?

You could get a length of fleece fabric to cover your sofa with - wash it weekly? Might help a little.

Also, stick to damp dusting - nothing with a dry cloth or duster where the stuff just gets churned up.

Sorry, this is very bitty, middle of night here on phone. .

Also experiment with different antihistamines, some are better than others for dust - the 180mg tablets of fexofenadine - is called Telfast here - works best for us.

What's the nasal spray you've got? If you're really worried about your symptoms so back to doctor as it should be taken seriously.

[lborgia]

"A bad cold" - not a bad child! !!

[alsmutko]

Beconase spray. I live on it and unlike Otrivine or similar it doesn't make the symptoms worse.
Anxiety can cause physical illness. Asthma sounds a possibility too. Where do you live? If it's a city then air pollution is a likely cause.
See your doctor as soon as you can.

[ConfusedRabbit]

Thanks everyone My doctor has given me Avamys to try and see if that helps. I'm definitely very anxious (probably obvious ) and it won't be helping as you said alsmutko. I'm not really anxious about things generally but there's something really frightening about air whistling in your throat.

Thank you everyone for the advice. It's reassuring to hear that people are living with it OK. I don't have any context which is why I'm panicking - no allergies in the family til lucky me and until now I just had hayfever which was fairly easy to avoid in an office job. And pets, but I don't have any.

Do you/your loved ones all take antihistamines? I was taking Cetirizine over the holiday which weirdly is when this all started.

[ConfusedRabbit]

Alsmutko, I live in a small city, but opening the windows seems to help and sitting on the couch in particular does seem to set me off.

I haven't even finished paying for this couch yet, I can't get another!

[Astro55]

I'm allergic to our settee if bare skin touches it - I'm now fully clothed on it!!

Does it have feathers or synthetic leather?

Some settees were recalled - especially if they were made in China - you may get a replacement

[Jayfee]

well jst for the time being you could avoid sitting on the couch..? it would be v annoying to get rid of it and find you still had problem

[wowfudge]

Do you dry laundry inside? If so stop - the increased moisture in the air provides perfect conditions for them to multiply. Buy a moisture meter (hygrometer) and try to keep levels below 50. A dehumidifier will help. If you have an extractor in the bathroom, use it and don't leave the bathroom door open after showering or bathing.

[ConfusedRabbit]

Oh gosh Astro I didn't know that could happen, poor you!

Jayfee I will do resentfully as I love it

And maybe I need a basic antihistamine from a pharmacist?

[ConfusedRabbit]

Wowfudge, I do have a dehumidifier as this house is pretty humid (relatively new build). I keep the windows open as much as possible too, although that won't be an option come spring (hayfever) so god knows what I'll do then!

[Boolovessulley]

Damp wipe everything rather than dry dusting.
I know it's extreme but having washable floors is better gran having to Hoover carpets. Do too are washable blinds - the horizontal type .
Don't keep lots of stuff out - box it away or keep it behind glass cabinets.
Less soft furnishings too.

[OMGtwins]

If the house is humid check for mould in the corners, particularly on outside walls or around windows. I can tell when we have it because I display your symptoms... a quick wipe with an antibac wipe it spray with dettox and it's gone, along with my symptoms :)

[ConfusedRabbit]

OMGtwins, I actually do have damp patches on the wooden window frames - that's why I bought the dehumidifier. I'll try that, thank you!

[user892]

Can dust mites live in a sofa? A good anti-insecticide flea spray with permethrin like Indorex also kills dust mites and lasts for 6-12 months I believe.

[lalalalyra]

I was taking Cetirizine over the holiday which weirdly is when this all started

This is probably a stupid question, but you are not still taking it are you? Have you tried an anti-histimine with a different active ingredient - loratadine maybe?

There's an anti-histimine that makes DD2's nose run like nobody's business. I can never remember which one is the ok one and which one isn't, but the GP prescribes hers (due to other meds) to make sure she never ends up with the wrong one.

Has anything changed in the last three weeks? New furniture? Change of washing powder? Anything in your garden/near your house come out in flower or moulting? I get terrible hayfever type symptoms if I don't brush away the leaves that are going all manky after they fall.

[lalalalyra]

Also - three weeks is around Christmas time - did anyone in your house get or buy new perfume/aftershave/smellies?

[ConfusedRabbit]

Hi, no I stopped taking it in the New Year because I thought the same thing, that maybe the symptoms were related. No change though. Unless maybe that means it's not an allergy at all, since it wasn't affected by the antihistamine...

Sadly no changes. It happens inconsistently at work, at my friend's homes and in my own home. I can't put a pattern to it - they initially thought I had acid reflux but that wasn't it either.

[ConfusedRabbit]

It's very weird because until I took the antihistamine I had never noticed a problem - the cetirizine was precautionary before I went to stay with someone with pets. (Didn't go in the end due to sudden change of plans.) It's all very sudden.