Allergic to holiday let. Help!

[Briansbathrobe]

I'm staying in a holiday cottage for New Year. Much needed break after a tough few months. All very nice except I seem to be allergic to the house! Everyone else is fine but I can't stop sneezing, wheezing, rubbing my eyes, etc. Its getting worse every day, what can I do? I think it's probably caused by dust but I can hardly wash all the curtains and change the mattresses! I'm getting desperate and starting to feel really ill - would antihistamines help? I've just had a huge sneezing fit and pissed myself - I can't put up with it for another week! Any advice?

I'd go home, sorry it's been so miserable, maybe there been a pet in there or maybe its the dust. Contact the owner and say you've had to go home, they might refund you some of the money. If you really want to stay call 111 or see a pharmacist tomorrow, they might suggest something.

I'm allergic to some houses. I've no idea what it is, I guess it must be some kind of dust allergy, but I don't know. I'm not allergic to my house, but I have been allergic to holiday lets. And I'm allergic to the house I grew up in… I only realised this when I moved out.

Only thing I can suggest is getting out as much as possible, long walks, et cetera. Antihistamines will help, but won't fix everything. You might find some rooms easier to tolerate than others? Sounds crazy, but that's how it works for me.

Thanks for the replies. I'll get some antihistamines tomorrow and see if they help. We're out of the house most days so I'm OK during the day, evenings are the main problem.

Sounds like a pet allergy. Definitely get antihistamine tablets ASAP. If you can go out to the shops first thing in the morning, buy some and take one ASAP then you may be ok by the time you go back to the house in the evening.
Be careful about washing your hands before touching your face. Minimise contact with soft furnishings or hoover them before sitting down, don't sit on the carpet.
I have the same problem visiting any houses with cats. It's the "dander" that they shed from their coats.

I get this from some houses with cats too. Not all cats though interestingly.

It does sound like pets. I'm allergic to cats and have a similar reaction to any house that a cat has been in recently.

Take lots of anti-histamines (I can't believe you haven't already) and hope that helps you enough to get through it.

Get the nasal spray as welll as the antihistamines!!

I am having the same issues in some other houses.
if I know beforehand I take steroid nasal spray (beconase or whatever the supermarket stocks) for a few days before going.
cetirizine or loratadine for when I need instant relief.
if that doesn't work go home.

I am allergic to some cats, actually, so that is probably it. I'll find a chemist this morning and try to get some antihistamines and nasal spray. We're very rural, thats why I haven't been yet. Thanks everyone.

There is a cream that you can rub in your nostrils to trap some of the allergen as you breathe in. I cannot for the life of me remember its name, but I'm sure a pharmacist (or Mumsnet!) would know.

Also, you can take the one-a-day antihistamines twice a day, if one-a-day reduces, but does not completely control the symptoms. I am not a HCP but have allergies and was told to do this by the dermatologist.