To think that I CAN use cold remedies in the office?

[MrsElizabethShelby]

I have been told that I cannot use olbas oil/vaporub in the office due to a staff member who has asthma.

Staff remember sits approximately 40 feet away from me.

I understand no spraying of aerosols perfumes (already a rule) but olbas oil/vaporub to help with cold symptoms? Really?

AIBU to state that I am forced to go home ill if I cannot use things to ease my symptoms.to enableme to work?

How are using them?

The products you mentioned can act as an irritant for Asthmatics. YABU.

Can you not get a nasal spray based product and use it in the bathroom?

Depends - how are you at resuscitating somebody who is in the process of dying from an asthma attack?

If it causes them such a problem - and it can - take a decongestant tablet and stop being such a dick about it.

Not sure about this. If she is really sensitive to them then YABU.

Most people manage a cold without these remedies. If you feel too ill to work without using them perhaps you should stay off work?

Tablets have always worked best for me. If you believe in the vapourub stuff the toilet seems like the best place for it. Does it carry on acting as an irritant once it's on?

Both of those can make asthma worse so I think it is reasonable. Plenty other cold remedies are out there. And yes if that is the only thing that makes you fit enough to spread your cold around you should not be in work if you are unfit.

I doubt the asthma sufferer is trying to be a dick. I suspect it's more likely that those products are a genuine trigger!

I think YABU. Take some Sudafed.

YABVVU

I think it’s reasonable for your colleague to make that request, with things like asthma irritants it’s best to just remove them altogether than risk it.

Yabvu.

I cannot believe you would prioritise a cold remedy over an athsma attack. Possibly you are truly unaware but now you have been told your are very selfish to do it again.

YABU, if you feel your cold is so bad that you can't do without Olbas/Vicks then phone in sick otherwise make do with Sudafed (which is much better) or cold and flu tablets.

I used to work in an open plan office where we weren't allowed these types of products as a staff member had an anaphylactic allergy and being too close to someone wearing them could trigger it.

Use a nose spray and throat lozenges. Don't use things which will make the whole office stink and actually affect an asthmatic. You are being completely unreasonable.

Just take some tablets
Of course you are being unreasonable
You’ve been asked not to use the oil etc
Why would you be such a dick as to keep using them when you’ve been asked not to?

Yabu

Have you ever seen someone having a severe asthma attack?

It’s scary as hell

Take sudafed like every other adult or go to the bathroom and use an olbas nasal spray

Well no the person with asthma has clearly needed to raise this as an issue so you can't use them can you. If you're that ill you shouldn't be in the office spreading your pestilence anyway.

Yes of course you can. Go right ahead.

Your right to feel a bit better from your cold symptoms obviously completely trumps their right to breathe. What a snowflake your colleague is....

Get a grip. You have a cold. They have a life threatening condition.

This person has asthma every day, and knows what is likely to trigger it. You have a cold, what, once a year? You have options other than being a nuisance with Olbas oil etc.

Actually can't believe you need to ask this. Of course its not reasonable to use cold remedies near someone who will be made really poorly if you do. What is that other person supposed to do all winter when half the office has colds? Have some empathy, and if you are that ill you should probably be off work. There are so many other cold remedies you can use without using olbas oil.

No I have never seen anyone have an asthma attack. I am applying vaporub to my chest at home and/or using a bit of olbas oil on a hanky again applied at home and kept in my bag.

You have a cold that bad you can not be away from Olbas oil AND vapour rub?

So you think someone else should have a life threatening condition made worse, cause of your cold?

No I have never seen anyone have an asthma attack

You really don’t want that to change. Believe me. It’s horrendous

I think Olbas Oil ( and the pastilles) is great - and I can’t take decongestant tablets - but I recognise that it’s a huge imposition on anyone else in enclosed environment, let alone someone who has specific difficulties like asthma - reserve it for home use, OP.

This would be my DH.... I get sore joints use deep heat in a shower room. An attack is really scarey I would be more embarrassed a team member had to raise this as a issue.

Of course YABU.