Magic cure for possible allergy/sensitivity

[Clipclop100]

Advice would be greatly appreciated!

This never used to be a problem for me but I seem to have become sensitive to horses or possibly the equine environment (dry, dusty, straw, hay and so on). I wouldn’t call it an allergy but it’s more like severe hay-fever symptoms. My eyes go bright red within minutes of being there and itch and water badly and my nose gets completely blocked. The longer I’m in that environment I get a heavy tight feeling in my chest and I use a ventolin inhaler which takes it away thankfully. But I want to try and nip the symptoms in the bud before they start. I’ve tried Piriton, another antihistamine starting with a c, prescriptions like fexofenadine etc… but nothing seems to be helping!

My ventolin inhaler helps the chest symptoms but nothing helps my eyes and nose. I asked at the pharmacy but their only advice was to avoid equine environments but im a show jumper so that’s impossible!

Other than this and hayfever, I don’t have any allergies or sensitivities. I never used to get these symptoms around horses and it’s only started and worsened in the last few years.

Has anyone had similar and found a miracle for these kind of symptoms?

Preventer inhalers are exactly that, they should prevent symptoms, usually steroid based (I think, I'm not an expert!).

I didn't have any tests either, my immunologist prescribed during a consultation for a more serious allergy after I described my hayfever symptoms (which had just before the appointment got bad so was lucky timing!).

@Anomalocaris

Preventer inhalers are exactly that, they should prevent symptoms, usually steroid based (I think, I'm not an expert!).

I didn't have any tests either, my immunologist prescribed during a consultation for a more serious allergy after I described my hayfever symptoms (which had just before the appointment got bad so was lucky timing!).

That’s really interesting, thanks!

Hope you’re feeling a lot better now

I haven’t been able to get an appointment so I’ll try again tomorrow. I don’t feel like I’m ever at risk of a full blown asthma attack that can’t be controlled, and the blue inhaler does eventually control the tightness and wheezing so at least I’ve got that in the meantime. It’s all so frustrating!

Just posting an update!

Had to take my inhaler 13 puffs today so at least it’s an improvement on yesterday! Going to try and get an appointment tomorrow as obviously this can’t continue.

I did notice today that I didn’t feel wheezy after being around my horse, it was only around the hay and straw and after 5 minutes of filling hay nets it was as if someone was gripping my chest. Hopefully that means it’s just hayfever rather than a horse allergy!

You need to be more concerned about this. What you are describing is asthma - asthma can worsen with repeated exposure to hayfever allergens. Having hayfever puts you at increased risk of having asthma, so just because you’ve never had it before doesn’t mean you don’t have it now. 13 puffs of relived inhaler is a huge amount and what you are describing are asthma attacks, you’re supposed to go to the A&E if you need to use 10 puffs. Using more the inhaler than three times in a week is considered a red flag. Uncontrolled asthma (repeated asthma attacks) can damage your lungs. You might get put on some heavy duty steroids which suppress the immune system and make you more susceptible to getting ill from other things.

Get someone to help you with your horse until you can go to your doctor and tell them how much you are using your reliever inhaler. If you need to use more than 10 puffs again go straight to the A&E.

Tokyo89 is right you are using the reliver inhaler far to much, they are only.ment for occasional use. They shouldn't be used like this on a regular basis, you sound like you have allergy induced asthma. My sisters is triggered by hayfeaver and has a terrible time around stables not because of the horses but the bedding and hay nets. You could change your horses bedding which could help you.

The best thing however is to get seen by a doctor and prescribed a preventative. montelukast could be an option as well it's a drug given for asthma suffers who have allergies. It really helped get my sons asthma under control. But the doctor will hopefully help, allergy testing could be an option to find out what it is causing the problem.

I see you've had vaseline as a suggestion, plus a mask. Also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from exposure. If you are alone or don't mind looking silly even swimming goggles.

After exposure, change your clothes, wash them, and wash your hair too.

I have allergy induced asthma & my DD has hayfever & she has horses, so I feel your pain.
I had to stop filling haynets, as wearing a mask helped but still couldn't breathe.
What was a game changer for my asthma & totally has it under control, is a powder inhaler, I take once a day called Relvar Ellipta. It is a preventer & a steroid & I can count on 1 hand how many times I've needed my blue inhaler since being on it (not tested it on a haynets though!)
I also take fexofenadine (for the allergies) & montelukast (for the asthma).
Thing about allergies, is that your body responds more strongly everytime it comes into contact with whatever you're allergic to...you need to be really careful.
We got hay bars, as there's a lot less time handling the hay needed...is that an option? We also put them on Megazorb bedding as that didn't affect our breathing.

Asthmatic here and as others have said you are most definitely asthmatic. You are playing with fire being in that environment given what could happen in an asthma attack. If you are using a rescue inhaler like that you are very much at risk of an asthma attack. You do know that you can die from an asthma attack?
You need to go to an asthma specialiat, do an asthma challenge test which you will probably fail then you will get a 2 x daily becotide inhaler plus a reliever for OCCASIONAL use, if using more than twice a week your asthma is unmanaged. Then you should go to an immunologist and go through a course of immunology specifically for equine allergies. I have horses and am slightly allergic and I am really careful about contact etc. I really think you are underestimatimg the seriousness of your condition.

I think everyone’s right- I haven’t been taking this as seriously as I should have been and I’ve been a bit silly about it all!

I think I just thought it was ok because even when I’m really tightchested and breathless, I can still breath- ive always thought asthma was when you physically couldn’t breath at all without an inhaler. I’ve never got to that stage, it just feels very tight and uncomfortable and I can hear myself breathing, but I’ve never stopped breathing completely so I just thought it was ok (just didn’t want it to sound more serious than it was!)

I wore a face mask again to the stables today and it helped a lot. I’m going to get my friend to sort out hay and bedding etc until I can get to the doctors! I haven’t been able to get through today so I’ll have to try again next week.

Thanks for all the tips and advice

Thats good you are taking action. You might find that doing the hay outside in a mask helps and also we wash ours so its damp - with a hose. Prevents dust.
Asthma is exactly as you describe and all it takes is one day that things get more difficult to breathe then you are in real trouble very quickly - in one or two minutes you may be really stuck for air. I don't want to scare you but having an asthma attack is a terrfiying thing so do your best to avoid it.

@Clipclop100 sorry If I came across a bit harsh but I have several family members with severe asthma and have had some issues with it myself. It scares me when people aren’t taking it seriously (or don’t know how serious it can get and how quickly).

I hope you’re able to see the doctor quickly and they are able to work with you on a plan to control the asthma!

Really pleased you are taking this more seriously now.

Good luck with the docs

[quote Tokyo89]@Clipclop100 sorry If I came across a bit harsh but I have several family members with severe asthma and have had some issues with it myself. It scares me when people aren’t taking it seriously (or don’t know how serious it can get and how quickly).

I hope you’re able to see the doctor quickly and they are able to work with you on a plan to control the asthma![/quote]
Oh no you didn’t come across harsh at all!! I really appreciate you (and everyone) giving advice on it, especially when it’s so personal to you thanks again x

So I didn’t manage to get an appointment today and I’ll try again on Monday.

I hadnt realised until everyone commented that it could be asthma. I always thought as asthma attack would be uncontrollable and would mean the person can’t get a breath at all whereas I can albeit it’s a bit of a struggle and tight at times.

I had to go back to the stables tonight and it wasn’t so bad as it had been raining today which cleared a lot of the dust. I had to take my ventolin 6 times after being around the hay which isn’t great but not as bad as yesterday.

Whoops- accidentally pressed send too soon!

Possibly a ridiculous question but just something I’m a bit concerned about…. Is it possible to become immune to ventolin and for it not to work anymore if I’m taking it too often? and if I do manage to get an appointment next week, and if it is asthma and the ventolin isn’t helping the wheezing and tight chestedness anymore, what will the GP do, are there other colours of inhaler available that can make it easier to breath if ventolin doesn’t work anymore?

Ive always been relaxed about it because I thought ventolin will always fix it, even if it does take 10+ puffs, but I’m just a bit worried incase me using it so often means it won’t work anymore and I’ll not be able to breath one day or that there won’t be anything else. If this happened, surely the GP would be able to give me another type of inhaler that would help when I can’t breath?

Im likely overthinking and worrying about nothing, im just terrified at the thought of this getting worse and one day my ventolin inhaler not helping anymore!

I've been taking ventolin for over thirty years and it still works for me. However, as others have said you do need to take this seriously, hopefully your doctor will give you a preventer (I use a pink one called fostair which is brilliant)

Hello OP, those are all good questions.
So generally ventolin works but my worry is that what you describe is multiple challenges from the allergen set your lungs on high alert and so lots of flare ups are not good. Especially every day. You very likely have asthma. If the visit to stables took 6 puffs thats not great at all.
You need to get the asthma confirmed and managed first. A daily preventer is x 2 per day and its a long acting steroid which evens out your responses to allergens- this might really turn things down for you, takes a few weeks to build up- I use becotide. If you get wheezy you use your reliver but you need to get away from the allergan then too.
I would go get proper immunology done- skin prick test- if its dust or horse or both- then decide action.
Our horses are now in open barns on dust extracted rapeseed and hay is washed down on the yard and let steep in water. All stables very breezy.
A daily inhaler may be the best thing first, you cannot rely on rescue being used that much.
Big thing for me was using my daily inhaler properly- learn the technique and I use accupuncture and VIT D which has a big bearing on respiratory health. Good luck! See someone next week.

OP- if you do get confirmed as asthmatic make sure you write an asthma plan so you are clear about what to do if you do get an attack. Then you are all sorted!

That makes sense, thank you! I suddenly had this ridiculous fear that ventolin would stop working and there wouldn’t be anything else available as a reliever to help me breath!

It wasn’t as bad today as it has been recently and I only had to take it 4 times but I’m still going to try and see a doctor on Monday.

Thank you very much for the advice re the stables. My horse is turned out a lot which helps and I’m trying to avoid the dustiness of the hay/straw. I love the rain because it seems to clear the air of all the dust!

You are very welcome. You might really respond to the daily inhaler quickly. I did and wondered why I had years without it. Once I got going on it things got much better. Ventolin will work but really you dont want to be in the position where you need it. Go google proper reliever technique too so you know. Good luck.

If you have dust extracted rye straw it is excellent- one of our Connemaras is dust sensitive so we use this and its superb.

Tell the receptionist you are having asthma attacks and you need to see either the asthma nurse or the doctor urgently.

Otherwise they won't know to triage you correctly.

A few suggestions from someone else with allergic asthma (level 4 allergies to dogs, cats, dust and grass - things I can't avoid!)

Montelukast (Singulair) can be really beneficial for allergic asthma for some people - not everyone. I've been prescribed it but haven't started the course yet, as there are some side effects. But when allergies are a real trigger for wheezing, it works really well for some people. It can be taken alongside your AHs.

A steroid inhaler to be taken as a preventative. So once or twice a day usually when you wake up, you take a puff or two of a preventer inhaler, every day. This damps down iflammation of the lungs and prevents your asthma from being triggered.

Allergy testing and immunotherapy desensitisation. You are given the allergen in small amounts over a long period of time to help your body to stop reacting so severly.

Hope you do get to see a dr or asthma nurse (asthma nurse is probably a better option as they are really specifically trained and really helpful) as your asthma is really out of control right now if you're taking so much ventolin. I've been there and totally understand but there are options to relieve your symptoms.You at the very least need a review of your inhaler and a preventer to take daily, and potentially other medication or immunotherapy given the fact you can't avoid the environment that is triggering you.

Good luck! x