does anyone else suffer from a multitude of "allergies"?

[anewbook]

DH has been suffering for a while. Been to GP several times but they just dismiss it as hayfever or look perplexed. Yes, he does have hayfever but also a mulitude of other "allergies".

Symptoms: Heavy sneezing (mulitiple times), cough, runny/blocked nose, runny eyes. All the symptoms of a very heavy cold but it can come on suddenly in a day and then just as suddenly disappear. Typically lasts 2- 48 hours once begins.

Triggers:

• After shower, in bed for a while reading then begins: heavy sneezing, runny nose, cough. Usually after 15 mins or so of getting in bed/warming up the body. Settles down an hour or so later.

• Also happens during day of sitting on sofa with blanket,10-15 mins later begins.

• Waking in morning to a very cold room - coughing/sneezing etc begins.

• If he uses the oven to bake something, opening/closing the oven doors- 10/15 mins later - heavy sneezing, coughing etc.

• Breathing in others cigarette smoke/vaping smoke - coughing/sneezing etc begins.

• Parafin oil fumes or other certain types of fumes

• Using strong chemicals around the house such as drain unblockers, bleaches etc- induces a very strong reaction.

• certain flavour enhancers found in food: MSG and autolyzed yeast in particular

Things we have tried:

• Cleaning/washing blankets/vacuuming bed/sofa etc for dust mites
• Using homemade natural cleaners such as vinegar etc
• Airing the house as much as possible
• Allergy medicines
• Trying to keep the house to a comfortable temp- too cold triggers it but too warm also triggers it
• Inhaler
• essential oils
• Basically - Avoiding the triggers as much as possible.

There are just so many things and I don't know where to turn. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be really grateful. The current "attack" has lasted over 2 weeks now, on and off throughout that time. Thanks for reading.

apologies for the massive spacing

My son has multiple allergies and has reactions sitting on sofas and in bed. We worked out a major issue for him is house dust mite allergy.

Allergy uk has some good info on reducing this - we already were doing what I thought was enough but it wasn't. For example, he had an allergy pillow which I was washing at 60 every month but that was not enough and he now has a proper enclosed pillow protector (along with many many other dust reducing measures).

As far as I know house dust mite is a common allergy and may be worth looking into.

My mum had something similar. She would have "sneezing days" for reasons we could never figure out. Loads of GP visits etc she's now got a daily nasal spray to take in the mornings that seems to mostly prevent it.

I developed a weird allergy after covid. For months I had sudden skin inflammations on my face that would trigger from goodness knows what. Like my immune system was randomly firing off. I ended up on daily antihistamines for that which sorted it out.

I meant to add- it's safe to take antihistamines daily, indefinitely (according to my dermatologist) so if that helps it's worth making it a habit.

Also, rhinitis symptoms have been really reduced using a steroid and antihistamine combination nasal spray. I think the one he has is called dymista.

I get this- dust mites are main culprit. Particularly bad if I am staying in someone else's house where the dust is sort of "new" to me.

I swear by Avamys steroid nasal spray, you take it daily and it builds up resistance. Game changer for me. You can get it from an online pharmacy without needing to go via a GP.

Dust mite but also being "atopic"

Has he has his vitamin d levels checked? I ask because I started reacting to all sorts of indeterminate allergens (was constantly itchy, sneezy, blocked nose etc) instead of my usual hay-fever. Vit d levels were vv low - turns out it impacts your immunity. Who knew?

Anyway. Sorting out vit d levels helped massively.

Me too...however, since I had covid, it triggered my childhood asthma, I hadn't used an inhaler for decades. Now I'm on two.
They have helped massively.
Before I used to have a permanently runny nose, post nasal drip, sneezing/ coughing fits.
Hardly anything now, I can only assume it must be the inhalers that have helped.

For years I had issues that seem to best fit the description 'histamine intolerance' multiple food triggers, causing itching, rash, congestion, blocked feeling in ears, headache. There's too many foods that either are histamine rich, release histamine in the body or inhibit DAO which deals with histamine, so an exclusion diet is not the answer. Certain types of fabric affected me too - I learnt to avoid the worst things and not have the medium things too often and vary my diet enough to not compound the problem with poor diet. I still have it but not as bad, I just pop an antihistamine if I am particularly itchy and DAOsin tablets before some foods helps a bit. Its incredibly common. Hope he finds a way to reduce his issues, you do have to become your own expert. Allergy UK have forum boards which can be helpful. Avoid snake oil scam allergy tests though.

Go with me on this, I know it’s a bit “woo”. I had kinesiology to help mine. I was treated about 22 years ago and can honestly say that it revolutionised my life.
I went from constant sneezing/ wheezing/ dripping with sore skin from the wiping and blowing to having mild hayfever and a few sneezes each day. I’m asthmatic but use an inhaler once or twice a week, not many times a day.
I was very dubious about the whole thing. The therapist told me all the stuff I was allergic to: grass, fur, dust…..so far, so unsurprising. Then she mentioned something incredibly specific, something that I’d ingested by accident 6 years earlier and not thought about since. Not a common thing, and I’d forgotten about it. I’m incredibly allergic to it. It was causing an underlying problem, which was compounded by my more usual allergies.
I was treated and given a prescription of a lot of vit c. Warned I’d feel awful as my body worked through it. Sure enough, I did. I barely got out of bed for 2 days. Worse allergy ever.
Then it cleared up. That was it. Done.
I take antihistamine in summer and if I need it (about twice a month). It was worth the two days in bed and the cost (it was a lot of money to me at the time).

We are a very allergy prone family and I sympathise. In his shoes I would take a regular antihistamine and the regular steroid nasal spray during a bad spell. As far as avoidance is concerned I would minimise soft furnishings as much as possible. A family member got rid of carpets, cushions and curtains and it made a huge difference to them and to other visiting family. The house became a bit of a sanctuary. Obviously avoid pets and things that he knows are a problem, hand wash and try not to touch face.

My hubby and son get like this and we worked out it was the material of a blanket. It's the fluffy type that makes them sneeze! Blankets and dressing gowns!

So many great replies!
Thanks so much everyone.
There’s lots of things he can try from all your suggestions including the “woo” ones!
Please do keep them coming if you have any more to add 😀

Hi I'm allergic to EVERYTHING and have to take antihistamines daily, sometimes twice daily especially in summer. I also have a steroid nose spray which really helps if I get really agitated there. Agree it could be dust.

Come on, tell us what it was you ingested!

Yup, and your hoovering and washing blankets is a good start.I'd also add....

get rid of carpets, wooden floors
Animals outdoors only
High fragrance- oils, burners, candles gone
Drinks with sulphites - wine gone
Foods which aggrevate - chilli, colours, garlic

He could have MCAS? Mast cell activation etc.

www.healthline.com/health/mast-cell-activation-syndrome#outlook