My house gives me asthma but can't pinpoint cause HELP!

[Pofacedagain]

Had horrific asthma all winter, severe bronchitis too, back on meds after 10 years no asthma at all. The only thing that has changed is that we moved house [though only down the road so location the same] We just spent 2 months in Ireland where my asthma disappeared again and it was wonderful - I was completely meds free again and felt back to normal. Now we've come home - 2 days back at home and asthma has returned badly - now back on inhaled steroids. so what is going on?
We have no pets, no carpets, allergy covers on beds. I hoover nearly every day. I just cannot tell what the problem is. The only thing I can think of is the woodfibre underlay that we put under a cheap wood floor upstairs when we moved in - it is fibrous and seems to leave dust around [there are bits exposed as bathroom floor unfinished and stairs uncarpeted] Could it really be that? It is so frustrating knowing elsewhere I'm fine. even if I go out for the day I feel better. Anyone any ideas?

Like other posters, I think a proper allergy test would be good. Your GP can refer you for it. I had this done and found that I was very allergic to cats and dogs and tree pollen, but not dust mites. Like you, my asthma became worse when I moved house and I had only moved round the corner. The previous owners had a dog and my asthma only got better when we removed the carpet from the bedroom. I don't think the vacuum cleaner was removing all the tiny dog hairs that had become stuck into the carpet over several years.

thanks for all the suggestions. The bronchitis is over now, and just had 2 wonderful asthma free and drug free months in Ireland, only for my asthma to return when home. Trying to get yet another plumber to come to fix shower - it would be a huge job to retile - perhaps we should - the ensuite is definitely damp.

We've got rid of all the carpets. The woman who owned this [small 3 bed] house previously kept sheep and pigs, sometimes indoors according to neighbours and had a big dog.So took all carpets out when moved in.

Re feather duvets - i did notice when i changed cover last night I was coughing and little feather bits in the air - perhaps the feathers are breaking down? I never used to have a reaction to it.

Curiouser and Curiouser.

I suspect my gp won't be keen to refer me to allergist thing but will ask. They prefer to give me inhalers and send me off ASAP.

Is there anything else the dog hair could have settled in, besides the carpets, that is still in the house, and are you usually allergic to dogs? Did you hoover the old carpets with your existing hoover before you got rid of them - ie could your hoover still be spreading old dust about as well as hoovering up the new?! Or did you keep any old curtains in the house? Or any furniture the previous owner could have stuffed with her sheep's wool?!!! (Well, she sounds a little bit on the eccentric side...).

As for the feathers, I guess not having had an obvious reaction in the past doesn't mean that you haven't become more sensitive to them, now. It doesn't mean it's the sole cause, though. Is there anything else you could sleep on/under for a few days?????!!

I still on balance would be most concerned about the damp and getting that fixed and any damp patches treated and dried out. It's obviously something that needs doing anyway, as soon as you can possibly afford it (leaks from bathrooms can cause very expensive-to-fix problems spreading beyond the bathroom itself and into the floors/ceilings and walls of the house if they aren't sorted out). So unfair if it isn't that, though! Are the tiles easily replaceable (ie still sold) - eg could you get someone to carefully prise a few off the wall where the leak is/where it is obviously damp to see what damage or growth is going on behind? Then you could regrout them back in if nothing is found??? Is any of the grouting failing, which would make problems behind the tiles more likely, or is it still all well grouted, particularly around any shower basins and baths?

Is the shower head clean?! I've heard all sorts of hideous things can grow in old shower heads...

Thanks rabbit. It is pretty well grouted I t think. Plumber coming tomorrow! Hopefully will be useful. We have kept some curtains though I washed them all. None of her furniture

There are some curious gnaw marks on the kitchen cupboard handles, and there was a huge pile of bluebottle larvae cases under the dishwasher when we changed it Had to take them to local natural history unit to get them identified. All very dirty, but have done my best to clean and clean.

Thanks rabbit. It is pretty well grouted I t think. Plumber coming tomorrow! Hopefully will be useful. We have kept some curtains though I washed them all. None of her furniture

There are some curious gnaw marks on the kitchen cupboard handles, and there was a huge pile of bluebottle larvae cases under the dishwasher when we changed it Had to take them to local natural history unit to get them identified. All very dirty, but have done my best to clean and clean.

Help.. I got an african grey parrot a couple of days before christmas last year, i kept the house and cage extremley clean, but obviously there was dust everywhere. After i'd had him four weeks i came down with a sickness bug, and laid on the sofa quite close to the parrot all day.. i fell asleep for a couple of hours during the evening when i woke, i couldn't breathe !!! i was so scared, i ran to the back door to get some air, and it took about ten minutes to ease off. my chest eased but i was coughing tiny amounts of blood for a couple of days, i went to my GP who thought i'd had a reaction to the bird and gave me a rescue inhaler, i was so uptight about it i ended up in A&E, they xrayed my chest and said it was clear and that it could be the bird. needless to say i gave the bird to a friend of mine, and he is very happy. I was then given a steroid inhaler, and while it prevented the attacks, it has made my gullet and throat so very sore. I've been refered to a chest consultant who is going to conduct various tests and he has taken me off the steroid inhaler, my throat and gullet are slowly returning to normal. but everytime i spend time in the lounge i can feel my chest starting to tighten.... what the devil is wrong with me... any replies would be most welcome

Re: Cats and asthma, as a phone engineer I had to enter many homes, with dogs, cats chinchillas etc, never a problem. But had one very bad experience. It was summertime, sun in the sky, no breathing issues!! Knocked on the door, normal pleasantries, lady invited me in, and as I stepped in, I could feel the signs, shallower breathing, parchiness. The lady showed me into the front room, which was the cats 'playroom', by which, 3 and 4 tier scratching posts and beds, all breathing stopped... immediately! I had to leave the house for 10 mins, and ask her to open the windows, (back and front) before I could continue with any work. The cats... Burmese!! Crazy blue-white eyes!!!

I know this is an old thread but I'm having the same problems with my dog do you have mulch in your yard I really think that's what's causing my dog's problems