Severely allergic to Mr C

[Corygal]

This ain't good. I went to the GP about my breathing - Mr C's nighttime attacks having left me blue-lipped and breathless - and peak flow is ghastly. Asthma diagnosed. Six Ventolins a day from now on.

I'm also on antihistamines - separate ones - for

skin
eyes
nose
throat
general systemic ones

As it is the sheets are boiled the whole time, I wash hair and body with vigour daily, I never wear clothes or nightclothes twice and wash everything the second it's been worn inside for more than 5 min, the hoover is practically never off and all the doors and windows are open 24/7. Furniture is hoovered or swabbed down more regularly than is sane.

The hives from last week's 35-puncture session are healing, but much too slowly, because I can't reach down into my shoulder to dress the wounds. He went for my hand, playfully, earlier - although I shrieked and pulled away, it's puffy and sore, with two long deep scratches that, from past experience, will take a fortnight to scab up.

I try and groom him to keep the clouds of fur he produces down but at the mo he is resistant, prob still sensitive about The Leg.

I don't know what to do. I've just folded yet another pile of clean washing. Mr C has sat on it.

I love him. What hardcore treatment is there for cat allergies? In 8 hours time he will be under anaesthetic, poor little cat, and I will be signing up to the asthma clinic.

I had trouble staying completely wheeze-free for other allergies. My asthma nurse upped my preventative (have they prescribed one? It's no good just treating with ventolin). And they gave me a spacer. And taught me the new 'right' way to breathe in (very slowly and steadily, not a big deep suck in).

Still I had issues.

One lovely GP prescribed me singulair which is a tablet taken at bedtime that helps suppress the reaction in my airways. It's been brilliant and seems to work well for me because I have lots of allergies to lots of things and this suppresses them. I also take a systemic antihistamine daily.

I was a little allergic to our old cat. I'd get an itchy throat if he came too close. But I'm not allergic to our new one. Perhaps because I'm already full of lots of anti-allergy stuff.

That's so helpful, thanks. yes I do have a spacer Fluffy. How is DH with little ASBO? Not too wheezy?

Mr C being feted by nurses and back tomorrow am.

He is wheezy sometimes but I think he has been asthmatic for years because of smoking.

The tricky part of any long term condition is finding out what manages it.

But that poster is correct. You are gambling with your health if you're as bad as you say you are. You obviously are aware that asthma can kill? Do you have children ?

All this irresponsibility for the sake of a cat

'Blue lipped and breathless ' you say

NOBODY on this thread should be encouraging you to keep this cat . I've actually no idea why you posted

I have no idea why you posted, Galloping.

It's an open forum and I've got an opinion.
Does that make it clearer for you?

Galloping thanks for your post, but what you don't get is that Mr C is not 'only a cat'. You might think you have to be human to be a person, but I don't.

Mr C is my cat, ie my trusted companion, life partner (for want of another one) and my kids (ditto). He is my merry-hearted, mellow friend who gives nirvana-level cuddles.

Oh, and he saved my life rescuing me from a fire.

Asking for help to manage asthma is, I feel, a reasonable response. Getting rid of him is not.

Bit random - but if you're car has air-con and a reasonable/new pollen filter it might reduce symptoms quickly (but obviously only when you're in the car!). Harsh, but I'd kick him out of the bedroom.

When I had a reaction (nowhere near as severe as yours) to one of our cats we got a Bionaire Filter.
I ran it in the bedroom everyday for about 10 hours and it made a huge difference.

Brilliant, thanks Rooster.

Corygal

You've made me smile knocking back the attempts to rehome with panache. Totally get where you're coming from too, I'd never be able to rehome my cats, they'd have to be taken from my cold, dead hands!

Rooster has beaten me to it with the suggestion of an air filter. I have bad hay fever so a bit different but with the air con on in the car I can actually travel through countryside in summer. An air filter should give a similar effect at home I think.

Aw go you Cory
I would rehome Madame over my cold dead body even if I became allergic.

I love your reply Corygal. I'd be the same if this was Harry and I. People who think it's as easy as 'rehome him' obviously aren't cat lovers.

I hope Mr C is ok after his op.

Thanks so much, all! Mr C home!! Minus three teeth!!!

His fudgy muzzle looks like it has golf balls stuffed in the whisker pads. But he is next to me purring.

The claws have not been trimmed - after 4 attempts by both vet, chief nurse and the unfortunate junior nurses, it was described as a 'no go'.

I gave the chief nurse a bottle of fizz for her efforts. I suspect she opened it the minute I left the room.

3 out isn't so bad! (They mist have been pretty awful to go these days - vets now tend to take the same attitude to tooth preservation as dentists in my experience.)

Were his claws too thick or was he ...........unco-operative?

Glad he's back anyway.

How are you doing today with the chest etc?

Hey cozie, thanks so much for posting.

I am delighted to report that after some time mainlining Ventolin I am miles better. And joy of joys, it is pouring with rain here which means the pollen is less - I am hoping that has a lot to do with it.

I am not so delighted to report that Mr C 'failed to engage' with the manicure process. The senior nurse described Mr C's reaction to their approach as 'Don't touch what you can't afford'. She sais he was the Bob Hoskins of the ward.

It sounds as if she adores him! (I'm not joking.)

Good news on the wheezing. I suspect that total allergen load has a lot to do with it - but you'll see.

I'm also cheered by the rain. (good for my flowerbeds)

But mostly glad that Mr.C is happily back in the bosom of his family, even though he may resemble the bloke from Godfather.

Cody, I know you love your cat, and let's be honest who doesn't love cats?

BUT I think you're crazy to keep this cat.

My sister died from an asthma attack. One minute alive, next minute blue lipped and brain dead. I miss her everyday.

Your cat will be rehomed if you die anyway. Asthma isn't just a few wheezes and a blast from ventolin to clear it up, it's a gradual loss of lung capacity, and loss of blood oxygen until you're too far gone to help yourself.

Maybe find someone close by who could look after him for you and then when you're off all mess and have better lung health, have another go?

Seriously, I think you're being overly defensive and rather stoopid about it.

We love your cat, now, do you love yourself? And if not, why not?
Don't you have anyone to miss you everyday?

Cory autocorrect!

It's a difficult one for her, Venus - but sometimes it's right to articulate the hard things.

It's early days in the asthma though, and it might not be the cat. Really you need an allergy test because some of us are allergic to more than just one or two things.

I'm allergic to milk, nickel, monosodium glutamate and have been sensitive to latex as well (in gloves, you filthy minded lot).

Of course.

(How many latex gloves dos one normlly come across, Fluffy? )

• does one normally

(Sorry - I was laughing too hard there to type with vowels.)