Is this going to spell the beginning of the end ?

[hoggie]

I have had animals all my life. I rode since I was 4. And got my first pony when I was 11. All the way along the line, I have suspected that I have an allergy to "something". I have never been able to pin it down. It is not consistent enough to be sure of anything.

But suddenly it is much much worse. I am bunged up all the time, but I am much worse when I have just finished doing the animals. And after doing the animals, I have an almost asthmatic cough.

Hay? Maybe - but I have been using hay all summer too and it hasn't affected me like this. And all the hay I am using now, I personally carted and stacked and it didn't affect me like this.

The animals? Nothing new there. Pony I have never been without. The goats, I have had for 18 months now. Can't think why it would suddenly start to get worse now.

But I am starting to wonder how long I will be able to keep it up if it gets steadily worse.

Any ideas? - I find this pretty depressing as the animals have always been the mainstay of life around here. And I have some good long term plans - all of which involve the animals.

Any suggestions?

hoggie

[TedH71]

Allergy tests at the dr's office will help. I found out that I'm severely allergic to dust mites amongst other minor annoyance.

[Autumngrey]

you could try some homeopathinc (sp?), organic or naturopath options. I am certain you don't want to get rid of your animals all together, so you best bet would be to get that allergy test and find out your options.

you could also start to use a neti pot (for nasal passage rinsing) regularly and right after you get done with the animals. cover your mouth and nose with a mask, and shower after dealing with the animals. try keeping the dander and whatnot out of your living areas, especially your bedroom. if you have to get nekked in the hallway cause your shower is in the bedroom, do that.

at least try to keep alergins out of the home as much as possible.

that's my opinion. My dad loves his tractor and loves to do the lawn/field, so he wears a mask over his face.

hope this helps and good luck.

[Bink]

Is there anything different in your environment? If there is an added thing you're allergic to, it will intensify your other allergies. Mold? Food product? Cleaning solution? Perfume?

[Wisconsin Ann]

Might have a mold developing in the barn somewhere. if water spilled on the floor; or on some bedding...doesn't take long for it to multiply.j hate to say it, but you may have to strip the bedding down to the floor and disinfect

I used to have "slight problems" too. Once in awhile it was so nasty I could hardly breathe. Mom took me to doc for tests...I was allergic to "hay mold type B". (I think it was "B"). Most hay mold you see is one type of mold. That mold doesn't bother me at all. there is a second type that develops during storage, and can't be seen in the hay. THAT is the type I'm allergic to.

[RiverPines]

Allergies can begin at any age and time.
I wasn't allergic to anything till I turned 20.
First it was pet rats, then all rodents.
Soon, dogs and cats.
Later all birds.
Today I am allergic to all animals that have fur or feather and to dust.

I take a one a day allergy tablet, Zyrtec, or I wouldn't have any animals and that wouldn't be good with having a rabbitry, chickens, ducks, goats and sheep.

[Shirley]

Well, you need to know what you are allergic to. Go to your doc and get tested.

[sewtlm]

Your barn may have a build-up of ammonia from urine which causes problems especially this time of year.

Find a nice day kick everybody out of the barn, open all doors and windows, strip it clean and spread lime on the floor, let sit to dry as long as possible and rebed.

I have found many times respitory problems in the barn for people as well as animals happen in late fall and winter when we don't clean and ventilate the barn well enough.

[Maura]

Clean everything real good. If you've suffered from allergies before, then yes, they can get worse and worse. Been there. My allergies were so bad I could hardly breathe, but I got better. First, I used high quality vitamin C, as needed. 1,000 mg in the morning, then as needed. Somedays, I took 2,000 mg doses every 4 hours. Then, I discovered tumeric, the spice. I took a pinch a day and in a month, my asthma cleared up. I continued taking the C as needed, but I needed less. Then, I started going to a massage therapist who did massage and Reiki. This helps to release toxins. From there, she did cranial-sacral (not sure of spelling), which really cleared my head. Over time, with more of the therapy, I'm allergy and asthma free. Also, I don't seem to have low blood sugar any more.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I vote for the neti pot, too.

[Jenn]

Neti pot or just boil 250 g/cc water, let cool to warm, mix in 1.5 ml (1/4 teaspoon) each salt and baking soda, and squirt up each side your nose with a large syringe- your GP or chemist might be able to give you a 50 cc syringe for this.

[deb]

If you are having breathing problems now, I would recommend you get tested by an Allergist BEFORE you attempt to do any cleaning in the barn.

"Cleaning" sounds so clean, doesn't it? However when you "clean" you also move a lot of stuff around and end up adding more allergens to the air you are breathing which can send you straight to a hospital emergency room!

Using a Neti pot can help with sneezing or drippy nose part of allergic reactions, but they don't do anything for your LUNGS and if you are coughing then your lungs are being affected.

Ask your doctor to give you the name of an Allergist and get tested. You may find out that you can really reduce your allergic reactions without meds, but even if you need meds it doesn't have to cost an arm & a leg!

Let us know how it goes
Deb
in wi

[longrider]

well here in the south we have a thing about our animals. we'll be dying on the front porch sippin sweet tea in one hand and scratchin the dog with the other while the cat sit perfectly on the lap.

most folks just go to the allergy doctor and get that tire track test done on our backs. in less than a day you will know everything your allergic to and know just exactly how much medicine to take so you can go back to brushing your pony down every day.

one of my closest friends has the furryest dirtyest dog this side of hades and take 7 pills and carries an inhaler with him to take care of the habit of breathing. I shake my head every time i see the dog and wonder about my friends reasoning skills.

Point is: you should get tested to see if its grass, furrys, trees, or your rug or something else.

[mdharris68]

What causes allergies anyway? Is it from a lack of some sort of something in a persons diet? or is it a failure of a body function? If some one reading this post has the answer, please fill me in.

[Jen H]

Allergies are basically your bodie's defense mechanisms going into over drive. Where the white blood cells are supposed to release histamine and rush to attack bacteria and viruses, an allergic person's white blood cells rush to attack pollen and dander in addition to the normal bacteria and viruses.

I have to second (third? fourth?) getting an allergy test done. That way you'll know exactly what to avoid, or be able to decide to just take allergy meds and deal with it if you really love what you're allergic to.

[oceanmist]

start taking PANTOTHENIC ACID! And Vit C in large quanities prior to working with your animals... or just every day in smaller doses... for the pantothenic acid you should take around 400 mg twice a day and between 2-3,000 up to 5,000 mg of vit c. The C may give you diarhea if your body has too much, so just cut back a little if that happens...

now how do I know this will help you?

Because I have had brochcial asthma all of my life. I used to wheeze and cough and my lungs would feel tight and heavy after working around hay or in a barn. I could not pet cats or be in a house where cats lived inside... then I started taking pantothenic acid and vit C on a regular basis, usually uping the dose prior to exposure to allergens.. I can now SLEEP in a barn, laying on top of the hay bales the whole night and I have NO breathing problems at all! It's so amazing to me!

See the thing is is that allergies/ allergic reactions are caused by stress at a cellular level. Your cells need those Vitamins to help build up their natural defenses because right now they are under too much stress to fight off the histamines and stuff you are exposed to in your environment.

If you can, find this wonderful book called "Let's Get Well" by Adelle Davis. She explains it so much better than I can and I have been using vitamins to keep myself and my daughter healthy for 5 years now.

The most recent experience was my daughter's bout with walking pneumonia... she ran a 103.4 fever for 6 days and had what the dr. called an old man in her lungs... it was not good... but we made it through with NO antibiotics, just mega doses of Vit C/ Vit A/ Vit E and lots of herbal teas.
The doctor even commented at how surprised she was at my daughter's lack of medical care over the past 7 years... she literally has no chart!

I sure hope you start feeling better soon,

Misty

[oceanmist]

Originally Posted by mdharris68

What causes allergies anyway? Is it from a lack of some sort of something in a persons diet? or is it a failure of a body function? If some one reading this post has the answer, please fill me in.

An allergic reaction happens when a foreign substance/ protein particle gains access to the blood...

This is according to a renowned nutritionist named Adelle Davis...

she also states in her book "Let's Get Well"... that such stresses as an inadequate diet, emotional upsets, insufficient sleep, infections, or the use of drugs usually precede the onset of allergies... the added stress of a toxic allergen is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Our bodies naturally defend against allergens with cortisone... if you are deficient in Pantothenic Acid your cells cannot produce cortisone...

the adrenal glands are often damaged from lack of Pantothenic Acid and take several weeks to recover... but it DOES work~!

I listen closely to what this woman wrote back in 1965 because first it has worked for me over and over... AND she was warning people all the way back then against using hormone replacement theraphy because it caused cancer... doctors ignored the research for years and now all the sudden all these women are showing up with cancer?? HMMM at any rate she gained my respect and I recommend her book often.

Misty

[Terri]

Does your insurance cover an allergist?

I have allergies also, but I rarely suffer any more.

[Terri]

Originally Posted by Jen H

Allergies are basically your bodie's defense mechanisms going into over drive. Where the white blood cells are supposed to release histamine and rush to attack bacteria and viruses, an allergic person's white blood cells rush to attack pollen and dander in addition to the normal bacteria and viruses.

I have to second (third? fourth?) getting an allergy test done. That way you'll know exactly what to avoid, or be able to decide to just take allergy meds and deal with it if you really love what you're allergic to.

That pretty much sums it up. The body THINKS that pollen or whatever is a dangerous invader, and it is the bodies reaction that makes you feel sick.

PErsonally, I am allergic to grass pollen, and the pills did not help much as the allergy was severe. After seeing an allergist, I get good control with one pill a day during the allergy season, and 2 shots a month year-round.

The alternative would have been staying inside with air filters on during the spring. ALL spring! I think NOT!

[Jenn]

1- Hoggie presumably is on NHS and an allergist is an unlikely resource, and she might have to travel to the mainland for it. Her GP can diagnose farmer's lung probably especially where she lives.

2-cough is not always lung related. The cough comes from the throat actually as well as lung.

a- Chronic cough can be caused by chronic drip drip drip from the nose/sinuses- if this is the cause then neti (also SinusRinse in the US) is a great treatmetn, and antihistamines may help. I personally have this sort of cough and it is relieved by nose/sinus rinsing or regular loratadine (Claritin) use

b- Acid reflux can cause chronic cough- the acid coming up constantly irritates the throat and cough center. Some folks get relief from cough with acid treatments- my step-mom is one such.

c- Finally gotta worry about smoking (usually) or chronic asthma related lung damage and or weird (nowadays) stuff like tuberculosis.