allergic to felix

[felixowner]

I have been a cat lover all my life. imagine my surprise when i found out i am allergic. i had been feeling very ill for a couple of years, with fatigue, achy joints, fuzzy head. when i spent the summer away from home and felt dramatically better, then returned and felt worse, i finally put two and two together and got tested. i also reacted to dust and mold. the allergist was great and didn't even suggest i give felix (two year old tiger male) and S (seven year old siamese female) up because it was obvious that was not on the table for discussion. he had me superclean my bedroom, use a HEPA filter and dustmite proof bedding, and no longer are the cats allowed in the bedroom. i made them an alternative sleepin area, and they are being angels about staying there instead. any other cat lovers turned allergic? what did you do to help with the problem? also... i am also getting desensitization shots. anyone heard of allervax cat or tried it?
thanks!

[4 feline house]

Well, I'm allergic and asthmatic, but I am allergic to so many other things that being around cats makes not one bit of difference. Especially since the thing I am most allergice to is completely unavoidable - dust! So I guess I'd be no help to you, but I wanted to say THANK YOU for not having the knee-jerk reaction of giving up your cats, at least not before attempting any and all other solutions! And bless you smart physician, too!

[zippy-kat]

As much as I hate to admit it...I think I *might* be

[yorkster]

gosh I don't know what I would do if I ever found out that I was allergic to my kitties.
Have you tried Clariton? I have a friend with lots of allergies, and he takes that. He said there are no side-effects.

[purrley]

I just find it so amazing how many people are allergic to cats - my daughter has always been around cats - she has a Siamese of her own, but now when she comes to my house she gets stuffed up - can't understand it - maybe its because she only has 1 cat and I have 4

[Edwina's Secretary]

I am allergic to cats (dust, mold, etc. etc.) That was one of my concerns about getting a cat. During Edwina's first two years with us I had two major (we're talking emergency room type) episodes. So.....both my husband and I quit smoking (duh!) and I began taking Claritin which has been a wonder drug for me. Edwina sleeps with/on me but seems to understand NEVER to get near my face and I am careful not to touch my face -- particularly my eyes after petting her. My husband is SUPPOSE to do Edwina's
brushing frequently (she hates it.)

I have truely been episode-free since taking the Claritin. I thought maybe I was cured and stopped taking it earlier this week. I'm not -- so it may be a "lifetime" thing for me.

[zippy-kat]

My mom was the first one to suggest that we (the family) might be allergic to cats. I had never thought of it at all. Just chalked it up to the dust, pollen, etc. etc.

BUT...I've been livin' with cats for 21 years...don't plan on stoppin' now! lol

[aguu]

Well I've been deathly allergic to all animals for my whole life. It's been so devastating to me becasue I'm a huge animal lover. But then Jake starting coming around (he was originally my neighbours' cat)and I seemed to slowly build up a resistance to him. He eventually ended up moving in with us, for the first few days my asthma acted up but after that I was perfectly fine.
I've unfortunately had to give up Jake (divorce) but I have a new furbaby now and my allergies have not acted up one bit. I really believe that you can sort of bulid up an "immunity" over a period of time - sort of like a vaccine.
I cannot imagine life without a kitty now!!!

[Karen]

You can build up some resistance, not immunity, You ask about "desentitizing shots" - yes, if you cannot cotrol allergies in other ways, you CAN get shots to help desensitize you to stuff. It is not a one-time thing, it is usually a series of shots, at regular intervals, and may have to be repeated every few years depending on your own individual reactions. So it is NOT for anyone afraid of needles!

[felixowner]

i'm glad to hear other people are coping with this problem! i am also taking a nonsedating antihistimine, allegra, also nasal steroids. i started the shots last week. it's true it is very intense, weekly for 20-30 weeks, then monthly for 3-5 years. but right now i feel like i would do anything to help me keep living with my cats, they are really more like family than pets. this allervax is not like the standard desensitization shots, but i reallly don't know much about it. periodically felix "breaks in" to the bedroom; i think he's really curious about what is going on in there now that he is not allowed. but i think the cats like the newer, cleaner house -- more furniture to hang out on.

[wayne0214]

felixowner; how long were you away before you realized that your breathing and other problems started to clear up?

...........Wayne

[Logan]

Helen and I both suffer from sinus problems, almost year round, but we dare not even venture off into the allergy testing because I know what they will say! LOL! Dog fur, cat fur, maybe even hamster fur. The Claritin D works wonders for us too, so we just make sure our prescription is up to date at all times!!! LOL!

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by Logan:
The Claritin D works wonders for us too,

Claritin D makes me SHAKE...don't know why.

[4 feline house]

Zippy - It's likely the "D" that makes you shake - the decongestant. If you have allergies, as opposed to sinus congestion (which is not always caused by allergies) you may be able to do without it. You might see how you do on just an antihistamine.

Aguu - You can and usually will develope a desensitization to your own cats - it's the process that allergies shots are based on.

Purrley - this could be why your daughter is bothered by your cats and not hers, but it could also be sheer numbers like you suspect. Every allergic person has a certain tolerance level for any given allergen - a little bit may not bother them, whereas a lot probably will.

[zippy-kat]

I would say it's definitely more of a sinus problem. But of course, I'm living in denial--I really don't want to admit that I *might* be allergic to cats!

On the other hand, I haven't been tested for allergies soooo...there's the chance that I'm not--and I'm milkin' that for all she's worth!