So I am getting allergy injections for cat, dust mites and many weeds and plants. I saw a asthma specialist today because I get a lot of wheezing and congestion. He diagnosed me with a condition and switched my meds and told me to stop the shots immediately. He is going to call my allergy dr and try to work with him to put windows in my nose for drainage since nothing comes out. I am wondering is it necessary to get a third opinion or go with the specialist's advice? He seemed to have understood everything I said and listened to all of my concerns. I like him because he also talks about food related allergies and outdoor allergies along with asthma. My other dr only deals with seasonal allergies. I have had congestion in my ears for a long time now and this guy said it goes with this condition and so does the stomach issues I've been having. I've been going to the other dr for 3 years and a reflux dr and this is the first I am hearing about it linked to what is going on. I have been on Amoxicillin for 3 weeks and am still stuffy and my head has a lot of pressure since I did breathing tests today. I am back on steroids and a different inhaler. I am thinking my other dr's office is going to try to convince me to keep getting the shots. What would you say if that happens? A third opinion first? Also I was advised to get rid of our cat that stays in the basement away from me. My children are not happy. She's been with us for 8 yrs. I have been more than generous about keeping her to make them happy but it is becoming obvious that she is making my health miserable. My husband has had her for 14 years so it will be very hard for him especially since she is the friendliest cat. I don't want them all to resent me. The dr said his cat lived 20 years and a friend told me she's heard of some living past 20. My husband thinks our cat is getting close to the end because she has diabetes and isn't doing the greatest. That's also why I would feel bad giving her away. We do have other pets so this isn't our only pet. My teenage daughter was in tears when I told her and my youngest is sad too. Windows are passages for the sinuses to drain. We have a air purifier in the basement by the cat. My husband is now mad about the whole thing. The cat is sick and no one will take a 14 yr old cat with diabetes. A guilt trip once again.
I have been tested for other pets and they are fine.
Keep the kitty in the basement. I am a pet person...
I can't imagine the cat can cause allergies if it is downstairs.
I got rid of my rugs, toxic name-brand cleaners, perfumed laundry detergent, etc........This all helped when my child was diagnosed.
Plus, I went dairy-free, soy free----see OCA.com
Medicine is as much an art as it is a science.
If you like this second doctor, and are willing to give him and his treatment a fair shake, by all means go with it. Just make sure that you have a good understanding of what the length of treatment is, and how soon you can expect results and what degree of improvement you might expect so that you aren't out shopping for another fix before you have run the course with this approach.
Best,
F. B.
I would trust the second doctor. Food allergies, and sensitivities play a HUGE roll in overall allergies. And yes, you stomach issues are a big red flag for food issues. Get those under control and you will notice that your 'seasonal' allergies, outdoor allergies and pet allergies will diminish. You allergies are obviously worse with each allergen you are exposed to. Instead of all the drugs to mask the problem, really work with the second doctor, and/or 'not a mainstream' doctor to find out what you can stop being exposed to. Like your cat, sorry to say. But I can say with personal certainty, get rid of the food related allergy/sensitivity issues - which is easy because you have total control over it - and the rest will lessen. Especially your asthma (which mine went away when I gave up gluten, which with your stomach issues is another red flag).
Get a third opinion if you want, but if you do some research on your own, you will realize that the second doctor is very smart linking all the issues.
If the cat needs to stay, get really good air purifiers, take care of the food issues, and you may just be able to keep it.
The second doctor sounds like a keeper. I'd go with his advice. The key to all of your health is your digestive tract. If that is healed and working well, your body can handle everything else. If that's out of whack, everything is out of whack.
I wouldn't make a decision on the cat right now. I would work with whoever you need to to heal your digestive and sinus issues, which are related (they're all an inflammatory/allergic response). You may find that once your gut is healed, everything else will be more manageable. Or not...but at least then you'll know that you've literally done everything else and that the cat has to go. I'm on my second detox this year and it's amazing how good wellness feels.
There are a lot of good books out there that guide you through the whole food detox process. I like The Hormone Cure from Dr. Sara Gottfried and The 10-Day Detox from Dr. Mark Hyman. Both have good info on how all of our body's systems are related and how healing with food can help everything else improve dramatically.
Best of luck to you - I hope you're feeling better soon.
I think before I sought out the advice of a third doctor I'd want to at least hear what the first doctor has to say. He/she might surprise you.
Most of the doctors I've gone to have been very good about working together. We go to a clinic of doctors (huge ... 4 or 5 locations in town), and they can all read eachother's notes. My GP always goes over the notes from my OB/GYM and my urologist. It's very reassuring.
I'd give the first doctor a chance. If you don't feel like he/she is willing to consider the findings of the other doctor, then consider other options. But you really have nothing to lose by hearing him/her out.
I'd like more detail about what 'put windows in your nose' is all about.
I had a 10 year problem with Affrin.
I could not breathe through my nose without it.
I finally went to an ENT and she put me on steroids to get me off the Affrin.
Once that was over she said "You're good now! We're done!" and I was like "Are you kidding me? I can barely get air through my nose at all! The first bit of pollen or a slight cold will have me mouth breathing for weeks!".
She took another look at my x-rays and said that I DID have some very narrow breathing passages.
So we scheduled some surgery to trim my turbinates (bony baffles in the nose).
The surgery took 6 hours.
I had packing in my nose for 36 hours (that was TOTALLY MISERABLE).
Once the packing was removed, I COULD BREATHE!
I had the surgery back in 91 and it was the best thing I ever did.
I've never had a totally blocked stuffed up nose ever again.
It's still possible to get a sinus infection, but when I do it drains, I have no trouble rinsing out with saline/neti pot and it doesn't last long.
I don't know anything about the interactions of your conditions, and medications.
Try to get your doctors to talk together and establish a priority of treatment(s) (which comes first, which can be dealt with at the same time, which gets put off till later, etc).
How much longer can a 14 yr old cat live?
She's going to pass away sooner or later.
Once that happens, no more pets.
Additional:
Ok I think I know what the nose window thing is now.
http://www.sinuscarecenter.com/treat/surgery_windows.htm
It sounds like I had the procedure mentioned in that last paragraph (widening the natural opening) but then you have a more complicated situation than I had.
Research what ever they propose and have a clear understanding of what they are doing and what problems they hope it will solve.
Stick with your 2nd doctor and stop the shots. Move the air purifier out of the basement and put it in your bedroom or buy a second one. Having clean air while in your room will give you a good restful sleep which is extremely important.
The issue with allergy shots is that they are injecting the substance you are allergic to into your body. Your body is reacting to it in hopes that you will build up some immunity to it. At this point your body is being overwhelmed by the allergy causing your immune system to go into hyper drive so backing off those is wise. Once the steroids and inhalers get this under control you'll feel so much better.
I have asthma and am allergic to cats. Mine are not allowed in my bedroom at night and during the day they sleep on a fleece blanket I put on the bed just for them. I also have cat beds in a couple locations so they are most likely to use those instead of hanging out of the couch. I have hardwood floors but if you have carpeting then you need to vacuum often.
... I have allergies, I have asthma. Have had it since I was a child.
I have had pets, all my life. Pets with fur etc. indoors or outdoor pets.
Now, as such, I know how it is, when your HEALTH... is at risk, and THUS, the Doctor recommends NO pets especially in the house. Because of your condition. Keeping a pet in the basement, does not... contain the allergens/dander in the house. It does migrate elsewhere in the house.
Anyway, my conditions are not as extreme as yours. Hence, I can have pets. And my Asthma does not have the same triggers as yours.
HOWEVER, it is VERY VERY sad... when other family members, seemingly think that their beloved pets, is more important than their Wife's or Mommy's, health. And then it puts a guilt trip on you and then it is YOU... who has to deal with it, because it is "your" problem.
But I think, that if you got very sick, because of this, they would be very regretful, about taking the pets over your health.
My Mom, developed Asthma later in life. And it was exacerbated by the pets we had. Indoors. The Doc told her we had to get rid of the cat, etc. But well the cat died. He was old. But we could not get anymore indoor, pets, with fur. It just was. And we didn't make her feel guilty about it. This is her health. One day, my Mom got REAL sick... and had an Asthma attack, emergency was called and everything.
So at some point a choice has to be made.
And that is, what or who is more important?
Your health.
Or the pets?
But your Hubby's cat is old. Sick. And in the basement.
You/he should get an air purifier, FOR that room, that the cat is in.
And get one for the other rooms too.
It can help a lot.
And this can be an attempt to help your conditions, while for now, keeping the pets. Perhaps.
ETA: also, when people handle the cat(s), and then they come near you... THAT WILL AFFECT your allergies. Because, the animal's dander/fur, is on them and their clothing and hands. That is what my Doc and my Mom's Doc, has said also. Anyone who plays with the cat, needs to change clothes and wash their hands.
AND... any allergens/pollen/fur/dander, can also exist on people's clothing and hands, even if you do not see it, because there are allergen particles that are SO small, it cannot be seen by the naked eye. This goes for also, pollen etc. that you get on your clothes or skin, from being outside. So my Mom's Doc, ALWAYS recommended that a person CHANGE clothes and wash their hands or face, after touching a pet and/or after coming in the house from outside.
certain families should not have pets. yours is clearly one of them.
but this cat has been in this family for a long, long time. she's completely unadoptable (old AND diabetic???!!!) and even if you hit the needle in the haystack and found a kind home for her, the adjustment would be brutal on the poor old girl.
i'm sorry for the guilt trip, but at this point the old cat has earned a gentle exit. and if you decide to end it early, do NOT give her away. take the karmic hit and have her euthanized yourselves, preferably in your husband's arms.
you should be living in a pet-free house, and your family does have to suck it up and accept that mom has health concerns that require this. so why are there other pets? of course your kids are sad. it's a bit much to set up your lives thus, and then suddenly change it all.
cats do live for 20 years but it's very, very rare. start looking for good homes for your mysterious 'other pets', keep your old cat downstairs, and don't get any more.
khairete
S.
HI L.,
My sister was having pain in her gall bladder...three doctors told her to have it removed, one a surgeon. She saw an N.D. who told her that her liver was toxic and was shutting down (Non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver).She detoxed her liver and at age 69 has no pain in either her gall bladder or her liver!
God bless,
M.
I would stick with the 2nd doctor. My daughter and I have allergies but hers are worse than mine. She is allergic to cats and dogs even the Hypoallergenic ones. My daughters doctor suggested that I have the carpet taken out of the house and add laminate or hardwood but I can't afford that right now. I bought a bissel vacuum cleaner for allergens. I don't know if it works or not but thats all I can do for now.
In your case I would tell your family that it is me or the cat. Tell them that the cat is hurting you. I would express how much I love the cat I how I would hate to get rid of it but it is for the benefit of your health. Good luck.
Get rid of the cat. If you family goes downstairs to play with the cat and come back up, that's affecting your breathing. Get rid of the cat and see how you do.
