What Could Be Wrong? - Manhattan,KS

Before I even read the 2nd paragraph I was thinking allergies. I work with a few perople who have spring allergies and say that is one of the worst years ever for pollen.

I would bet it's the bunny! (depending on the type of rabbit) but they are HUGE allergens.
If you get rid of the rabbit as are still sick... I would think it IS enviromental .
Either way...Netti pot!!! (sp?) Those things are AMAZING!!! ...and that is something you can do NOW. They're about 10-13 bucks and a store brand will do... good luck!

All of that could definitely be caused by allergies. Not to say that it isn't just a cold and bronchitis that you can't kick, but allergies could do it too. I live in Tennessee and this has been a HORRIBLE winter for colds and stuff. I can't believe how sick everyone around here has been. It has also been a pretty high-pollen spring already. You could see if your doctor will send you for allergy testing and then know for sure. An allergist will be familiar with the plants that grow locally and would be able to say Yes, we have a lot of that particular plant here. And they could definitely tell you one way or the other about the rabbit.

get that rabbit out of the house! & then check your home for mold...all of your symptoms point in the direction of allergies...& these are the two easiest solutions for you.

My son was allergic to mold - to the point that he ended up having his tonsils removed! He was in daycare, sick nonstop with strep. We did all that was recommended by the doctors, ended up with surgery.....& then he got strep again. I was frustrated with this, & we ended up leaving the daycare. Within 2 weeks, my son was off of all meds! We saw the allergist, our son tested positive for mold, & that's when we put 2+2 together! It was the mold at the daycare that had been the culprit all along.

The daycare was a basement facility, I had worked there.....& saw firsthand...mold growing in the store room & on the toys in storage. Yuck. & we kicked ourselves that we had not figured it out....prior to that surgery. To this day, I still regret our stupidity!

could be allergy induced asthma but only an allergy doc can diagnose this. good luck

Please be sure to get checked out for both environmental and food allergies; I suspect that you are dealing with one or the other.

Hi Stephanie,

I think you probably have a combination of all of the above. When I did have allergies, rabbit fur was absolutely the worst for me. I couldn't even walk in a room with a rabbit coat in it without my eyes watering. Allergies develop from a weak immune system and your environment can affect that. Antibiotics will break down your immune system as well. Is your inhaler steroidal? Steroids wreak havoc on the immune system. You seem to have suffered a triple whammy.

Take things one at a time. If there is no infection don't take anymore antibiotics. If you are having seasonal allergies from pollens or grasses (that can make you more susceptible to animal allergies) start taking a teaspoon of LOCAL honey every morning. (The same allergens that are weakening you are present in the honey and will basically help you build an immunity to the grasses or pollens that are in your new area.)

You also need an absorbable multivitamin/mineral complex to get you the nutrition that will help with your immune system. Avoid Walmart, GNC, etc. Most of theirs are more dangerous than good. I can recommend one if you like.

Don't stress over this either! Stress is the absolutely the worst for a healthy immune system. This can be fixed. I used to think I was dying with my allergies and being sick all the time. My family doesn't get sick anymore and it is wonderful. I hope you're there soon!

God bless,

M.

Check for allergies. This part of the country in notoriously bad for them. Zyrtec works well, but takes about a week to really work. Also try the neti pot. I think it works better than cold meds.

I have a suggestion, call me, ###-###-#### . Ruth

My son and I went through the same thing from the beginning of January to the end of Feb. It sucked! And, yeah, it's just allergies (both outside and in) that are making your sinuses drain into to your throat, which then makes you cough and give you a sore throat. The coughing could also be activating your asthma or you could also be developing allergy related asthma, which will not help the situation at all because it usually results in bronchitis or pneumonia if you let it go on long enough. And also, yes, to the rabbit question. Rabbits have very similar hair to that of a cat. If you have issues with cats you will probably have issues with rabbits too. If not, rabbits are still different all in all.

I go through it every spring season. It is not nice. Both my son and I had to be on antibiotics, pulmicort and albuterol for almost 2 full months before it subsided. Good luck honey,

Take some probiotics to help you be able to digest, esp. while taking antibiotics, and 3 months after. Cut dairy for a while, you don't need the extra mucus. If it is allergies, get some grapeseed extract.

In all honesty, its probably the rabbit AND the pollen outside. I moved from Cali to Texas and this is my first Spring here...the last few days have been terrible on my allergies!!

Regarding the rabbit, you can have someone bathe him twice a month at a minimum and change his bedding once a week and see if that helps. But I would get someone else to do this besides you, I just wouldn't chance it. If you DO end up doing either of the above, see how you feel afterward then you will have your answer.

Probably all of the mentioned things. I can't touch my face or arms after touching a rabbit or cat and itch and get a rash but we do have a dog and have had dogs, mainly Poodles which are less shedding. It could be the rabbit for sure.
Then it's spring and windy and pollen from grass and trees are in March and April so could be those. Or other things blowing in the air could be the cause.
I would see an allergist just to rule it out and if that is the case they could treat you better than using antibiotics so often and inhalers. Allergy can make your throat soreish. Not a word I'm sure but not like a strep or anything but sore.

it sounds to me like what you mentioned and a combination of both allergies and the climate change. I'm no doctor but may seek out a ENT (ear nose and throat) specialist and have them do the allergy test. I hope you feel better!

Stephanie,
I am sure that a change in environment has something to do with it. However, I think that there is humidity in Mississippi as well as Missouri. And there is a possibility that you could be allergic to the rabbit. Now after that is said, I have a suggestion to give you. I, too, have been a sufferer of sore throats and so I started taking Vitamin C and then that did not completely stop it so I started taking a Garlic pill as well. And the two combined to help. I do not generally suffer with these sore throats anymore unless I contract a virus of some sort.
My best to you and God bless you.......K.

Updated

Stephanie,
I am sure that a change in environment has something to do with it. However, I think that there is humidity in Mississippi as well as Missouri. And there is a possibility that you could be allergic to the rabbit. Now after that is said, I have a suggestion to give you. I, too, have been a sufferer of sore throats and so I started taking Vitamin C and then that did not completely stop it so I started taking a Garlic pill as well. And the two combined to help. I do not generally suffer with these sore throats anymore unless I contract a virus of some sort.
My best to you and God bless you.......K.

it is very possible that you have developed allergies. it is very likely if you are allergic to the rabbit, that even though it is in another room, it will still effect you, make sure the cage is clean and try some zyrtec (pretty cheap for generic at sam's club 18 for 350) i have severe allergies and i take 2 a day. i am allergic to anything with fur and if im not allergic to it now, i will become allergic to it with in a few weeks ( cats dogs, cows, cockroaches, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters, mice, rats etc...) so watch out if you get any more pets. make sure the cage is kept very clean, something about a dirty cage concentrates what ever the allergen is and makes it harder to tolerate. good luck

Sorry I don't have advice on what to do, but I moved from IL to CO then mid MO about 5 years ago. I have never suffered allergies, but think I might be starting to here. I have heard MANY people say a lot of people who move to this part of the country develop allergies, even if they've never had them before. To top it off, there are a lot of reports that this years' allergies are a lot worse than any other year. I would probably have them check out, try an allergy medicine, but I wouldn't discount the rabbit either. Good luck to you!

Stephanie,
If you would like to know about supplements that might help, let me know.
Hope you feel better soon.
Victoria

I am VERY allergic to "fuzzy" creatures. I am 39 years old and have NEVER owned a cat or dog on my life. Some dogs dont bother me. I will have to say that rabbits make me VERY ill. You cant breathe, you feel all "stopped up". It doesnt matter that the rabbit is in her room. Its in your house. The dander off those creatures is like that of a cat.
Try and do a test. See if you can get someone to take the rabbit for a couple of weeks. Clean. Then see if you feel better. You could also take the expensive route and do allergy testing.
Another thing to think of is the bedding. I am allergic to hay like NOBODYS business. Those pellets arent much better. (alfalfa)