Someone I work allerginc to pets - reaction to "me"

Person_one

gettingready wrote: »

Asking me if I have any cat hair on me (!!!) as she is feeling unwell and so it must be me as I have cats and a dog. Or have I changed anything (clothes etc) as she was fine so far and today she was feeling so bad and did not have her inhaller with her.

To be fair GR, you probably do have cat hair on you.

The thing with allergies though, is that if you're prone to them, new ones can crop up randomly and mysteriously.

I've had it happen where I've had a very definite classic allergic response, but with absolutely no idea what the trigger was and no way of knowing what to now avoid in future! Simple stuff like a new air freshener, someone wearing too much aftershave, the cleaners using a new chemical, it can all set an allergic person off.

Its a bit !!!! really, I carry my inhaler and antihistamines everywhere I go. The drugs make me drowsy and miserable though.

SmallL

Person_one wrote: »

To be fair GR, you probably do have cat hair on you.

The thing with allergies though, is that if you're prone to them, new ones can crop up randomly and mysteriously.

I've had it happen where I've had a very definite classic allergic response, but with absolutely no idea what the trigger was and no way of knowing what to now avoid in future! Simple stuff like a new air freshener, someone wearing too much aftershave, the cleaners using a new chemical, it can all set an allergic person off.

Its a bit !!!! really, I carry my inhaler and antihistamines everywhere I go. The drugs make me drowsy and miserable though.

I can attest to the bold. I have taken 3 antihistamines per day for over 5 years now for my eczema . I still get flare-ups and I'm reaching the end of the medical road with only immune-suppressants left to try (Which im really unwilling to do due to the side-effects)

candygirl

I am mega allergic to cats and not dogs, as I have two.If anyone complained about me in the workplace I wouldn't be impressed.She needs to sort her allergies out, it's not your responsibility at all x

meritaten

I cant help wondering why this person thought working in an 'open' office would be a good thing if they were so allergic to pets they had a reaction to 'second hand pet hair'? Most people in the UK own a pet or two - most people wear clean clothes to work and maintain an acceptable standard of hygiene. perhaps the allergy is getting worse and she/he should see their GP? this seems rather extreme to me and I would be worried that with this level of allergy there would be a risk of 'Anaphylactic Shock' one day?

Person_one

Where do you think those of us with allergies should work Meri?

gettingready

Thanks again.

Oh I am sure I have a cat hair or 2 on me on permanent basis - can not see them as get dressed in clean de-haired clothes few secs before living the flat for work but still - of course....

But so do people with pets that travel on the tube, in the lift etc....

I guess that "must be you" got to me a bit at the time...

Still, really feel for her - whatever she reacted to today.

First time in ages she was wearing make up and I said nothing about that but I remember I got a very nasty reaction to new makup once and ended up in a hospital with my body covered in red blotches and mu lips swollen and the swelling moving onto my tongue.

It was scary like hell and it took quite a while to sort out with my daughter there thinking I was dying...brrr, terrible memory.

So really feel for the girl...

zaksmum

I have a neighbour who says she's allergic to my dogs but she insists on coming to my house all the time.

She even asks me to put the dogs outside while she visits!

Needless to say, I don't.

GR, your colleague will come into contact with pet owners every time she ventures outdoors. Bit unfair of her to blame you!

meritaten

Person_one wrote: »

Where do you think those of us with allergies should work Meri?

if you KNOW you have a severe allergy - then an open office is NOT an ideal environment. but, I am more worried this persons allergy is getting worse due to the work environment. which is why I would suggest OP has a quiet chat about the person seeing their GP. perhaps an antihistamine before work would help?
I wasn't being nasty - but most people with severe allergies would do a risk assessment before working in an environment where they could come across their 'triggers'.

SmallL

meritaten wrote: »

if you KNOW you have a severe allergy - then an open office is NOT an ideal environment. but, I am more worried this persons allergy is getting worse due to the work environment. which is why I would suggest OP has a quiet chat about the person seeing their GP. perhaps an antihistamine before work would help?
I wasn't being nasty - but most people with severe allergies would do a risk assessment before working in an environment where they could come across their 'triggers'.

Some people can't avoid triggers, my 'allergies' are derived from a generic auto-immune condition (Eczema).
I 'know' certain triggers and even in my own home, taking 3 antihistamines daily I have flare-ups due to unknown triggers.

Though I would never blame my collegues, if someone was clearly causing me discomfort I would simply remove myself from their immediate area.

meritaten

its also rather difficult to resolve this - HR cannot insist people get rid of their pets can they? you can sit on the bus to work next to people who have lots of pets, you can encounter cats and dogs on the street. IMHO this is up to the person with the allergy to sort out. perhaps by asking the GP to refer them to a specialist?