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

gettingready

What she said is that she does not have her inhaler with her. So that is her problem really not mine - it is not like I go to work covered in cat/dog hair as I do not. Yes, there may be a stray hair on me but so it can be on a person on the tube or in the lift (we have 9 floors and may have like 300 people on each floor if not more, 6 lifts, massive building).

What got me was the finger pointing kind of thing - still, I do not think she meant it in any nasty way rather like a statement of facts. Facts which may not necessarily be true but she convinced herself they are. And THAT bugs me.

Only when I turn round to the new guy and asked if he had any pets - she done a double take really.

Till then it was "must be you as you have pets and I am allerginc, are you wearing something with cat/dog hair? something different today? as so far I was ok"

HMmmmm

Person_one

Yes, its her problem, just like its my problem and its SmallL's problem. However, if she'd always been fine with GR and then suddeny there's a change, its not massively unreasonable to have a conversation about it, is it?

That's what people do when problems crop up, they talk, they compromise, they figure out how to sort them so that hopefully nobody has to suffer.

gettingready

But that is the point that she has always been fine with me so I shall hope I am not the reason for her suddenly feeling so unwell today.

Again, I really like the girl and wish her absolutely no harm - asked here thinking of ideas if there is anything I can do.. it it is me causing her reaction.. all of a sudden.

But the more I think about it, the more I feel there must have been something else..

Thanks for all replies, will see how she is tomorrow.

Rev

My cousin is deathly allergic to cats. She still comes to visit etc but always takes antihistamines. But if we're off out for the day she will still take one because she can react to me. I suppose it depends how much time I've spent with the cats before I meet her. If I've carried one of them or they've sat with me etc.

thorsoak

gettingready wrote: »

Thanks - I have to say I was a bit shocked with her coming up with this directly at me TBH.

Not in any nasty way but still.

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.

Felt a bit crap myself for a while but then asked the new guy if he has a cat to which he replied yes he has two.

Hmmmm

I guess she will have to sit somewhere else. We are all contractors and do not have permanent desks just sit with laptops wherever there is a free desk on the day so I guess she will have no problem avoiding me if she feels she needs to...

To be honest, if she is so badly affected by pets that she feels able to challenge you about your pets, she should ensure that she ALWAYS carries her inhaler. As others have said, it is her problem - not yours. You are being as meticulous as possible to ensure that you do not transport cat/dog hair into the workplace - it is her responsibility to ensure that she carries any necessary medication with her.

Molly41

Actually it is HER problem - she left her inhaler behind well what a silly thing to do! My husband also has very severe allergies to pet fur but he is on a raft of medication and is never - no never - without inhalers etc. he has them at work, in the car, in his work bag, his pocket and at strategic places all over the house. We have two dogs and have had guinea pigs etc and although he is affected by them he takes his meds and copes just fine. We would not be without our animals and he has adjusted and he is definitely less allergic to our dogs as time has gone on. I would reply light-heartedly that she was a bit silly to leave her inhalers behind and privately I think she is being a princess regarding this. Dont make it your problem - it is definitely hers - some people:(

Person_one

Why did you get dogs your husband is allergic to? Did you not know there are many many breeds that don't shed and are far less likely to cause a reaction?

I've had dogs all my life despite being allergic, but ones that don't shed! I couldn't stand to live my life either permanently ill or permanently on unnecessary medication. Antihistamines are miserable things.

Fosterdog

Person_one wrote: »

Why did you get dogs your husband is allergic to? Did you not know there are many many breeds that don't shed and are far less likely to cause a reaction?

I've had dogs all my life despite being allergic, but ones that don't shed! I couldn't stand to live my life either permanently ill or permanently on unnecessary medication. Antihistamines are miserable things.

I have a friend who is severely allergic to all animals, but she also loves dogs, she has some preferred breeds as does her husband. She has in the past had a GSD cross, a lab, a JRT and currently has a boxer. These are the dogs that she has chosen for her own reasons.

She reacts badly to any new animal in her life but starts off with a high dose of antihistamines and using her inhaler regularly, this is gradually reduced as she builds up immunity to that particular animal.

Her current dog is almost 3 years old and she no longer has to take any medication around him unless she also has a cold which makes her immune system weaker. It has been the same with all of her previous dogs.

She has also built up immunity to one of her relatives cats as she spends time with them most days but any new pet introduced would start the whole cycle over again.

She is prepared to put herself through the initial discomfort and additional medication for the sake of the pets she loves so much, maybe one day she will want a dog that causes less reaction but I doubt it she has always loved the breeds she has chosen.

gettingready

Well, got in today and the girl has moved several desks away.... so I guess problem sorted,

Why I feel bad though?

thorsoak

gettingready wrote: »

Well, got in today and the girl has moved several desks away.... so I guess problem sorted,

Why I feel bad though?

You shouldn't feel bad - you do all that you can to ensure that you care pet hair free when you are at work - the girl should leave an inhaler at work if she is affected so badly.

What else could you do? Get rid of your pets????