I think Mr P has a dust allergy... help!

belfastgirl23

I had always heard that wooden floors are significantly better for people with dust allergies since they don't hold the dust and you can sweep or vacuum it up? Or is your 'new' house really an old house and therefore has a lot more dust in it?

Is it worth seeing is there anything else you changed when you moved house? EG you often buy a new duvet or a new bed or sofa or whatever? Could it be something in that causing the trouble?

The other thing I just wanted to ask about was heating. Did it change? I know when we started using the gas fire I really felt it in my chest and lungs...

Or is it something from the park perhaps? You could take him there for the day and count the sneezes

Good luck in trying to figure it out

floyd

Is it possible that whoever lived in the house before you had dogs or cats? Even with wooden floors there could still be pet dander lurking which could kick off this sort of attack.
I am allergic to dust (confirmed test) but I can cope with it but give me a room that has had a dog in it and I am wheezing, coughing and teary-eyed within minutes

Savvy_Sue

If it's seasonal, it could 'just' be hayfever triggering asthma, don't think just summer because different kinds of trees can trigger it pretty much all through the year.

trace_567

I discovered last year that I'm allergic to dust mites (well its not actually the mite people are allergic to but what comes out the other end of them). I have bad nasal allergies, also allergic to grass pollen and cats. I knew I was allergic to cats, but that had been the only certainty until I had the allergy test done. I couldn't get the GP to get it done on the NHS, so I forked out to do it privately. Although this can be pretty expensive I found it the best way to start tackling the problem. Otherwise your really just guessing and if you get it wrong the measures likely won't help.
Is there any real amount of mould in your house, as this can be a trigger for some too.

I'm in the process of trying to alter my flat to make it less dust mite friendly. Just got a whole new bed and bedding with fully encasing protectors. Sadly can't say its made a big difference. Next stop is leather sofa's, sadly I can't afford to replace the carpet will hard flooring.

http://www.allergyuk.org/ is a good website full of helpful advice and has a section for products they endorse.

Edinburghlass_2

If you can borrow an ioniser or air purifier do so first before buying one as I tried one for sinus problems and found I was worse.

trace_567

Oh I've just bought a steam cleaner, haven't got round to trying it out yet, but apparently they get rid of allergens such as cat and dust mite from floors etc. Should it be something like a cat allergy from the previous occupier that should in theory help get rid of allergen left on the flooring etc. I chose an endorsed one from allergy UK.

Little_Pickle

oh thanks guys for all of your suggestions.

Mr P has a dry cough and he gets really wheezy.
No runny nose, no itchy eyes etc.
just his breathing.

I think he's allergic to me! ha ha!

well, he's been wet dusting all day (using a face mask thingy) whilst I've been here at work and he has hoovered and mopped the floors etc.

Floors - old flat above a shop on the high road - so lots of dust inbetween floor boards... but can't get to it as it's the old style flooring... you know, if you loose something down the gap, it's gone forever.

Mattress - we've biten the bullet and bought a new matress today on-line (we meant to do this last year so we know which one we wanted).

He's okay with animals.

we've been emailing today and he told me that he was told he was allergic to dustmites etc years ago, but he never had any problems before.
So looks like it is the dust.

wooden floors are supposed to be better, but it means that everything is covered in dust within hours of cleaning... no joke. so frustrating!

thanks again to everyone!
LP
xox

Pink_Glitter

Allergy tests are available from selected Superdrug pharmacies for around £40. It is carried out by the pharmacist, they just take a small pin-!!!!! of blood from your thumb/finger, takes 20 mins and you are tested for 8(?) allergens including dust mite, mould, pets, different types of pollens. Doctors generally don't help as they don't get any points from the government for allergy so you won't get a free test there.

Another tip not mentioned is to wash your bedding at 60 degrees as anything lower won't kill off the dust mites.

mr_rush

He sounds like an asthmatic with certain triggers e.g. dust/ pollen etc...

I don't think you can confirm a dust allergy without doing an allergy test... and good luck trying to get one of those!

Allergy tests aren't really done for dust allergies as such. Given the number of people with hayfever/asthma/eczema, allergy testing has to be rationed depending on clinical need.

mr_rush

Check out Allergy UK and the British Thoracic Society for advice about asthma and allergies.