Developing new allergies

[cnc]

So, the sinus problems spread and I spent most of yesterday puffing away on my reliever inhaler, leading me to suspect as I have done for a while, that I've developed a new allergy, but I just don't know where to start.
I'm still waiting for some results back from the ENT consultant, but in the mean time there's the vomiting and breathing problems going on. Food diary is a sensible option, but I know what I eat- there's not much variation, and given that I'm being sick pretty much every day it must be something key, but as there are so many hidden ingredients I don't know how to try and work it out.
Will be speaking to the doctor about it in the next few days, but if any of you have any bright ideas it would be much appreciated.

Thankfully there's no swelling, but I suspect the amount of anti-histamines I'm taking are masking the true symptoms of the reaction.

[Copper]

Oh Claire, you poor thing. :hug:

Wheat/gluten springs to mind as that is something that most of us eat every day.

I hope that somebody can find something out soon and that you feel better soon.

[jill]

Hi Claire, you do seem to be suffering a lot at the moment, one thing that just springs to my mind is are you sure it is something you are eating? From what I can remember you seem to have been rather ill since you moved house? I may be totally wrong here but could it be something in the local atmosphere that you are breathing in daily that is making you so bad? Maybe a plant in the garden or another thought are your gas appliances ok? Did you see any improvements when you stayed with your family. Just a thought, hope you find out soon what it is. Take Care.

[cnc]

I don't know what it is. It seems likely to be food or airborne particles, as there are sudden flares, the most serious being last night.
I've only moved down the road, so the overall atmosphere isn't much different, and I had allergy problems then as well, as for the garden, well I keep the windows and doors shut 99% of the time, and I don't flare up when I'm in the garden.
No my allergies didn't really improve when I was up there either. That's my problem, there is something or several things that are causing the underlying allergic reaction, but then there are also these flares, and with there being so many potential things it could be it's hard to work out where to start.
I think the gas appliances are OK, as others have stayed here overnight and not had any problems and carers etc... have never had a problem either.

[rebecca c]

I'm sorry you are having these extreme problems Claire.

Me being who I am I would be thinking about the ingredients of my medication if I were you, but I am not sure whether that is an attitude that helps me overall or not. I certainly seem to be able to stay better if I keep my medication to a minimum, however my situation is likely to change in the future.

I avoid alcohol, chocolate, keep low on salicylates (start by changing from peppermint toothpaste and avoiding mints), then its dairy, gluten and soya. (soya in a serevent inhaler made me very poorly).

I must say my chest has been bad this summer. I have taken more steroids than normal and I finished a course a week ago so I would expect my chest to be at its best and it is still wheezy and most of all I am more breathless than I have ever been. One possibility is that there is something in the air!!! There are many others including that my nose and stomach being a bit better at the moment means my chest is doing the (unnecessary) work fighting off all those things it considers to be baddies which of course are not anything of the sort. I dont find the asthma uk chat rooms easy to use but I wonder if there is a similar pattern nation wide. I often find when I go to the consultant the problems I am having are also being suffered by other asthmatics.

[cnc]

I've been to see the GP, and we have a vague action plan. She's put me on a short course of steroids to see if we can get down the inflammation in my nose, and elsewhere, she wasn't keen to do it as my Peak Flow is fine and my chest is clear, but there's not much else to do.
She's going to chase my RASTs up, see if there's something there in terms of food that's triggering it, and then we're going to look at more tests if there's nothing there, to see if we can work out what's triggering these flares.

Unfortunately my medication makes me function- without it I can't move (well I tell a lie I can, but it's totally uncontrolled), amongst other things, so I'm not sure it's something I can do much to change, without a worsening of my quality of life.

[rebecca c]

I know I am not as ill as you are but I have the same internal debates about what to do and what not to do so to a lesser extent I know how it feels. It always sounds to me like you take an exceptionally sensible approach to your health.

My ENT consultant suggested using steroids as an acceptable way to control my nose. They do always help my nose a lot but like you I normally only use them for my chest, it was helpful to get 'permission' from her to use them just for my nose as there are occasions when my nose is horrific but my chest is fine.

Off on hols now.

[cnc]

After a 3 day steroid trial, my GP put me on them for the full two weeks. There is some improvement, it's liveable now at least, but not ideal. They have said that they'll let me stay on them if things go downhill after the last dose, which although not a solution is at least helpful- not happy about putting yet more medication into my body, but for now there is no alternative. Am really hoping that these 2 weeks have been enough to dampen it down a bit, but not holding out hope as apparently there is still a lot of inflammation, but lot less than before which is good at least.

Am being sent back to the ENT clinic as well to see if we can get me some more detailed allergy tests as it still looks like food may be implicated somewhere as well.

Anyone got any bright ideas for ways of minimising exposure to allergens in general, I've got the basics such as laminate flooring, mattress and pillow protectors, wrap around glasses, hair rinsing and top changing after going out doors covered, but wondered if anyone had any other suggestions? :)

[Copper]

Glad to hear that things have improved even if a little.

Your body has gone into over drive!!!

I use a mattress and pillow protector but I still hoover the bed weekly. I damp dust when there is a lot of pollen around. Do you use a bedspread to cover the bed when you are not in it?

I guess that curtains hold dust etc but even I don't wash the wash curtains that often. That is such hard work.

Do smells affect you? A friend at work is very sensitive to perfumes so his girlfriend has to use Simple products. I never used perfume when I went to work as I did not want to make him ill. I can only use a limited range as some make me ill too.

I am not sure that this is very helpful.

[cnc]

Smells don't seem to be too bad.

I keep getting conflicting advice about the bed- some say that I should leave it to air but others say to cover it, so I'm not sure who is right!!

I must admit I'm not very good with the dusting, but crutches make it very difficult to do so I try my best. Thanks for the hints they're much appreciated.