I have a feeling I'm becoming allergic to my cat. I've had cats all my life. But lately when I come home at night my nose stuffs up, my eyes sting (sometimes). Does this happen? Maybe I should have some IgE allergy testing done.

YES. You can develop an allergy at any point in your life. Sadly, this one I am familiar with. Same can happen with medication. You can take a medication for years without incident, and suddenly one day.... boom. Reaction.

We had a lovely long hair orange tabby... just beautiful in appearance and temperment.

After THREE years, I started to become very ill. I never even noticed the stuffy nose and itchy eyes part because I had lived my entire life with hayfever type symptoms.

But, I started having horrible coughing fits upon arriving home from work. I was waking to a terrible internal feeling trembling that is hard to explain, I itched head to toe, felt flaming hot, and the coughing spells had me sleeping sitting up~ coughing up mucous and vomiting nightly. This went on for months. I was a zombie. I was sick all the time with every cold and flu that went through the office. I'd get to work, and feel better...so, I kept putting off making appointments, until I really could not go on one day longer.

Diagnosis: Asthma, due to cat allergy.

We had to find a new home for our cat . By this point, we had two, and I did always wonder if adding the second cat tipped the scale for me. I loved my Toni cat, and it was heart breaking, but I was SO SICK by this point, I couldn't even consider keeping her. It took a year or so to bring the asthma under control (well under control, meaning not needing daily medication). For a long time I couldn't be in a home with cats for more then ten minutes without the asthma flaring. Now, I rarely get a hint of it, but I try to refrain from overindulgence.

A trip to the allergist wouldn't hurt. Early intervention might make the difference...maybe allergy shots would help? Maybe limiting exposure by making certain areas off limits to the cat, especially your sleeping quarters.

I do believe the 'load' theory, and the doctor told me the fact I was getting sick all the time was a result of the underlying allergy, and my immune system just being overworked. It all just sort of spirals.

I don't really even suffer spring and fall allergies anymore...no sinus infections for over three years now. I have to believe my load is less with the gluten out!

Cara

Yep, you can develop an allergy at any point in time.

You might try limiting the cat's indoor territory (If thats possible? With dogs, they say limit them to one or two rooms in the house, preferably a non-carpet area) and thoroughly vacuum and wash other areas. Claritin, or another antihistamine, would help calm your system down so you don't notice the reaction as strongly, if at all.

My dh has a friend who discovered a bunny allergy in his adult life, though he'd had one as a kid. And his allergy is severe...hives, wheezing, the whole bit, on contact...even if the rabbits long gone.

I think, if I've got this, I'll try the allergy shots. I can't imagine living life without cats.

My buddy likes to put me to bed at night. He tries to interfere with my book reading. And he snuggles up close to me, his head just under my chin. But I put him on his own bed in another room at night. I'm a very light sleeper and he gets antsy in the night.

Meanwhile... I'll try flonase and I think there might be some allergy wipes I can wipe him down with. I'll look into that.

Allergy shots can be controversial (at least they were when my son got them...15 years ago), but they really did work for my son to control his allergies to grass, weeds, molds, and trees~ and asthma.

We also had a neighbor who got them so she could live with her cats, and they worked for her, too.

Cara

My Mom started getting the shots last year (cats) and swears that she's better now.

I bet insurance won't cover this... :\

We're in Canada. As long as you've got proof on paper that you need treatment, you can get treatment... It might take a while, but you'll get it eventually.

Allergy shots are now considered a part of the standard medical treatement of allergies, and are covered by many insurances. You still have to pay the co-pay though.

I took them not quite 20 years ago and they were covered by my parents insurance, so they aren't too terribly new or questionable. Though I personally wonder if thats what switched my reactions from environmental grass to ingested grass. :P

This website explains the different antibodies and how allergy shots work:

http://www.frot.co.nz/dietnet/basics/gluten.htm#types

Claire