We thought he was allergic to eggs this whole time and we did a skin test...
he's allergic to DOGS!!! ugh. Barley was our first baby. Connor is supposed to take his singulair once a day and then do his pulmicort as well.

The doctor HIGHLY recommended that we get rid of Barley...I don't think I'm ready for that at all!!!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 24, 2006 - 08:20 am:

I'm so sorry. Ugh. {{{HUGS}}}

By Amecmom on Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 08:11 am:

Hiedi, what a bummer! Don't get rid of the dog. There are sprays you can use on his fur and around your house that will reduce the dander and allergens. Google allergen reducer or something like that - or go to the National Asthma and Allergy Foundation website. They will have links to places you can buy the stuff.

I have a similar problem with Randy and our cat. I'm not getting rid of the cat, but I am doing things to reduce the amount of dander in the air.
Ame

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 08:14 pm:

{{{HUGS}}} Although I agree finding Barley a new home *might* be a necessity, I would want to try other precautions first. We learned my DS's asthma was triggered by a cat allergy. We had 5 cats at the time, two of them were new kittens and 3 older cats we had since before kids. We found good homes for our two kittens but were not able to find suitable homes for our 3 senior cats. While we continued to search for homes we banned the cats from DS's room and put a HEPA air cleaner in there. Once on his asthma action plan and limiting his exposure to the cats, he did fine, so we decided to keep them. Currently (4 yrs. later) he's still doing well.

Different people's allergies have different sensitivity levels. I know of several people who can't be near cats or dogs AT ALL, while others can tolerate them with precautions. See what category Connor falls into before giving up your beloved Barley. More {{{HUGS}}}

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 09:07 pm:

Thanks you guys!
I put the gate up so Barley wouldn't go upstairs and in our rooms anymore. She's p!ssed at me for that. LOL

Where do I get a HEPA air cleaner?

I felt like the doctor didn't give us any more options other than to get rid of the dog. *sniff*
I'll have to search for more options.
Connor seems to be doing ok with the Singulair and not coughing so much, so we'll see.

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 10:17 am:

Our air cleaner is very similar to this, but doesn't have a permanent HEPA filter. (We have to change the filter annually.)

http://www.allergybegone.com/honeywell-17000n-air-purifier.html

Our allergist said name brand doesn't matter. The important factor is that it needs to be a HEPA air cleaner. He also frowned upon having any cats in the house at all, but since DS was doing so well we couldn't part with our fur babies. Of course, if DS's health was still effected by their presence we would have had to give them up.

Both my kids have asthma. DS's triggers are cats and viruses. DD: tree pollen, dogs and viruses. DD was on Singulair for a few weeks but it did no good for her. Both kids take Claritin and Pulmicort daily and use albuterol inhalers when needed, which thankfully, isn't often.