Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: dulciana on February 06, 2014, 11:15:43 AM
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For a while now, I've been getting a lot of nasal congestion, wheezing and coughing if I'm at all stressed, physically or mentally, and usually between the evening and early morning.
We're about to get a new bed, in the hopes that might help a bit (we got our current one 30 years ago as a wedding present). I'm after one with plenty of room underneath to let the air circulate, unlike the one we've got which has a box-y base and to my mind, clogs the (not very big) room up.
I'm going to the dr. about it early next week - wondering if it could be asthma starting.
Any of you ladies going through the same thing?
I used to get hay fever in the summer but that seems to have settled down in recent years. I don't know if there's a connection. I did a lot of housework yesterday and it seems to have followed that. (Yes, I know - allergic to housework!)
After a bad night of it, I'm usually worn out the next day, which affects my work, stresses me out and the circle begins again.
???
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I've had allergic rhinitis since the mid-1970s. Skin testing didn't show anything particular but once we didn't have cats some of the symptoms cleared up. It is the poo of dust mite :o which causes a lot of problems. Changing pillows and hoovering the mattress can help, I know that when DH hoovers the whole of our bedroom: units, surfaces, under and over the bed: I don't snuffle as much. So if you buy a bed on legs you will at least be able to get under and behind it!
I also note that on the plus side, I rarely go down with what ever is doing the rounds so put up with the snuffles. I use anti-histamines tablets at night if my tongue/mouth/palate itch - do you wake wiht your tongue scratching the roof of your mouth? - as well as Beconase nasal spray as required.
We can develop allergic symptoms at any time of LIfe and some ladies do find that during The Change they are more aware of these issues.
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Food for thought, CLKD. Thanks!
Dulciana
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<wave> my rhinitis is annoying the back of my nose and my tongue is working away hard ::)
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It sounds like a dust mite allergy. You might want to think about using allergy covers on the mattress, duvet and pillows. You also need to wash all bedding at 60C and dry outside in the sun ( what sun?) if possible to kill the dust mites, but it's their poo that causes the symptoms.
There is loads on the web about controlling dust mites in the home- ( damp dusting, using hoovers that have a dust mite filter etc) Not being funny- but your mattress is very old- they say the 'lifespan' of a mattress is 10 years and they ought to be changed every 10 years or so for posture reasons ( sleep quality) but the longer you have a mattress the more dust mites will be in it unless you use a wrap around bag-type allergy cover.
You'd be better off with a bed that has a wooden base on legs so you can hoover under the bed easily. It's worth taking this seriously because dust mites are a cause of asthma in some people.
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Luckily, Sarah2, we're getting exactly that delivered in couple of weeks! I'll be the first to admit my non-domestic-goddess-ness hasn't helped. My mind is more on music than mattresses! :-[
Been to the GP today, too, who thinks I've got a chest infection and has given me antibiotics. But he wants to see me again in three weeks, just in case it's not and turns out to be something like asthma after all.
:tulips2:
D.
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I just posted a reply and it disappeared >:(
:o A GP should know the difference between a chest infection and asthma :-\ …….. an infected chest rattles! again, ABs being given out at the drop of a pen :sigh:
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I'll have to wait and see, CLKD. :-\ At least I've been given an inhaler to use at nights until then. The thing is, I had bronchitis last winter and wasn't given antibiotics. Ho hum.........
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Asthma is more if a wheeze. However, I'm a cougher with mine. Hubby wheezes. I can cough myself senseless sometimes. Certain smells, cold windy weather too.
I was given the lecture on dust mites recently, but as asthma nurse said it's impossible to irradicate completely. Short of getting rid of carpets, curtains etc. I have allergy pillows, anti-allergy mattress covers. I do what I can, but freezer not big enough for pillows & duvet.
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cuba- have you replaced your pillows and then put the anti-allergy covers on straight away? You won't need to freeze them or the duvet if you start from scratch and use anti-allergy covers.
If you ever replace your vacuum get one with a HEPA filter which really does help remove the smallest particles and you can use it on the curtains etc too.
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Yes, thanks done all that. Got expensive Dyson too with filters. Asthma nurse was just giving me the speil.
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Trouble with dyson vacs..... You have to empty them. Either get someone to do it for you or empty into a bag. I've got a sebo vac now.
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Never got on with a Dyson ::) ……...
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I had forgotten how awful symptoms are whilst I was away. The 1st night home within hours of getting into bed symptoms returned. :-\ …….. must have a Very Good Hoover round the bed and maybe get a new carpet or flooring ………. my throat is sore, my gums are sore, my nose itches >:(
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Did you not say at one point CLKD that you have sheets and blankets rather than a duvet.
Sorry if it's not you.
Perhaps if you got an anti allergy duvet that might help
Blankets are difficult to launder especially in the winter to keep the dust mites at bay.
Honeyb
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I have my appointment with a Consultant Immunologist on October 22nd will interesting to see what happens.
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We certainly ditched the duvet many years ago. 6 months ago I bought anti-allergy pillows which helped immediately. I have them in the camper too. So it is probably something in the carpet ......... must dust more ::)
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More likely to be you blankets if you hoover on a regular basis.
How often do you wash the blankets....Oh cheeky question ::)
Blankets gather dust I think unlike a duvet. It could be the cause of your problems. Anti allergy pillows are great but if your blankets have dust mites in them then it's going to aggravate your allergies.
Honeyb
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Had another allergic reaction out of the blue, I was feeling a little peckish in bed about eleven and though I would have a couple of bread sticks (not had any for a while) a little while later the cramps started then the familiar lip tingling, throat feeling like closing and then the wheezing, so took some milk of magnesia for cramps and liquid piriton, took a long time to get to sleep as I was getting stressed with it and trying to sleep propped up, this morning have a tight chest and slight wheezing.
Had a look a packet of bread sticks this morning and it said might have traces of nuts, I have response to hazel nuts but not other ones so I don't know.
Maybe a combination of things from yesterday, spoke to neighbour who has a cat, OH cleaned out the car and then vacuumed the stairs (dust, I forgot to use my Beconase) and OH was told yesterday morning that he might have common skin cancer on his upper arm (stress)
CLKD have you had any allergies tests it might be that like me you are allergic or sensitive to a few things.
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Also consider a dairy/ lactose intolerance/ allergy. My daughter had breathing difficulties, runny nose etc. When she found out, her health improved considerably and she only needs Ventolin rarely.
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During the summer I regularly put my anti allergy duvet outside to air. There are also duvet slips that you can get to put the duvet in. My hubby suffers from sneezing and sinus troubles. I have slips that I put our pillows in and I wash them regularly.
I also hoover the bed every other week.
It seems to help.
Blankets would be a big no from us, just dust collectors I think.
Honeyb
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No blankets on our bed. 2 in the camper. Covers inside covers over pillows etc.. It's something in the house. Located to the bedroom. OK whilst away last week. We hung the sleeping bags on the line for hours in hot sunshine on Wednesday. They smell lovely and fresh now.
I had testing for allergies many years ago, nothing showed up but I do know that cat/dog fur affects me. We did think it might be my husband and no way would I ditch him ;D ..........
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If you don't have blankets what do you have.
Too cold up here for just sheets 8)
Honeyb
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A bottom cotton sheet. On top of that a thick cotton sheet which gets washed every 2 weeks. On top of that a coloured either thick cotton or linen sheet depending on time of year. Then us ;) covered by another cotton/linen sheet - then the leecy blanket ;) on top of whcih is a pretty eiderdown ...........