Asthma woes

[Buggie_00]

I have a 6 year old who has had asthma since he was 2 weeks old. He doesn't USUALLY have a problem with the guinea pigs because we take a lot of precautions. Any time he plays with them (supervised of course) he has to keep them away from his face, and then change his shirt and wash his hands immediately after he's done petting them. He doesn't really mess with them all that much, they're "his" pets in name only. He helps to give them veggies every evening and makes sure they have water and pets them, but I do the cleaning and other maintenance.

I'm getting to the point I promise.

So far we've avoided any piggie induced asthma attacks. We had one incident where he got really wheezy and we made him stop then and there and broke out the nebulizer which helped a great deal. We returned from a long weekend in Florida later yesterday evening and the second we walked in the door he started having problems. It was almost instantaneous. He started saying his neck was really itchy, which is usually an indication that his allergies are starting to give him trouble. Then out of no where an attack hit. We tried the emergency inhaler and nebulizer but ended up in the emergency room with him since nothing worked. The ER doctor said it was more than likely brought on by the guinea pigs and to take him to see an allergist. We have an appointment for that next week.

The thing I have trouble with is that we had someone over here every day while we were gone, the fans were on and the windows were opened for a few hours everyday while she was here. It's not like the whole apartment was closed up and there was no circulation and the allergens built up.

If anyone has any suggestions on what I can do to avoid having to re-home my girls I would greatly appreciate it. I'm so distressed over it all. In the end if it comes down to his health or my girls I know I have to chose him. I just feel terrible about even thinking that I might have to do that.

Just for info, I live in a 2 bedroom apartment, we have several large windows that we open to let fresh air in and fans that help with circulation too. I change the AC filter monthly as suggested and we vacuum after the kids are in bed so that any dander that gets stirred up has time to settle before they're up in the morning. He's home all day now because of summer and hadn't had any problems until he was out of the house for a few days and then returned. I'm worried with school starting in a few weeks and him being gone most of the day when he gets home from school he'll have a problem.

Any advice would be immensely appreciated!

[CavySpirit]

First thing is CALL your allergist. If you want to get him tested for guinea pig allergens, I've heard they have to special order that serum.

Second, MAYBE it's the hay. I would also make sure they can test for different types of hay.

Or, MAYBE it's the bedding. Alert your allergist ahead of time to the various things you are using and see if the tests can cover all the possibilities.

[Buggie_00]

When I called to make the appointment I asked specifically about guinea pigs and cats, since we have both. I'll make sure to call tomorrow and ask about the hay. I know they did have to get special stuff for the gp test but since that's what the ER doctor said might have triggered the attack I had already specified that. We've had our cats for over a year and they've never caused any trouble but I'm having him checked for allergies to them also just to make sure.

They're going to do a huge "home allergen" panel on him. Guinea Pigs, Cat, Dog, Mouse (even though we don't have any you never know if we have uninvited guests hiding in the walls or on the back porch) Dust, and then a few pollen types and Grasses. I know the allergist we're seeing is really good with children as well as adults since I've seen him myself.
We use carefresh at the moment and I thought that it was hypoallergenic, but I'll check again and make sure to mention it.

Thanks

[CavySpirit]

I think it's only the white Carefresh that claims that, and even then, who really knows.

Good luck with the tests. Let us know how it goes.

I'm actually suffering with serious adult onset allergies and asthma. I haven't made my testing appointments yet. I also have to get a chest x-ray. This sucks. But, in my circumstances, I'll figure out how to deal with it.

[manhattan kat]

Deep vaccume your carpets and your furniture. And then use the febreeze alergen reducer. I thought the claim was just to sell the product, but my two best friends are very allergic to my cats. And I spray that stuff on my bed and sofa. Wait for it to dry, vaccume, then respray. And they have no reaction when they're here. If I dont do it, there isnt cat hair everywhere or anything, but just the dander (skin flakes) just make them so sick. And by just cleaning things my friends feel so much better when they come over.

[lynn's Cavies]

I have allergies and asthma and the Carefresh actually did bother me a lot as I find it quite dusty. I have dust mite, housedust, feathers, most animals, etc. allergies. Have you ever tried Fleece as bedding for the pigs?

You could put some towels under to soak up the urine and the fleece usually keeps the wetness away. You would have to change it more frequently than the Carefresh, but I would try that as well.

I ended up having to house my guinea pigs in a shed/workshop detached from our home. I just cannot have them inside but I realize that this is not an option for everyone. If you can house them inside that is best for them, but your son also has to be healthy.

I hope that you can find a solution to this and keep your guinea pigs. Keep us updated.

[salana]

Do you have a HEPA air filter?

[fourbwabbys]

Carefresh is one of the dustiest brands. Spazzie is allergic to it since it's so dusty. Try switching over to Yesterday's News or Cell-Sorb, they are basically the same thing, but much less dust.

[Buggie_00]

I haven't switched over to fleece because it's already a chore to clean out the cage as it is. My belly is getting larger by the second and I don't think I could manage to bend over and vacuum it out several times a day at this point. I will, however try the other types of bedding suggested that are less dusty and see if that might help some.
We already use the febreeze allergen reducer and that does help a lot. His appointment is on Monday morning and they said it could take up to a week to get the final bloodwork results. They're doing two types of tests, one where they put all the stuff on the skin of your arm to see if you have a reaction and then a blood pannel as well.
Keep your fingers crossed for us, and the girls.
And yes we use the HEPA filters, they cost a bit more but it's worth it.

[salana]

Were the filters switched on while you guys were on vacation?

[Buggie_00]

Well we spent another night in the emergency room with Brett having an asthma attack again.
To my knowledge everything was left on when we left as far as the air filters go. It's been really hot here and I wanted to make sure that there was enough circulation of air in the house while we were out.

I'm really torn on what to do, again the ER doc told us to get rid of any pets in the house to cut down on his asthma issues. I'm just upset about him being forced to the ER again and us having to face losing our pets.
After talking to my Aunt in Florida she said she could take our two cats if we end up having to re-home them. I told her thank you for the offer and that we hadn't come to a decision yet on anything. We're holding out for the allergists opinion on it all and his take on what we should do.

I deep cleaned all the carpets the other night, and have changed all the filters and washed everything I can think of to wash that might pose as a trigger to his attacks. He's never had two that close together before so he's panicked about everything. And school starts in two weeks.

I have to put a movie on for the kids and will do some more research on animal allergies and asthma triggers after I do that. If I find anything useful I'll pass it along.

Thanks for all the advice.

[NMPiggyMom]

As a fellow asthma sufferer, stress or "panic" is a huge trigger. If your son is panicked about things, you can expect more frequent episodes. I sound like doom and gloom..sorry about that.. and probably not telling you anything you don't already know. That panicky (sp?) feeling is one of the hardest things to control...especially during an attack. It is also one of the most important things to try to control. It's a big Catch 22. I use air purifiers in the house and still have small reactions each time I clean the piggies' cage. I don't know whether it is the Carefresh, the hay or the pigs themselves. I know I'm mildly allergic to the piggies because I itch sometimes after I hold them. Thank heavens my reactions are mild and can be tollerated because I don't know how I would make the decision you are being faced with. I wish you the best luck and positive results from your son's testing on Monday. Maybe the doctor can figure out a way to medicate for the allergies so they won't trigger the asthma any more. My fingers (and toes) are crossed for you.

[Buggie_00]

Thanks NMPiggieMom. The only thing that gets him to calm some is if I take his face in my hands like I'm about to lecture him and tell him to copy my breathing. Then I breathe like I'm sucking on a straw, it gets him to focus on me and the breathing and not panic so much. But it is hard to control panic in a 6 year old.

I've made myself sick over this all several times. I've learned so much about piggies and their care, I truely adore my pigs. But in the same respect my son's health has got to come first. It's just awful.

Keep those fingers and toes crossed for us, I would cross my toes too if I could find them. I seem to have misplaced them about a month ago, if you see them let me know.

[Buggie_00]

We managed an asthma attack or symptom free night. Keep your fingers crossed.

[NMPiggyMom]

Good Luck!! Your appointment is on Monday, right? I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.

[Buggie_00]

Yes Monday morning at 9am.

[PiggieMom]

I'll be thinking of your guys. Good luck with your appointment.

[Buggie_00]

Sorry I didn't post this earlier in the day. In case anyone missed the other thread, my in laws called Saturday evening at about 945PM and told us they'd be here in a few hours. It was quite a shock and since they left this morning this is the first chance I've had to get on here really for more than just a few seconds.

We had our appointment this morning, it went smoothly although Brett was nervous about getting blood taken and the skin test. The allergist was really very nice with him and understood when Brett was trying to talk him out of doing it.
The skin test shows that Brett is HIGHLY allergic to the guinea pigs, and a few types of hay, so much so that he doesn't understand why it wasn't a bigger issue with his asthma before now. He said his professional opinion was to either find new homes for the pigs, or to put them in a room with a separate ventilation system and never let Brett go in there. It sounded kind of harsh but I know he knows what he's talking about. He's also very allergic to dogs, mice, pollen, and dust mites. He had a minimal reaction to grass and cats but there was still a response to them meaning he is allergic to them if only slight.

The allergist said the reason he might be showing a low allergic reaction to the cats is because we've had them for a year and he's built a tolerance, there is a slim chance the same could happen with the pigs, but he doubted it since with the pigs he's had problems and he never once had a problem with the cats, even in the beginning.

I'm so upset, and still not sure what I should do. I trust the doctor's findings but if there is a tiny chance that Brett could adjust, shouldn't I also consider that? There is no way we can put them in their own room and have Brett away from them, nor the separate ventilation. We're in a two bedroom apartment and even when we move, short of putting them outside (which I will not do) we'll still be all under the same ventilation and in a three bedroom apartment.

Any suggestions on other things we might be able to do would be HUGELY appreciated, until I can come to a decision I just have to make sure Brett doesn't really go near them or the hay and pray a lot.

Thank you to everyone who crossed their fingers and toes.

[NMPiggyMom]

Did the doctor give any kind of option for medication for your son to alleviate the allergic reactions? I don't think you mentioned that. The fact that he is highly allergic to pollen and dust mites indicate he will probably have to be on some kind of medication for them since they cannot be controlled, so could a medication be formulated to also include blocking the piggie reaction? My niece had a special syrum developed for her allergies to cats and certain tree pollens. It pretty much got her through her childhood and teenage years until she "grew out of" the severity of her allergies. In my case, if I control my allergies, my asthma stays under control. I understand the difficult decisions you are facing. The fact that your son has recently been having asthma attacks after handling the piggies might hold out some hope that there are other factors combining (like stress) to cause them...not just the fault of the piggies. I hope there can be a solution for you, your son and your piggies that can keep you all together. Keep us posted on how things turn out. My heart goes out to you.

[Buggie_00]

I did ask about medications and he said he wasn't sure how effective they would be for the guinea pig allergy. He more than likely will have to be on something for the allergies though. We're just waiting on the final blood work now which should be in sometime next week since it was a test that had to be sent out to be resulted.

The outlook, according to the allergist, for my piggies isn't good though. If we cannot keep him away from them, and them from him, then we'll more than likely have to re home them. Which is really a terrible prospect. But I'd rather have them safe and Brett safe, and know that they can have lots of floor time and people who can play with them, than to keep them cooped up in a cage all the time here. Already their floor time has to be at night once Brett's in bed and I have to vacuum as soon as they go back into their cage to help alleviate any hair or dander that was left behind. Since I'm 7 months pregnant that's getting harder to do as well.

My in laws will be back on Friday and on Wednesday (the 23rd) school starts, hopefully we will have the blood work results by Thursday or Friday and I'll go back in for another consultation with him and see what our treatment options are.