Conference misery::feline_v1

    Uh-oh.  I, too, had a rather persistent cough after an illness last
    September.  It was a virus as well.  I went to the doctor after
    about six weeks.  The diagnosis?  ASTHMA.  I've never had asthma
    in my life before this.  The good side?  I've brought two kitties
    into my home since, and apart from about two weeks of snufflies
    and sneezes on my part, we've all adjusted quite nicely!  But I
    still hate using an inhaler....
    
    Mary-Michael

    re.0
    I am allergic to cats and I have Five of the little fur shedding
    varmints!! :-))))))
    but my reaction is sneezing and watery eyes sometimes however I
    do get the dry cough in the morining and evenings, I got rid of
    the cough pretty much from running a humidifier during the winter.
    But what I realized is that most of the morning and eveing sniffles
    and coughing was because the cats get on the bed during the day
    and sleep so that the spread has a lot of loose fur on it..
    But definitly have a check-up and find out if this is an allergy.
    If it is, and you want, contact me by mail and I can maybe give
    you a few more ideas I have worked out for living with an allergy
    and cats, that I can't think of off hand.
    
    GIAMEM::GROSSE
    

    Ouch, your note hits too close to home!
    
    Just yesterday afternoon, I *finally* saw the doctor to begin a
    thorough investigation of a cough I developed just over a year
    ago.  It is worst in the late spring/summer, and better (but NOT
    gone) in the winter.  I was distressed when it recurred this
    spring.
    
    Pollen season?  Well, it turns out that both last year and this
    year the pollen season was accompanied by 2 litters of kittens
    (in my house, anyway :-)  !  
    
    I have uncontrollable coughing fits, and mild-to-moderate
    wheezing.  Thank goodness it is not life-threatening (knock
    on wood!).
    
    Yesterday I had the first of several Pulmonary Function Tests,
    plus cultures, etc. on what little I manage to cough up.
    
    Next step will be allergy tests, more breating tests, and
    getting to the doctor quickly when I have a severe asthma
    attack so they can check it out rather than rely on my subjective
    reporting ("well, doctor, it felt like my lungs were bagpipes,
    and the air kept whistling out even when I thought I had stopped
    exhaling...!").
    
    When the doctor said those dreaded words, "You might have to
    get rid of your cats," I replied, "No way.  They are my therapy."
    So, good doctor that she is, she proceeded to explain to me how
    she would try to manage the asthma, regardless of whether it 
    turns out to be cat-allergy induced or not.  I'm now on an inhaler
    4 times a day, and if necessary in the future, I'll take it in
    pill form.  
    
    Now that one litter has gone to new homes, my symptoms are less
    severe. [probably shouldn't keep the wee ones in my bedroom, but
    how else to keep an eye on them all night?????  At least the second
    litter is getting old enough to run around, and so they won't be
    staying in the bedroom much longer no matter what!]
    
    	Penelope "Anthing_for_my_cats" Greene, aka Crazy_Cat_Lady
    
    

    
    The breeder that I got Silver from is very allergic to cats.  She
    had 14 when she found out, and she has now decreased her population
    to 7.  She finally looked at her doctor and said, "Hey, If I was
    allergic to my kids, you wouldn't tell me to get rid of them!  So
    I am NOT getting rid of my cats!"  Her doctor finally agreed.
    
    Holly, Tabby, Silver, Michaela, and Singsing
    

    Some of you may know that 1.5 years ago I became allerggic to a
    number of things all at once.  One of there was cats.  After a full
    year of shots once a week, I am less allergic to some of the things
    I was allergic to, and no longer allergic to two things - cats and
    Timothy grass.  There is hope!
    
    Marion

                A competent allergist should be able to put you on a
        series of desensitizing shots that might (everybody is different
        here!) either lessen or even get rid of your allergy(s). It is
        important to go to an ALLERGIST and not just a general
        practicioner that does some allergy work. 
                
                /s/     Bob
                
 (another who is allergic but won't live without a cat!)

    I've been allergic to cats (and 30 other things) all my life, but
    decided long ago that "quality of life" to me means HAVING CATS
    versus easier breathing.  My allergy doctor thinks I'm nuts (He
    doesn't know about Touey yet).  I had allergy shots for 7 years,
    but when I found out that they KILL CATS to get the dander to make
    the antigen, I said forget it.  Now I stick to generic Drixoral
    (much less expensive -- ask your pharmacist to order it if they
    don't normally carry it) and a Vancanese inhaler (prescription).
    
    
    Maureen
    

    Allergist Recomendations:
    
    Dr Harvey Krape, Concord Otolaryngology, Pleasant St., Concord, NH
    
    There is a relatively new method of determining the "starting" doses of
    allergy shots, based on a technique called: RAST . 
    
    The RAST specialty house is sent a generous blood sample by your
    doctor, and in return your doctor gets a chart showing the relative
    strengths of the tested allergins. 
    
    Unfortunately, I am allergic to "just about" all the things whic I like
    most (trees, cats, old houses, face powders, some foods, etc.). 
    
    Fortuantely, I've been on the "shot regimen" longer than many doctors
    think I should've been (rare case), but the bottom line is: It works
    for me. 
    
    My cat is a long hair, my house is old, and I'm an avid
    outdoorsperson. 
    
    Whoever suggested "... don't see your <generic> family doctor" ... I
    don't agree. People should discuss allergists with their personal
    physician, if a nothing else, to rule out other possible causes for
    'allergy type reactions'. 
    
    Bob
    
    There is another side effect to allergys (if they are severe enough),
    and that is one can develop polyps in the sinuses, and in turn help to
    cause a worsening of the allergy symptoms, which in turn encourages
    more polyps until a polypectomy is needed (desired).