I've had cats all throughout my life without any allergy symptoms, and never experienced any symptoms while visiting other people who have cats. My eleven year old cat Cookie passed away last March, we were very close and I was devastated for a very long time. I was finally emotionally ready to get a new cat, so I purchased a four moth old Persian kitten on March 12th.
The night after I brought him home I noticed I was severely short of breath, I've never been diagnosed with or experienced asthma before, but that night I felt like I could only inhale 60% of my lung capacity and lying down made it worse. I had an old inhaler from 2012 (I thought I had pneumonia and went to the ER, they said I had an inflamed chest muscle and gave me a Salbutamol inhaler) it hadn't expired but it had no effect on me whatsoever. My breathing felt strained for 3-4 days afterwards, but I haven't had an asthma attack since.
I ended up getting swollen glands along my jaw line and my face had a very puffy appearance, I went to the walk-in clinic and the doctor said I had a viral cold combined with nasal allergies, prescribed me a nasal spray and told me to take Allegra D. I started taking Allegra D daily and using the nasal spray twice a day (as prescribed), I noticed no effect on my nasal inflammation so I started using Otrivin nasal spray as well. Otrivin provided immediate temporary relief, so I reached for it whenever I felt desperate. I then found out that you can't use it more than three days in a row as it can cause adverse nasal inflammation, so I stopped using it praying that it was the sole cause, but my nose is still stuffed to the point where I can barely breathe through it and my sense of smell is completely gone.
I went to my family doctor who said that it's pretty obvious I have cat allergies, even though I've never experienced cat allergies in my life until this point and told me I wouldn't have to get rid of my kitten, but to keep him out of my bedroom which I had been doing since I saw the walk-in clinic doctor. After persuasion I got him to put me on a waiting list to see an allergist. I called the allergist's office to see how soon I could get in, but he's away until April 14th and the receptionists are gone until then as well, so I have no way to find out how long I'll be waiting past then.
As of right now it's been exactly three weeks since I got my kitten, and I still have chronic nasal inflammation, no sense of smell, clogged ears and a general subdued/foggy/achy feeling. Medication, keeping him out of my room, wiping him down with hypoallergenic wipes, using hypoallergenic air freshener and getting him bathed by the breeder hasn't helped. My kitten and I bonded together almost immediately and I'd be completely heartbroken to let him go, but I don't think I can continue living like this. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I should do?
The night after I brought him home I noticed I was severely short of breath, I've never been diagnosed with or experienced asthma before, but that night I felt like I could only inhale 60% of my lung capacity and lying down made it worse. I had an old inhaler from 2012 (I thought I had pneumonia and went to the ER, they said I had an inflamed chest muscle and gave me a Salbutamol inhaler) it hadn't expired but it had no effect on me whatsoever. My breathing felt strained for 3-4 days afterwards, but I haven't had an asthma attack since.
I ended up getting swollen glands along my jaw line and my face had a very puffy appearance, I went to the walk-in clinic and the doctor said I had a viral cold combined with nasal allergies, prescribed me a nasal spray and told me to take Allegra D. I started taking Allegra D daily and using the nasal spray twice a day (as prescribed), I noticed no effect on my nasal inflammation so I started using Otrivin nasal spray as well. Otrivin provided immediate temporary relief, so I reached for it whenever I felt desperate. I then found out that you can't use it more than three days in a row as it can cause adverse nasal inflammation, so I stopped using it praying that it was the sole cause, but my nose is still stuffed to the point where I can barely breathe through it and my sense of smell is completely gone.
I went to my family doctor who said that it's pretty obvious I have cat allergies, even though I've never experienced cat allergies in my life until this point and told me I wouldn't have to get rid of my kitten, but to keep him out of my bedroom which I had been doing since I saw the walk-in clinic doctor. After persuasion I got him to put me on a waiting list to see an allergist. I called the allergist's office to see how soon I could get in, but he's away until April 14th and the receptionists are gone until then as well, so I have no way to find out how long I'll be waiting past then.
As of right now it's been exactly three weeks since I got my kitten, and I still have chronic nasal inflammation, no sense of smell, clogged ears and a general subdued/foggy/achy feeling. Medication, keeping him out of my room, wiping him down with hypoallergenic wipes, using hypoallergenic air freshener and getting him bathed by the breeder hasn't helped. My kitten and I bonded together almost immediately and I'd be completely heartbroken to let him go, but I don't think I can continue living like this. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I should do?