WS's Pain in the Nose

WS finally got his allergy testing done. He has allergies to dust mites, mold and pine pollen. To a lighter degree he is allergic to dogs.

Nope, none of that stuff around here or anywhere else he has ever lived [/sarcasm]. Anyway, there is a whole bunch of stuff that we have to do to reduce the allergens in the house:

• Get dust mite proof mattress and pillow case enclosures. Our main pillows are already dust mite proof since they are waterpillows. However, there are 3 pillows on the headboard for use on nights that a little extra something is needed to get comfortable (for WS's back).
• Wash bedding once a week - including blankets. The sheets already get washed that often, and without a drier, the blankets aren't going to be getting washed that much (and no, I'm not getting a drier). So, once a month I will be trecking to the laundry mat to wash the blankets. Actually I think during the long weekend next week, I will probably be washing every piece of bedding in the house (we have amassed a huge collection of blankets, quilts and comforters).
• Do all laundry in 140 degree water to kill dust mites. Our hot water isn't even set at that, and I refuse to waste the energy to do so. So, I am getting a laundry detergent additive that is supposed to do the trick.
• Rip up the carpeting. That isn't happening since the bedroom and den floors would then be concrete. So, we have to treat the carpet (area rugs and curtains too) with dust mite killer. Then we have to treat all those areas with  an allergen reducer. I am unsure how often we have to do this, but expect every month or so.
• Control mold. Of course, WS's bathroom has mold on the ceiling (we've never found anyone that will do the small job and not drag it out for weeks, so we will have to pretty much deal with it ourselves). We may try painting with Kilz first. Then if that doesn't work, we will have to rip out the drywall and do the work ourselves.

Then there are things we can't do:

• Use a humidifier. This is a killer since we have the wood stove. Dust mites apparently aren't capable of surviving in low humidity areas. Then there is also the possibility of mold growing within the humidifier and being spewed into the air.
• Have the windows open during the summer. Well, that is still going to continue since we don't have air conditioning, nor is any of the house set up to put air conditioning in.
• Keep the dogs in the house. This is something else that is going to continue. Fortunately, WS is only slightly reactive to dogs, so it's not a huge deal. I will be getting some wipes to help keep the dander under control.
• Live around pine trees (or cut them all down). Considering we live right beside the Audubon Society, and every lot around here are wooded acres, I don't think that is happening. And no, we aren't moving.

Next stop is the specialist (again), which will do another MRI to see if the medication has helped shrink the polyps. If so, then surgery may not be recommended. If not, it will be up to WS whether he goes under the knife.

Comments

[Cop Car]

That sounds like an impossible work load addition...wouldn't it be easier to trade WS in? Poor guy, he gets no respect!

[CK]

WAIT!! That would mean Dudette and Chew need to trade in WD and myself and that is NOT happening! Word to the wise, stock lotion. Because of having to have low humidity lotion will become very useful. Hope everything works out.
P.S. WD, Dudette, Chew and myself will take care of Cop Car. No one will ever find the body.

[Cop Car]

Elder abuse! Elder abuse! Although I did manage to escape, you should see the cuts and bruises!
Actually, I took a nasty fall in the parking lot of the Red Cross yesterday morning. As I lay there on the ground looking at the bottom of the overpass that I park under, I decided that no one was going to come pick me up--that I had to do it myself. The doc checked me over for broken bones (I had already cleaned the gash in my arm, myself) and prescribed oral antibiotic. I may not need the antibiotic; but with our being on the road this coming week, she wanted me to have it with me in case the arm started going south. So that my trip to the KUSM-W wouldn't be a total waste (it is a convenient 4 minutes from the Red Cross), I got my flu shot.
As I twisted my ankle and saw that I was going down, my thoughts turned to,"Good grief--don't try to catch yourself--remember how WD ended up." (My "how to fall" training from parachuting helped!) At least I didn't have the crystal bowl in my hands!

[Bogie]

When WS first came home he said he was allergic to cats, dogs and birds. I told him if that was the case he was gonna die or was moving out. No, he don't get no respect at all!

Lotion, my skin is so oily that I don't have to worry about it much (hands and feet are pretty much the only thing that couldn't run a biodiesal fuel car). Maybe it will actually help my acne out.

[rita]

We're working our way through much the same list...next to go is carpet. Luckily there's supposed to be an old wooden floor under that. I'm trying allergy shots too, not sure if that's helping yet.

[Bogie]

They offered WS shots, but he didn't think it worth going thru 5 years of shots (1/week for 26 weeks, then stepping down gradually thru the next 4 1/2 years). I can't say I blame him.

However, obviously he isn't hugely allergic to any of the listed items, otherwise he would have had problems way before this. So I can see where someone who is affected worse than he is would want to try the shots.

Good luck with that!

[rita]

It was either that or get rid of the cats. Easy choice!

[Bogie]

Easy choice indeed!