allergies

[jeffisme]

When I write in my office, where my LCA is, I tend to put in ear plugs. I had them in yesterday when I heard the bird cawing. When I took the plugs out, I realized the noise I heard was me wheezing.

My lungs are starting to bother me. When I was a teenager I had allergy tests and tested positive for feathers and dander. I ran into some problems a few years ago with my lungs but they improved with treatment. the only time they give me trouble is when I am in the office now. I have two hepa air purifiers running. I clean the cage twice a day, making sure the forced air heating is off when I do it. I make sure no vents are aimed at the cage so that nothing is being blown around or at the least it is kept to a minimum. I don't want to move the cage out of the office, because we both enjoy each other's company.

Trees are blooming here in Oregon, but the doc says it isn't hay fever. Any other suggestions about keeping down dander and dust? If so, they'd be much appreciated.

jeff

 

[JerseyWendy]

Jeff, I'm so sorry to hear about your lungs. That is not something to be taken lightly, unfortunately.

How often do you bathe/mist your LCA? Perhaps if you gave him a light misting every single day it would cut down on some of the dander/dust?

Also, what type of flooring is in your office? Wall to wall carpet can be pretty bad for allergy sufferers.

 

[jeffisme]

No, my doctor wasn't pleased. Thanks for the suggestions, I have been misting her twice a week. I've been thinking of increasing it now that she objects to it much less. I have a rug that I vacuum three times a week. The cage is set on a large plastic sheet that is used under office chairs.

I'm beginning to think that the forced air heating is what's really kicking things up, even though the vents are aimed away from the cage.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Jeff, do you feel a marked difference when you are in another part of your home, away from your Amazon?

 

[plumsmum2005]

No, my doctor wasn't pleased. Thanks for the suggestions, I have been misting her twice a week. I've been thinking of increasing it now that she objects to it much less. I have a rug that I vacuum three times a week. The cage is set on a large plastic sheet that is used under office chairs.

I'm beginning to think that the forced air heating is what's really kicking things up, even though the vents are aimed away from the cage.

Hi, This doesnt do me any good with or without pets. It just circulates dust etc round the house. Do you ventilate the house sufficiently when possible? How much dust do you see in other rooms. Are you sure it is your bird? The medical profession tend to jump on this knowledge and dont want to explore other possibilities or causes. I sympathise with your predicament.

 

[jeffisme]

yes, and that's what I told the doctor. I have scheduled an appointment with an allergist.

When we took her in, I told the rescuer that this was the one fear I had. I've even taken zyrtec to see if that would make a difference but not so much.

I hate this. This was a bird that couldn't be touched and that would never come out of its cage. Now, she lives for headscritches (goes to her front perch and pokes her beak in between the bars to be scritched) and to be picked up (stands on her perch with her foot up in the air when she wants it). I've also rigged a rope perch from inside the cage to the door, which is kept open all the time. When she walked out on her own volition for the first time last week I had tears in my eyes. I actually caught it on video. you can hear her chirp for joy. here's a link to it:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3008887/coming outp/coming outp-iPhone.m4v

 

[jeffisme]

plums, yes, and I keep the filter fresh with regular changes. ventilation is good. we vacuum regularly, and the problem is only in my office. i've tested it by sticking my head halfway through the cage door and that generates a pretty quick reaction.

If I can handle a light daily dose of an anti-histamine I would do it. See what the doc says. My primary care doc is both wonderful and sympathetic. we're both trying to come up with an answer.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Ah the video was lovely, to hear her cheep that she had done it. Do you put a treat on the door for her to come fetch.

Sincerely hope that you find some answers.

 

[jeffisme]

Wasn't it great? I don't have to put a treat out. I just rest my finger on it, and she will often work her way out and over to me. she'll snooze out on the perch occasionally but mostly it's her signal for, hey, I'm ready for some attention.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

I hope you get an answer to your allergy problem that prevents you from wheezing and being unwell when near your Buddys cage. Can I ask how you enticed her to come out of her cage and how long it took as Im in the same boat with a WFA.

 

[jeffisme]

I've had her about a month, and it was just about building trust bit by bit from the start. She was taking food from our hands immediately and I was able to get her to step up after about four days of just letting her watch us. I would just have her sit on my hand and feed her seeds or just have her sit on my knee. She enjoyed that. any time she seemed anxious, I just put her back and wouldn't push it.

Then, about a week later, we had to take her to the vet. we put her in this little travel cage, and the vet was late, and we were just sitting there, and I started to scritch her head through the bars of the cage, and she was so afraid of sitting there in that cage in that room, that she looked to us for protection and let me do that and really started to enjoy it. After that I could scritch her head all the time, and she looked forward to it. Then it was just a matter of rigging that perch to the door, and after about fifteen minutes of coaxing her she just came out for attention and a head scratch. Now, she goes in and out as she pleases (whenever I'm in the room, of course).

 

[wrench13]

Very nice Jeff. I hope you and your doctor figure it out. Because she really likes you it looks like.

 

[SailBoat]

Let's look at a couple of things.

Forced Air Heating System:

What size furnace filter does it have? A 1" thick is old school and not doing you any good. Upgrade to a 3" filter and select one that meets your needs. They are available from standard to hepa filters. Change the filters a minimum of twice a year (3") or a minimum every month (1").

Find your cold air return vents. A properly install unit will have both upper and lower return vents (on a side wall near the floor and near the ceiling level). Block-off the upper during the winter and reverse during the summer (air conditioning season). If you only have one or the other, this is commonly a fairly easy thing to upgrade.

Have your forced air furnace and the duct system cleaned at least every other year (for you) and every four years for the rest of us. Use the people with the really big yellow truck! If you do not know when it was cleaned last, schedule this work ASAP!

Bathing:

Amazon's general love a bath. They all have their favorite version, from splashing in a bowl to a full shower or a gentle mist (falling from above). For you, your Amazon may need more than a couple of times per week.

Wall to wall Carpet:

I have allergies and we pulled all the wall to wall stuff years ago! Professional deep cleaners are available, consider twice year. It is a DIY thing. You will be shocked at the dirt held in the carpet!

Humidity:

Yes, Spring is here, but for you, your inside target needs to be 55 or higher. Your home is likely 40 - 50 and that will make everything for you worst.

Vacuum Cleaner Filter:

For you, change them monthly!


Well, that should provide you a starting point!

 

[jeffisme]

all good points, thanks. so good, that about harlf we have already implemented because of my sensitivity to dust. The 3" filter is something new. my point about the forced air is that the movement in the office is pushing the dust and dander all over. There is only one vent in the office, which is in the basement and is on the other side of the wall from the furnace. We have a steam cleaner and I always get a kick out of running it on the rug. Water is usually close to black.

Definitely going to try increasing her baths and will check humidity. I'm anxious to hear what the allergist says. What's concerning is by being careful and keeping everything clean, my lungs were fine before we got Sadie. But the difference has been like night and day since, and only in my office. I'm fine in the rest of the house.

Thanks again for the useful advice.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Jeff, would you consider allergy shots (designed just for you) to see if they'd make a difference??

When I was a teenager I had severe allergies to wool and dust mites. The wool was easy enough to avoid, but I received shots for about a year for the dust mites. They seemed to have done the trick because (knock on wood) I now have as good as no allergies whatsoever. Sure, I have the occasional sneeze attacks, watery eyes or itchy sinuses depending on what's popping up, but it's quite manageable.

My husband has/had SEVERE allergies to dogs and cats (and horses, too). When we got our first dog back in the late 80s, he insisted he had to be an outdoor only dog. Even though we bathed him, my husband had a very strong reaction to him each time he played with him. Water eyes, runny nose, itchy back and bad cough. Well, husband deployed for 6 months, and by the time he got back the dog had turned into an inside only dog.

Anyway, to make a long story short, his immune system somehow got used to him, and they all lived happily ever after. LOL.

 

[jeffisme]

That's nice to hear. I had shots when I was in college when housemates and I rescued two cats. The shots did absolutely nothing for me. The doctors said some worked better than others. We've always had dogs, and they never bother my lungs.

We'll see what the new ENT says. I'm 60 and have been in and out of hospitals a lot the past ten years, unfortunately, and I'm one of those people who, if a medicine works for 98 percent of those who take it, is one of the two percent. I don't think I could handle a year of shots before they start to work, which is what I read last night.

Took allegra last night. I gave her a good misting this morning (she didn't object too much). the cage is sparkling and everything around her is clean. unfortunately, I'm already feeling it. will pick up a filter today.j

just in case, I've contacted the woman I got her from, and she of course would want her back (I had told her this was a concern before I adopted Sadie) if this doesn't work out, but I'd prefer a more pet friendly home for her. I'd send word out among friends or here if anyone knows someone in the NW, but I'm hoping we can make this work. Ultimately, it will be up to my lungs. A few years ago I was told I was developing COPD. Docs later backed off that diagnosis but my mother died of COPD so in the back of your head you always worry.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Thanks for telling us how you coaxed Sadie out of her cage. I hope you dont have to part with her as she really has taken to you and trusts you. I didnt see the video until today whem I went to town as internet signal isnt great where I live but its a Great video and Sadie is Amazing and so lovely to see her come out to the door on her rope perch. Well done Sadie and well done you too. This may not be of any use at all but I was wondering if a face mask like a painter decorator wears would be of any use to you while in the office. They are designed to keep dust out and they are not expensive to try out as you can pick a couple up in any DIY store fairly cheaply . I do hope you find something that works as I am hoping that you and Sadie can stay together.

 

[SailBoat]

I am really happy that you will be increasing the number of baths that your LCA will be getting. They are just such sweethearts and would love to find a way for you to enjoy Amazon Love.

This time of year is about perfect for looking deeply at your home furnace and its supporting systems. They are much slower now and that generally means more interested in either providing you an upgrading or a new system, also pricing is down in general for the same reasons. There are just so many support systems and control systems available today, which are designed to provide a clearer, safer home for you and your family especially if COPD is a 'possibility.'

Target a heating/cooling professional that specializes in the systems that provide 'clean air' and has the list of references that support that they in fact do what they advertise.

If you are planning on staying in your home for the next six to ten years, the new furnace systems available today will both reduce energy (off-set their cost) and greatly improve your life! After all, your furnace system is not only the heating / cooling system of your home, it's also the home's lungs!

Multi-speed fans: In the past, the bigger and more powerful the fan, the better. Well that has been found to be very wrong. The new multi-speed fans allow them to be adjusted to meet the specific needs of your home.

Air exchange system, multi zone distribution system, 3" filter system, humidity system, etc, etc, etc.... Lots of stuff to look at and what is available today is far ahead of what was available just five years ago!

To save reading and boring others, getting a real expert in and have them walk through each furnace system and how this or that type of system works and what it brings to you and your family. It will be time well spent!

We built a new home and moved in about 18 months ago. It is designed as a 'age in place' home and includes a new technology heating and cooling system. Comparing last winter and summer and so far this winter with a like size home next door to us, we a well under their heating/ cooling costs, better than 20%. So, cleaner air and lower operating costs! That's a win / win in my mind!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Jeff, how are things going with your allergies???

 

[jeffisme]

Allergist appointment tomorrow morning. thanks for asking. my lungs just haven't been good though. Still, we'll see what he says. Sadie is just so wonderful, so I'm hoping that there's a workable option. If not, our Avian vet said she would take her.