No relief for Dust Mite Allergies. HELP!!! - Allergies Message Board

mrdtuck · 01-12-2005, 07:25 PM

Please help! My husband has severe allergies to dust mites and is also allergic to numerous other things. He has had the allergies for about eight years now, however in the last year the symptoms have gotten much worse. He has always swollen severely in his lips, tongue, eyes or throat. On a better day, he may only have large welps all over. Over the last six months he has been swelling at least once or twice a week, and in the last month his throat has swollen almost shut on two seperate occasions. We have all new bed covers, new hypo-allergenic pillows. We have a new air purifier, have cleaned the carpet to remove allergens, the dog is not allowed in the room and the bedding is clean in hot water every five to seven days. Also, he is on his third steroid treatment in the last two months, which seem to be doing very little to relieve his symptoms. NOTHING IS HELPING!! Anyone out there that has went through this same thing and found any solutions? He is desperate for some relief!

ahimsa · 01-13-2005, 12:13 PM

Wow, it seems like you are doing just about everything you are supposed to for dust mite control. The only other thing I can think of is humidity control. Dust mites thrive when it's warm and relative humidity exceeds 50%. Myself, I use a dehumidifier and try to maintain humidity around 40-45%.

Has your husband seen a doctor and/or allergist? If not, he should. It seems possible the swelling is not due to dust mites.

Good luck.

Allegory · 01-13-2005, 03:38 PM

You may have to go a few steps further. Can you take up the carpet so there is polished wood floors?

Do you have a wool underlay on your bed? Is your bed a double ensomble as these tend to be worse than slatted beds.

You need blinds not curtains, check the outside areas of the house for pockets of dust, clean inside the loft / roof, make sure book shelves are enclosed.

The dehumidifier is a great idea and makes a huge difference.

Check this board for dustmite threads for ideas - there are a lot on here that should be helpful.

sneezydiva · 01-13-2005, 04:33 PM

It sounds like you've done a lot for dust mite control. What else is he allergic to? It might be something else that is making him miserable

mrdtuck · 01-13-2005, 06:26 PM

Thanks to everyone for your advise. My husband is also allergic to mold, nuts, numerous trees and grasses, ginger, hops, cigarette smoke and others I can not recall. He was tested 8 years ago and dust mites were the strongest trigger. I have considered that it may be other triggers, however, his reactions almost always occur in the middle of the night, when he is in the bed. He is on a 3rd does of steroids, which usually helps. Not so this time. I will invest in a de-humidifier and see if that helps. The carpet will have to wait for now. The nurse at the allergist has mentioned possibly testing for an autoimmune disorder. Is anyone familiar with this disease?