So...I've been allergic to dust mites and cats (and penicillin) for about 10 years (I'm 22)...but this summer has been the worst summer of my life. I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this.

I was living in a basement apartment and it wasn't the nicest place in the world. The previous owners had a cat, but I lived in that apartment from August 04 - August 05...and I didn't have any allergies until July of '05. I lived the entire fall, winter and spring without having to take Zyrtec (I have a prescription).

But when July came around...I had the worst allergies of my life. I seriously cannot function without taking Zyrtec. If I take one and then don't take one as soon as the 12 hour time runs out...I get a stuffed up nose and sneezes.

The symptoms are plugged up nose, watery and itchy eyes (If I scratch them, if I don't bug them then it's ok).

My breathing can be a little tight and I sneeze constantly.

I'm thinking it's a mold problem, but then we moved into our really nice new apartment that has new carpet (as of the day we moved in).

If it is a mold allergy (our old apartment had a serious case of it)...am I going to be super sensitive now? I've never had to take Zyrtec regularily...it was usually only when I went to a farm or to a house with cats.

Has anyone else been having particularily bad allergies this summer? Is it something in the air? I live in Wisconsin by the way...and it has been pretty dry here...that's why I was perplexed (but not about the apt...it was in a basement). I just don't understand why it's still kind of been bad in my new apartment. Could it be residual mold on my stuff that was in the old apartment?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Laura

The new carpet could be the culprit. Check to see what material it is. My son gets a flare-up whenever he gets near acrylic or wool.

So...I've been allergic to dust mites and cats (and penicillin) for about 10 years (I'm 22)...but this summer has been the worst summer of my life. I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this.

I was living in a basement apartment and it wasn't the nicest place in the world. The previous owners had a cat, but I lived in that apartment from August 04 - August 05...and I didn't have any allergies until July of '05. I lived the entire fall, winter and spring without having to take Zyrtec (I have a prescription).

But when July came around...I had the worst allergies of my life. I seriously cannot function without taking Zyrtec. If I take one and then don't take one as soon as the 12 hour time runs out...I get a stuffed up nose and sneezes.

The symptoms are plugged up nose, watery and itchy eyes (If I scratch them, if I don't bug them then it's ok).

My breathing can be a little tight and I sneeze constantly.

I'm thinking it's a mold problem, but then we moved into our really nice new apartment that has new carpet (as of the day we moved in).

If it is a mold allergy (our old apartment had a serious case of it)...am I going to be super sensitive now? I've never had to take Zyrtec regularily...it was usually only when I went to a farm or to a house with cats.

Has anyone else been having particularily bad allergies this summer? Is it something in the air? I live in Wisconsin by the way...and it has been pretty dry here...that's why I was perplexed (but not about the apt...it was in a basement). I just don't understand why it's still kind of been bad in my new apartment. Could it be residual mold on my stuff that was in the old apartment?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Laura

Laura, I Feel For You I Have Benn Through The Ringer Wiyh Sinus Problems For Over 16 Years Even Had The Sinus Surgery. The Best Advice Is To Flush Your Sinus Out Daily Using A Siringe Bulb, Make A Solution Using Around 1/4 Teaspoon Of Salt To 8 Oz. Of Warm Water, Half As Salty As The Sea!! Press The Bulb Gently And Irrigate Holding Your Head Down, Try Not Swallowing While Doing So. Its A Little Uncomfy The First Few Times.or Go To A Cvs Or Any Other Drug Store And Purchase A Product Called Simply Saline Irrigater. The Tiny Silica In Your Nose Collects These Allergins In The Air And Not Keeping Them Washed Can Lead To Infections Ect.. Also Invest In A Small Air Purifier, Mold Spores Can Be A Prob Where Yur Staying, Just Because You Dont See It Doesnt Mean Its Not There. Summer Is The Prime Time For Rag Weed And Rain Increases Mold Outside Even In The Winter. Theres No Cure For Us Just Preventive Measures. Hope This Helps, Good Luck!!!

You should get rid of the toxic products in your home. They can cause a lot of problems that can pose as allergy-like symptoms. Start using natural cleaning products and you will start to feel a difference.

try sleeping somewhere with a hardwood floor. i just moved to the city and im about the same age as you. the air quality here is much worse and i can feel a big difference from the subburbs. anywho seeing how your allergic to penecillin you may want to watch out for food allergies as well. im not sure natural cleaning products are what is causing your systems but i do wash my clothes with all clear just to be safe. if your really desperate i would try sleeping on like a plastic sheet if you have one. don't be afraid to try anything to figure it out and definetly see a good allergist if the one your seeing now isn't helping.

My three year has had an allergy (?) for two years. I think it is related to something indoors. More specifically, the symptoms start when the furnace fan is running (heating, cooling or fan only, it doesn't matter). We thought it was the cat, so we got rid of it. Six months later and a lot of cleaning, same problem when the furnace fan was running. We thought it was mold (or something in the ductwork) so we had it cleaned as well as the carpets in two rooms. No improvement. We moved from this house into a new one two months ago (previous owners had cat). Same problem. Allergy tests show no allergy to mold, pet dander, dust mites. Everyone else was fine in the old house and the new house.
Symptoms only present when furnace fan running. Totally clear when windows are open (fresh air). What else could it be? I have considered duct and carpet cleaning in the new house but it is expensive and did not seem to help in the old house. I also consider putting in hardwood and an HRV (fresh air exchanger) but that is more expensive. Before investing a lot of money does anyone have any suggestions? My daughter's symptoms begin (within an hour of turning on furnace) with sneezing, sniffling, nose and eye rubbing and eventually frequent coughing. If we leave the furnace fan running long enough, she wakes in the morning coughing, sometimes leading to gagging, sometimes vomits thick, clear mucuous (then the crying/miserable mood begins). After a few days she gets an infection (throat, sinus mostly). Inhalers don't work, anti-histamines help. Would like to prevent instead of treat. My wife and I can not pinpoint the source. Anyone have any ideas????

I'd say it's your nice new apt and carpet. There is a lot of chemicals in carpet. Is there fresh paint, new cabinets, or drapes? All are full of toxins.
Good luck!

7 years ago I did not have allergies to cat dander. Now I do. I get the major clogs in sinus near ears and minor breathing problems. You may have developed an allergy to cat dander. Yes, mold could always be the problem.

Carpets have horrible fumes when they first are installed. Then they are collectors for dust mites and mold. I fought back by vacuuming with a Hoover every day. Then I got smart and put down hard wood. I am better.

Sam, who is 59 and lives in South Carolina