Can and allergic reaction cause such fatigue?

[Alyssa82]

About 1 1/2 weeks ago I was cleaning out my basement which has a dirt floor and like many basements its always a little damp. The day after cleaning I woke up feeling sick so I waited 2 days and I wasnt getting better so I went to the Dr. She told me that I must have inhaled some spores which was causing an allergy (nasal drip, low grade fever, swollen glands and fluid in my ears). She gave me Singulair and Rhinocort to use until I felt better. I have a 5 1/2 month old daughter and naturally I am usually a little sleepy during the day due to midnight feedings and teething. However since I had my "allergic reaction" I am exhausted to the point that sometimes when my daughter cries and I get up I can't pick her up due to the weakness I have. I will be sleeping and get out of bed or off the couch and I just can't stand. It takes several minutes before I can and if I force myself I get light headed and almost fall. I have never had problems with allergies so I don't know what to expect. Does anyone know if the medication I am taking (Singulair and Rhinocort) could be causing the severe fatigue or could it be that whatever I inhaled in the basement just tore through my body and I am just going to need time to heal?

[hyper79]

Hi, oh yes allergies can cause severe fatigue from years of experience with it and yes the meds can also cause fatigue which will pass when your body gets adjusted to it, it's kinda a no win situation.There is a chance you come in contact with mold, dust mites ect.. The fatigue will pass but to prevent it in the future wear a dust mask if you have to go down there, you will notice a pattern over time of things you are allergic to.

[lethevida]

I believe either Discover or Scientific American magazine recently had an article where this guy had breathed in some sort of spores while cleaning a vine off a house. The vine had all sorts of toxin on it, but he didn't realize it. He had asthma, and the spores he breathed in lead him to fatigue over the next few days. When he went in, the doctors found that he had spores growing inside his lungs, causing the wheezing and fatigue that he just suddenly felt. Apparently this is terribly uncommon, but happens when asthmatic lungs provide this perfect environment--like a petri dish--and the spores tend to grow really fast. The article stated that it could also happen in otherwise healthy lungs. They gave this guy some very serious antibiotics, and he got better quickly.

Now, this may not be happening with you. But I would advise going back in to see your physician if this continues. It could just be an allergic reaction, or it could be something related to the allergic attack. (Or it could even be anemia or chronic fatigue syndrome, who knows?) Best to see your doctor if you're still feeling majorly fatigued.

Get better soon, Alyssa! Being a mom is the toughest job there is!