Author Topic: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question  (Read 6091 times)

payitoff

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Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« on: April 01, 2014, 11:29:53 AM »
my son has a terrible allergy, took me a long time to figure out what kind, but now i think i have an idea what it is,  he's been coughing normally at nights , sounded like a dry, itchy cough, but then at daytime he doesnt., so im thinking its dust mites, im trying to be cost efficient with solving this problem so do you suggest to buy new pillows or just buy those allergy protection sheets? 

i also found this allergy robot vacuum that runs around the home cleaning up all day, is this worth it? its expensive! 

we have been co-sleeping lately, kids love to sleep with us, will grab this chance coz its not for long they dont want to be with mom and dad anymore, so our bed is about 10 years old now, do we need to buy a new bed too?

we used to change sheets once a month, but i guess now we have to do it weekly as per the allergy website is suggesting, so many things to grasp on, and the dollar signs that comes with it.

what are your thoughts?

Bookworm

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2014, 11:34:04 AM »
It could also be reflux. I am investigating the same issue with my daughter and that's one of the things I've found.

payitoff

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2014, 11:39:25 AM »
yeah, i read about that too, i give him night time honey elixir for cough but it didnt work, this week we have been giving him allergy meds and that stopped the cough, last night we decided not to give him and he started coughing, i might also try to minimize his dairy intake, so confused now.

Bookworm

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2014, 11:47:49 AM »
Yeah, you're probably on the right track, then!  My son has allergies also, but they all seem to be skin allergies.  I put him to bed under a new comforter once without washing it first, and in the middle of the night his face turned red and his eyes swelled shut.  No fun.  Good luck!

zachd

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2014, 12:28:27 PM »
Sorry to hear this, allergies are no fun my wife and our dog both have them pretty bad. There is a lot to know about them. Keep reading but be weary of web pages that have something to sell also.

They make allergy mattress covers and pillow covers.  In theory, these are a barrier that allergens like dust mites can't cross.  So you shouldn't need to get a new pillow or mattress if you have the pillow and mattress in the allergy covers.

Do you have pets?

Do you have carpets?

Do you have house plants?

Do you have a HEPA vacuum cleaner?


Food allergies and respiatory allergies can be linked.  It seems like an allergy test both food and or a 'scratch test' might be in your child's future to determine what the allergies are exactly.


Cassie

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2014, 02:00:23 PM »
WE bought a special cover for both the mattress & boxspring & pillows. WE also took all but one stuffed animal out of my son's room, took many of the toys out, got rid of the carpet, got rid of the blinds & put up curtains we could wash every few weeks, washed sheets weekly & wash in hot water due to dust mites.  It was a real pain but it really helped his health. He actually outgrew most of his allergies as an adult.

ausername

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2014, 02:14:21 PM »
Assuming that you are correct and it is dust-mite allergy, I would recommend the following steps (based on personal experience):

1. Get a new pillow and get an anti-allergy (this is dust-mite proof) cover for it.
2. Get an anti-allergy cover for the mattress.
3. Wash the bed clothes every week.

I would also suggest that it is worth getting a proper allergy test done to be sure though.  Allergies like these often do not exist on their own and can be connected with other chronic diseases like asthma.  It would be best to know what you are dealing with.

If it is definitely a dust-mite allergy, removing carpets from your son's bedroom (if he has carpet) and replacing them with wooden flooring would be a good idea.

payitoff

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2014, 02:15:47 PM »
Sorry to hear this, allergies are no fun my wife and our dog both have them pretty bad. There is a lot to know about them. Keep reading but be weary of web pages that have something to sell also.

They make allergy mattress covers and pillow covers.  In theory, these are a barrier that allergens like dust mites can't cross.  So you shouldn't need to get a new pillow or mattress if you have the pillow and mattress in the allergy covers.

Do you have pets? NO

Do you have carpets? YES

Do you have house plants? NO

Do you have a HEPA vacuum cleaner? NO


Food allergies and respiatory allergies can be linked.  It seems like an allergy test both food and or a 'scratch test' might be in your child's future to determine what the allergies are exactly.

im shopping for another vacuum cleaner for allergies, thanks for naming it! i didnt know what it was called. 

ausername

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2014, 02:18:52 PM »
HEPA is a type of filter that is in some vacuum cleaners:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEPA

payitoff

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2014, 02:20:33 PM »
thanks for all the suggestions, we rent and unfortunately will not have the flexibility to change the floors,  this weekend will definitely be a spring cleaning weekend, we feel so bad having him to take allergy meds every night.

we bought a fan with ION whatever it was saying it's helping purify the air, but its not helping still.

payitoff

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2014, 02:21:51 PM »
HEPA is a type of filter that is in some vacuum cleaners:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEPA

oh got it! ill just still continue looking for vacuum for pets/allegies then

ausername

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2014, 02:27:17 PM »
It is always a little more difficult renting with allergies.  One thing I considered when I was renting was covering the carpet in the bedroom with lino/ vinyl floor covering which is aimed at kitchens really.  I never had to do it in the end, because I always found somewhere with wooden floors in the bedroom (eventually!).  It might be worth a try though.


zachd

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2014, 02:49:14 PM »
Sorry to hear this, allergies are no fun my wife and our dog both have them pretty bad. There is a lot to know about them. Keep reading but be weary of web pages that have something to sell also.

They make allergy mattress covers and pillow covers.  In theory, these are a barrier that allergens like dust mites can't cross.  So you shouldn't need to get a new pillow or mattress if you have the pillow and mattress in the allergy covers.

Do you have pets? NO

Do you have carpets? YES

Do you have house plants? NO

Do you have a HEPA vacuum cleaner? NO


Food allergies and respiatory allergies can be linked.  It seems like an allergy test both food and or a 'scratch test' might be in your child's future to determine what the allergies are exactly.

im shopping for another vacuum cleaner for allergies, thanks for naming it! i didnt know what it was called.

Yes, if you have carpet you should definiately get a HEPA vacuum cleaner.  Check in to the Hoover Windtunnel series they are not too expensive and get good reviews. I am not crazy about their cleaning attachments and the hose is not easy to use but it is better than the Shark I had it was even more difficult to use the attachments.

When I moved in with my wife when she had apartment she was weazing constantly.  Her vacuum looked like it was from the 70s.  I bought a hepa vacuum and just running it across the floor 5 feet you wouldn't believe how much dirt and hair it picked up.  Once over her small apartment it was half full.  She stopped weazing after that but she does still have allergies but it's mostly to outside pollens and mold.  She also ended up being allergic to wheat gluten and was a lot better when she stopped eating it.

You can get an air cleaner to run at night it might help. I would be careful with ones that are ionizing.  There are claims from groups like Consumer Reports that produce ozone which will aggrevate allergies and is not healthy to breath.  It's somewhat controversial if they are harmful or not but I think the general consensus is that the ionizing cleaners don't work as well as a HEPA cleaner which just draws air through a filter which cleans it so why risk it with an ionising cleaner.

I ask about house plants as they can be a place that mold grows.  Pets obviously have dander and also bring in allergens from outside if they sleep in the beds with you or children.

Cassie

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #13 on: April 01, 2014, 03:17:22 PM »
Definitely use the HEPA cleaners-my doc said that the other types actually makes things worse. Also we had my son's allergies tested so we knew what we were dealing with. If he happens to be allergic to things outside then it really helps to shower/wash hair at nite so he is not sleeping with what he is allergic to on his body/hair. 

Norrie

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #14 on: April 01, 2014, 03:41:57 PM »
Sorry to hear this, allergies are no fun my wife and our dog both have them pretty bad. There is a lot to know about them. Keep reading but be weary of web pages that have something to sell also.

They make allergy mattress covers and pillow covers.  In theory, these are a barrier that allergens like dust mites can't cross.  So you shouldn't need to get a new pillow or mattress if you have the pillow and mattress in the allergy covers.

Do you have pets? NO

Do you have carpets? YES

Do you have house plants? NO

Do you have a HEPA vacuum cleaner? NO


Food allergies and respiatory allergies can be linked.  It seems like an allergy test both food and or a 'scratch test' might be in your child's future to determine what the allergies are exactly.

im shopping for another vacuum cleaner for allergies, thanks for naming it! i didnt know what it was called.

I agree that he should really be seen to be checked for allergy-induced asthma. Allergies are responsible for 80% of asthma seen in kids. Coughing at night (dry, barking like a seal?) is a key symptom of undiagnosed, uncontrolled asthma. If it is asthma due to allergies, it's very affordable to treat, and the sooner that he's diagnosed, the better.

Since you're renting, you won't be able to get rid of the carpet, but all ceiling fans should be taken down, no books should be stored in his room, only one stuffed animal, no pets wandering into his room, cover the mattress with the dust-mite protective covering, definitely buy new pillows and get covers for them too.
His sheets need to be changed and washed in hot water weekly, and if there's only one room in the house that gets dusted and vacuumed on a regular basis, it needs to be his.

If he's had a persistent cough at night, I really think that it's time to take him in to be seen. Good luck!

Thegoblinchief

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #15 on: April 01, 2014, 03:44:36 PM »
HEPA vacuum (I have a Bissell) and HEPA air purifier (I have a Honeywell) are worth the money if it is dust.

I'd get him tested. As others have noted, diet and allergies can often go hand in hand. With myself, reducing my dairy intake resolved my indoor allergies almost overnight.

payitoff

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #16 on: April 01, 2014, 04:20:54 PM »
called our landlord and they do let tenants change the flooring if we desire to, so i might check out that vinyl/lino option,  we did have him checked for wheezing and doc said he doesnt have asthma, i tried giving him albuterol also which is his brother's spray but it didnt do anything for him, but the allergy meds works very quickly on him, it is surprising though that his brother which has asthma never has this problem at night.  im on the roll today, checking out from vacuums, protective sheets, and flooring options. gosh im seeing $$$$ everywhere. cant wait for the weekend.  - frustrations of a full time working mom.


jasman18

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Re: Mustachian Mom and Dads - Allergy question
« Reply #17 on: April 01, 2014, 04:38:04 PM »
Regarding the Vacuum. I have had this vacuum for 6 months now and it is amazing. it goes off everyday while I am at work and it picks up an incredible amount of dust EVERYDAY. I used to only vacuum once a week. This this definitely makes the house more comfortable and smell better. (Its cheaper than the ROOMBA and picks up WAY more because the motor is a lot more powerful, Also vacuums in strait lines making the carpet look great everyday)
I bought it through Bed Bath and Beyond with the 20% off coupon.

Here the HEPA Filter for it as well: