Thanks Niicole <img src="">
1. Allergy testing. Many people have house-hold allergies in addition to outdoor allergies. Controlling indoor allergies can grately dimish symtpoms of outdoor allergies. BUt first, you need to get skin tested (by an allergist, not a GP) - IgE blood levels are useless so don't go down that route.
2. Most of us have dust mite fece allergies. I have dust mite encasings on my pillows and matress (purchased at www.allergyasthmatech.com)
3. I have no carpet in my place, but when I did in college I put dust mite powder on my carpet (simple to use - just put it on the carpet and then vacuum it up a few hours later. it lasts 6 months). also can be found at www.allergyasthmatech.com
4. HEPA air purifier in the room that I do meds and my bedroom. Nothing else but HEPA will do. I bought mine at www.costco.com
5. I never open windows in my house. It's a pain, but it lets allergens in. Instead, I run my air conditioner
6. I take an anti-histamine. 70% of the allergic cascade is attributed to histamines. As Nicole said, check out my blog for an explanation of the differences between anti-histamines (school down to categories on the left, then click medications)
7. I take a leukotriene agonist. 30% of the allergic cascade is attributed to leukotrienes. Singulair is my med of choice there
8. I take an intranasal steroid. Flonase has alcohol in it (spraying alcohol up my nose hurts, burns, smells badly and causes nose bleeds). I use Nasacort AQ instead. It's just as powerful, but no alcohol.
9. Allergy shots.
Treating allergies when you have CF can dramatically improve lung function. Allergies cause inflammation in the lungs - and as you know, as CFers, we already deal with so much inflammation to begin with. So heading allergies off at the pass is essential to good health.
Good luck.
