Don't know what to think?..advice please

[leannwithconnie]

I feel terrible whining on hear about this as I know some of you have much more serious problems at your door at the the moment but as friends I hope you won't mind me posting this.
As some of your know I have some Ex Batt chickens whom I have become very very fond of.
Well over the last few months I have had a cough which has got much worse gradually over time until I now cough until I am almost sick!
What is more worrying is that I also find it hard to get my breath sometimes when I have had a particularly bad coughing attack.
After much nagging from OH and advice from friends I have been to the doctors today and she has told me I could be allergic to the Chickens
She could hear rattling in my chest and has given me some
antibiotics ...I have to go for a chest Xray.
I'm gutted at the thought of the Chickens and I having to part company....I really hope I will be OK if I wear a face mask or something to clean them out etc. as I just can't bear the thought of not having them.
I have feather pillows and don't seem to have a problem with them but I suppose they have been cleaned and treated anyhow.
Does anyone else suffer from allergies at all?

[Rowndan]

oh Leanne

i think birds are very dusty, the birds in the hopital at work make so much dust its unbeliveable!!

my friend is alergic to hay and she wears a mask around the horses and manages fine..

hope you get it sorted out and its not your girls xx

[zeldalithgow]

Oh Leann have you tried taking antihistamines to see if that helps?, I hope you can sort something out so you can keep your girls.

I have hayfever and various allergic reactions to other things, I come up in itchy weals if cleavers make contact with my skin, and if I peel tatties with any sort of cut on my hands I itch for ages also if I've been touching fruit/veg/grass etc then rub my eyes my eyes swell up and itch like mad and then I look really scarey lol

[taffydales]

OH No Leanne, that sounds horrible, I know allergies seem to be getting more common, I,m sure a mask would help, I have been wearing one for a while now and the irritating cough I had all last winter seems to have gone, its worth a try.

[jec248]

You must put your own health first. Life is too short.

I am sure you will be able to find a good home for your chickens.

[olivia]

Oh dear - it's always very difficult when you develop an allergy to something alive

(mmm -that's come out wrong - but I'm sure you know what I mean!!!)

I know a few people who have quite bad allergic reactions to their rats, but they manage very well by using things like masks, having very good ventilation in the house (although that's probably not relevent with chickens), taking an antihistimine/asthma inhaler prior to cleaning them out etc etc.

I am sure you could find them a lovely new home if you want/need to, but if you are very attached and would like to persevere all might not be lost.

Olivia

[Debbie]

Something else to consider, if you've got a touch of cold that's gone into your bronchia, you will be more sensitive to all sorts of allergens. You'll be feeling achey in your chest when you're working around dust, sometimes even perfumes can trigger a coughing fit if you've been exposed to something else.

The important thing is to see if it responds to antihistamines or antibiotics. If the antihistamines, you may indeed be allergic to the chickens. Keep in mind a lot times they carry "cooties'', mites and whatnots that you normally don't see, but might be inhaling. You may be able to do well with antihistamines and wearing a mask around them.

As the others say, its a matter of finding the source of the problem first, finding out how allergic you are (in some cases each exposure massively escalates....not meaning to scare you, but sometimes it happens that way) and then figuring out how to handle the situation. Ie, how do you combat the allergies? Or do you rehome?

I'm sure you'll be giving this plenty of time, and there are alternatives, but at the end of the day, you'll need to consider quality of life, and what kind of balance you'll need to strike.

[jonib]

Dont give up hope if it is the chickens. I am allergic to a lot of things,including horses,but by taking antihistamines every day I can keep it under control. The coughing you describe I used to get when I was younger,and also used to sneeze so many times in succession that I almost used to pass out from lack of oxygen. But the antihistamines really have helped,and I really notice if I have just one day without them.
I hope it isnt an allergy as I wouldnt wish it on anyone,but if it is it isnt impossible to manage in some cases.
Good luck

[harveydales]

Oh Leann, you must be feeling devestated. I know how much those girls mean to you. I do hope you can find a way to cope without putting your health at risk.

Firstly, you've just had a nasty cold/flu so could that be part of the problem? Luckily, I don't suffer from any allergies like this so don't know about antihistamines etc.

Chickens are very dusty indeed, what with the bedding, the feathers, possibley mites etc. I don't use hay or straw at all with my girls because I've read these materials can harbour more pests. I use shavings or aubiose.

I always use a normal dust mask for cleaning out the house, just as I use one for making up the horses haynets. But I don't think the normal sort of dust mask is a great deal of help. I know of one man who had severe asthma and found he was allergic to horses. He couldn't bear to part with his horse so he got himself a propper industrial/agricultural type mask - I don't know the make but itwas a yellow plastic contraption with special filters for dust or chemicals and it really did help.

I do hope you can find a way round this but please put your health first.

[greydales]

I think you should try everything you can (wear a mask/take antihistamines etc) to see if it helps alleviate the symptoms, and then take a decision if none of those work. Hopefully something will help you! There are quite a few people who work with animals they are allergic to, but manage their symptoms via the above.

I'm not allergic to 'things' such as food/animals/dust etc but do have drug-induced allergies (brought on by taking aspirin) which mean I take antihistamines every day - they don't give me any side effects at all so don't worry on that score. There are many different types as well if you don't get on with one particular tablet.

I hope you can find relief Leann but your health must come first if things get worse

[leannwithconnie]

Thanks for your replies and suggestions everyone. I'm feeling more positive this morning and have started the tablets. I also have some face masks coming later today and I'm hopeful that as long as I don't handle the chickens too much that I will be OK.

I'm also going to wear a face mask when mucking out Minstrels stable as I hadn't thought about dust etc from that until I read Pams thread saying she wears a mask.

Will let you know how I get on...I'm a way for a week in March so it will be interesting to see if the symptons lessen while I am not with the chickens if the antibiotics don't work.

[mickey]

Try taking antihistamines reguarly- and give them time to work ie don't take one and immediately go and deal with the chickens. If a mask helps at all go and invest in a decent one rather than disposable ones. They arent cheap but if its your health it helps its worth it. Im thinking the sort professionals use.
It may be you've had a cold and because you've a lot more mucus in your airways and lungs that the allergen is more irritating as it's getting stuck in there more. You've nothing to lose by trying steam inhalations to try and clear your airways a little.
I know nothing about chickens- do you reguarly treat for mites etc? If not, and theres decent stuff available Id be tempted to treat them in case they've got some.
When you deal with the chickens and finish, have a shower and get changed as soon as possible. Or if thats difficult get a set of overalls- even disposable and some gloves. May seem OTC but if it helps it'll be worth it then you can see what does / doesnt make a difference. Take all these steps and if it does work speak to dr about possibly having an inhaler for if you have a bad day to see if that would help.

[leannwithconnie]

Thanks for that Emily... are antihistamines available over the counter??
The masks I have got are the ones my Hubby uses [he's a vet]
The chickens are treated for dust mites too.

[mickey]

Yes- piriton is probably the most effective Ive found BUT it does make some people really drowsy- it knocks me out so I dont take it. Some people are fine though.
Id possibly start with loratadine (brand name is clarityn but loratadine is far cheaper and the same) which is non-drowsy and a daily dose.

[mickey]

Should have also said have a word in the pharmacy if you're on any other medications