Just keeps getting worse

[Ana Gram]

We spent much of the day at the Children's Hospital today and have forked out more money for even more creams and medication. After a lengthy discussion with the doctor who was also part of the dermatology department, we all concluded that the problem is the cats and dustmites.

The cats can become outdoor cats easily enough as we have a lockable garage for the nights. Our main problem is we are in a rented house with loads of carpet and mostly woolen couches. We are near the end of the lease and are considering trying to find the money somehow to move to a house with no carpet and changing our couches.

Has anyone tried this change for this eczema trigger and did it have any effect?

[jessgray]

:hugs: hugs for you and your dd.
i havent moved house as such, but i get asthma from dustmites :( and only the kitchen and bathroom and laundry are carpet free.i hope you find a house without carpet it might make all the difference :fingerscrossed:

[Kari_Adel]

How have they illuminated other possibilities?

Has your doctor referred you to a paediatric allergy specialist?

My DS suffered eczema from 4-months-old and we spent alot of energy trying to work out what was causing it.. only to have the wrong answers all along.

DS's allergy specialist performed a p.rick test (if you're wondering why the dot is there its so the forum doesn't blank it out -- it thinks I'm swearing haha).

They did this by drawing a grid on his back, numbering each square (2cm x 2cm approx) and applying a drop of different ointments etc in the middle of each square.

Now for the not-so-nice part :( :

Using a small needle/pin, they p.ricked/scraped each spot, breaking the skin just enough to let the ointment sink in. Not deep enough to bleed, but unfortunately bub can be a little uncomfortable so some scratches could not be helped.

After a 10min wait, the allergy specialist reviewed his back.. and where there was a reaction (a small raised rash) indicated that DS was in fact allergic to that food/ointment/etc. The larger the rash, the more serious the allergy.

The rashes settled within a cpl hours and DS didn't seem to upset about them afterwards, he was just relieved he didn't have to be restrained in mummys arms anymore.

But 30mins of not-so-nice meant that we found out EXACTLY what WAS and what wasn't causing the eczema, and we developed an action plan to manage it -- and eventually started to wean him onto things to encourage his body to become more tolerant.

Now DS is almost three-years-old, and can eat anything.. play with cats and dogs, and his eczema is only slight and very easily managed.

I hope that helps. :fingerscrossed:

From memory, there was a drop that represented dustmites. Also different animals, trees and plants.. everything..

[Karizma]

My son had the same problem.

We had to eliminate pets and changed the sofas to leather ones, the whole house is carpeted, but we got in chemdry they specialise in dustmite and alergy treatments for the carpets as our whole house is carpet too. And it costs about $150 to get the whole house done and we get it done every 6mths. And we are getting one of those Vax vaccums but little pricy but are getting there :D
It is hard the transition and costly but it makes so so much of difference. I hope she gets better soon :fingerscrossed: :hugs:

[reAllytee]

Not sure if you have done this or not but my sister has been having troubles with her sinuses of late so went to the doctors who took blood & tested her for allergies.
They can do it this way apparently.
Anyways they found her to be highly allergic to cats ( new allergy as she has been fine all her life until now at almost 40yrs as we have grown up with them ) a medium allergy to dogs & dustmites.
So im not sure if you have done this with Ruby or not but maybe its worth a try especially to know whether you need to rehome your cats.
Hope things settle soon with the new treatment :hugs:

[Ana Gram]

My son had the same problem.

We had to eliminate pets and changed the sofas to leather ones, the whole house is carpeted, but we got in chemdry they specialise in dustmite and alergy treatments for the carpets as our whole house is carpet too. And it costs about $150 to get the whole house done and we get it done every 6mths. And we are getting one of those Vax vaccums but little pricy but are getting there :D
It is hard the transition and costly but it makes so so much of difference. I hope she gets better soon :fingerscrossed: :hugs:

We got told by the specialist that all the products claiming to get rid of dustmites are a marketing ploy and not to waste our money. He told us the only things that kills the dustmites are hot water at 60 degrees or over, sunlight and freezing. Plus that just kills them, doesn't get rid of the allergens. Plus they can come back as soon as the carpet is not at that temperature anymore which really sucks.

We are chaning the sofas, and moving to a house with floorboards and makign the cats as outside as possible as she seems to have more of a problem with dustmites than the cats.

[Ana Gram]

Not sure if you have done this or not but my sister has been having troubles with her sinuses of late so went to the doctors who took blood & tested her for allergies.
They can do it this way apparently.
Anyways they found her to be highly allergic to cats ( new allergy as she has been fine all her life until now at almost 40yrs as we have grown up with them ) a medium allergy to dogs & dustmites.
So im not sure if you have done this with Ruby or not but maybe its worth a try especially to know whether you need to rehome your cats.
Hope things settle soon with the new treatment :hugs:

I don't thin I could do the blood test to her at this age :crying:
She is already improving and she is much more pleasant to be around now. Instead of screaming in the morning when she wakes up, she is bouncing in her bed.

[Karizma]

yeah we are moving to a house with no carpets too. But we did have dustmites and since using chem dry we have non. I am not sure if it is because they are done regularly or because it actually works. Probably cause they are done regularly. But we only changed the sofa today finally cause my son spends alot of time on there lately because of he also has pretty bad asthma triggered by the dust and stuff and he seems to be pretty good today. Hoping he goes better with the new couches :fingerscrossed:

[Ana Gram]

How have they illuminated other possibilities?

Has your doctor referred you to a paediatric allergy specialist?



She is going on the waiting list to the dermatology department at Royal Childrens as we can't afford to see private specialists.

We were able to narrow it down to the two possiblities as we have always documented her flare ups and what she has been eating, doing where she was, clothing, heating etc. Sounds pretty anal but it really helped.

When we do get an appointment with the specialist clinic we will know for sure, in the mean time she is repsonding well to the treatment and we will be moving to a house with floorboards in the next month so it is more controlable.

[Ana Gram]

yeah we are moving to a house with no carpets too. But we did have dustmites and since using chem dry we have non. I am not sure if it is because they are done regularly or because it actually works. Probably cause they are done regularly. But we only changed the sofa today finally cause my son spends alot of time on there lately because of he also has pretty bad asthma triggered by the dust and stuff and he seems to be pretty good today. Hoping he goes better with the new couches :fingerscrossed:

Yeah after the trip to the hospital and having to spend $100 on all the medications, we sat down and worked out the costs of everything.

We looked at everything including buying a steam cleaner (almost fainted at the price!). We worked out it would probably be cheaper and less pain and suffering for DD to move. We managed to refinance our car loan. We now own the car and have a personal loan for cheaper repayments and are looking at houses for less rent which will end up giving a little more money a week. :smiliedance:

[Mamaduke]

Just another idea re/the dustmites allergy...
I'm allergic to dustmites (had the ***** test due to asthma) and the specialist suggested getting rid of any bedding with feather &/or down, apparently they love it!
At the time I was sleeping under a huge 100% duck down doona and a 100% duck down european pillow.
Ever since changing to the polyester/wool quilts I haven't had an asthma attack.

[bigglet]

Regarding floorboards - apparently bamboo floorboards are very good for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.

[Ana Gram]

Just another idea re/the dustmites allergy...
I'm allergic to dustmites (had the ***** test due to asthma) and the specialist suggested getting rid of any bedding with feather &/or down, apparently they love it!
At the time I was sleeping under a huge 100% duck down doona and a 100% duck down european pillow.
Ever since changing to the polyester/wool quilts I haven't had an asthma attack.

Thanks, will look into that one for myself as I get hayfever, sinus, asthma and eczema. The little bugger won't actually sleep with a doona. I'm thinking we will probably have to get the mattresses cleaned too.

[Ana Gram]

Regarding floorboards - apparently bamboo floorboards are very good for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.

Thanks for the tip, will be on the lookout when househunting. I have been doing a bit of research into dustmites and am now having nightmares about them! *shudder*

[Mamaduke]

I have been doing a bit of research into dustmites and am now having nightmares about them! *shudder*

They're ****** of things...and yes I am using the naughty version of that medical word mentioned earlier!!!;)