I suspect that our asthma may be of a rather differing variety here from the way you are discussing things. Either way, a disclaimer that I'm reporting on what I get told (much of which annoys me), rather than what I believe to be A Good Thing.
In the case of the allergists suggesting to stay away from furry animals, I gather that, much like the similar suggestion to stay away from feathers, that the mechanism involved is a non-allergic* one. They tell you to avoid things even if your skin prick tests come back negative. (*Or, in some cases, it's an indirect allergy reason (e.g. if things cause an increase in dust mites).)
I, too, find it intensely frustrating that specialists have to make their best guesses based on their experience rather than more rigorous scientific methods. But *shrug* their best guesses have kept me from dying, and that's the important thing to me :-). "Do you have pets?" is a common question which they *all* ask, so I figure that it's not just one person's personal ideas (even if they are a specialist).
There are huge health benefits to pet ownership, and many people who have mild sensitivities to animals find that these benefits outway the problems anyway. Often, if there are problems, they can be kept happily in order with management and antihistamines.
I have to express my surprise at this point that anybody can manage to get to see an allergist if their condition is kept under control with antihistamines! I have to admit that I thought it took at least two or three inpatient stays or to be on at least five different relevant classes of drugs for a year before they'd even say hello to you :-).
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Date: 2009-01-21 05:05 pm (UTC)In the case of the allergists suggesting to stay away from furry animals, I gather that, much like the similar suggestion to stay away from feathers, that the mechanism involved is a non-allergic* one. They tell you to avoid things even if your skin prick tests come back negative.
(*Or, in some cases, it's an indirect allergy reason (e.g. if things cause an increase in dust mites).)
I, too, find it intensely frustrating that specialists have to make their best guesses based on their experience rather than more rigorous scientific methods. But *shrug* their best guesses have kept me from dying, and that's the important thing to me :-). "Do you have pets?" is a common question which they *all* ask, so I figure that it's not just one person's personal ideas (even if they are a specialist).
There are huge health benefits to pet ownership, and many people who have mild sensitivities to animals find that these benefits outway the problems anyway. Often, if there are problems, they can be kept happily in order with management and antihistamines.
I have to express my surprise at this point that anybody can manage to get to see an allergist if their condition is kept under control with antihistamines! I have to admit that I thought it took at least two or three inpatient stays or to be on at least five different relevant classes of drugs for a year before they'd even say hello to you :-).