Allergic to my job :(

RE: Allergic to my job :(

FINNIGAN — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 11:13:34 GMT

Well if it's any consolation. I have a severe allergy to rubber/ latex products.. So Et tubes, resouvoir bag, vet wrap and gloves, I have to carry an epi pen,, but my practice is very good and I'm very careful!!!! We also have a nurse who's allergic to rabbits!!!! Lol

RE: Allergic to my job :(

Rachael_24 — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 07:56:52 GMT

I sympathise as I have a similar problem. I am allergic to pretty much every animal but surprisingly not mice!

I am on prescription anti-histamines to control the problem. I am at my worst with guinea pigs so I try to avoid them where possible. Whilst other animals make me itchy and give me runny eyes, guinea pigs cause my chest to tighten.

Best advice I can give is speak to your GP.

Also worth speaking to your employer to see if something formal can be put in place that allows you to minimise contact with cats.

RE: Allergic to my job :(

kerryfeehan — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:02:16 GMT

Thanks for all the replies :) lots of stuff to look in to and try. Had the allergy when I was a teenager and hoped working around cats would de-sensitize me but alas not. Everyone at work knows I'm allergic to cats but no one seems to care which frustrates me as I am always the person they come to if they need someone to handle or assist with rabbit anaesthetics! As for the severity of my allergy I'm not fully sure as I have been fortunate enough not to have been bitten...yet! I do worry about this though as I had a very friendly cat lick me once and a massive welt formed :s

RE: Allergic to my job :(

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:30:48 GMT

see if you can get a prescription for either desloratidine 5mg or fexofenadine 120mg - while they are antihistamines they are a different class to the usual piriton thingies. Check with your GP first, but they are a godsend to me when all the allergies come up in spring. (may-june are usually very miserable for me, but like yourself, the usual over the counter antihistamines are not my friend.)

RE: Allergic to my job :(

Sal the 1st — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:39:51 GMT

http://www.allergieblock.co.uk/product/allergieblock

just found this as well - will ask Lou if she has tried it and see what she has to say

RE: Allergic to my job :(

Sal the 1st — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:34:51 GMT

I have a couple of friends with this problem - more rabbits than cats tho. Have just asked one of them and they suggested you could try a product called Prevalin (otc) if you haven't already but she did say that just a small amount of vaseline applied just inside and around her nose also helped a bit. Has this allergy only just started up or has it been around a while?

RE: Allergic to my job :(

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 08:59:32 GMT

I apologise in advance if you have already thought of these suggestions - just free-wheeling with my thoughts this morning!

I am assuming your allergy is not life-threatening...or leads to swelling/blockage that could potentially lead to a serious condition? Eeeek!! Notices up for everyone what to do in such an event and see your GP for an Epi-pen?!

Allergy vaccinations? I believe these take somewhile to acquire immunity (same as autogenous vaccine), but (no pun intended) worth a shot? Speak to your GP....

I believe your allergy is caused by the dander shed by the cat / saliva on cat hair? Perhaps try scrupulously wearing PPE (apron, mask, gloves) when handling cats; removing the contaminated PPE immediately afterwards and washing hands / wiping face with wet-wipe? That does sound a bit laborious however better that (if it works) than not nursing at all.

Offer to swap all/majority of feline handling duties for alternative duties with other nurses, (I love a mutually beneficial swap of duties, me. If it works for everyone, then everyone is happy and the team chugs along nicely).

Seek advice from a homeopath; if this is meets your philosophies and/ or budget?

Seek a career at practice that doesn't treat cats as a normal, e.g. large animal practice, exotics specialist, equine?

Um, run outta ideas at the moment. Handing over to the rest of the forum for helpful input...

Regards (and good health!)

Ali h