Allergies

[Mare]

I'm hesitant to even think this way..does anyone here have an allergy to their birds? I've been getting itchy skin rashes for the past year and it seems to be escalating. I had to go get a shot to stop the itching, a few weeks ago. I'm trying to get an appointment for an allergy test. I had one many years ago and I was allergic to Bermuda grass, I thought it was my horses but it was Bermuda grass AND Poison Oak. I've never had an allergy in my life.

I'm thinking that if it were my bird's dander..it would affect my lungs..any thoughts?

[kendrafitz]

Maybe the dust from the birds is causing the irritation? All your guys are dusty and you just added three babies to the mix. Does Benedryl help at all?

Here is something I found:
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Here are tips on dealing with bird allergies:
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If you can shower/mist them, try doing it daily and see if that helps at all?

Sorry I can't be more help. I have no experience with the dust. We ended up with Rosie even though Ash originally wanted an M2 bc the dust would have killed my husband and sons asthma. Hope you feel better soon!!

[Mare]

I've been taking Benedryl at night, thanks, Kendra. It does help, otherwise I wake up and can't sleep for hours because of the itching. I've been reading up on bird allergies and have found that it doesn't only affect the lungs, I refuse to let this stop me from my birds.

I vacume and clean cages daily and have taken to wearing a long sleeved shirt while handling the birds and washing my hands and face after a cuddle session. I've gotten to the point of wearing a mask while cleaning cages. I'm bummed, it really bums me out to think it might be my birds. I'm thankful my lungs aren't affected.

Until I have an allergy test, though..I can't be for sure.

[kendrafitz]

Oh no, I'm sorry Mare. Try bathing them as often as possible - it will probably decrease the dust significantly. Rosie showers daily and loves it.

[Quakerella]

So sorry Mare, I have allergies to birds and asthma. I agree with Kendra about the benadryl, I take one every night before going to bed, and I wear a mask when cleaning cages or going into the aviary. It has been better since we built the outdoor aviary for the breeders. I also purchased an air purifier and put it in the bedroom, it has helped a lot. If it hasn't affected your lungs that is good, but the mask when cleaning the cages is important. I also dust, vacuum, and bath the birds regularly. Surprising how much dust they create. Hope you feel better!!

[Mare]

Thank you, Kendra and Rosalyn! The birds get showers and mists, often. I clean cages and vacume daily. I had a doctors visit yesterday and got a referral to see an allergist to be tested. The doctor I saw said that it looks like a contact dermatitis allergy. I'm hoping it's not from my birds, the doc thought not..she thought that if it were from my birds, it would have shown up long before now,,so this is good news! :)

[Dragonlady2]

That's good news. I don't know what I would do if I had to give up my birds for my health.