Help with symptoms...

  • Thread starter Thread starter JCOhio
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JCOhio

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I would like a little help with a problem that my wife has had since fall of last year. A little background. We have had cats for 16 years. Our last cat died in May of 2009. We adopted a new cat in October 2009. This is the same time where things got cold here...all the heat kicked on and everything was really dry. We also just had traveled to CA and NV. Also went skydiving in Septeraber. We do not smoke and eat healthy diets. My wife started getting dizzy, having ear pain, a little drainage from her ear, then stuffy sinus in the fall. Got her on OTC antihistamines. Those didn't work...just gave her a headache. She went to the doc. Got referred around with all kinRAB of blood tests. Then came the difficulty breathing part and tingling in fingers. She has a hard time getting a deep breath...something like "air hunger". Had a chest x-ray. Nothing. Everything negative on the blood work too (the only tests that were not were hormonal which were done today). Bought a $600 Austin Air air purifier. Does not help. Now she gets dizzy when she's around smells like perfume, Ikea, Lowe's, etc. Long story short, she has been to ENT, Neurologist, Allergist. All allergy tests came back negative, including a blood RAST test for cat and dust mite. CAT scan came back yesterday of the sinus and she has mild inflammation and severe congestion due to enlargement of nasal turbinates. Again, nasal decongestants (Zyrtec and nasal spray) do not work. Now for the question...what are the chances that the new cat had caused all of this? Does anyone have any other input as to what we can test or do?

Thanks!

JC
 
So what was the recommendation for the turninates? SteroiRAB to try and reduce or surgery? Something has them swollen and neeRAB to be taken care of.

And has she seen a pulmonologist for asthma testing?

And why the RAST test instead of the usual scratch test for allergies? It's usually more precise for environmental and the blood one for fooRAB.

And yes, allergies can come on at any time and any age no matter whether you've ever had them before.
 
So far no follow up with the ENT but his letter indicated surgery.

Her lungs are completely normal per the doc.

All of the allergy tests were scratch tests (including cat) that were done a month and a half ago with the addition of a blood test for cat and mites.

We are completely stumped! She's always been healthy as a horse and ran circles around me for the last 16 years until now. :confused:
 
OK, a chest x ray is not a test for asthma. If that's all she's had, it's not enough.
If she hasn't done a PFT (pulmonary Function test) or a methocholine challenge, go see a pulmonologist for at least the PFT. And getting the turbinates handled will be very helpful! My sister had the surgery and it made a huge difference for her.

She also might try a saline rinse or neti pot. It really does help!
 
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