Question:
I have been recently diagnosed with rhinitis and am looking for some help or
advice.
The doc who diagnosed me said that my sinuses are all swollen and it
wouldn't take much to completely shut them. I've had allergy tests done
(skin and blood test), they were all negative. The worst symptoms I have is
when I get out of bed in the morning, I'm completely blocked up and have
severe congestion, once in a shower it clears and I can breathe again
although it's very shallow breathing and it's quite an effort to nose
breathe only, this continues until the end of the day. I've been taking
drops recently for it (betnesol) but although they've helped a bit they seem
to be losing there strength. I've also to take a nasal spray (nasonex) after
6 weeks of the drops so I've still to try that.
My question is this. Could my symptoms be due to a dust mite allergy or
something similar that affects the sleeping area more so than other areas,
even though I've been tested for dust mites etc and been found negative?
I'm asking because I don't want to make the effort in reducing dust mites if
I have no allergy to them as I know it can be quite an expensive and lengthy
process.
Answer:
I am not a doctor - this is just what I do.
I take a benadryl at night before bedtime and I use
breathe rite strips on my nose if I feel stuffed up.
I breath better all night and wake up less stuffy than previously. Could easily be due to mold spores in the home. Toxic mold poisoning. If
you do better away from your home, check out the premises. You might try
spending the night elsewhere and see if you have the same symptoms. A major factor in allergy diagnosis is quality of material. There are a
variety of companies
that manufacture a variable product. Some physicians even make their own.
A second
referral is likely your best option. As well, the blood tests depend on certain factors in your blood, which you
may not
have 'manufactured'. Nor are the blood tests dependable for determining
your individual
'level' of allergy. You could be off the scale for Ragweed, but symptom
free; meanwhile
Mite reads very low and you exhibit symptoms.
Remember: allergy diagnosis and treatment is as much an art as a science. You probably have non-allergic rhinitis. See:
http://www.NationalJewish.org/medfacts/allergic_rhinitis.html
Allergic & Non-Allergic Rhinitis
Excerpt:
"Idiopathic Non-Allergic Rhinitis
This is also known as vasomotor rhinitis. A person with this type
reacts to temperature and humidity changes, smoke, odors and
emotional upsets. Symptoms are primarily nasal congestion and
postnasal drip. Diagnosis comes after negative skin tests and nasal smear
negative for eosinophils."
