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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / December 2004

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Withdrawal from dust mites?

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Scott - 15 Dec 2004 19:05 GMT
After moving into a house in the fall, mild asthma appeared. It took
almost four months to determine the culprit - dust mites. (While I have
meds, the symptoms were mild enough that using drugs would have made it
impossible to determine what caused my problems and when the cause had
been eliminated. So, I went without medication, which was at times
frustrating, but allowed me to conduct experiments.)

The final action against the mites was a thorough carpet cleaning. (I
know - I should get rid of carpets. But, redoing the floors will be
costly, so I tried this first.)

Less than 3 hours after steam cleaning, my respiratory system was going
crazy - and two days later I'm still experiencing what can only be
described as withdrawal symptoms (don't ask me how I know about that).
My breathing is a lot better - but the explosion in my head, throat and
chest makes me a) constantly cognizant that something is still going
on, and b) nervous that this isn't what's supposed to happen. I feel
pretty normal in the morning, but all day it builds.

Is this common? Has my body, over four months, become so accustomed to
the inflammation caused by the dust mites that I should be experiencing
all kinds of sensations (including a mild headache, sore throat, facial
pressure, and even hurting teeth) in their absence?

I'm more curious than anything. I feel a lot better - I just wondered
if anyone else had gone through something like this?

Thanks! Scott
NorthShoreCEO - 15 Dec 2004 19:21 GMT
You wouldn't go through withdrawal of allergens, unless you're talking about some food that had a high sugar content.  Sugar withdrawal is pretty strong (this isn't a joke, by the way).  

Your symptoms almost sound like a sinus or upper respiratory infection.  I think by cleaning the carpets you stirred up a lot of junk and that may have resulted in inflammation that, I suppose, could have led to infection.  

Honestly, I'd see a doctor.  Something else IS going on, but it's not allergen withdrawal.

 After moving into a house in the fall, mild asthma appeared. It took
 almost four months to determine the culprit - dust mites. (While I have
 meds, the symptoms were mild enough that using drugs would have made it
 impossible to determine what caused my problems and when the cause had
 been eliminated. So, I went without medication, which was at times
 frustrating, but allowed me to conduct experiments.)

 The final action against the mites was a thorough carpet cleaning. (I
 know - I should get rid of carpets. But, redoing the floors will be
 costly, so I tried this first.)

 Less than 3 hours after steam cleaning, my respiratory system was going
 crazy - and two days later I'm still experiencing what can only be
 described as withdrawal symptoms (don't ask me how I know about that).
 My breathing is a lot better - but the explosion in my head, throat and
 chest makes me a) constantly cognizant that something is still going
 on, and b) nervous that this isn't what's supposed to happen. I feel
 pretty normal in the morning, but all day it builds.

 Is this common? Has my body, over four months, become so accustomed to
 the inflammation caused by the dust mites that I should be experiencing
 all kinds of sensations (including a mild headache, sore throat, facial
 pressure, and even hurting teeth) in their absence?

 I'm more curious than anything. I feel a lot better - I just wondered
 if anyone else had gone through something like this?

 Thanks! Scott
Scott - 16 Dec 2004 20:07 GMT
Thanks for your reply.

The carpets were steam cleaned, with all excess removed to outside the
house. Nothing was stirred up - it was just taken away. Further, a
coating of some chem that is claimed to kill mites was applied. (I have
no allergies to chemicals.) My current situation is much better - not
worse - but my body has reacted fairly violently to something.

I have an appointment with an allergist in a month - and as long as my
breathing continues to be much better, I'm not going to worry too much
about pursuing this with a doctor. I sort of assume it will abate in a
week or so.

Keep in mind, I harbored an allergen for 4+ months. Wouldn't my immune
system generate some response to an allergen? And, when the allergen is
removed, at first, wouldn't my immune system continue working - causing
some sort of "symptoms"? It seems reasonable, it's just that I've never
heard of anyone else having this sort of issue.
Merlin - 20 Dec 2004 05:21 GMT
Hi Scott, I have observed your described problem numerous times, both
in my own situation and many others.
I found that in virtually every case, the problem temporarily eased
immediately after steam cleaning but worsened in the weeks afterward.
The cut pile types appear to have the worst effect which I feel is due
to increaed static dispersal.
It is interesting to leave the home completely locked up for a few days
and then enter and observe any sneezing or other reactions.
I was of the opinion that the problem involves the binder in the base
of the carpet decaying and producing the effect which obviously has a
gaseous, and an airborne microscopic dust element. Probably also
carrying your dustmite stuff.
I also found some carpets had no problem until they were steam cleaned
a few times.
If you test yourself with scrapings from the bottom of the carpet and
also with scrapings from the top of the underfelt it usually gives a
pretty solid indication that a problem exists. Some rooms may have
different reactive effect.
It does not appear to matter what type of carpet is involved, wool,
poly or cotton types.
I would strongly advise against percivering with any of these materials
if you find a problem with them, they really are an insidious enemy.
A different problem appears with the higher quality foam rubber
underlays and with stain chemical treated carpets.

Each time you have exposure, you will find your reaction problem will
gradually worsen, there is no mileage in trying to exist with the
problem present. Some cases have actually involved increasing
medication doseage as the person became more ill and spent more time at
home, with the increased exposure etc..
The allergy dopiness effect really becomes apparent as the problem
worsens.
Experience has shown that anyone involved with this particular problem
should never be associated with their own carpet removal.
Cheers, Merlin.

> Thanks for your reply.
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> some sort of "symptoms"? It seems reasonable, it's just that I've never
> heard of anyone else having this sort of issue.
Mary - 20 Dec 2004 11:15 GMT
> Hi Scott, I have observed your described problem numerous times, both
> in my own situation and many others.
> I found that in virtually every case, the problem temporarily eased
> immediately after steam cleaning but worsened in the weeks afterward.
> The cut pile types appear to have the worst effect which I feel is due
> to increaed static dispersal.

Life would be so much simpler if you just got rid of the carpet.
The relief I found when we bought a place with hardwood floors,
stone, and tile throughout was amazing.
Merlin - 27 Dec 2004 10:11 GMT
Hi Mary, yes you are absolutely correct, the only problem is after the
carpets are removed either a sanding and polishing method or alternate
flooring covering is needed. This of course includes solvents and other
problems temporarily. So it can be a further problem.
I tried various methods over the years including covering all the
floors with sheet plastic and taping it around the edges as an
experiment but still found the subject had problems.
One of the best assistive ideas was to use self adhesive lino-tiles
which had no solvent or apparent problems and produced a pretty
reasonable allergy-free kind of floor.
In cases where the suffering person has been involved with assisting
removing the affected carpets and underfelt they generally had severe
problems, sometimes lasting for weeks afterward even ER visits.
It is interesting to note that the more expensive foam rubber underlay
causes common problems when new carpets are laid whereas the cheaper
foam plastic stuff causes less effect.
I have been involved with carpet and material removal from at least 40
homes with generally significant improvement from much reduced
asthmatic incidence to no further problem for the poor sap concerned.
It certainly is an interesting area, especially when the person shows
severe dust allergy effect.
Cheers, Merlin.

> > Hi Scott, I have observed your described problem numerous times, both
> > in my own situation and many others.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> The relief I found when we bought a place with hardwood floors,
> stone, and tile throughout was amazing.
 
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