I have a hard time believing that my recent asthma trouble is solely due to living with pets. I just...I can't believe that. God wouldn't hate me that much, would he?

Honestly, vw, I had no problems with pet allergies or asthma until I was 23-24, and living in an apartment and had a pet cat. Growing up, we always had cats, and had dogs on and off, and I had NO problems.

Sometimes allergies -- combined with the smaller space of an apartment versus a house -- can develop/worsen as you get older.

My doctor told me the same thing -- cats are toxic little critters -- and I said "Well, load me up on the good drugs." And they helped, but I kept having asthma exacerbations.

When the roommate who had the cat with me decided to get her own place, she took the cat, and while it was sad-making, literally since the day I stopped sharing the same living space as a cat, I haven't had one single asthma attack.

I'm not telling you what to do -- that's entirely your choice. (After all, I kept the cat and took the drugs. If the roommate hadn't been a total whackjob, we probably would have kept living together, which would have included the cat. So I'm pro-pet, absolutely.)

Just sharing my own experience. It's the reason I won't get a cat now. I love them, but I don't want to mess with asthma again.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Beej}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Beej, I was just thinking about you today, because of the post-F2F Ick that so many Buffistas have -- I was thinking about people giving illnesses to each other, etc., which reminded me of you and Fella. I'd like to smack him upside the head, if I may.

Also, you have a very good friend.

My former roomate and I lived with a cat and a dog. No problem in ye olde flea trap, because the cracks under the doors kept the air nice and fresh. But when we moved into a place that actually had weatherstripping and such the roomie developed massive allergies. Eventually she had to give her cat to her sister. The roomie kept the dog (an indoor dog with a whole lot of regularly shedded fur) and her allergy problems still went away. Ten years later she still has the dog and hardly a sniffle.

There's nothing quite like a fire drill when you work on the 8th floor and end up walking down the stairs behind the guy with the broken ankle who's navigating on crutches. Who soon ends up behind the guy who needs 2 canes to walk.

{{Beej}} thank the gods for good friends

We'll see what happens when Em and Bastet leave. Maybe it'll help.

{{{Beej}}}

vw, good luck talking to your doctor. I honestly think that Bastet may be more of the problem than Toto. According to my doctor, cats are one of the biggest asthma triggers, causing asthma in people that didn't have it before and making those who already have it progressively worse.

I went to therapy. I bought all the minor things we needed for the party, and now I just have to deal with the pit that is my apartment.

{{{Beej}}}

Also, what beth said.

Sometimes allergies -- combined with the smaller space of an apartment versus a house -- can develop/worsen as you get older.

This is very true, vw. My father was never allergic to cats when he was younger, but by the time DH and I had a cat, he had to dose up before he came to our house. And I've never been allergic to dogs, but my parents now have an English cocker who makes me sneezy and watery-eyed every time we visit (and this despite the fact that my own dog has never caused one symptom).

Beej, I was just thinking about you today, because of the post-F2F Ick that so many Buffistas have -- I was thinking about people giving illnesses to each other, etc., which reminded me of you and Fella. I'd like to smack him upside the head, if I may.

I've been reading all the stories of Buffista Ick and having the deepest sympathy for each and every sufferer. Fun = sick is a sad equation indeed.

And thanks to everyone for the sympathy. I really, really need that. Normally me? Rock o Gibralter. Today? Puddle o Morose.

Steph, even as a peaceful woman, I'd be glad for someone to knock this guy up side the head one time. Again, NOT because I blame him for being sick. The Buffista wisdom is strong on that point. Sometimes (Buffista men excepted from what I can see) boys just don't ask the right medical questions...or are too willing to suffer rather than fight for a solution.

But the deep, deep insensitivity has really done me in.

Than again, it is true that I have some really wonderful friends. So I guess, in the end, I'm way better off.