FUR and FEATHER

[Morrison10]

When I was finally diagnosed 55 years ago with PCD born with, including bronchiectasis, I was told to avoid animals because fur and feathers could have adverse effect. Did so for many years, was anyone else told this, or is it old fashioned opinion, note that many of us have pets who are part of our life. As I write this Morrison is snoozing, and slight snoring. Jean x

[Alberta56]

My daughter as a small child was very allergic to cat fur, though oddly only white fur seems to upset her now. Which is just as well, because we loved our Sooty and it would have been hard to choose between Soot and Sue 😁😁😁.

[eleanordigby]

No I don’t think it’s old fashioned. I’m relatively young but highly allergic to furry animals especially cats, and even more so feathered. Horses too, I can sniff em a mile away. I’m exaggerating but you get the picture! I would so love a chunky little dog. Sadly, because I shy away, people think I don’t like them, or am frightened

[Caspiana]

Hello to you and Morrison. 😊Lung transplant patients are told not to own any birds as feathers and droppings can cause inflammation in the lungs. Even arts and craft materials, such as feathers, can cause irritation. Some patients are even told not to use duvets with down in them. I was advised to re-home Chom. I told them I would not, and it is the only rule of their's I never adhered to. So this is not old fashioned at all. It is based on scientific research. 🐕🙋‍♀️

[Alberta56 in reply to Caspiana]

Gosh. How unthinkable. I'm glad you didn't. xxx

[Maricopa in reply to Caspiana]

I’ve been told birds are much more dangerous I have a golden doodle and a cat. They are important for my mental health!!

[Morrison10 in reply to Caspiana]

Yes I wondered if was based on research, but so little was known about PCD at that time. I was also told to have sedentary life, sit around and look glamorous! I replied that had two young daughters so that impossible. When had visitor from World Health Organization 30 years later, was told that I had done right thing, and I was more healthy than most people with it. She had seen nearly 30 people in UK and I was one of last. Jean xxx

[Beth1949]

A while back, I bought new bed pillows. I noticed soon after, I started coughing a lot at night. That's when I realized that I had bought goose down filled pillows. I replaced them with hypo-allegenic pillows and the coughing stopped.

[Morrison10]

Hello and thanks for interesting replies. My rescue cat, Morrison, got for me few days after husband died is very much part of my life now, so he’s staying with me. I have 4 wild bird feeders in garden and bird table can see from my chair, top them up with mixed seed every day, lovely to see tits, robins, sparrows etc, don’t have bird in house! Best regards, Jean x

[djbctla in reply to Morrison10]

Hi Morrison10

I have slight Bronchiectasis and asthma and two Puddy tats, Moana under a year otherwise known as the “Baba” when my husband and I are out of earshot of anyone - and Paddy. Keep your cat and enjoy his company.

Bernardine 😻😹😸

[Metal-legs]

I have bronchiectasis and am the proud owner of Mitzi cat who is nearly 21 yrs old. She is wonderful company and luckily I have never had a problem with cat fur affecting my lungs. I find strong odours like perfume, laundry liquid and car fumes more of a problem.

[judya]

I spent the first few weeks of my life in an oxygen tent with severe asthma, which paved the way to my current bronchiectasis. The drs told my Mum to avoid all animals and birds and for me to sleep on a pillow full of chaff (affectionally known as my 'hay bag') !!!!!.

When I had a, probably outdated, allergy test in the late 1940s, it revealed that I was allergic to cod and custard !!! My Mum never believed in cossetting me so I played lots of sport at school - very good for expanding lung capacity. And we'd always have animals indoors and outdoors. My respiratory consultant says that I'm coping as well as I am because of always making my lungs work hard, so that their capacity is much greater than would be expected at my age and serious illness..

The moral? Don't assume you're allergic to something just because someone tells you you are. Do as much physical exercise as you can - get breathless , take deep breaths - that's the way to improve your lung capacity both now and for future use.

I'm sure not evryone will agree with me. I can only say that, for me, it has worked.

[Morrison10 in reply to judya]

Thanks for your interesting life story, I agree that keeping active is best, and I’m doing so in between twice daily hour long Nebulising followed by 15 mins Spirometer. I do get breathless going upstairs but that doesn’t stop me. My cat Morrison is my companion, wouldn’t be without him. My mother lived to 111 and I have her strong genes, but may not live longer than her!! Best wishes, Jean x