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Nov. 3rd, 2003
Dogs and Cats
Nov. 3rd, 2003 03:43 amI recently took the decision that I must never again spend any time anywhere around cats or dogs.
It seems quite conclusive now that my arthritis was/is triggered by a severe cat allergy. During the summer, living in a house with two cats, the problem got sufficiently bad that I really did think I was getting close to ending up in a wheelchair. At its worst, I wasn't far off -- I could only manage 100m or so, and even that was at the cost of considerable pain.
Since going to Cambridge and getting away from cats and dogs completely, my symptoms have almost completely disappeared, other than for a relapse lasting a few days after staying overnight at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
doseybat's parents (who have a cat). The cat problem, then, seems proven beyond reasonable doubt.
I have been thinking a lot about this recently, looking back at times in my life when I have had arthritis symptoms, and other times when I have not. The results of this process are interesting, if somewhat unwelcome. It seems that the times when I have had problems were all concurrent with the times I have lived around dogs. The problem was less acute, yes, but still very real. I therefore tend to conclude that I am very allergic to cats, and somewhat allergic to dogs.
In the last couple of weeks, I have had a little taste of life without arthritis. This is something definitely worth having, and something that is worth sacrifice to achieve. I can walk distances without pain, and can for the first time in a long time consider physical exercise as a reasonable (i.e. non-painful) possibility. I have therefore decided to, as far as possible, completely eliminate any exposure I might have to animal hair.
This is not an easy decision emotionally, however obvious it may be. Nearly everyone i'm close to has cats, dogs or in some cases both. I can't visit Bat, Sarah, Penguin, Bat's parents, Sarah's parents, Yves and Casby or any of my family. I can't go to Bat's birthday party next month, which is causing me considerable pain.
I can't afford to compromise. I can't let my health slide. I am therefore posting this message in the hope that everyone I know with cats and dogs (i.e. nearly everyone I know) will understand why I can't ever visit them at home. Please don't take it personally, and understand how much it hurts for me to have to do this.
It seems quite conclusive now that my arthritis was/is triggered by a severe cat allergy. During the summer, living in a house with two cats, the problem got sufficiently bad that I really did think I was getting close to ending up in a wheelchair. At its worst, I wasn't far off -- I could only manage 100m or so, and even that was at the cost of considerable pain.
Since going to Cambridge and getting away from cats and dogs completely, my symptoms have almost completely disappeared, other than for a relapse lasting a few days after staying overnight at
doseybat's parents (who have a cat). The cat problem, then, seems proven beyond reasonable doubt.I have been thinking a lot about this recently, looking back at times in my life when I have had arthritis symptoms, and other times when I have not. The results of this process are interesting, if somewhat unwelcome. It seems that the times when I have had problems were all concurrent with the times I have lived around dogs. The problem was less acute, yes, but still very real. I therefore tend to conclude that I am very allergic to cats, and somewhat allergic to dogs.
In the last couple of weeks, I have had a little taste of life without arthritis. This is something definitely worth having, and something that is worth sacrifice to achieve. I can walk distances without pain, and can for the first time in a long time consider physical exercise as a reasonable (i.e. non-painful) possibility. I have therefore decided to, as far as possible, completely eliminate any exposure I might have to animal hair.
This is not an easy decision emotionally, however obvious it may be. Nearly everyone i'm close to has cats, dogs or in some cases both. I can't visit Bat, Sarah, Penguin, Bat's parents, Sarah's parents, Yves and Casby or any of my family. I can't go to Bat's birthday party next month, which is causing me considerable pain.
I can't afford to compromise. I can't let my health slide. I am therefore posting this message in the hope that everyone I know with cats and dogs (i.e. nearly everyone I know) will understand why I can't ever visit them at home. Please don't take it personally, and understand how much it hurts for me to have to do this.