My ENT recently suggested that I get an allergy test, to see if I was reacting to something causing my chronic rhinitis. Turns out I have a mild reaction to dust mites and dogs.
Among other things, a friend suggested that I look into a HEPA air purifierfor the bedroom. I started looking for reviews and such, but I’m not sure what makes one “good”, or “good for my situation.”
Anyone have any advice or experience here? The master bedroom is roughly 15x15, so I don’t need to cover too large an area.
I’m primarily concerned with the dust mites part of it. I don’t currently have a dog in my life, and when I do it’s because I’m taking care of a friend’s. So bonus points if the same purifier can handle a dog, but it’s not a fast requirement.
I was diagnosed with an allergy to dust mites about a decade ago. With a dust mite allergy, you aren’t actually allergic to the mites; you’re allergic to their poop.
As my allergist explained it to me, the main vector for being exposed to dust mite droppings is in your bed. Given this, the guidance he gave to me:
Invest in a set of covers for the mattress and the pillows, which go in between the mattress (or pillow) and any additional bedding (mattress pad, sheets or pillowcases). These covers apparently help to contain the mites inside of the pillows/mattress.
Strip the bed and wash everything regularly.
Use nasal sprays for symptom relief. He prescribed Flonase and Astepro (though this was before that drug became available OTC, so I had to get a prescription for it).
Those helped me quite a lot. He didn’t mention anything about an air purifier; I suppose it might help, too, but I have no idea.
I should have mentioned the bed stuff…I do strip and wash things reguarly, and I need to look into additional covers that may help. Another thing to research! Or to ask about here…
I’ve had some success with nasal sprays in the past, but they tend to exasperate my dry eye problems, so I’d prefer to stay away from them. I can work with some nasal congestion. It’s very difficult for me to work when I can’t stare at a computer screen for 10 minutes. Which is really a shame, because the ipratropium bromide did seem to help.
I did some looking just now, as I couldn’t remember which brand of them I bought. They were AllerEase, which appears, from what I can see, to be one of the major brands.
That’s the same brand I use also-Allerease. I find has a good selection of them at inexpensive prices compared to other stores. They launder well and seem to not only hold up but greatly help my eyes and general allergies while I sleep.
