Long story short, we've had a dog for about 2.5 years now. She's a Siberian Husky mix, the first "large" dog I've had. Previously we've owned cocker spaniels pretty much exclusively. Mishka (dog) sheds a couple times a year and I brush it out, but fur still gets everywhere, so we have to vacuum weekly. That's fine with us, but the other problem is she gets on the bed while we're gone, fur gets on the blankets/sheets, and we sleep under that. I'm about to get our down comforter cleaned, but I think the damage is already done.
For the past month, I've been sort of sick. I was definitely sick with a cold/flu type thing the first week of Dec.
The second week I felt a little better. Third week a little better. Last week, I started feeling a little sick though, waking up with a dry/scratchy throat, phlegm, and a stuffed nose.
The real dealbreaker (I figured it would pass) is this massive headache I've had in the past couple days. I never get headaches (or migraines, except for an ocular one 2 months ago) so this is unusual, especially one lasting this long. The pain seems to be situated right above and behind my eyebrows. I think it's where the sinuses are. Rubbing them doesn't help much, but my nose clears up when I get out of the apartment and off to work.
Being sunday, my general practitioner is closed. I'll probably go in Tuesday morning (can't make it tomorrow morning, no sick hours left and I need the money) and get looked over, but I've heard people can become allergic to pets after years of owning them. Has this happened to anyone else?
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What I'm thinking is you've got a good old fashioned sinus infection, because I've never heard of anyone reacting to allergies with headaches. Sinus infections usually takes a couple of weeks of your nose being stuffed to develop.
Why not go tomorrow and by some cheap over the counter antihistamines and see if they have any effect on your nose?
I might do that - I tried some Zirtec(sp?) the other day, didn't do much as I kept sneezing, but I'm not sure if the headache pre- or succeeded that.
Any recommendations for brands to try?
The thing with many allergy medications like Claritin, Allegra and Zertec is that you have to keep taking them for a couple days/weeks before you really feel the benefits. If you want a quick antihistamine you should try Benadryl but honestly this doesn't sound like allergies, it sounds like you have really dry sinuses. I get symptoms like this a lot during the winter because the humidity is so low and some saline nasal spray and a humidifier make a huge difference.
I've been blowing my nose all morning and the rate at which I can produce mucus is astounding. Perhaps I've been exposed to some radioactive material and I'll be able to lend my talents to crime-fighting?