Breathing Difficulties

[chappie]

I have a breathing difficulty, caused, I think, by bird dust, and have been told that having my nasal linings trimmed may help (I know the real answer is to get rid of the birds but I dont want to do that). I have a nasal spray which helps, but the problem is still there. Has anyone had their nasal linings trimmed, and was it successful? Any advice would be gratefully received.

[FP]

Don't want to worry you Chappie, but I had breathing difficulties for years, which they said was asthma coupled with anxiety.  It turned out to be Pigeon Fanciers Lung!  I ended up in hospital.  They found out from blood tests that I had an allergy to pigeons, parrots and chickens, and I was keeping ********** and budgies as pets.  Apparently Pigeon Fanciers Lung is caused by an allergy to bird protein, and is more common in northern britain where more racing pigeons are kept.

I was told the only option was to get rid of the birds and to fumigate my house or move!!!!  I rehomed my pets and we thoroughly cleaned every bit of the house (even though my birds were in the conservatory) .  My lungs are slightly damaged but I can now breathe very well again.  If they hadn't have found it out, it could have proved very serious.

Now, I have worried you!  However, it took my doctors about two years to find the problem and all it needed was a simple blood test, so I thought it would be wise to caution you.

Having said all this it could just be an asthmatic problem.  But rather than getting your nasal linings trimmed, I would see your doctor.  I hated getting rid of my birds, but it was the only way in my case.

[FP]

Edited because I used the word c0ckateils, ha, ha!

[FP]

I should add that it did cause problems with my nose as well, as I kept getting sinusitis.

[chappie]

Thank you for that very informative reply, Fakeplastic. I have been using a nasal steroid spray, prescribed by my doctor, for at least two years, and the only alternative he has suggested is to try the nasal lining trimming, but he did add that it is not always one hundred per cent successful, and there's a chance that it might not work at all. There has been no mention of Pigeon Fanciers Lung, so that didnt occur to me. The strange thing is, we had been keeping birds for at least five years before my problems started. I could ask to be tested for PFL, but I think the doc will want me to get rid of the birds first, to see if that does any good. What a dilemma!

[FP]

Chappie.  It was just a simple blood test I had which specifically looks for pigeon fanciers lung.  Is it just your nose that is affected or or you experiencing breathing problems when you exercise, etc.  as I was?  However, I would say that mine started with my nose and I had been prescribed nose sprays for years.

I had birds for about 4 years before this happened.  It happened when I wasn't working so was in the house more, although it had obviously been building up without me knowing.

The lung specialist who treated me for PFL said the nose problems I had were more than likely for the same reason and there was research going on on this (year 2000).  I would see your doctor and mention that you know somebody, etc. etc. who has had this diagnosed and ask for a blood test.  If he says 'no' I would ask for a second opinion. 

You would get results of a blood test very quickly and if it is clearn, you can at least make up your mind, knowing that you haven't got a serious illness.

My doctor says he still feels guilty about not thinkingabout PFL earlier - he said it just didn't occur to him as it's so rare where I live.  By the way the correct name for what I had was allergic alviolitis(or something similar).  Although it is called PFL, parrot family birds and chickens are the main causes.

I do wish you luck and hope that it isn't PFL.  I was devastated when I had to rehome my birds, but in my case there was no alternative.

By the way, I don't have to use nose sprays or take steroids or any other medication nowadays.

[Ouisch]

Don't know if this would work in your case, but a friend of mine developed a severe allergy to cat hair and dust later in life.  She didn't want to get rid of her cats (and who can avoid dust?), so she went to an allergist who prepares a monthly injection for her - she brings in a small sample from her vacuum cleaner bag, and he concocts a shot from that...it slowly desensitizes her to the allergens in her house.

[chappie]

Fakeplastic, I get a tingling, slightly burning sensation in my nose with every inhalation, sometimes both nostrils block and I feel as if I am going to suffocate. Sometimes I can be fast asleep and the blocked nostrils wake me up. Getting myself upright and sticking my head out of the window usually helps. To be honest I dont know if exercising effects me as I dont have enough energy to exercise! Just doing the minimum of housework leaves me feeling weary and slightly out of breath. However I think that is due to a different health problem. With reference to what you said about PFL being more of a northern thing, I live in the north (North Yorkshire). I am wondering if the problem would eventually clear itself, as originally we had around eighty budgies, love birds and 'tiels (we used to take in rescued/abandoned birds) but we havent taken any in for the last three years and the ones we have are dying off. Because of my problem we have stopped rescuing them.

[FP]

Chappie,  I love birds as well and miss mine.  They were rescued as well!

I used to get out of breath and tired just climbing about two steps when my FPL was at it's worse. 

I still think it very worth you getting a blood test done, just to rule out FPL which will not get better whilst you have any birds.  I was told that even if I had one budgie I would still have got it because it is basically an allergy.

The nose sprays I used to have made my nose sting and bleed!!

I do wish you well.  Let me know what you decide to do.

 

[Philtaz]

Who told you that you need your linings trimmed?  The only person who should do that is your GP who will refer you to an ENT surgeon.

The op is known as an SMR(Sub Mucous Resection) and should last anything between 10 and 30 minutes. 

If you think you need one, ask to see your GP.

[FP]

Philtaz, in her second posting on here, chappie has said that it's her GP that has talked to her about the nasal lining trimming.

[chappie]

Fakeplastic, I will ask the doctor for a test for PFL, and very much hope that I havent got it, one of our birds is an African Grey that is terrified of men, and actually shivers when a man goes near his cage. When we got him we were told he was hand reared, but I reckon he was wild-caught and can remember his nightmare capture and journey to this country. I'm sure you know about that sort of thing. He would be extremely difficult to rehome. We have had him for five years and he is still very frightened of my husband, who is the most gentle man I have ever met. He growls at men (the bird, not my husband!) but then shivers if they go right up to his cage. It is very sad. I suspect that the Grey was passed from pillar to post before coming to us because of his problems.

Getting back to my breathing problem, thanks very much for your replies and your help, and thank you to the others who have posted a reply for me. It is very kind of you all. The last resort may be that I have to get rid of the birds, I will just have to see what the future holds.