Bummer!  I'm sure he's right about keeping the windows closed.  As bad as
the smoke from the Day fire is, I'm sure you're getting some of it, too.  I
have very mild asthma that is usually controlled with Singulairre, but I've
been coughing and feeling a little tightness from the smoke, even though I
stay inside and use the AC.

I hope the new medication works, and you can soon get another purifier.  In
the meantime, purrs for you and the cats.

Joy

I am also allergic to cats....and the world changed when I bought a
Dyson vac.  If you have not been able to vaccuum well recently, then
there is some significant build up of dust in your carpets which, if
you are manic about vaccuuming daily, will go down within a week or so.
Hopefully you will see some relief then.  Have you already gone the
route of the bedroom linen?  Get rid of any feather quilts or pillows,
use Dacron or something, and cotton sheets and all that?  All small
things, but they have a cumulative effect.  So does grooming vigorously
daily.  The cats, I mean.  I assume you groom yourself daily already,
ahem.

--tension

Your allergist doesn't apperar to understand cats :-( purrs that when you've
finished the cleaning that your asthma improves.

Kristi,

That's called Environmental Avoidance.  Yes, I'm afraid you're going to
have to close the window.  It lets in the pollen and stuff that causes
the flare-ups.  Here's what I do:  I wait until a (too-rare!) rain, and
then I know the pollen is all beaten down temporarily, and that's when
I open all the windows and turn on the fans to  cool the place down.
For the rest of it, I'm afraid you're going to have to pay the A/C
bill.  For what it's worth, having a fan blowing when the windows are
closed is still acceptable, most of the time.  It helps cut down on the
stuffiness.  You don't have to have the fan blowing ON YOU all night (I
hate that). Just have the fan blowing in the room, pointed somewhere
like across the foot of your bed. It'll move the air around so it's
less stuffy at night.

Get rid of your fluffy comforters. Give them away.  They're just too
hard to clean.  I can't remember where you are, but if it's a really
cold climate, get yourself a pile of cheap polar fleece blankets and
just pile them up.  (Fortunately I'm in a warm enough climate that one
is sufficient most of the winter).   Polar fleece is really easy to
wash, and you're going to have to wash them frequently.  At least once
a month, if not more often.  Get cheap dust mite pillow covers and
replace them several times a  year. Change your sheets at least once a
week and wash them in HOT water. (Yeah, I'm a pig. I used to leave them
on for months)

Ask for a purple Dyson for Christmas, even if your entire family (or
all of your friends) have to chip in and get you that one present only.
And, if you have a Bed Bath and Beyond near you, save the coupons that
come in the mail. It's worth about $100 off the Dyson. That's how I got
mine.  Ignore the expiration date. They don't care.  Same with Linens N
Things (and LNT coupons are good at BB&B!).  Weird, but true.

All of this will help you to keep the cats in the bedroom, along with
vacuuming frequently.  It's work, but you'll feel better, and you'll be
able to say nyah nyah to the doctor.  *grin*

Jane

- owned and operated by Princess Rita

Lots of hugs, purrs and best wishes for you to start feeling much better
really soon, Kristi,
Polonca and Soncek