Paint Headache (?) - Sinusitis

[Guest guest]

As soon as I said that Xolair was finally helping my chronic sinusitis

(and thereby the chronic headaches) my head is hurting and pressured

and inflamed.

I think it's because my hubby is painting the dining room. That's the

miracle. The bad part is that I suspect I'm horribly allergic to

paint. Is that possible or is it just an irritant? As I recall from

the past I got horrible headaches whenever the inside of the house was

painted. My hubby said that paint used to carry some sort of chemical

in it similar to what was used in WWI toxic gases (for warfare). Is

that still true?

I've seen things posted on here about " irritants " being different than

allergens. Anyone care to elaborate? What can I do? We're opening up

the windows (chilly!) for a while and burning a votive candle in our

bedroom at night. The latter helps me a bit w/air pollution type

headaches. Humerously, the air conditioning just kicked on because I

have a portable heater running beside me ....... !

I'm on Nystatin for thrush so perhaps the fungus went to my head too?

The med helps but of course the benefit tends to disappear after I eat

or drink.

I'm having an allergy/irritant night tonight (and for the last 5

nights)

[Guest guest]

Hi and hope everyone is keeping good health-

I don't know whether paint is an allergen or irritant - but I have

heard from friends with out allergies etc that the paint smells

bother even them.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some horrible chemical(s) that

was used for warfare in house paint. Seriously, we had our kitchen

and living room and hallways painted with Sherwin Harmony

paints which is supposed to be a " Low Volatile Organic Compounds " or

VOCs and a more environmentally friendly paint.

I want to emphasize, I don't work (nor do any friends/family members)

for that company and I have absolutely zero interest in that company

because their regular paints have a very strong smell for me. The

primer we used was not a low VOC paint but we opened the windows most

of the time. The paint smell did not bother my sensitive sinuses and

lungs much. Maybe that might be due to the protection of Xolair!

Opening the windows helped, though. (Then again, that will let the

pollens, dust, and molds and other allergens and pollutants in.

However, it is probably better to leave the house while the painting

is being done. Unfortunately, I didn't have that option.)

I think other major paint companies make low VOC paints/primers too.

Of course, it sounds like your painting is almost done but perhaps

next time you might want to consider a low or no VOC paint or

something like that. These products seem to be improving every year.

Good luck,

GM

--- In , " instdesgn1 " <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> As soon as I said that Xolair was finally helping my chronic

sinusitis

> (and thereby the chronic headaches) my head is hurting and

pressured

> and inflamed.

>

> I think it's because my hubby is painting the dining room. That's

the

> miracle. The bad part is that I suspect I'm horribly allergic to

> paint. Is that possible or is it just an irritant? As I recall

from

> the past I got horrible headaches whenever the inside of the house

was

> painted. My hubby said that paint used to carry some sort of

chemical

> in it similar to what was used in WWI toxic gases (for warfare).

Is

> that still true?

>

> I've seen things posted on here about " irritants " being different

than

> allergens. Anyone care to elaborate? What can I do? We're

opening up

> the windows (chilly!) for a while and burning a votive candle in

our

> bedroom at night. The latter helps me a bit w/air pollution type

> headaches. Humerously, the air conditioning just kicked on because

I

> have a portable heater running beside me ....... !

>

> I'm on Nystatin for thrush so perhaps the fungus went to my head

too?

> The med helps but of course the benefit tends to disappear after I

eat

> or drink.

>

> I'm having an allergy/irritant night tonight (and for the last 5

> nights)

>

[Guest guest]

So sorry you're having such miseries. Paint is a whopping irritant.

You can still get plenty of inflammation and allergy-type symptoms

from irritants but the mechanism by which those symptoms are produced

is initially different than for allergens.

The difference is that allergies involve antibodies (IgE)that bind to

allergens, triggering a cascade of inflammation and the symptoms

associated with allergies. Irritant reactions due not involved IgE

but " just " chemically irritate the respiratory passages, eyes and

skin and other organs depending on the irritant, the nature of the

exposure (inhaled vs. contact vs. swallowed) and the individual.

Fran

--- In , " instdesgn1 " <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> As soon as I said that Xolair was finally helping my chronic

sinusitis

> (and thereby the chronic headaches) my head is hurting and

pressured

> and inflamed.

>

> I think it's because my hubby is painting the dining room. That's

the

> miracle. The bad part is that I suspect I'm horribly allergic to

> paint. Is that possible or is it just an irritant? As I recall

from

> the past I got horrible headaches whenever the inside of the house

was

> painted. My hubby said that paint used to carry some sort of

chemical

> in it similar to what was used in WWI toxic gases (for warfare).

Is

> that still true?

>

> I've seen things posted on here about " irritants " being different

than

> allergens. Anyone care to elaborate? What can I do? We're

opening up

> the windows (chilly!) for a while and burning a votive candle in

our

> bedroom at night. The latter helps me a bit w/air pollution type

> headaches. Humerously, the air conditioning just kicked on because

I

> have a portable heater running beside me ....... !

>

> I'm on Nystatin for thrush so perhaps the fungus went to my head

too?

> The med helps but of course the benefit tends to disappear after I

eat

> or drink.

>

> I'm having an allergy/irritant night tonight (and for the last 5

> nights)

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, that is so good to know! I wasn't aware VOC paints even

existed! This was a very, very good brand of Glidden paint that

looks good. Probably most people wouldn't be bothored by it that

much. Bytheway, I have absolutely nothing to do w/Glidden in any way

either - just happened to buy the paint because it seemed to go on

well and look good.

How do you know if it is a VOC paint? Is it on the label someplace?

Does the paint hold up and look good? I know that at least one home

cleaning service is using " green " (i.e., less toxic) cleaners now

too.

I'm a little better now - house is aired out more and I've been

taking pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen (Aleve does not work for

headaches in me) but the pseudoephedrine does tend to hype me up and

hard to sleep. Also, I injected Xolair last night. I've never

noticed any sudden improvement w/Xolair shots; mine has been very

gradual but I suppose it's possible.

> >

> > As soon as I said that Xolair was finally helping my chronic

> sinusitis

> > (and thereby the chronic headaches) my head is hurting and

> pressured

> > and inflamed.

> >

> > I think it's because my hubby is painting the dining room.

That's

> the

> > miracle. The bad part is that I suspect I'm horribly allergic to

> > paint. Is that possible or is it just an irritant? As I recall

> from

> > the past I got horrible headaches whenever the inside of the

house

> was

> > painted. My hubby said that paint used to carry some sort of

> chemical

> > in it similar to what was used in WWI toxic gases (for warfare).

> Is

> > that still true?

> >

> > I've seen things posted on here about " irritants " being different

> than

> > allergens. Anyone care to elaborate? What can I do? We're

> opening up

> > the windows (chilly!) for a while and burning a votive candle in

> our

> > bedroom at night. The latter helps me a bit w/air pollution type

> > headaches. Humerously, the air conditioning just kicked on

because

> I

> > have a portable heater running beside me ....... !

> >

> > I'm on Nystatin for thrush so perhaps the fungus went to my head

> too?

> > The med helps but of course the benefit tends to disappear after

I

> eat

> > or drink.

> >

> > I'm having an allergy/irritant night tonight (and for the last 5

> > nights)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

first off, congrats for getting hubby to paint! YEAH!

secondly, i'd assume paint is like any other airbourne irritant ike

smoke or perfume. it effects some people, and not others.

hope you're feeling better!

heather

[Guest guest]

fyi

a safer paint to use is made by AFM products. i use all of their stuff. also

benjamin moore has a non toxic paint. i am using that term liberally.

peace,

leigh

heather <heaven1975@...> wrote: first off,

congrats for getting hubby to paint! YEAH!

secondly, i'd assume paint is like any other airbourne irritant ike

smoke or perfume. it effects some people, and not others.

hope you're feeling better!

heather

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi:

I've used the benajmin and ventilated the house well and that worked

very well.

Kathy

Leigh McCall-Alton <mccallalton@...> wrote:

fyi

a safer paint to use is made by AFM products. i use all of their stuff. also

benjamin moore has a non toxic paint. i am using that term liberally.

peace,

leigh

heather <heaven1975@...> wrote: first off, congrats for getting hubby to

paint! YEAH!

secondly, i'd assume paint is like any other airbourne irritant ike

smoke or perfume. it effects some people, and not others.

hope you're feeling better!

heather

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.