I suspect it is dust mite allergy anyway and recommend getting tested for it. The test is quick and harmless, and once you have a proper diagnosis, you can take measures to reduce the allergic load in your place or start therapy.

Source: Am allergic to dust mites and was living with the symptoms for years before I got a diagnosis.

[–] Lederrucksack@feddit.de 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Thanks for your advice! I did a test back in 2018 which turned out positive. I then began to vacuum and wipe the dust a lot more frequently and bought encasings for my bed with no success. I even did a three year therapy with literally no improvement. The only thing that is working is decongestant nasal spray, but of course that's no long term solution... That's why I'm sceptical.

[–] DV8@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Do you still have carpets? I find that carpets are much bigger indicators of whether my dust mite allergy will kick up rather than visible dust that's flowing around. Best of luck in any case.

[–] Lederrucksack@feddit.de 1 points 11 months ago

Yes, I still have some. I lived without carpets for some years, but I didn't really make a difference so I decided to put them back.

Maybe it's not the carpets but the flats I lived/live in. Since around that time it started I moved to my first flat in an old building. Since then I moved two times but always to similar flats with the same old wooden floorboards and high ceilings. Maybe it's the brittle stuff between the floorboards that collects the allergens.

[–] SebSnares@feddit.de 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Did you do the therapy with syringes or sublingual?

I had both and syringes worked much better than sublingual (but after 7 years the effect wore off anyways)

Also this stuff works wonders to free my nose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budesonide

Dust mite allergy is decreasing my sleep quality drastically without proper treatment. I have a really high reaction, so that really affects my overall quality of life long term. I only realized that once I changed my doctor after finishing my studies and finally finding no excuses to try to improve on symptoms.

I hope you find something that works for you

[–] Lederrucksack@feddit.de 2 points 11 months ago

Thanks a lot for your tips. I guess I will try Budesonide nasal spray, that stuff sounds promising!

I got the sublingual therapy. I didn't want to visit my doctor every month so I decided against the syringes, but it seems like even they aren't a permanent fix.

I also sleep very poorly and wake up tired despite having enough sleep. I hope some day I can breathe/sleep like a normal person again!