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Is your asthma triggered by wood smoke?
I don’t know if it qualifies as an allergen, but I get severe headaches and my asthma is triggered if I am near not only a fire, but a fireplace or wood stove that isn’t being used or hasn’t been in a while. At first I thought it was maybe a fungus on the wood that was being released, but how could it be everywhere? Is it just the smoke? Who else has this reaction?
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@ghysla Yes, insurance should cover this. I wish you well.
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34 I did general allergy testing but my insurance wouldn’t cover anything more in depth, not even for food allergies.
I at least keep track of my reactions and what caused them but more testing should be covered as these can possibly be life threatening situations
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1 Reaction@scoop
I’m glad that has worked for you and you can now enjoy your fireplace again 😊
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1 Reaction@lisalucier
I had significant wildfire smoke exposure in California- one of the factors in moving to the Great Lakes area. My pulmonologist believes this was the source of my MAI infection.
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4 ReactionsBeing around a camp fire, bonfire, or fire pit burning wood sets off my asthma. I have trouble breathing and start coughing. The smoke leaves me reaching for my inhaler. I think it has to do with the particulate matter released as wood burning is quite polluting. That said, we've installed a gas insert into our old wood burning fireplace and I have zero reaction. Thank goodness because now I couldn't live without it!
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3 Reactions@heisenberg34 I don't need a doctor to tell me that when I am in a room with a fireplace (no matter how well sealed) or go past burning leaves or am near a fire pit, I am going to have difficulty— every allergy symptom I have kicks in (itching, sneezing, congestion), and I get away as soon as possible. Never thought to ask a physician about it.
I don't see anyone here stating that they have been tested in order to get a specific diagnosis for the various allergens. A competent doctor who specializes in allergies might be an excellent route to take. Just saying.
Tagging some members from different groups around Mayo Clinic Connect who may have some experiences with reactions to wood smoke or who may have done some research on this that they can share with you, @ghysla: @dinis @spectrumcyclist @vcs @kkubsky @pled @scoop @pweg.
@jc76
Good to hear I’m not the only one with hypersensitivity to smells. I can smell a cigarette or fire pit from a block away it seems. I have walked out of small stores of another customer reeked of cigarettes. I am a former smoker and was hypnotized to quit so that compounds my reaction to the cancer stick. The woodsmoke though is devastating. The horrific migraine and affect on my breathing even if the fireplace hasn’t been used in a year is enough to make me sit out of family vacations.
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2 Reactions@sueinmn
I’m happy to hear you can still enjoy an outside fire. I miss that the most. Nothing like a fire at night on a chilly fall evening or waking up early and having coffee by the fire alone while the rest of the world still slumbers
Thank you for that information it’s very helpful 🙂