Baffled by Bedtime Allergies? - Maybe It's Your Pillow

For about a year, I suffered from allergies during the night that frustrated my best attempts at detective work. My eyes itched and were watery; I coughed and sniffled my way through the night, and I often woke up with reddened, swollen eyelids and eyes.

I saw a doctor, who referred me to a dermatologist. She prescribed some face cream -- and referred me to an allergist. He conducted various tests and had me keep a detailed journal of what I ate, reactions, and so forth. I was cranky, frustrated with all the expensive medical visits, and, despite my best attempts, just as sniffly and red-eyed as before!

I tried various remedies: closing my bedroom window at night (I felt suffocated), running a special "germ guardian" type of fan all night (all that happened was a high electricity bill), going on a gluten-free diet (I missed bread and made up for it by eating way too many rice crackers), and even tossing the poor kitty out of the bedroom (she meowed and meowed her way through the night). I still had the same problems.

Then, waiting in line at the grocery store, I picked up one of those supermarket tabloids and flipped through it to pass the time. I came across an article on dust mite allergens, which said that dust mite allergens impact more than half of everyone who suffers from allergies. And where do dust mites happily live? In pillows, mattresses, carpets....aha! Combined with what the allergist had said about pollen and mold, I realized that I just might have found the source of my miseries.

I didn't buy the tabloid -- but I did head to the department store, as well as a bedding supply store, to see what they had to solve my problems. I discovered a variety of pillow protectors and mattress protectors designed specifically to guard against pollen, mold, pet dander (sorry, kitty), and the dreaded dust mites. I even found pillows especially designed for allergy sufferers. Aller-Ease Allergen Filtration bedding products seemed to fit my needs the best, and I crossed my fingers, swapped out my pillows and pillow cases, and gave them the "can I wake up without misery" test.

The answer: yes! The first night, I experienced no sniffling or coughing, and I woke up without swollen, reddened eyes. My success pattern continued. And the best news of all for pet lovers: Kitty has been allowed to return to the bedroom.