Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Christmas Cactus Allergy??

Does anyone out there have an allergy to Christmas Cacti when they are in bloom?

Today, my cacti started to bloom and I have been sneezing like mad all afternoon and evening. I went out of the house for a ladies craft night and didn't sneeze there once. Now I am home and sneezing again.

Or am I just a nut and losing it completely?

20 comments:

deiss said...

I vote for you being a nut and losing it completely.

Anonymous said...

I second that. :)

Unknown said...

third!!!

But on the off chance it is the plant, you could take off the blooms

Anonymous said...

...or condemn it to the porch!

Anonymous said...

"Just don't put it in your mouth". Hahahaha.

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

Well all of you are nuts right along with me! Especially Tina! How much cold medication are you on??

jen said...

What in H is a Christmas Cactus lol? All I can think of is a saguaro cactus with Christmas decorations on it!

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

I will put a picture up for you later Jen!

Anonymous said...

The Christmas cactus my mom had when I was growing would always bloom early -- for my birthday, she told me. :)

You might be extra-sensitive right now from the pregnancy. I get very sensitive to perfumes when pregnant.

Unknown said...

Kara and Tina

Do you remember Jessica Tandy asking Cathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes "how many them hormones you taking, honey?" when Cathy Bates said she felt like she could conquer the world??!!

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

hehehe so more hormones means I can conquer the world? Then I am on the right track!!

Anonymous said...

How on earth do you make the darn things bloom in the first place? My aunt gave me a beautiful one a few years ago that would bloom like crazy in her house. Here, I'm lucky if I get 3 flowers on mine. Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Immediate allergic and nonallergic reactions to Christmas and Easter cacti.
http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/algy/abstract.00000381-199905000-00016.htm;jsessionid=JvWR8lvrvvggQcp8kwJKCkVhvppy1clJJXzWhKD1JZxqyyKlpn2F!1329102805!181195628!8091!-1

Anonymous said...

I have a SEVERE allergy to Christmas Cactus. Whenever i come in contact with a Christmas Cactus in bloom, I break out in hives, breathing becomes compromised, and circulation is affected in my extremities. This is not something to let go, as my allergies to Christmas Cactus have gotten worse over the years... have your suspicion confirmed by an allergy specialist.

DarylArt Digital said...

We recently got a Christmas cactus, which is currently in full floral bloom, and now I have an annoying post nasal kind of cough that leads to gagging. I wonder if I too am having an allergic reaction? It's sad because I love this pretty plant.

Unknown said...

I find it interesting that sooo many people think this allergy to Christmas cactus is a mental issue. I highly doubt that. Recently both my Christmas cactus' are blooming. My eyes are burning. I'm sneezing with intermittent coughing. I leave the house, I am fine. I usually keep them on the patio, but brought them in due to the cold. I too think these cactus are so lovely. Yet when every plant blooms allergens are emitted into the air. I had just not considered having a cactus allergy. When I came on this site, it was refreshing to know that others were struggling with this as well.


Anonymous said...

I found this by searching for the possibility of having a Christmas Cactus allergy myself. I had severe reactions that lasted a month when I was 33. It mimicked a cold with the runny nose and coughing. Since it lasted longer than a week my doctor suggested it wasn't a cold but allergies. I went for allergy tests and they found I was allergic to oak trees and fescue grass. That's all around me as a lifetime citizen of Cincinnati and I had no problems. It happened again a year later when the Christmas cactus came inside. We got rid of the Christmas cactus and I hadn't had a problem for the next 27 years until my wife's mom died and she got her mom's Christmas Cactus. This year, it bloomed and I had a month of sneezing and coughing that I couldn't control. My wife moved the Christmas cactus out Friday and I have relief on Sunday. I found another link besides this one that describes the allergy. http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/aah/11.08/articles/holiday_tips/

Anonymous said...

I was at a friend's last week and she had 2 Christmas cactus blooming. My ears and eyes both started to itch. This is January and there is nothing else blooming in Spokane at that time of year. As soon as I left her apartment, it stopped.

Sandy Wirth said...

Spent two nights last week at my mom's house. Second day, severe allergies. Came home, no problem. Ditto this week. Only thing I can figure is the Christmas Cactus that was hung basically over the nightstand near my bed, dropping flowers. Was "glad" to see this stream as it validated what I have been experiencing.

Anonymous said...

So glad for this thread. Thanksgiving cactus just started to bloom, and I just started having post nasal drip and feeling like crap. Left for work and felt better. Came home from work and instantly when I walked in the door the back of my throat started to itch. Tried to find the culprit, and this thread absolutely makes sense. Thank you all!