Allergies? Please help

Ever since I've started brewing, about 4 weeks/3 batches ago, my eyes have been very dry and itchy. Anyone else have this happen? About the same time, though, we had some house painting done, and I started a new job, all indoors for the first time in my life. My eyes feel better pretty much as soon as I get outside, whether it's at work or at home. Just seeing if anyone else has had this happen to them, related to brewing, and what did you do?

My eyes usually water up. I tend to cry when looking down into the beautiful wort in my pot Seriously though, I think that it probably has something to do with you new job or something. Did you brew before your new job?

doublegun said:

Ever since I've started brewing, about 4 weeks/3 batches ago, my eyes have been very dry and itchy. Anyone else have this happen? About the same time, though, we had some house painting done, and I started a new job, all indoors for the first time in my life. My eyes feel better pretty much as soon as I get outside, whether it's at work or at home. Just seeing if anyone else has had this happen to them, related to brewing, and what did you do?

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Quit your job...brew beer all morning (outside)...drink all afternoon(outside) and go to a bar at night that has outside seating...repeat daily

And as for the whole money issue it would appear that you have a debilatating disease that means your wife has to fulfill that sickness or in health deal.

Tough break dude,

Verm

Try Zyrtec and see if it helps.

Most likely it's the paint & being indoors so much. It isn't unusual for office buildings to have relative humidities under 15%, which outside qualifies as a desert. I find that if I don't wear my glasses indoors my eyes get dry. Outdoors it isn't a problem, but I need the glasses for distance.

You say you've moved. Previous occupants of your dwelling have cats and are you allergic? The dry itchy eyes sounds like something such as dust, dander, hair etc.

Sorry I misread your post duh! Your new job, what is it and what is in your immediate surroundings? I can almost garauntee it is one of the things I mentioned, or possibly, if it is a brand new facility the off gassing can cause a reaction in some people (ya know from carpets and such). I guess for that matter, like David mentioned, it could be the paint off gassing.....

Yeah, one of the housekeeping guys came by vacuuming last night and it was like being downwind of someone getting pepper sprayed. The work environment is one of those sealed cubicle joints, akin to "Office Space". I'm pretty sure it's not anything related to barley or wheat. I'm using artificial tears and Claratin, we'll see if that helps. Great. This is all I need.

doublegun said:

Yeah, one of the housekeeping guys came by vacuuming last night and it was like being downwind of someone getting pepper sprayed. I'm pretty sure it's not anything related to barley or wheat. I'm using artificial tears and Claratin, we'll see if that helps. Great. This is all I need.

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The doctor told my friend (who has a nephew with dander allergies) to NOT clean before he comes as the particles becomes airborne.

I have a good friend, and fellow home brewer, who is alergic to, of all things-beer.

Specifically I think he is actually allergic to wheat (he hates bread). After three or four pints, he'll start sneezing into his beer, which is somewhat comical, but rather messy. Mind you, this does not prevent him from consuming his fifth or sixth pint. He just increases his beer intake speed to stay ahead of the sneezing.

He's never had an attack while brewing though, (he's one of those weird people that doesn't like to drink while he brews, for fear of messing something up) so my guess would be that your allergies are caused by other environmental factors.

I have eye allergy issues myself. Happens just about this time of year on an annual basis (mold maybe, I don't know). Baush & Lomb's "Opcon-A" works pretty well for over the counter stuff. Use it right before you go to bed, and first thing in the morning.

Hoppy

I'll look for the Opcon A, but I have narrowed it down to an air conditioner vent that's pointed right at me. I'm wearing safety glasses for a few days, see if that makes a difference. Also using one of those eyewash gizmos, thing with a little cup that goes over your eye, several times a day. I had rubbed them pretty hard and they were very irritated from that. Next time I brew, I'll have an exhaust fan on and wear glasses. I really hope its not brewing beer that does it. My wife and I really enjoy it. I'd hate to go back to Sammie's now, or have to have her do all the cooking while I'm at work.
Thanks for all the inf.

I am allergic to a few things such as cat and rabbit hair (not dog) and pollen from certain grains and grass. Before you invest any money in medication, cleaning supplies, etc. go to your doctor or a specialist and to make test and see what you are allergic to (if anything). If all these results are negative, then you might want to look into the paint stuff.

Update, went to doc, got some nose spray and Erythromycin for my eyes. I had rubbed them hard enough to have inflamed a sty on my right eye. The nasal spray is doing the trick. I use it right before I go to work and I'm way better. I still use fake tear eyedrops and have found the Opcon A to work nicely. I'm afraid to stop using any one thing at work. Good news, though, I brewed a partial mash Porter and had no ill effects from that.

Seems to me, though, if I gotta be on meds to work somewhere, I'm in the wrong place. The builidng I'm in is full of......corpulent, sedentary folks. I told my wife about it, and she thinks I'm allergic to fat people dander. If my eyes get to burning lately, I can walk outside, and they clear up in about 2 minutes. I can cut the grass and clean up our yard, about 3 hours of hot sweaty strenuous work, and i'm golden, but I walk into a sealed office buyilding, and they start itching and burning.

So, thanks all for the help and advice. I'm staying on the nasal spray and eyedrops for a while. Oh, and we have another wheat on deck.