A question for the doctors. And lawyers. And anyone who has allergies. And a job.

[crappyjones123]

My girlfriend's office was moved to a different part of the floor and ever since the move she has had massive headaches and all the typical symptoms of an allergic reaction. It affected her to the point where she was doing 20% of the work that she normally did in a day and felt better after taking anti histamines (benadryl) and leaving the office. She requested HR to send out an email requesting the employees not wear perfume to work as there were a few that were bathing in it. That didn't seem to stop it. She went to a physician to get her blood tested and for an allergy test (nothing came up on the blood test other than low calcium). No scratch test was done because she had been taking benadryl every day. The issue has popped up again for the past week and she has been feeling absolutely miserable.

To the doctors - Is there anything in the way of a kit to test for allergens in the air around her desk area? Perhaps test the cubicle material or the carpet. Failing that, is there anything she can do to keep the allergens away? A fan? Magic incense? I have the image of a humidifier in my mind but something for allergies. The office is an open floor with cubicles so it is hard to isolate the air but it has gotten so bad that even immediate relief would be good for her.

To the lawyers - If the doctors find some way to test the air, is it within her legal rights to check the air/carpet/cubicle or is it something that HR needs to answer? She has gone to them time and time again requesting people not wear strong perfume (it is against their office policy). People stop for a few days but then start again. Does she have any further rights or is HR the last resort?

To the affected - Any suggestions that might help her would be much appreciated.

To those with jobs - Would you bring it up with those that wear perfumes to the office personally now? Since HR's emails doesn't seem to do much past a few days.

Thanks guys.

Edited July 18, 2012 by crappyjones123

[Dusty Chalk]

The most likely culprit is a certain kind of growth in the ductwork -- I forget whether it's a bacteria or a mold. Those things hardly ever get cleaned out enough. But that's just a first thought of things to check that didn't seem to be on your list.

In my case, because I am over-the-top, 4+, allergic to mold, that would kill* me, so YMMV.

*No, not literally.

[CarlSeibert]

As best I can tell after covering countless workplace gone wrong stories, going to HR or dealing directly with inconsiderate employees (or their direct supervisors) is a political choice dictated by the culture in the industry/company. Whichever choice is the wrong one is usually very wrong indeed. Which choice is the wrong choice politically has nothing to do with which choice might actually work or which choice puts you in an even worse spot legally, if it should go that way. Not that employees in Florida are exactly swimming in legal protections anyway.

As for the problem itself, I can only offer that we once had a room in our Imaging department that was suspected of being "sick". We did all sorts of things to test or mitigate whatever it was that the test weren't finding, with no joy at all. Eventually, we moved the people out of that room.

Subsequently, we laid off all those people, closed the department, and moved out of the building altogether. I guess that took care it. Which goes to show, I suppose that whatever badness happens at work, it can always get worse.

I suppose it's worth asking if your GF is the only person affected. If it's just her and she was fine in another part of the building (perhaps near different perfume-wearers) that would suggest something different than if her whole workgroup has come down with the sniffles since the move. (In our case, it was half or two thirds of the employees in that space. We never figured out if they were just passing the same cold back and forth in the confined space or if it had something to do with the space itself. They were fine after we moved them elsewhere. Until they got laid off, of course.)

The "sick" room was vacant for a couple of years. Then we jammed so many edit bays in it that it looked a can of TV sardines. We used the room for edit bays for about a year and a half and there was no trend of sickness in it for that period. Go figure.

Edited July 18, 2012 by CarlSeibert

[ecclesand]

Was the area she moved to recently renovated...like new carpets? Those new carpets out-gas for quite a while and can make people sick. Short of that, I would use Lysol or some other type of bacterial spray.

[blessingx]

Probably asking the obvious questions, but does she feel better on the weekends (or whichever her days off) and/or can she test by moving back out of the area temporarily? You mentioned it reoccured this week again so maybe you've answered already.

I had a similar situation (including daily massive headaches), suspected mold, bought a RabbitAir purifier, and started tracking everything. Ended up being way off base and it was a food issue.

[jvlgato]

Professional cleaning company that specializes in allergens/mold, and/or a good HEPA filter in the room.

Don't know of a testing kit to test for allergies, usually an allergy doc would do that.

In terms of testing for allergens in a room, haven't tried one myself, but have heard of them:

http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/test-kits.html

[Torpedo]

I'm no allergies specialist. The only tests I'm slightly familiar with are the scratch ones, which would use in this case the common allergens. There are inhalation tests which are more used for asthma patients, not usual at all (though there may be working protocols at some places, not where I work) for rhinitis.

If she's sure this is related to the workplace (she gets better at home and in other rooms at the working place) and not to some pollen in the working area, I'd have the room cleaned thoroughly by specialists, but the ideal would be knowing what's the responsible substance, just imagine if it's some component in the wall paint.

If symptoms are only nasal and they cannot determine the allergen responsible, I'd try nasal steroids and a different antihistamine which doesn't produce the sleepiness of benadryl.

[jvlgato]

Antonio, just curious, with regards to chronic allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, is there a nasal steroid that you like over any other, or are they all pretty much equal?

I've tried a few, and after several weeks, tend to feel edgy (beclomethasone) or get a sore throat and bloody nose (fluticasone, triamcinolone). I did pretty well with ciclesonide, but they took it off the market (so my pharmacist said, but I still see it listed, so maybe my pharmacy or insurance stopped allowing it).

Edited July 18, 2012 by jvlgato

[Torpedo]

I recommend my patients either fluticasone or mometasone. There are two different fluticasone preparations, one is furoate (Avamys) the other is propionate (Flixonase). It's possible the adverse effects you experienced are related to the presentation.

I prefer these newer drugs over the older ones like beclomethasone for they have way less systemic absorption, induce less tissue atrophy (if any at all) so may be used for very long periods.

In any case nose bleeding is the most common side effect of either Flixonase and Avamys, with almost 10%. This with Nasonex (mometasone) is less frequent, so you might give it a try.

[crappyjones123]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I have passed them on to her and waiting for her to tell me what she thinks.

[909]

what state are you in? in California we have CalOSHA, which would be the one of the first places i'd seek for assistance or advice.

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/calOSHAemployeerights.html

[crappyjones123]

Florida

[909]

http://www.doh.state...ity/indoor-air/

http://www.doh.state...rkplaceinfo.htm

http://www.osha.gov/...-quality-sm.pdf

http://www.legalmatc...ir-quality.html

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/indoor-air/mold.htm

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/states/florida.html

Edited July 19, 2012 by 909

[Dusty Chalk]

Antonio, just curious, with regards to chronic allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, is there a nasal steroid that you like over any other, or are they all pretty much equal?

It's not so much that they are all equal, as that everyone reacts differently to different drugs. I know people who swear by Zyrtec, and yet I would never want to give up my Allegra D.

And yeah, totally forgot about that -- that working "in a haze" feeling is probably from the Benadryl. Highly recommend getting professionally treated and getting some prescription strength drugs.

[crappyjones123]

So she narrowed it down to her bosses perfume. 8 am meeting she started sneezing and felt a headache coming on. Left to lunch felt better immediately. Came back and went to bosses office and started sneezing immediately. This morning her boss came by to say hello and she said she started feeling like crap right after.

Obviously she doesn't want to lose her job and after reading carls story i dont know if going to hr yet again will be prudent.

Suggestions? I'm way too hot headed and love confrontation with figures of authority too much to give advice here.

[Dreadhead]

My 2c: Have her complement her boss and ask what brand it is. Which she will almost certainly answer. Go to store and sample it and see if the issue crops up. Admittedly there is some skin chemistry involved but should be close. If she does respond poorly go to the boss and say. When you told me what your perfume was I rushed out to get some (since I liked it etc) but it turns out that I'm allergic and it causes these symptoms (insert symptoms). Is there anything we can do? If she's nice then she'll switch or stop visiting or if she's not then go to HR.

Worst comes to worst you have a trigger to discuss with an allergist.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Dreadhead

[blessingx]

^^ Smart.

[Torpedo]

^ Great advice. It could be even narrowed down if it were possible knowing said perfume ingredients. It must be something which is not generally used on other perfumes.

[Tari]

If it's been confirmed that it is her boss:

A friend had severe allergies to perfumes/colognes and even some deoderants. Her workplace was unbearable and she extended her maternity leave to get away from it because she finally felt alright. Eventually she went back and dealt with the offenders - said the key was to stress how sensitive she was as opposed to how pungent they were. Everyone's boss is different, but my experience is if you can make it like they're helping solve your problem instead of highlighting how they are the problem, most decent people will understand.

Another possible solution that I've used in the case of certain bad habits: You could have her go to her boss and ask them how to deal with a different employee (not the boss) who's perfume sets off the allergies. The boss can talk to this person (you can even arrange ahead of time with the person so that they know you're not really bothered by them) and may come to the realization that their perfume may set her off too and tone it down. Even if they don't, if she has to mention it to the boss at a later date the boss will be less offended because she was even set off by this other person previously who's cologne was not offensive. Nobody gets hurt, everybody wins.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Tari

[CarlSeibert]

Great news.

Personally, I have never had much luck with the false pleasantry thing. For me, it's always come out as subterfuge. Maybe that's just because I have no social skills. Your mileage may vary.

However, I think the boss being the offender is an advantage.

If we assume the boss is either a human being or not a complete moron I think you're in a good place.

If we assume human being, she can go to the boss and say "I'm 90% sure I isolated the problem and it's actually your perfume." (In a newspaper, she could add how sorry she is that giving up the perfume might mean the boss never gets laid again, but I fear that might not exactly fly in your standard corporate environment. ) Boss- if actually human - would immediately offer to change it or not wear it or whatever and GF could offer to go get a sample to confirm that it really is the culprit or see if there's anything she can do on her end or whatever. Nice gesture of concern for human boss blah blah blah. Personally, having more faith in humanity than most people would expect, I would think/hope it should go down quick and easy. I mean, really, if somebody who was not completely obnoxious came to you and and said they were pretty sure your perfume or cologne was making them sick, wouldn't you just immediately offer to do the decent thing?

If the boss is really a lizard but not a moronic lizard (and no offense meant to any actually reptiles here) boss should think "Hmm. I may like to kill this person, but it wouldn't be a very upwardly mobile bosslike thing for me to be caught violating the no-strong perfume policy to such an extent that I've actually sickened an employee. I'd better back off and be cooperative."

Lacking all that, as long as GF can establish that she has been careful to do everything possible to cure the problem on her side and she's respectful of everybody's first or second amendment right to odor and whatnot, she should fare pretty well with the chain of command, in her own department or through HR, as appropriate. Somebody who knows HR law can correct me here, but I think at the corporate snake level, the underlying motivation here is that the company could be exposed to some liability if they choose to deal with the problem by firing GF for having allergies.