> At a Glance
> – A 24-year-old woman refuses to visit her in-laws because their pets and indoor smoke trigger severe asthma and allergies
> – Despite allergy meds and inhalers, monthly visits leave her coughing, congested, and missing work
> – Why it matters: Millions with asthma face similar social dilemmas when family homes contain unavoidable triggers
A newlywed woman has drawn a hard line: she will no longer set foot inside her in-laws’ home. The couple’s monthly 200-mile trek to see both sets of parents now ends in a coughing fit that can last days.
The Trigger-Filled House
Her husband’s childhood home contains two dogs, two cats, and a father who smokes indoors. Even with doors closed to the guest room, an air purifier humming, and a pre-visit deep clean, the allergens persist.
> “Every time we visit, I get sick due to all the allergens in the air, even if I take allergy medicine and use my inhaler,” she posted on Reddit.
The aftermath is predictable: a drive home spent “coughing, snot, and not being able to breathe very well,” followed by one or two sick days off work.
Past Efforts and Proposed Fixes
The woman completed three years of allergy shots and twice-yearly breathing treatments throughout high school, yet flare-ups continue. Commenters offered work-arounds:
- Meet at restaurants or parks instead
- Husband stays overnight; wife sleeps at her parents’ house and picks him up the next day
- In-laws visit the couple’s pet-free apartment
She loves her husband and his parents, but the health toll has become unsustainable.
Key Takeaways
- Indoor smoke plus four pets create a high-allergen environment that standard cleaning can’t fix
- The couple’s single-car rule means she can’t leave early when symptoms spike
- Neutral-location visits may preserve family ties without compromising her health
Until a safer meeting ground is found, the monthly family rotation will skip one stop on the map.
