topic Re: Allergies in Wellness

Allergies

HonnyBrown — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:00:37 GMT

I have fall and spring seasonal allergies. Fall is worse than spring, and this fall is the worst ever.

I put a reminder in my calendar to start taking Claritan in the middle of October. After a few days, I forgot and was unpleasantly reminded.

Claritan takes a week to kick in. In addition to that, I took Sudafed over the weekend just so I could breathe. I can't take it during the day because it makes me loopy.

DH said it sounded like I was gargling in my sleep and my coworkers are asking me if I've gotten my flu shots.

Does anyone suffering from allergies think this year is especially bad?

Re: Allergies

betteb — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:07:27 GMT

Yes! I take Alevert, but it does not seem to be working as well this year.

We did get a hard freeze a couple of nights ago, but I think it needs to freeze a few nights in a row to really help.

Re: Allergies

ChynnaBlue — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:09:32 GMT

Allergies totally depend on the area you're in and what you're allergic to - mold, ragweed, trees, etc. There's really no blanket "it's the same everywhere" for the US, more for regions. You might want to check Pollen.com for your area. I have two smartphone apps, one from a local news agency and one from Zyrtec. The Zyrtec one allows me to set alerts that ping me in the morning when the pollen count is high. (Unfortunately it doesn't track mold and mold is worse for me this time of year.)

You are smart to add the reminder to you calendar! I do the same for cedar and oak season, which start this month and run through June where I am.

You might want to visit the doctor and ask for a nasal spray like Flonase to get you though the season. That also takes time to build up, but it can still help even if you start later. If you wake up feeling like you're drowning, that's post nasal drip and Mucinex works really well for that. I definitely recommend a saline nasal rinse with a neti pot or a bottle.The NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit with the bottle and saline packets is my favorite and available at most drugstores. I use it in the shower every morning.

Re: Allergies

RedTop — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:13:13 GMT

I am in southern WV, and have to say this entire year has been horrible for allergies and asthma. Both of my adult daughters have asthma and allergies, and my husband has COPD. My oldest daughter gives herself allergy shots twice a week, and still has major problems with itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing. Her allergy meds have been tweaked twice this year, but my daughter is still not what I consider in control of her issues.

Re: Allergies

VaBelle35 — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:19:27 GMT

I take Allegra all year long. Mine is mostly dust and dust mites and Allegra seems to work the best for me, but the last few weeks have had seasonal stuff on top of my regular allergies.

I've been using a Rx spray.

Re: Allergies

Sunshine — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:26:55 GMT

I have allergies year round and use Nasacort once a day. Most of the time it helps.

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:29:33 GMT

On 11/3/2014 betteb said:
Yes! I take Alevert, but it does not seem to be working as well this year.

We did get a hard freeze a couple of nights ago, but I think it needs to freeze a few nights in a row to really help.

betteb, fortunately, here in MD, we are still in the 60s. A good rain sometimes clears the air for me.

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:32:06 GMT

On 11/3/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
Allergies totally depend on the area you're in and what you're allergic to - mold, ragweed, trees, etc. There's really no blanket "it's the same everywhere" for the US, more for regions. You might want to check Pollen.com for your area. I have two smartphone apps, one from a local news agency and one from Zyrtec. The Zyrtec one allows me to set alerts that ping me in the morning when the pollen count is high. (Unfortunately it doesn't track mold and mold is worse for me this time of year.)

You are smart to add the reminder to you calendar! I do the same for cedar and oak season, which start this month and run through June where I am.

You might want to visit the doctor and ask for a nasal spray like Flonase to get you though the season. That also takes time to build up, but it can still help even if you start later. If you wake up feeling like you're drowning, that's post nasal drip and Mucinex works really well for that. I definitely recommend a saline nasal rinse with a neti pot or a bottle.The NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit with the bottle and saline packets is my favorite and available at most drugstores. I use it in the shower every morning.

Chynna, I was smart enough to put the reminder in my phone, but too dumb to pay attention to it!

I have the pollen app, but it doesn't rate ragweed or dust.

My Dad also suggested Mucinex. Does it make you drowsy?

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:34:48 GMT

On 11/3/2014 RedTop said: I am in southern WV, and have to say this entire year has been horrible for allergies and asthma. Both of my adult daughters have asthma and allergies, and my husband has COPD. My oldest daughter gives herself allergy shots twice a week, and still has major problems with itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing. Her allergy meds have been tweaked twice this year, but my daughter is still not what I consider in control of her issues.

RedTop, does your family use local honey? I got some in the spring and it worked great the entire season. I forgot about it until you mentioned WVa.

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:38:46 GMT

On 11/3/2014 VaBelle35 said:
I take Allegra all year long. Mine is mostly dust and dust mites and Allegra seems to work the best for me, but the last few weeks have had seasonal stuff on top of my regular allergies.

I've been using a Rx spray.

Va, I didn't have seasonal allergies until I moved to DMV. The first year was awful mainly because I didn't know what it was. Of course it rained the day I went to my MD.

When I got this job in 2012, that was bad because my office is in an old, dusty government building.

And now, this. What on earth is a ragweed?!

Re: Allergies

Clover29 — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:49:00 GMT

I used to like Triludan best, but they discontinued it because people didn't read the instructions, took it with grapefruit juice, and had heart attacks.

After that, I found Claritin was the next best thing, but it wasn't 100% effective.

Then I found that Allegra was the next-generation version of Triludan, fexofenadine instead of terfenadine, so I switched to that. It worked much better for me than Claritin.

And then, bizarrely, menopause arrived and my allergies pretty much cleared up. I don't know if the two things are related or coincidental.

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:00:43 GMT

Clover, I hate to admit it, but I rarely read the instructions on my allergy medications. I should because that's the most medication I take.

I'm so happy I can breath, I don't care what the side effects are.

Re: Allergies

glmama — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:35:01 GMT

Hi-Yes. Fall is bad for me. Spring stinks, too, actually--but Fall tends to be worse. I have tried all of the big brand OTC 24-hr meds and the one that works the best for me is Zyrtec. Followed by Allegra. But Claritan never worked at all for me. I also used to take Sudafed on a daily basis when my allergies were bad. However, it gave me sleep disturbances (even if taken first thing in the morning) and can aggravate existing (and cause) anxiety in some people. I try very hard to avoid taking it if I can. But sometimes it is the only thing that works. I hope you are feeling a bit better now as some of the fall sufferers are feeling better.

Re: Allergies

violann — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:41:08 GMT

YES!!!!!!! AWFUL!!!!

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 01:05:31 GMT

On 11/3/2014 glmama said:
Hi-Yes. Fall is bad for me. Spring stinks, too, actually--but Fall tends to be worse. I have tried all of the big brand OTC 24-hr meds and the one that works the best for me is Zyrtec. Followed by Allegra. But Claritan never worked at all for me. I also used to take Sudafed on a daily basis when my allergies were bad. However, it gave me sleep disturbances (even if taken first thing in the morning) and can aggravate existing (and cause) anxiety in some people. I try very hard to avoid taking it if I can. But sometimes it is the only thing that works. I hope you are feeling a bit better now as some of the fall sufferers are feeling better.

Hi glmama!

Sudafed dries me out and it works right away. I didn't take one this morning because I didn't want to be in lalaland at work. The symptoms hit when I was at a lunch meeting.

I'm feeling much, much better after a week of Claritan and a weekend of Sudafed. I can breathe!

Re: Allergies

FastDogWalker2 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 01:27:27 GMT

I have bad fall allergies too. I take a benedryl (sp?) at night and use Nasonex (SP?) in the am. It helps a lot but I snore at night too!

Re: Allergies

HonnyBrown — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 03:15:05 GMT

Fast, nights were real bad for me. I would have to sit up and cough the phlegm out of my throat. DH was really creeped out!

Re: Allergies

lolakimono — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 03:19:30 GMT

HB,

Have you used a neti pot before?

Re: Allergies

Drythe — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 03:50:06 GMT

HonnyBrown,

Fall allergies - me too. Fall = Ragweed and Goldenrod. Spring = Pine.

This Fall is pretty bad. I use Algeria, netti-pot followed-up with aquapure put in nose with a q-tip (GROSS) I know, and my trusty cold water humidifier runs all night.

Also use prescription Beconase HQ spray. A Godsend.

Hope you get relief soon as it is NO fun.

P.S. I lived many years on the DMV-P and my allergies were the best behaved they have ever been due to the Ocean Air. So, take a drive to OC and see if that helps!

Best wishes for better breathing.

Re: Allergies

Moonchilde — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 03:54:45 GMT

Mucinex for postnasal drip, especially taken before bedtime - couldn't live without it! I second the Flonase or other steroid nasal spray for a stuffy nose. My antihistamine of choice is Zyrtec, but when I'm a mess I back it up with Benadryl as well. I have very nasty reactions to Sudafed. I will not take it unless I'm completely blocked with a bad cold. It scares me.