Wellness

[adelle38]

Thank you lolakimono and beckyb,

Your information was very helpful.

[ChynnaBlue]

On 11/4/2014 beckyb1012 said:

The year I had 11 sinus infections in a twelve month period I went from my Medical Dr. to an Allergist and started the shots after being tested. He started me on a higher dosage than most patients since mine were so bad. Like you the fall was worse for me than the spring. After five years taking shots (2 a week to one every three weeks) we got to our goal of no more than two sinus infections per year. For the past six or seven years I have done so well.

I did wake up this morning with problems but it has since cleared up. Go to a specialist if you need to it is so worth it. But after 11 back to back infections I could not take it anymore.

I think I am having a better fall this year since we had such a cold winter here in Texas last year. Good Luck!

Seldane D was my favorite but called taken off the market. Clariton worked fine too when it was a prescription. Allegra is just a joke. Sudafed is about the best for OTC. I also used as

Allergy shots are the best solution for serious allergies. I started getting them at age 5 and have gone on and off them several times since then. I'm coming up on my worst season now, but have plans to get retested and start shots as soon as Cedar and Oak seasons are finished, sometime around June.

Someone asked about side-effects of allergy shots. They inject you with what you're allergic to in order to build up your tolerance. They start small and you go frequently until you get to a maintenance stage, then to go every few weeks. They increase the dose a little each time you go in to build your tolerance slowly. You stay on them for years and then you can usually take a break. Some people never go back, some people only start again when they move to a new area and are exposed to new things.

When you get an injection, typical reactions include itching, swelling, and sometimes a serious allergic reaction. As I said, I've been getting allergy shots for years and years and I've only had 2 serious reactions and needed an adrenaline shot. Those are good odds. Some allergists let you take the serum home and administer the shots yourself. You get an Epi Pen to handle any reactions. I prefer to get the shots at my doctor's office. A nurse gives me the shot and I wait 15 minutes to have them check on reactions. If I get a lot of itching or swelling, they note that and decrease my dose the next time or don't increase it. If I have a bad reaction, which usually includes breathing difficulty for me, they give me an adrenaline shot and recalibrate my dosage. They are life changing and I definitely recommend them for anyone with serious allergies. In my family, my mother, sister, and I all were getting shots at some point.

[okiebug]

My son had constant sinus infections and had difficulty sleeping. He went to an ENT, had an MRI done and they found a polyp that filled his right sinus cavity. He had surgery to remove it earlier this year. The ENT recommended he use a neti pot or something similar. It has helped him so much, but he still needs to get tested and get allergy shots. He had allergy shots when he was young enough for me to drive him to the allergy clinic or give him his shots, but as soon as he got old enough, he refused to take them because he just hated the shots and at that time the shots helps with a lot of his allergies. His worst allergies are to lawn grasses - Bermuda in particular, and the shots didn't really cover grasses. Try getting away from grass - lol. He's now found a new pill that helps with grass allergies. Unfortunately, he just moved and changed jobs, so has to wait for his insurance to kick in and then find another PCP and get a referral to an allergist.

I had severe asthma growing up in the 50's. As soon as allergy testing was available when I was a teen, my Mom had me tested. I took -actually gave them to myself - allergy shots several times a week (don't remember exactly) for a couple of years and they stopped my asthma attacks.

[nagrom]

I have suffered with asthma and allergiesmost of my life. Before my first round of allergy shots I spent fall in the hospital with pneumonia. When in the hospital the resident doctors recommended allergy shots. I took those shots for 8 years be fore I reached successful maintenance. It was a great relief as I did not get sick for 12 years. Then my system reverted back to severe reactions and asthma uncontrolled. I took 3 more years of shots requiring prednisone to be able to handle the allergens. It was no picnic. I got better for a while. Now in my sixties my allergies are worse. I cannot take shots as after 10 months I could not make any progress as I remained at the initial dosage and was told I would never reach maintenance. Yes my allergies are worse this year. I do the neti pot, take claritin twice a day per doctors orders, use nasalcort as it works better for me than flonase, use mucinex twice a day, use advair inhalers and rescue inhalers. I also have patanol for my eyes. I am thankful for at least five hard frosts as symptoms are relieved and improvement. I have a vaporizer in my bedroom to help keep moist air and alleviate my asthma and dryness from all the meds. I have a bedroom air purifier going every night. So far only a few times on antibiotics to ward off possible pneumonia. No I won't try allergy shots as I refuse to take prednisone unless I am hospitalized with pneumonia. Good luck with managing your symptoms. Feel better soon.

[nagrom]

One other thing that was recommended by all the allergist I saw was to refrain from eating dairy products until winter as many dairy products are mucous producing and make your symptoms worse. The same for most citrus fruits as molds are in these products. Even tomatoes may affect you too. Then winter comes after five hard frosts I am able to eat normal again. I found this to really help me manage.

[HonnyBrown]

I picked up Mucinex 24 Hour pills today. I took one about an hour ago, and I'm feeling good! I can breathe freely and I'm not dripping. I'm coughing a bit but that's fine with me!

[CinNC]

Mine were so bad this summer that my ears were clogged and then popping. My doctor gave me a steroid nasal spray. Surprised that I really liked it and it works well.

I used to take over the counter meds a long time ago, but seemed to build up a resistance to them so I quit and didn't take anything for years.

Good luck with finding what works best for you.

[Annabellethecat66]

I got allergy shots for many, many years. Then one day the allergist's nurse whispered, "Honey, you MUST be allergy free by now". I stopped taking them, but I know they helped, I just didn't need them anymore.

Anyway, finally my point (not that it's educated). I still go to the allergist a few times a year. He told me to get me some Prylosec because the gurgling sound was from indigestion at night. When I remember to take it it makes all of the difference in the world (I don't understand it either). I have awakened myself so many times from the noise (I am a widow).

I am also allergic to Fall. The mold on the leaves (the black stuff) makes me feel like a zombie, etc. A long time ago my daughter's allergist told me to take a tiny bit of Neosporin Ointment and put it right under my nose and breathe it in. He said it would kill the bacteria caused by the mold on the leaves.

He pointed to the crease on my daughter's nose (she was having terrible nose bleeds). He said she was pushing up on her nose because it was itching and when she pushed upward she was breaking the capilaries in her nose.

I did like he said and her nose stopped bleeding and itching.

So, my advice is to also get some Neosporin (it can be any inexpensive form of it) and put it (not inside of your nose) but right at the brim and breathe it in.

It is also really good for a sore throat. Don't eat it, just breathing it in will really help.

[HonnyBrown]

annabelle, thank you for the Neosporin tip! It makes perfect sense! I wouldn't eat it.

I am very allergic to fall as well.

The Mucinex is still working well. This weekend, I'm going to transition to taking it in the morning instead of at night.

Last night I took Alka Seltzer Cold, which I completely forgot about.

Claritan is always a hit for me once it gets in my body and starts working.

And I'm eating Hall by the bag full.