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Super Contributor
Posts: 496
Registered: ‎05-16-2010

Does anyone else deal with winter hay fever?

 

I know "they" say you can't get it in the winter, and that it's a misdiagnosed cold. But every year when I pull out my Christmas stuff I get hay fever. If I rearrange furniture with heavy dusting, or go to my storage building and move things around--like attempting to organize Christmas decorations--, usually I'll cough, sneeze and wheeze soon after or it'll turn into full hay fever in a few days. 

 

I'm in the south so winter comes in spurts here. 5 inches of snow last weekend, upper 60's this weekend. Some trees are starting to bud, usually all have started budding by late Feb. So hay fever is common around here.

 

Worst is I've had stress incontinence since a child. So, sneezing, laughing, coughing, almost always means spritz. (sorry if that's TMI, but by now I've learned not to be embarrassed by something I have no control over) Yay =-| With hay fever, I sneeze several times at once, several times in 30 mins. No mucus, just clear drips. Gotta go to the bathroom a dozen times an hour.  **monotone** It's wonderful.  =-|

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,220
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Yes, same thing here!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,955
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

If you have ANY allergy to anything, you're more apt to have additional sensitivities to other things, so "hay fever" CAN mean that you can also be allegic to dust or mold or any number of other "inside" things.

 

We just had extensive repair work in our house, and since our plaster walls and unfinished closet and attic spaces were disrupted, my allergies have been crazy.

 

Is the term "hay fever" still used by allergy specialists?

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,722
Registered: ‎12-06-2010

I have year-round allergies and have to take meds for it, so I feel your pain!  Used to when I was taking weekly allergy shots, I could forego the meds in the winter months, but since I no longer take shots, I'm taking the meds year-round.  What gets me through the hard times of year (spring and fall) is one of those steroid hip shots.  If yours are that bad, maybe you should consider one of those shots - they work wonders for me.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,871
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Our neighbor's tree blooms in December and drops yellow pollen far and wide.  You could write in it when it coats cars.  Yes, terrible hay fever for a couple days.  But as another poster said, any kind of dust can cause sneezing, watering eyes, and general discomfort.  I used Flonase and pseudoephedrine (behind the counter product). 

Super Contributor
Posts: 496
Registered: ‎05-16-2010

@violann

 

 

We believe I'm allergic to a type of mold in my rental storage building. With in minutes of going in my skin breaks out in bumps that resemble my keratosis pilaris, and I feel like I'm being poked, like fiber glass, wherever the bumps are. It itches in the car while leaving, but within minutes of being out of the building the sensation is gone, followed by the bumps within an hour, sooner if I wash the area exposed and irritated. My eyes itch like crazy too. I know dust makes me sneeze, and watery eyed. Some pollens do, but there are so many around me in the spring, summer, and autumn that I don't which makes me feel worse.

 

I have a lot of food sensitivities, too. Since I can remember chocolate has always made me ill, but I only said enough is a enough June 2014 after I got violently ill after eating a few Lindt truffles, orange juice the same way. Fresh orange isn't as bad, but I have to eat it with food or else. I can't have any aspartame or I get sick, and have a horrible headache. Heck, just smelling candy that has it makes me light headed and queasy. I cut out wheat entirely in November before. So far, I'm not queasy and bloated after eating. My kp has really cleared up, my rosacea has calmed down a lot, especially after a meal. Oh, and I dread going near the cleaner isle in Wal-Mart. I get so lightheaded and start coughing just attempting to get some Dawn. I hold my breath, and dart in and out for it.

 

I'm just a sensitive person I guess. Smiley Frustrated  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,812
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Winter hay fever

[ Edited ]

N/A

Go VOLS
Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me.. Good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee... Rocky Top Tennessee
Honored Contributor
Posts: 39,554
Registered: ‎08-23-2010

I don't know if it's hay fever, or what differentiates that from other allergies, but I use generic Flonase every few days year round and it does the trick.  In winter, if the furnace is on and dries the air, there is further sensitivity.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,627
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Doesn't sound like hay fever.   Sounds like you are reacting to dust and/or mold.  But, I'm not a doctor.  I just have allergies to quite a few things.

 

 

"I've been here since October 2006. Wow!"
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,470
Registered: ‎01-01-2015

Re: Winter hay fever

[ Edited ]

@Ane1Care wrote:

Does anyone else deal with winter hay fever?

 

I know "they" say you can't get it in the winter, and that it's a misdiagnosed cold. But every year when I pull out my Christmas stuff I get hay fever. If I rearrange furniture with heavy dusting, or go to my storage building and move things around--like attempting to organize Christmas decorations--, usually I'll cough, sneeze and wheeze soon after or it'll turn into full hay fever in a few days. 

 

I'm in the south so winter comes in spurts here. 5 inches of snow last weekend, upper 60's this weekend. Some trees are starting to bud, usually all have started budding by late Feb. So hay fever is common around here.

 

Worst is I've had stress incontinence since a child. So, sneezing, laughing, coughing, almost always means spritz. (sorry if that's TMI, but by now I've learned not to be embarrassed by something I have no control over) Yay =-| With hay fever, I sneeze several times at once, several times in 30 mins. No mucus, just clear drips. Gotta go to the bathroom a dozen times an hour.  **monotone** It's wonderful.  =-|


I think that someone can have "hay fever" year 'round. It's also known as allergic rhinitis.

 

I have both seasonal and year-round allergies. I am allergic to outdoor plants, trees, and grasses.

 

I have a dust and mold allergy too, and will sneeze more and get all congested and wheezy when dust gets stirred up. 

 

It's possible that going into your storage area for your Christmas decorations is stirring up the dust and mold in there, and is making your allergies worse. 

 

Here is a link to information about hay fever/allergic rhinitis from medicinenet, if anyone would like to look at it:

 

http://www.medicinenet.com/hay_fever/article.htm#what_is_hay_fever_what_are_hay_fever_symptoms_and_s...