Cough/Wheeze/Sneeze: Allergies!

[Jackhammer]

This week at work both my eyes swelled up, no reason or symptoms.
The next morning I woke up with the worst sore throat and sinus pain I have ever felt. So the last two days Ive been eating every medication I can rotate into my day. Mind you, Ive been living on ZYRTEC for the last two months.

Anybody suffering with allergies besides me, and whats working for you?

Did you get tested for what ails you?
Whats the test like?
Was it worth it in the end as far as your choices in medications or shots?

Do shots work?

I have a lot of questions.

[Rockinonahigh]

Relax Jack..I had an allregen test done a fue years ago and its a snap,they just make scratches on yr back and put diffent allergins on them if it turns red u r algergic to it.Then the doc gives u an Rx if needed,if u have to take shots its only once or twice a week till u build a resistantce for the thing u r alergic to.I take an over the counter allergy med and nose spray that works better than what the doc gives me.If u need any more info pm me.

[Gayla]

I had about a week of that swollen, runny eye thing and then it pretty much went away. I think grass pollen was high that week.

I used to take stuff but can't really anymore because of other medical issues. I just suffer through it and carry a box of Kleenex around with me.

[Jackhammer]

I guess its time to take the jump and get tested, I'm miserable.

Thanks for the info.

[Rockinonahigh]

I use top care allergy meds for the same prob u have,it cost about $2.50 a box u an get them at dollar general..the nose spray is equate original from wall mart at 1.998 a box ..works better than anything the doc gave me..tryed zerteck and many others and did no good.Get a good allergy eye drops to help with the eyes.This works for me..good luck..Oh equate allergy pills do really well too just get the one that covers everything u talked about.

[Jackhammer]

I use top care allergy meds for the same prob u have,it cost about $2.50 a box u an get them at dollar general..the nose spray is equate original from wall mart at 1.998 a box ..works better than anything the doc gave me..tryed zerteck and many others and did no good.Get a good allergy eye drops to help with the eyes.This works for me..good luck..Oh equate allergy pills do really well too just get the one that covers everything u talked about.

Taking notes....
Yep ZERTEC and CLARITIN didnt work for me.

And we LOVE the dollar general, I go nuts in that place :)

[SuperFemme]

This week at work both my eyes swelled up, no reason or symptoms.
The next morning I woke up with the worst sore throat and sinus pain I have ever felt. So the last two days Ive been eating every medication I can rotate into my day. Mind you, Ive been living on ZYRTEC for the last two months.

Anybody suffering with allergies besides me, and whats working for you?

Did you get tested for what ails you?
Whats the test like?
Was it worth it in the end as far as your choices in medications or shots?

Do shots work?

I have a lot of questions.

i know that when i moved from socal to central ca i had allergies for the first time in my life.

my son too. we both had to get inhalers and tried all the meds. zyrtec and claritin don't work so well for me.

the best one i have used is sudafed allergy. not cold, but allergy.

i no longer have the allergies, and they had come on fast just like yours did.
the doctor said it was my body acclimating to the allergens here. mainly the oak tree's.

so i went to farmers market and got local honey, which helps your body adjust to the local allergens faster, sudafed, and benadryl non drowsy for the swollen eyes.

but for sure get the honey....i swear by that. make super sure it is as local as you can get it.

if none of that works, blame june.

[Kat]

Two years ago, I suddenly had allergies so bad that I ended up with pneumonia from the asthma -- terrible sinus problems, too. I went to an allergist who lightly injected a bunch of allergens in my arm, and I found out I was allergic to pretty much everything, year-round. At 40...

I tried Singulair for a while, but it did absolutely nothing. Then she put me on Accolate, which did help the asthma and sinus problems a lot (I also had an inhaler.) But a few months ago, I got fed up with paying $60+ a month for allergy meds, and went online looking for natural remedies that didn't sound too wacky.

The first webpage that came up was a recent article from Mother Earth News about allergy treatments that mentioned two natural antihistamines -- Stinging Nettles and Quercetin. I headed over to the nearest GNC -- the owner (who's also a nutrionist) knew exactly why I was buying them, and even told me to stop taking the nettles after two months, otherwise my body would become resistant. After a week of the supplements and no prescription drugs, I felt better than I had on the Accolate.

I did stop the nettles at two months, and my symptoms worsened somewhat, but I still feel pretty good, overall. And I hardly have to use an inhaler...

I also get itchy eyes, but a lot less frequently. For that, I use GenTeal (OTC), which works pretty good.

[Miss Scarlett]

I am sick and tired of "fur throat" - don't have a clue what I am allergic to. The usual suspects dust, mold & pollen. This began when I cleaned out our off site storage space for work. But I recall being like this this time last year after changing jobs and working in a city 30 miles north of Charlotte.

Claritin has let me down so I am just plodding on but may switch over to Xyrtec...will talk with my pharmacist first to make sure there are no ugly interactions...

:cough:

[Chancie]

I wish I had some helpful suggestions, but all I can add is that I have had a sore tickly throat for weeks, but the loratadine in the OTC allergy medicine isn't doing much. I've been coughing and coughing and using my inhaler which is intended for sudden onset asthma symptoms. Ricola cough drops helped me sit in class yesterday without interrupting the lecture.

[Bit]

Hope y'all feel better soon!!

People's bodies get used to the allergy meds and then the meds stop working, so sometimes you have to kind of rotate through them. The best one I ever found was Triaminicin. It's hard to find these days; used to come in a black and yellow box. The kids' version is called Triaminic.

If your allergens are in your house (dust, dust mites, pet dander and fur, etc) an air cleaner with a HEPA filter can help. Even if the outside world is setting your allergies off, this can still help, because the cleaned air will give you a respite.

My all-time favorite way to deal with household allergies is with a Rainbow vacuum. They're expensive, but oh my word do they ever get a place clean, clean, clean! When I had one, dust never settled on my computer monitor or my TV screen because it just wasn't there to to begin with--the vacuum took it ALL out of the air.

[Apocalipstic]

This week at work both my eyes swelled up, no reason or symptoms.
The next morning I woke up with the worst sore throat and sinus pain I have ever felt. So the last two days Ive been eating every medication I can rotate into my day. Mind you, Ive been living on ZYRTEC for the last two months.

Anybody suffering with allergies besides me, and whats working for you?

Did you get tested for what ails you?
Whats the test like?
Was it worth it in the end as far as your choices in medications or shots?

Do shots work?

I have a lot of questions.


I am so sorry Jack, welcome to the Mid-South.

I had the testing done, but my docs say that medicines now are better now than the shots. The tests suck, so I would try everything else first. The shots really did not make things that much better for me though after my tests,my arms looked like I was a heroin addict for months.

Claritin has to be taken every day over time for it to work, it builds up in your system. Singulair too, I also take that....oh and Nasonex, best stuff ever...with Bennadryl for emergencies.

From what I understand even the Native American's would not come to our area this time of year because of "bad air".

I take every day.
Claritin and Nasonex (nasal steroids from Doc) Nasonex is awesome.
at night Singulair (from doc)

Like I said Bennadryl for emergencies.

Watch the weather for bad air quality days and try to stay in near AC so the air is filtered. Never go near mold or mildew. NEVER.

When my eyes are puffy, I put a really cold bathrag over them which really helps. I fold and refold as it gets warm. I do have a cute gel thingie we keep in the freezer and one in the fridge, but honestly they get warm too fast.

Sufafed makes me have heart palpitations.

Actifed puts me to sleep fast.

Bit's suggestion of an air cleaner with hepa filter will help too. Before the Singulair/Claritin/Nasonex combinaiton, I used to carry one every where with me, it kind of resembled R2D2. I think I got it at Home Despot.

Good luck!

[WolfyOne]

Jack, since we live in neighboring states, I know what you mean. This year has been worse than the last couple and I've only been here a little over 3 years. Change in climate for you has to play a part since you're used to the west coast. Anyhow, for me, I take a 12 hour Sudafed (not the generic because it's really not the same) and I also take generic Zyrtec from WalMart. The combo helps me. On the other hand, R has to use Flonase (sp) from the doc, but she still takes Sudafed.

I will say what Adele said about the honey is true because when I moved here, I was told to get honey made local and put it in my tea or take a spoon a day until it was in my system.

Oh and if none of it works, I stand by Adele.......blame June :|

[EnderD_503]

I've had allergies since I was 7 or 8 years old. I don't really remember if I had any allergy tests, but I suppose they must have done something because my family doctor told my mother I had hay fever and was more specifically allergic to ragweed. But I've found that the older I get the less I actually feel it, and most times it's more related to how muggy the air is, humidity and polution. Oddly enough I never got allergies at all while living in Germany and only mildly while living in the country in eastern Ontario. It's always strongest in Toronto.

This year, though, is the first summer I've spent in Toronto where I have barely had to take any Reactin at all. I have felt it getting milder every year, so I hope this is the end of my allergies.

As for medication, I can only ever remember taking Reactin (extra strength), though I usually had to take more and more as the summer went on. Never switched to any other kind of allergy medication.

[Blade]

I've had allergies since I moved to NC 25 yrs ago. Ugggg! It started with itchy eyes and "eye snot" as I call it. I've had allergy tests 3 times due to the Dr's retiring. I'm pretty much allergic to everything. Grass and cats being my biggest allergens and trees "hard woods" coming in a close 3rd.

I started using Opcon A for the itchy eyes when it was still prescription and have sworn by it for 25 yrs. It is OTC now. I started out taking Seldane D and Histalet. They worked GREAT! Then the Seldane was taken off the market cuz it caused some kind of heart problems. Buddy I tell ya it would JACK ME UP I could out work anybody in the warehouse on that stuff.

I've been thru many many medications, but have found what works best for me is Zertec twice a day during high allergy season. Like when the trees and grass are blooming and seeding out. When the symptoms start to wane I use generic Benadryl when I get up and a little later in the day take the Zertec. I also have an inhaler for emergencies and a cortisone nose spray. This works for me now but it took years of misery to figure out what worked.

I took shots as long as my first 2 Drs were still in practice. They'd send me home with the serum and a box of syringes and an epy pin. When the 2nd Dr retired I couldn't find anyone to let me give my own shots so I quit taking them. They do work but it isn't instant, it takes a while for them to start working. If I were to start shots Jack I'd start them now and you will not notice the fall allergies as bad and probably won't notice the spring and summer allergies at all next year. Be careful with the OTC nose spray it can be addictive. Beside the cortisone sprays are better but it takes a few days for the nose spray and about any pill to work.

[Apocalipstic]

I can't take anything with a decongenstant or I am a strung out bitch and just hyped up with my heart going 100 miles an hour. I wish I could without being unbearable because I am pretty allergicky? is that a word? right now.

Ive had Nasonex and two Bennadryls tonight and I am still all itchy and sniffly and my eyes feel like I have been playing marbles in the sand with them.

The mildew and mold is way worse this year from all the flooding.

ugh ugh ugh

Oh and yes, the honey works like the shots do. Closer to your home the better. Maybe you could start bee keeping, its pretty cool. :)

[Gentle Tiger]

Well, I'm a pill popping nasal spraying man. (wonder if that could be a song. lol)

I have dealt with allergies since childhood. Anyone remember the days of Dristan? Is that even still around? Anyway, I have to rotate periodically because my body builds up a tolerance. Zyrtec has worked the longest for me. I haven't had to switch yet. And the prescription nasal spray (flucticasone propionate) is working well. I had to add it because the allergy med alone was not working. I used to have to deal with the inhaler more. I was diagnosed with allergy induced asthma. So when the allergies are really bad the chest tightens up. I find that things are rough if I get lazy with taking them. The body is a great reminder!

I have also found that I cannot just use any kind of soap, deodorant, etc. And there are foods which I really enjoy but I have to either say no all together or suffer the consequences. Some are worse than others. So those allergies I can control.

I wish you well in finding what works for you.

[Mrs. Strutt]

I never had allergies until I moved to Florida in 1997. They haven't been bad, but this year was horrible. I hear it has been the worst allergy season in west-central Florida in years.

I tend not to take medications of any sort, just ride whatever ails me out. But my doctor--who practices a mix of traditional, alternative and Chinese medicine--has suggested we explore acupuncture. Several of my clients swear by it and say it has greatly helped their symptoms.