Anyone have seasonal allergies?

[prolesunited]

I am miserable every spring and fall and it gets worse with each passing year. My doctor has me on Zyrtec and using Nasonex every day, which seems to keep it all in check. I end up with sinus infections about four times a year.

Does anyone else have these issues? What's weird to me is that I didn't have allergies when I was younger. What works for you?

I'm especially miserable tonight because I'm sitting here at work and I forgot to take my pill today. I'm sneezing, wheezing and my eyes are all red and watery. It pretty much sucks!

[dflprincess]

1. I have hayfever

Though I've been lucky and it's been getting milder with age and over the counter stuff takes care of it.

This fall, though, I had an awful bout of it and resorted to Benedril which turns me into a zombie.

[chookie]

2. What part of country?

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and had terrible allergies since childhood, mainly grass and hayfever, but am highly allergic to all sorts of things. I was even studied by the head of immunology at a major hospital, because I was the most hypersensitive person he ever heard of. Luckily, the inhaled steroids, developed when I was in my 20s, were a miracle help, and made my life worth living during the pollen seasons.

I moved to FL, lived there for many years - no allergies. Go figure. I moved back to Pittsburgh, and thought I was going to die, it was so bad! This time last year, I was on oral steroids because it was the only thing that helped me.

But this year -- no symptoms. I have no idea why, but wonder if it has anything to do with the weird weather this year.

What part of the country do you live in?

Anyone else out there who is having an okay hayfever season like me this year? I really would like to know how I got so lucky.

You poor thing -- not getting your meds today. I feel sorry for you.

[prolesunited]

4. Midwest

Near lots of steel mills and factories. The doctor said many adults develop allergies due to the high level of pollution here.

Boy, I'm glad mine aren't THAT bad. I guess I'm feeling whiney. Steroids can have some serious side effects. Glad you don't need them now.

Thanks for the symphathy.

[leftist_rebel1569]

3. YES....same with me

I have a ragweed and dust allergy. Unless I take my Allegra and Nasonex in the fall especially, i'll have bad attacks (like, my nose will start bleeding, then I start sneezing a lot or my eyes will start itching like crazy for about an hour). I'm happy I live in a state that's already had a hard freeze...:)

[Forkboy]

5. yes

I'm allergic to summer. :)

[prolesunited]

8. I'm OK during

the summer and the winter. I think mold is one of my biggest issues.

[flamingyouth]

6. Yeah, me too

I feel for you. I have allegies all the time in Seattle. Either it's pollen or mold here. Plus I have a herd of cats, which doesn't help.

I take Zyrtec too - IMHO it's the best prescription allergy med. I also take Flonase for my nose. I'm asthmatic, so I have inhalers for my cough. If you are coughing with your allergies, you should be checked for asthma. I wasn't asthmatic as a kid, but I developed the fun of it later. (UGH)

[prolesunited]

7. Actually

I started to also develop asthma last year. I quit smoking and that seemed to be the end of it. I also turned into an avid cyclist, so it's really built up my lung capacity.

I am a little worried, though, because I have a century (100 miles) ride on Sunday and I've felt like crap all week.

[Susang]

9. Woo doggies, are you kidding?

I wasn't allergic to anything until I was about thirty. Now, eight years later, I'm a mess every spring through fall. I even developed asthma due to my massive allergic reactions to various substances. For some reason, only Allegra D works, if only in a limited capacity. :-(

[Snow]

10. Oh, yes.....

most of it started when we moved to Omaha, when I was age 46. Spring plowing and fall harvest, for 500 miles upwind of Omaha, will kill you. AFter about 7 years it got into the sinus infections you're talking about....treated for a while with antibiotics, nasal crom, benedryl. Moved to LA year and a half ago, and still have allergies, but I think I'm kinda stuck. Not as bad, though - the air here has some problems, but not as bad as Omaha. Last sinusitis bout, though, I went to an acupuncturist about 2 blocks from my office and had them treat it. Worked as well as the antibiotics, quicker, and no g-i side effects. Nice lady from China (trained in Western medicine as well) and her apprentice. Charged me $35 per visit, and it took me about 7 visits to really get the problem beat, since it was pretty bad by the time I got to them. Next time I'll go earlier, not need to go for so many treatments. This is one problem that acupuncture is really good for - and while I was there they treated my blood pressure as part of the deal. They didn't have acupuncturists to any degree in Omaha.....

[leftofthedial]

11. yeah. I'm allergic to football season

basketball season is sometimes a drag too.

[scarlet_owl]

12. I'm allergic to EVERYTHING!

Dust, pollen, dander, 2nd graders, you name it. I also have asthma and that gets worse when my allergies are bad.

[GOPisEvil]

13. Yes, and they are kicking my butt this week.

Combine the mold with the ragweed and dust and other crap in the air, and <achoo!> and dry eyes and runny nose...ugh...

Oh, and I forgot to take my Claritin(r) this morning! :grr:

[prolesunited]

14. Sorry!

That was my problem yesterday and I am NOT going to let that happen again today. I used to take Claritin, but it stopped being strong enough. Maybe you can run over to the drug store and pick something up during you lunch hour.

Hope you feel better soon! :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

15. Thanks!

Although, I have to say things aren't as bad as they were earlier in the week. Monday and Tuesday I couldn't wear my contacts, and now I can. I don't normally take an allergy medicine, so my body isn't used to Claritin yet.

Oh, and I'm only a mile from home, so if things get bad, I can get there quick.

:hi:

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Welcome To The Club, Proles!

I have problems with my MS in the spring and summer. This is quite common in MS patients. The current thinking is that the pollen or mold in the air affects us just like it does you, but when it triggers the immune system it causes the MS to flare up. (MS is a hyperimmunity illness.)

So, the two seasons you mention are always the toughest for me. My wife's friend's sister (whew!) has MS too. In the fall, she needs to wear braces on her legs because it flares up so bad. So, i'd put myself in the "miserable, but functional" category each spring and fall.

Take care.
The Professor

[prolesunited]

17. I didn't know that

What a petty whine mine is in comparison.

Well, the way it's going, we're going to have some freezes any day now and that should help and we'll all get some relief.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. There Are NO Petty Whines!

If you feel crummy, you feel crummy! I wasn't trying to one-up your malady. Just letting you know i understand and empathize!

On the freeze thing: I can't wait for first frost. It makes the grass go dormant. I've been cutting my lawn every 4 days since early April, and I AM TIRED OF IT NOW!

Once again, take care.
The Professor