Anyone else having a worse than average allergy season, this Summer?

[Siwsan]

I didn't fall asleep until after 1, this morning, because of the rapid fire sneezing and major fluid loss via my nostrils. I finally gave up and took an allergy tablet, after going through nearly a half a box of tissues. And now the effects of that tablet are wearing off.

It's hard to do any garden work because I constantly have to take off my gardening gloves and grab a tissue, either to cover my nose while I sneeze or to stem the drip flow. And when I sneeze, any life form in the vicinity RUNS for cover! Don't get me started on wearing a mask, right now. I do, of course, but it is an even more uncomfortable experience.

OK, I'm done whining. It's supposed to be hot, today, so instead of mowing the lawns I might turn on the AC and spend the day inside. I have some new allergy tablets that warn about drowsiness - which sounds like a truly wonderful thing, right now.

[Dave in VA]

1. You are not alone

My flower gardens look pitiful because every time I get near one I'm doing exactly what you described.

Hope you feel better soon.

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. Me too (New Orleans).

Sneezing much more than normal. By late afternoon or early evening, I'm pretty stuffed up.

Over the counter nasal sprays irritate the hell out of my sinus passages, so I use an allergy mist with butterbur extract. That's the only thing that has kept me sane the last few months.

[Wicked Blue]

3. Allergen levels

You might find some helpful info about your local allergen levels at this link:

http://www.pollenlibrary.com/

[Phoenix61]

4. It's been awful in the Fl panhandle.

Thankfully Claritin-D (store brands included) work great. I’ve screwed up and taken them late in the day which is not a good idea. The Sudafed keeps me awake then but an added bonus in the morning.

[Siwsan]

5. I have to be careful of allergy meds because I sometimes 'rebound'

Cold/allergy meds with the drowsy warning have been known to keep me awake for long periods of time. Not every time. Just sometimes. It's weird and a real game of chance as to what to take and how long to take it. So, I generally try to muster through, on my own, as best I can but last night I felt like I was out of options.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Yes, but it's a worse than average summer pretty much in general.

[Jirel]

8. Yep. It's bad in Texas.

I had horrible allergies as a kid that abated mostly as an adult. This summer I’ve been a snot monster, and so has my husband. These days it’s embarrassing to sneeze or cough. Out of the blue, at a doc’s office, yesterday I wound up having a coughing fit as my nose basically turned on like a faucet. Both of us were having a snoring competition last night, and the only time I snore is when I’m insanely stuffed up.

[SoCalNative]

9. Pretty bad here in SoCal

I checked the link posted above with my zip code and all of the levels are in the red.

[Iggo]

10. Now that you mention it, yes I have.