how are you "surviving" allergy season

[Vanessa]

Wow in MD the polen count must be super high. Cars & everything really is dusted with polen.I cleaned my deck and today is covered again with polen...yikes! Even people that never get allergies are scratching their eyes.
My throat, ears and eyes are itching. They said everything bloomed at the same time so I am hoping everything ends bloooming at the same time.

[Don]

Hi Vanessa,
You're not alone. My mom and I both have tree allergies and we have felt like we have the flu (sneezing, scratchy eyes, sore throat, post nasal drip, fatigue and fevers). All I have to do is go outside for a second and it gets worse. Every April and May I wonder why I ever left L.A. to return to Baltimore. Come on June!

[lindrusso]

My son also has what I suspect is tree allergies (I think it's trees, because the allergies let up in June, whereas most other types of pollen tend to be pesky off and on all season). He was suffering quite a bit yesterday. Time to have the doctor re-evaluate the Claritan - it only seems to work about 2/3 of the day and then he's miserable.

He really only seems to get itchy eyes and stuffiness...not much in the way of a runny nose or sneezing. Is this typical??? Does everyone react differently?

So far we haven't had to have him tested since they seemed pretty minor, but with the troubles he's had lately, that may change.

[funnybone]

I thought I had a sinus cold, but now I think it may be allergies. I am 37 and have never had any allergies in the past, but I know they can develop at any time in your life. Also, we moved to a new state (PA) last year, so that probably does not help either.

I was taking Aleve Sinus, but I think I should be taking an allergy medicine instead. Except for prescriptions, what brands do you feel work the best. I know it is a personal preference usually, but where do I start with all that is out there?? I know that Claritan is available in Canada w/o a RX, but not here. That is what my mom uses.

[BosunsWife]

Well, since I'm not living on the East Coast anymore I don't seem to be affected this year - YIPEEEEEEE!

I had a horrible time when we lived out there and was on medication from April to July. My doc told me if we were going to continue to be stationed on the East Coast I should be tested to see what exactly I was allergic to.

The only thing that seemed to work for me was prescription and I used Flonase and Allegra twice a day. When I was pregnant I used Flonase and Zyrtec, but strangely enough when I wasn't pregnant the Zyrtec didn't work.

Nothing over the counter has ever been strong enough for me.

[HARRYET]

my son is having a heck of a time this year with his allergies, the Dr. put him on 2 inhalers and claritan. this seemed to work for awhile, but on monday he started coughing again and unable to breathe very good, so back to the Dr's and same story, keep doing the inhalers and claritan. my biggest concern is he is going to Tucson for 2 days (thurs/fri) with his school and I won't be with him! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif hopefully, we can get to the Dr's on wednesday to have him re-evaluated before the trip on thursday, and to put my mind at ease!

the biggest joke is we live in the desert and people move here to help with their allergies,eariler this year Phoenix had one of the highest pollen readings in the country! go figure!

Ann

[aggie94]

I have always had HORRIBLE allergies. When I lived in Texas, they were pretty much year-round. When I moved to Oregon, they were just as bad, but confined to just the summertime (May-July/August). I've gone on a regimen of Claritin and Beconase, which I stay on from April through August or September, and I have NO symptoms anymore. It's been fabulous!

[Sara Emily]

funnybone, my experience was very much like yours. I ws never bothered with allergies until I reached a certain age and then it just kept on growing into more of a problem. I live in an area known as the pollen capital of the south, so Allegra-D has become my "drug of choice." It really works well for me but, when I do not have access to it, Drixoral non-drowsy formula or Sudafed made the most positive difference for me and many others I know OTC.

Once you start with these allergies in a significant way, I think they hang on for the rest of your days! The GOOD NEWS is that there ARE products, like the aforementioned ones, that tend to make life so much easier and more pleasant in the breathing department. Hope you find help and relief SOONEST! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Gail]

Ah-choo! Sniff!! Sniff!! Cough, cough, cough! Sniff, sniff...

I trust that answers your question... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

PS It's not so great here either as of late, Don!