Allergies at thier Worst

[lachesis]

A mucus monster, I am

Eyes itch and run, sinuses..

I've bought some Reactine and no relief.

I wheeze, but Ventolin, Flovent, and Advair are not working.

I've turned on the AC & closed the windows.

Humidity is bad bad bad

Help Help Help

Can't sleep

Seroquel-Lithium-the ususal

Bought milk on sale a week ago, No more, No more, No more.

[dancesintherain]

Are you in the us? If so, I've always found allegra to be a godsend. I just take it on a daily basis in the fall and spring. It was rx only for a while but has gone otc.

[justme04]

I'm sorry you're having so many troubles with your allergies! Are you taking anything for them?

[WinterRosie]

Allegra works for us - we get free samples from the allergist, mostly, although it's been OTC here for a very long time.

We can relate. Sometimes our eyes swell shut and so we can't see. What are you supposed to do then?

Hopefully you can feel better soon!

[lachesis]

Thanks. I'll buy some Allegra then. I don't have a lot of money so I like to know what others find helpful before handing over money to big pharma. Today is much better; No milk, cooler day, not so rainy, flowers are out of the house. I think it is time to wash everything in the house. I'm sure pollen is everywhere. Big task that is.

[Catnapper]

Try a neti pot, it's a way to wash out your sinuses, aka nasal irrigation. You can get one at Walgreen's for about $5 - $10. I have a cheapo plastic one and it works fine, and I use plain table salt. The yoga crowd will say you need to have a ceramic pot and use only sea salt, but I think that's b.s. The fact that table salt contains an ant-caking agent hasn't bothered me. I figure if it's okay to eat it, it's okay to use it for saline solution. I'm on well water so use warm tap water. I think if I was on city water with chlorine I would use filtered or bottled water heated up to body temp.

There are some types of irrigations that use a bulb syringe or a pressure gizmo, but I like the neti pot because it is gravity flow so I don't worry about damaging anything. If I'm really plugged up and nothing seems to be going through, I'll try a little from the pot, blow my nose, and try again. Eventually I can get some to flow through. When I'm at my most plugged up, I'll do two or three pots in each nostril twice a day.

I don't have very bad allergies, but it definitely seems to help with head colds, and a guy at work swears by his for his allergies. It seems strange the first time you try it, but it's easy and it works. The goal is to get the solution as close to body temp/ body saline content (think tears) as possible, so it won't be uncomfortable. Breathe through your mouth, and keep your chin tucked in, and you should be fine.

Here's some info; there are also several youtube videos you can find (sorry, I have crappy internet service so don't visit youtube):

WebMD Neti Pot

[Mim]

Make sure your AC unit is kept nice and clean, as well. My dad's lung specialist told him that room and car AC can actually aggravate breathing problems. (But take this with a caveat: my dad had severe COPD, rather than allergies, so his condition was pretty fragile.)

My mom had bad seasonal allergies, and so do I. Oh joyous hereditary aggravations and illnesses! Mold and tree pollens appear to be the biggest problems for me. I've found a daily Zyrtec very useful. The generic is cheaper, and I find the same satisfaction from it. My mom swore by Benadryl, which is also pretty reasonably priced.

[null0trooper]

We can relate. Sometimes our eyes swell shut and so we can't see. What are you supposed to do then?

When I've let aspirin do that to me, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is the only thing I can take. Sometimes it will clear up runny nose too, but pseudoephedrine works best for that (for me, and only for a couple of days)

For lachesis, a dehumidifier may also help - if your house is too humid there can be mold growing on furniture, books, upholstery, and just about everything else. Add a HEPA filter and it at least cleans and cools the air in the room.