allergies

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » November 3, 2008 8:48 am

anybody suffering with fall allergies. Thanks to my allergies I'm back on asthma meds that I haven't needed for over two years. Nothing i've taken has helped both over the counter and prescription. I am currently taking zyrtec which seemed to work better then anything else until a week ago. Any tips?

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » November 3, 2008 9:00 am

Not really. My son takes Claratin (generic) daily in the Fall because of all the dry stuff (grasses & leaves) to prevent asthma & it seems to work pretty well, unless he catches a cold.

I used to have Fall allergies, but they've gotten better over the years...maybe my body has desensitized

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » November 3, 2008 9:03 am

I have had allergies for years and some seasons are worst then others. Right now they've just been so bad so long. I"m guessing it is due to the warm, dry fall.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » November 3, 2008 10:32 am

I grew up in a home where my dad got 5 shots every week so I knew what I was facing.

Began shots about 10 years ago and seldom have to take anything else. They aren't that bad, and they make it possible for me to get through the spring and fall with few problems.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » November 3, 2008 11:28 am

I think that if you had a wet spring in your area and the spring weeds & highway grasses grew well, then the fall is particularly rough, cuz all those spring weeds are now drying up and seeding, etc...

Also, we're very dry here, so we've also got a lot of dust in the air along with the dry grasses/weeds and leaves!

If it's really bad, you might benefit from a full allergy evaluation, and shots, as ejr mentioned...for some folks they can be a lifesaver.

I just know for us, the fall is harder than the spring, but we take precautions in the spring as well...those prairie weeds can put off some potent pollen!
(...and that baseball diamond can kick up some intense dust, too!

)

STL PARROTHEAD · Post by **STL PARROTHEAD** » November 3, 2008 11:42 am

I've never considered myself an allergy person, but I will admit... over the last few years, this time of year gets me a little sneezy!

nothing that OTC won't take care of though...

krusin1 · Post by **krusin1** » November 3, 2008 12:43 pm

Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » November 3, 2008 12:50 pm

I'm going to schedule an allergist appointment but it is not going to help me now. From what I understand shots are needed before the season. I have to do something though because my asthma which I haven't been bothered by for 2 years is getting bad because of the allergies.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » November 3, 2008 1:52 pm

OceanCityGirl wrote:I'm going to schedule an allergist appointment but it is not going to help me now. From what I understand shots are needed before the season. I have to do something though because my asthma which I haven't been bothered by for 2 years is getting bad because of the allergies.

My allergist also deals with asthma so you should be able to get some help. And there are some nasal sprays that can also help get you through some of your problems. I use them in addition to the shots.

Yes, shots do need to have some time to build up resistance, but for most folks they provide good relief and you can wean yourself down to once a month or less.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » November 3, 2008 2:22 pm

krusin1 wrote:Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...

Interesting...shows how personal differences affect people.
I had fewer allergies when I lived in Florida than I do in Texas.
Seems the dry, dusty stuff affects me more than the blooming/pollen/mold stuff. Go figure.

Either way, prevention is the way to go. We start taking a Claritin (Loratadine) daily about mid to late August (I get them at Sam's...they sell 300 for about $12) and it makes a world of difference, IF you take them religiously.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » November 3, 2008 2:32 pm

Dezdmona wrote:
krusin1 wrote:Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...
Interesting...shows how personal differences affect people.
I had fewer allergies when I lived in Florida than I do in Texas.
Seems the dry, dusty stuff affects me more than the blooming/pollen/mold stuff. Go figure.

Either way, prevention is the way to go. We start taking a Claritin (Loratadine) daily about mid to late August (I get them at Sam's...they sell 300 for about $12) and it makes a world of difference, IF you take them religiously.

Yep- we are all different. My dad's allergies were worse in spring while mine are worse in fall.

And Claritin does nothing for me. and my allergist thinks they aren't very helpful for most folks. Zyrtec is ok though I know a number of folks who find it makes them sleepy or does other unpleasant things.

pojo · Post by **pojo** » November 3, 2008 5:25 pm

I've had seasonal allergies all my life.....

I've taken every OTC medication for allergies.... and even prescription allergy meds.

So far, zyrtec is the only one working.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » November 3, 2008 5:59 pm

ejr wrote:And Claritin does nothing for me. and my allergist thinks they aren't very helpful for most folks. Zyrtec is ok though I know a number of folks who find it makes them sleepy or does other unpleasant things.

Yea, we try to avoid sleepy if possible. But just to be safe, we take our meds at bedtime (since they're only once a day)

Some of the nasal inhalers seem to work pretty good...for short term use.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » November 3, 2008 6:22 pm

Dezdmona wrote:
krusin1 wrote:Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...
Interesting...shows how personal differences affect people.
I had fewer allergies when I lived in Florida than I do in Texas.
Seems the dry, dusty stuff affects me more than the blooming/pollen/mold stuff. Go figure.

Zyrtec works great for me...and I have fewer allergies in coastal s/e Georgia than I did in n/e OK.

although, allergists report Georgia is a terrible place to live if you have allergies.

dust and mold spores cause me more allergy issues than anything blooming.

Clairtin dried my nasal passages to the point of bleeding...

Glorfindel7 · Post by **Glorfindel7** » November 3, 2008 7:06 pm

I just take Seudafed (with the stuff you have to sign out for) for the nasal problems, but I've started to experience a bit of asthma as well (I can still breathe, its just every so often and probably related to my nasal cavity getting clogged

)

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » November 3, 2008 7:42 pm

krusin1 wrote:Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...

I sneezed through the entire JB show....

ejr · Post by **ejr** » November 3, 2008 10:43 pm

springparrot wrote:
krusin1 wrote:Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...
I sneezed through the entire JB show....

oh no, not an allergy to Buffett

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » November 3, 2008 10:52 pm

ejr wrote:
springparrot wrote:
krusin1 wrote:Zyrtec is the best stuff I've found... outside of moving to Vegas, anyway...
I sneezed through the entire JB show....
oh no, not an allergy to Buffett

I don't think it was JB---but probably the dry air and plants I'm not used to.
Had the same trouble in OR and WA

Could I be allergic to those really pretty colorful trees???