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Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 02:26:03 PM

Title: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 02:26:03 PM
So the summer like weather came late this year in the PNW, the usual late April / early May allergy season is just really picking up now with the pollen... Just got done mowing the yard and man I'm toast...
 
I've tried the over the counter stuff like Clariton (generic) and Allegra, anything else out there you'd recommend for hay fever?  :-\
 
For now I'm just sitting here with a cold beer, already feel a little better...  ;)    :chugbeer:
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Snibbor on June 26, 2011, 04:14:16 PM
I feel your pain.  Dealt with that all my life.  Done the shots and everything.  Never found anything that truly helps.  I must say, I am way better off in Western Wa than in Eastern Wa.  It was just brutal over there, eyes swelling up to the point I can hardly see :-[
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Snibbor on June 26, 2011, 04:17:49 PM
Oh, I will say that I believe preventative measures are the only hope.  When I head to Eastern Wa I load up on a double hit of benadryl.  If I take it after I start having problems it does no good, so I take it before.  Not very scientific, but I think that helps.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: CigarSki® on June 26, 2011, 04:19:05 PM
Ive been using Allegra lately with a decent amount of success. Oh, and thanks for the heads up, we're flying into Seattle on Sat.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 04:37:04 PM
Oh, I will say that I believe preventative measures are the only hope.  When I head to Eastern Wa I load up on a double hit of benadryl.  If I take it after I start having problems it does no good, so I take it before.  Not very scientific, but I think that helps.


Ya, I tried Benadryl before and it made me kinda tired/drowsy, which is fine at night but not so much out and about during the day if you know what I mean... (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/sleep1.gif)


I use to get shots but haven't been doing that for the last 10 years or so, this year seems to have came with alot more fury all at once in the PNW.  :(
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: wildwilly on June 26, 2011, 05:21:02 PM
Long Shower, Benadryl now.

Make an appointment with an allergist tomorrow. Reducing seasonal allergy symptoms is a daily chore for those of us up here that suffer from them.  I take Zyrtec every day from February through August.  And I take Astepro for breakthrough symptoms.  Plus I take Pataday eyedrops  for eye allergies ($100 for 2.5ml after the insurance pays their part).
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 05:56:31 PM
Long Shower, Benadryl now.

Make an appointment with an allergist tomorrow. Reducing seasonal allergy symptoms is a daily chore for those of us up here that suffer from them.  I take Zyrtec every day from February through August.  And I take Astepro for breakthrough symptoms. Plus I take Pataday eyedrops  for eye allergies ($100 for 2.5ml after the insurance pays their part).


Hmmm... haven't heard about Pataday, thanks for the tip Willy!  :)
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: lolife on June 26, 2011, 06:14:31 PM
I lived 34 yrs & wasn't allergic to anything.  Then for some strange reason I had the stopped up, runny nose that I could not get rid of.  I went to the family doctor & said I had allergies.  I took everything over the counter & nothing worked.  I felt like crap all the time.

Someone finally told me of a great ears, nose & throat doctor in town.  I went to see him & he said I had a severely deviated septum & recommended I do septum surgery & then allergy ***** test.  We met our out of pocket deductible on our health insurance due to our 2nd daughter being born via c-section so I thought what the hell, the surgery will be free.

The ***** test was probably the best thing I've done.  I found out exactly what I'm allergic to & now I know what to do to prevent the reactions.  I'm addicted to indoor allergies but mostly dust mites. 

I've had the septum surgery & am now doing allergy drops.  They're similar to the shots except you do it yourself by placing drops of your allergens under your tongue. 

I take Zyrtec daily & 2 puffs of Nasonex in each nostril every night.  I also have an inhaler as I've developed allergy induced asthma.

I now feel 100% better & have very few allergy symptoms b/c of I'm on the correct medicine & I know how to limit my exposure to what's causing my reactions.  My suggestion through all this would be to go see an allergy specialist.  It make a complete turn around for me.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 06:25:16 PM
I lived 34 yrs & wasn't allergic to anything.  Then for some strange reason I had the stopped up, runny nose that I could not get rid of.  I went to the family doctor & said I had allergies.  I took everything over the counter & nothing worked.  I felt like crap all the time.

Someone finally told me of a great ears, nose & throat doctor in town.  I went to see him & he said I had a severely deviated septum & recommended I do septum surgery & then allergy ***** test.  We met our out of pocket deductible on our health insurance due to our 2nd daughter being born via c-section so I thought what the hell, the surgery will be free.

The ***** test was probably the best thing I've done.  I found out exactly what I'm allergic to & now I know what to do to prevent the reactions.  I'm addicted to indoor allergies but mostly dust mites. 

I've had the septum surgery & am now doing allergy drops.  They're similar to the shots except you do it yourself by placing drops of your allergens under your tongue. 

I take Zyrtec daily & 2 puffs of Nasonex in each nostril every night.  I also have an inhaler as I've developed allergy induced asthma.

I now feel 100% better & have very few allergy symptoms b/c of I'm on the correct medicine & I know how to limit my exposure to what's causing my reactions.  My suggestion through all this would be to go see an allergy specialist.  It make a complete turn around for me.


Thanks LL, I think I will go see my doc next week if for nothing else to see about getting something stronger than the over the counter stuff.


I must say though that in reading your post at first it felt like a joke was building...  ???


Either way, I'll also ask my wife about the "***** test" thing tonight, it is Sunday night...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: mikeboileau on June 26, 2011, 06:36:29 PM
A huff on that monkey butt oughta clear things up......
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 06:39:08 PM
A huff on that monkey butt oughta clear things up......


 :doublepuke:


Stalker...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: mikeboileau on June 26, 2011, 06:40:27 PM

 :doublepuke:


Stalker...  ;) ;D

Maybe......
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Pfloydgad on June 26, 2011, 06:41:27 PM
Oxygen, no pun here. My neighbor does the allergy thing, and every evening and morning he does oxygen treatments for about 10 to 15 minutes. he says it cuts his daytime and nightime symptoms in half, and the meds take care of the rest. He found it out by accident about 15 yrs ago, and now he says his symptoms are getting less and less every yr.
Hope you get some relief.
Ride safe all.
Greg
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Ron Dawg on June 26, 2011, 06:53:24 PM
I wear a good quality dust mask when I mow during ragweed season. Helps stop it before it starts.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: timmerz on June 26, 2011, 07:21:53 PM
Here's a +2 on the Zyrtec medication, from somebody who gets so bad he used to have to take time off work during the heaviest part of pollen and hay fever season....
I have Kaiser Permanente and they sell an over-the-counter bottle of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Tablets 10 mg 100 tablets for about $12, if I remember correctly...same active ingredient and strength as Zyrtec at about 1/3 the price or better...I take one every morning during any kind of season coming on and haven't missed a day of work in almost 4 years...and no drowsy either...
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: lolife on June 26, 2011, 07:34:19 PM
I must say though that in reading your post at first it felt like a joke was building...  ???

I have a couple friends who have had allergies their entire life.  I always made fun of them & told them to "man up".  Allergies were for pussies.   8)  Now when I break out the inhaler, they ask if my little pussy is hurting.   :'(

I deserve it.   ;)
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 26, 2011, 07:36:50 PM
I have a couple friends who have had allergies their entire life.  I always made fun of them & told them to "man up".  Allergies were for pussies.   8)  Now when I break out the inhaler, they ask if my little pussy is hurting.   :'(

I deserve it.   ;)


 ;D ;D :grouphug:
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: jbailey on June 26, 2011, 08:27:02 PM
If you take Claritin (or generic Loratadine) you can't wait until you are sneezing and wheezing.  That's what I used to do and it is too late.  I now take a 10mg. Loratadine every day from spring until late fall and have virtually no allergy symptoms.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: timsatx on June 26, 2011, 10:06:49 PM
One thing to try is the nasal sinus rinse. It works pretty well. My wife has bad allergies and it helps with here. It seems a little strange at first but it is easy to do. I would also at least wash your face a couple of times a day. None of those are cure-alls but they do help.

We live it what has been termed the allergy capital of the world. I normally don't have allergy problems but when say the cedar goes to 30,000, it makes it tough even for me.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Conrad on June 27, 2011, 08:57:38 AM
So the summer like weather came late this year in the PNW, the usual late April / early May allergy season is just really picking up now with the pollen... Just got done mowing the yard and man I'm toast...
 
I've tried the over the counter stuff like Clariton (generic) and Allegra, anything else out there you'd recommend for hay fever?  :-\
 
For now I'm just sitting here with a cold beer, already feel a little better...  ;)    :chugbeer:

Ahhh, the power of beer! Is there nothing it can't do?    :chugbeer:

It's good for what Ales you.    8)
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: mtn.connie on June 27, 2011, 10:15:53 AM
I do not do any kind of "medication" per se. Everything holistic for me. I know this sounds crazy, but I swear by it. Use a netti pot every morning and then take 1 tbsp. twice a day of locally produced honey. It will allow your body to create it`s own defense against the local allergens.
Worst case scenario, you get to enjoy some sweet honey and I bet it works for you!
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Conrad on June 27, 2011, 11:37:19 AM
I do not do any kind of "medication" per se. Everything holistic for me. I know this sounds crazy, but I swear by it. Use a netti pot every morning and then take 1 tbsp. twice a day of locally produced honey. It will allow your body to create it`s own defense against the local allergens.
Worst case scenario, you get to enjoy some sweet honey and I bet it works for you!

+1 on the local honey! There's a guy who works in my department and he keeps bees. He keeps me supplied with local honey. I just got a big ole jar from him last week of clover honey, it's very dark and VERY delicious! I don't know if it helps my allergies but it sure goes well with peanut butter toast!
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Maille Man on June 27, 2011, 12:44:16 PM
+1 on the local honey! There's a guy who works in my department and he keeps bees. He keeps me supplied with local honey. I just got a big ole jar from him last week of clover honey, it's very dark and VERY delicious! I don't know if it helps my allergies but it sure goes well with peanut butter toast!

+2 on the local honey.  Unprocessed, raw honey's the best, or even the honey comb (chew it like gum for about 10 minutes).  Start out with small doses, 1/4 teaspoon per day for about a week before upping the dosage - raw honey can have trace amounts of venom and bee parts floating around in it that can cause an alergy, so if your throat gets irritated or starts to burn - stop.  Also works on cuts and burns.

But, for me, it tastes best when fermented into mead. Here's 60lbs (5 gallon bucket) of blueberry honey that'll, one day, get turned into 15 gallons of mead.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii78/cdharlach/2011-06-27_14-19-11_111.jpg)
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: CigarSki® on June 27, 2011, 02:37:26 PM
Hey...that's the brand of honey that we buy. Best tupelo honey I've found so far.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: Maille Man on June 27, 2011, 03:41:55 PM
When I lived in Mullica Hill ('bout 6 years ago), they were just a couple miles down the road.  Still visit them when I'm up in Jersey visiting my sister and I can find the time.  I agree, their tupelo is good.  But, I LOVE their blueberry honey, very light tasting, and the smell is awsome.  Buckwheat is a close second. I like how 'heavy' it is.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: snarf on June 27, 2011, 03:48:33 PM
MMMMMmmmm mead :chugbeer:

My sister had allergies something horrible.  She moved to Az and says they are all but gone.  Maybe you could move in next to her ???
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 27, 2011, 04:04:39 PM
MMMMMmmmm mead :chugbeer:

My sister had allergies something horrible.  She moved to Az and says they are all but gone.  Maybe you could move in next to her ???


Got any pics of her...  ;)
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: DeansZG on June 27, 2011, 04:45:46 PM
 +1 on the Zyrtec..   I'll take mine about 1/2 hr. before retiring for the nite, that way it allows me to get a restful sleep & I don't notice any of the drowsy effect that I'd get from Sudafed/Actifed stuff.....
 
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: mikeboileau on June 27, 2011, 04:49:09 PM

Got any pics of her...  ;)

 :chugbeer:
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: snarf on June 27, 2011, 06:17:03 PM

Got any pics of her...  ;)
Meh shes old married and bitchy. Very pretty in a non-creepy way.
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: ZG on June 27, 2011, 06:26:54 PM
shes old married and bitchy.


I already have a neighbor like that...  ;D
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: mikeboileau on June 27, 2011, 08:07:40 PM

I already have a neighbor like that...  ;D

I had a wife like............nevermind!
Title: Re: freakin allergies - any recommendations?
Post by: tidewatergirl on June 27, 2011, 09:31:03 PM
I suffer from asthma and I use a mask when I can, take Zytec and use inhalers...but the best is to take a cold pack from the freezer in a thin towel and lay it on your chest and face. The viens constrict and dont create more gunk in the head and chest. A shot or two of scotch doesn't hurt either.  :P