allergy help

[elkthumper]

ugh. I feel like death. Cant breath, cant see, cant talk. Anybody have any tips? I try prescription drugs every year is a different thing. I've tried it all my friends. Ease my pain! ugh!!!! grass pollen is the only thing that gets to me.

[freespool]

Have you tried the neti pot? It helped relieve some of my allergy symptoms.

[OregonSteel]

I feel your pain. I get grass allergies so bad, it gets to the point of being dangerous. I take Zyrtec everyday, sometimes twice a day, (double dose), and in past years it could hardly touch it during peak hay season in June.

I have taken allergy shots in the past and they did help, but I quit because it got too expensive.

This year I tried something different. I went down to the basics. I shower every night right before bed, and first thing in the morning. Sometimes i even take a 3rd shower int he afternoon if I have been working outside. I change my pillowcase every other night, and wash the sheets every 4th or 5th night. This alone has GREATLY improved my allergies in the mornings, which historically has been my worst time of the day for me.

I also started taking a nasal spray (flonase i believe). I spray before bed, and first thing in the morning. This may be helping too.

This year has been the mildest for me in 10 years, and I'm starting to believe it is because of these simple changes. Last year was complete hell, and it must've been because I was rolling around in pollen all night after being outside. I literally suffered everyday last June, completely incapacited sometimes. I couldn't see, and once could hardly breathe. I had to take Benadryl and stay indoors trying to sleep it off for days.

As for eye drops, I use Zatidor, and they work well. There is also a generic eye drop called Ketotifen Fumarate Opthalmic Solution that is the same thing and much cheaper than Zatidor. The pharmacy at St. Vincents carry them If you can find them anywhere else.

To sum it up, I have tried virtually every drug out there including shots, and the best method seems to be to stick to the basics. Never drive with windows down. Stay away from grass. Find someone to cut your lawn. Shower every night, and change your sheets. Try to get an air filter for your bedroom. That seems to help too. Don't open any windows, and use that AC if you have it. Hope this helps.

[seedy]

I feel you pain, suffered for 35 years, took all the shots, tried everything over the counter, finally was down to taking rx prednisone for about 2 weeks in June to survive. My favorite time of the year is June and I live in the middle of ryegrass country, between Albany and Lebanon, and I would have to wear a mask to mow the lawn even with the prednisone.
In 2010 I started taking 2 tablespoons on honey in January every day. Best allergy season in 20 years, only took 4 pills during the worst week. Last year, same procedure, 0 pills. This year probably only sneezed and had to blow my nose <10 times all years. Yesterday the fescue field next to our house was blowing pollen, looked like fog, and not a bit of problem.
Honey needs to be RAW, LOCAL, WILDFLOWER, not clover, blackbery, etc. Dr. will tell you no data to support this, old wives tale, but many people get relief.
I'm afraid it's too late for this year as you need to do it for a while but it is sure worth thinking about and trying next year, a lot cheaper and much better than pills.
Seedy

[silkiechicken]

We don't have it as bad as it sounds like you have, but this is what we do. If we slack on the maintenance schedule, our allergies get REALLY bad fast.

1) Claritin every morning.

2) Have a HEPA filter... a big one, the Honeywell one rated for 390sq feet, and run it on high 12 hours a day in the living/kitchen room, and the other 12 hours in the bedroom. Replace pre filters and clean the "life time" hepa at least twice a week. It is loud, but worth the noise to breathe.

3) Have two HEPA vacuum cleaners, one to vacuum the apartment, one to vacuum the first vacuum cleaner so it stays efficient. Vacuum at least 2x a week.

4) Do not open windows ever. AC is always on during pollen season despite it being a bit $$. It's worth not being miserable, when going outside for even a walk to the car results in sneezing, itchy eyes, and lots of runny nose. I can't imagine how bad it would be if we had to have the windows open.

5) After trips outside, immediately put all outer layer clothes into the wash machine directly. Hands and face are washed, skin is wiped with damp cloth which is immediately put into wash machine. Anything not washed like backpacks are wiped down with a wet cloth.

6) Suck up the inability to go for walks, to go fishing, to do anything outside, for the peak 4-6 weeks of the pollen we are most allergic to, or go out of the valley.

7) Shower every night as to not bring pollen to bed, and wash the sheets at least once a week.

8) Once a week, take a damp cloth and wipe down any reasonable surfaces. Counter tops, tables, door frames, desks, animal cages, lamps, shelving, speakers, computer, fridge top, cabinetry....

Neither of us had these allergies this bad till living in the valley for 2-3 years. When we go back to WA, allergies are barely noticeable if at all... we can even get into the grass and garden with minimal issue, versus here where just going to the car requires having tissues in your pocket.

Good luck, it's a pain to deal with alergies, but keeping them outside helps a TON. After being outside shopping or to and from work, we feel great within 30 minutes of being in our apartment. Same type of cleaning happens to the inside of our cars. Wipe it all down once a week.

And I'm sure I sound OCD now.

[Tinman]

In years past, I suffered like you. Claritin and the nasal sprays barely took the edge off. This year is much better.

I think the difference for me is diet. I have food sensitivities - wheat, dairy and eggs mainly. This year I am being much more strict about staying away from wheat and dairy. That means the general level of inflammation in my body is less. Pollen allergy definitely causes inflammation, but since my baseline inflammation is less, I don't have allergy symptoms.

As an aside, when I stay off wheat and dairy, I don't snore at night. If I eat those foods, I snore badly and have sleep apnea. The difference is amazing.

A naturopath can help you with this approach. You might have food sensitivities that are making your pollen allergy worse

[tt3886]

- Zyrtec (10mg 2x/day)

- Pepcid AC (2x/day)

- Singulair (5mg 1x/day) right before bed.


That's my cocktail.

Everyone is different though, and should consult with their own allergist.

[nailyard]

Our dog vet said the same thing about honey. I'm looking for a good source. The honey has pollen residue which naturally desensitizes the body over time.

I've often said that my vet treats our dogs better than we get treated from our doctor.

[PharmDoc]

Originally Posted by elkthumper

ugh. I feel like death. Cant breath, cant see, cant talk. Anybody have any tips? I try prescription drugs every year is a different thing. I've tried it all my friends. Ease my pain! ugh!!!! grass pollen is the only thing that gets to me.

You mention taking prescription drugs, but don't mention how they have worked for you...or if you experience unpleasant side effects. Do you have any drug allergies? If you can tolerate them, some of the over the counter second generation antihistamines (claritin= loratadine (generic), zyrtec= cetirizine (generic), allegra= fexofenadine (generic)) can be very effective and are dosed only once daily. These aren't supposed to cause drowsiness, but some people will experience this. If so, simply take your dose at bedtime. These meds are effective for 24 hours, so bedtime dosing will cover you for the next day. Realize that you must take these meds for at least one week without missing doses to reach their full potential. These meds are typically effective if you suffer from nasal and eye symptoms. If your symptoms include cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath your allergies are a bit more severe and will not likely be adequately treated with over the counter antihistamines alone. At this point an inhaled steroid is usually called for. In severe cases you may need a short course of oral steroids on top of starting the inhaled dose in order to treat severe inflammation. A fast acting albuterol inhaler may be helpful for immediate symptoms while waiting the 1-2 weeks for an inhaled steroid to work and/or for acute flareups during steroid therapy. I would not shy away from prescription allergy treatments if the over the counter remedies are ineffective. Side effects are typically minimal and in all but the worst cases are still better than suffering from your allergy symptoms. If you have insurance and can see an immunologist, I would recommend you do so. As mentioned in tinman's post, they can also assess for food allergies, which may worsen your condition. As always, check with your doc/pharmacist prior to starting any new therapies, including over the counter stuff.
Side note-someone mentioned the neti pot earlier. This can be effective if used once/twice daily. It is very difficult to get used to at first, but basically flushes out the paranasal sinuses, clearing allergens from the area. You tilt your head while pouring warm salt water into one nostril. The water circulates through your sinuses and out the other nostril. You might give it a try if your symptoms are limited to nasal/eye regions.
Hope this helps
PharmDoc OSU/OHSU Pharm.D. class of 2010

[PharmDoc]

A side note: The king of treatments for allergy symptoms will be corticosteroids either inhaled orally or nasally, or taken in pill form for severe symptoms. Examples are a flovent or qvar inhaler...or flonase, veramyst, rhinocort nasal sprays. The number one problem I see with patients not sticking to their routine with these meds is that there is no immediate relief with them. Taking a couple inhalations or a spray in each nostril will give no immediate relief whatsoever. That's not how these meds work. They work at the DNA level and that takes time...like 1 - 2 weeks time. Many people give up or fail to make the connection with relief when the results are that delayed. A common problem is for people to stop using their steroid meds and just rely on the fast acting stuff that should be reserved only for "rescue" situations. Problem is, that if there is truly a need, the rescue med will be much less effective when used so often.
For best results, an allergy med regimen needs to be started about a month prior to allergy season and continued throughout, without interruption.

[Finny Business]

Pharmdoc has some great points and advice. I have / Had suffered from seasonal allergies my entire life. like some other have said it was like which over the counter wonder pill was going to work this year. what i have discovered is that Zyrtec works the best for me. I start taking them daily in march and will continue to do so until the end of June. The key is to start before allergy season and do not miss a single day. To date my allergies are non existent! I can freely do what i wish outside now. Before i was miserable and could hardly do anything this time of year. Oh one other thing if you Smoke you should stop, it only makes your allergies worse.

[WaterDog]

Originally Posted by PharmDoc

For best results, an allergy med regimen needs to be started about a month prior to allergy season and continued throughout, without interruption.

This is really the key to get the most relief you can. You can't expect to get to the symptoms and then just take a pill. I've been allergic to grass most of my life and it 's the only allergy I have. End of May, June, and early July is horrible when you live in the grass seed Captial of the world. I usually start in late March taking my meds. Allegra (generic) and Flonase (generic). When it gets bad (Pollen is really crankin) add eye drops and 2 or 3x the dosage for the pills for short periods of time. Some years will be so bad I also have to have an inhailer to breathe and will swill down cough syrup like coolaid. Nothing like washing down pills with cough syrup a coulpe times a day.

This year Zyrtec (generic) kicked my butt and made me soooo sleepy even when I took it at night I was wiped out during the day. I have found I seem to have rotate every few years from Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra for whatever reason. I've tried the honey and bee pollen and that didn't do anything for me.

Those of us that suffer are all saying the same thing....Start early and don't stop taking the meds until the grass is cut, swathed, and baled.

[tmtallman]

Try NasalCrom

http://nasalcrom.com/


non habit forming. it may take a few weeks to help.

[willie133]

I guess I am developing grass allergies as I get older. I lived in Corvallis for 6 years and no real trouble and lived in portland last year with no major trouble but this year I have been to the doctor twice. I started the honey thing but I think I got in on it too late. Next year I will be starting that in Feb. when do they bale the hay? July?

[longarm]

Originally Posted by seedy

I feel you pain, suffered for 35 years, took all the shots, tried everything over the counter, finally was down to taking rx prednisone for about 2 weeks in June to survive. My favorite time of the year is June and I live in the middle of ryegrass country, between Albany and Lebanon, and I would have to wear a mask to mow the lawn even with the prednisone.
In 2010 I started taking 2 tablespoons on honey in January every day. Best allergy season in 20 years, only took 4 pills during the worst week. Last year, same procedure, 0 pills. This year probably only sneezed and had to blow my nose <10 times all years. Yesterday the fescue field next to our house was blowing pollen, looked like fog, and not a bit of problem.
Honey needs to be RAW, LOCAL, WILDFLOWER, not clover, blackbery, etc. Dr. will tell you no data to support this, old wives tale, but many people get relief.
I'm afraid it's too late for this year as you need to do it for a while but it is sure worth thinking about and trying next year, a lot cheaper and much better than pills.
Seedy

Absolutely spot on.
I suffered rye grass pollen allergies for years, took Claritin (Loratadine) and even that didn't work many days. Used to try to leave the valley for June if I could swing it.
One year I started eating a tablespoon or so of honey every day and by the following June.. nothing happened. Didn't sneeze once. Didn't rub my eyes. Nothing.
I'm am not one to put a lot of stock in old wive's tales, but this has cured me of rye pollen allergies 100% for the last 7 or 8 years in a row. Here's what you need to keep in mind:
You will need to eat RAW, LOCAL, UNFILTERED, WILDFLOWER honey every day starting at least 6 months prior to pollen season. No other honey will work. Raw, local, unfiltered honey has pollen in it. Each day you eat it your body gets a chance to get used to the small amount of pollen you ingest with it. As a previous poster specified, 'wildflower' honey is better than honey from a mono-culture crop (i.e. meadow foam honey, clover honey, etc) as it will have a variety of pollen types in it. Bees feed pollen to their larvae as a protein source and stockpile it in the hives for such. You can buy honey of this type at some natural food co-ops, and also at Farmers Markets. I am a beekeep and so just use my own. Really happy to be off the allergy drugs. Wishing you luck.

[MattPark]

I wish I could read this thread, but my left eye is swollen shut, and I've rubbed the right one so bad that everything is a blur. I can't wait until I wake up in the morning and they are both stuck shut. There's nothing quite like ripping eyelashes out first thing in the morning.

The valley is no joke. I travel to Lebanon/Tangent a couple times a week. In the air conditioned truck, I'm barely OK. Within minutes of getting out, I've sneezed a couple dozen times and blown my nose just as many. If I stay outside for more than a half hour or so, my lung capacity is decreased to dangerous levels. Like take an hour plus to catch your breath after walking up one flight of stairs bad. I think the doctor said I was at 10% of normal last year at my worst.

I've heard about the honey deal before, I gotta try that. I've tried everything else, and prednisone is the only thing that helps, and it's minimal at that.

[sadiesassy]

Try all the things that look like they help

But one suggestion that helped me after 2 rounds of pneumonia:
1. It was predicable - time of year ( In fact for me it was within 10 days over 7 years)
2. Started taking half dose before I got to the point I was going to start suffering.

3. Saline wash 2x - 3x / day
4. Agree with showers and washing clothes. sheets frequently
5. Change cabin air filter on Car. Be surprized how much there is.

[elkthumper]

Thank you guys for all the input and tips. Keeping the house clean definitely helps. As far as meds, it's probably to late now, but I'll remember taking them a long time in advance next year. Thanks guys.

[wegotjs]

Thers is always a large plastic bubble.

[47sgs]

Originally Posted by elkthumper

ugh. I feel like death. Cant breath, cant see, cant talk. Anybody have any tips? I try prescription drugs every year is a different thing. I've tried it all my friends. Ease my pain! ugh!!!! grass pollen is the only thing that gets to me.

Have you tried moving to the east side?

[Drachir]

There is a great OTC eye drop that works great, "Zaditor". I work as a Pharmacy Tech and this is what our Pharmacists recommend as an OTC eye drop product. I use them every day, and have had great results with this product.

[Bill Rogue V.]

Just came in from mowing and I am a mess, especially my eyes. This has been my worst year for hay fever in a long time.
Pharmdoc, thanks for the clue that you have to take loratadine for a week to bring it to full potential.

[baltz526]

The air Over here is a fog of pine pollen right now. Alavert twice a day and psudoephedrine 1% nose drops. Find your food allergys is a big help. Eggs give me Migrane type head pain, sour guts, run down feeling. Definitly makes airborn allergys worse, being food allergy compromised. There are serious perscription allergy pills that work but few doctors will perscribe them. Only good for short term severe cases. It is a shame a guy has to pay an allergist several hundred bucks to get 20 pills perscribed for a year of bad days. We have a Goofy medical care system on some things here. In other countrys you walk into the drug store and buy it. $12 done

[Blderman]

Originally Posted by longarm

Absolutely spot on.
I suffered rye grass pollen allergies for years, took Claritin (Loratadine) and even that didn't work many days. Used to try to leave the valley for June if I could swing it.
One year I started eating a tablespoon or so of honey every day and by the following June.. nothing happened. Didn't sneeze once. Didn't rub my eyes. Nothing.
I'm am not one to put a lot of stock in old wive's tales, but this has cured me of rye pollen allergies 100% for the last 7 or 8 years in a row. Here's what you need to keep in mind:
You will need to eat RAW, LOCAL, UNFILTERED, WILDFLOWER honey every day starting at least 6 months prior to pollen season. No other honey will work. Raw, local, unfiltered honey has pollen in it. Each day you eat it your body gets a chance to get used to the small amount of pollen you ingest with it. As a previous poster specified, 'wildflower' honey is better than honey from a mono-culture crop (i.e. meadow foam honey, clover honey, etc) as it will have a variety of pollen types in it. Bees feed pollen to their larvae as a protein source and stockpile it in the hives for such. You can buy honey of this type at some natural food co-ops, and also at Farmers Markets. I am a beekeep and so just use my own. Really happy to be off the allergy drugs. Wishing you luck.

Yup, tried this for the first time this year and I have had a relatively uneventful allergy season. However, the honey gives makes me a pretty bad stomach ache, that has been the only draw back.

[judyfish99]

Found at Costco their brand of Zyrtec, Aller-Tec, cheap and 365 minitabs. Have to take 2 to make it work. Helps with the grass, smoke, weeds, tree, dog, cat and mold allergies. But that smoke/smell from a certain weed will still get the sinuses to blow up and I end up getting an upper lung infection anyhoo. It is like stopping the freight train of allergies. Otherwise vacuuming every day with a sealed hepa filter helps and washing the bed linens with non perfumed laundry detergent helps a lot.

Am on Dulera every day and Pro-Air for emergencies.

[pharmseller]

Originally Posted by PharmDoc

You mention taking prescription drugs, but don't mention how they have worked for you...or if you experience unpleasant side effects. Do you have any drug allergies? If you can tolerate them, some of the over the counter second generation antihistamines (claritin= loratadine (generic), zyrtec= cetirizine (generic), allegra= fexofenadine (generic)) can be very effective and are dosed only once daily. These aren't supposed to cause drowsiness, but some people will experience this. If so, simply take your dose at bedtime. These meds are effective for 24 hours, so bedtime dosing will cover you for the next day. Realize that you must take these meds for at least one week without missing doses to reach their full potential. These meds are typically effective if you suffer from nasal and eye symptoms. If your symptoms include cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath your allergies are a bit more severe and will not likely be adequately treated with over the counter antihistamines alone. At this point an inhaled steroid is usually called for. In severe cases you may need a short course of oral steroids on top of starting the inhaled dose in order to treat severe inflammation. A fast acting albuterol inhaler may be helpful for immediate symptoms while waiting the 1-2 weeks for an inhaled steroid to work and/or for acute flareups during steroid therapy. I would not shy away from prescription allergy treatments if the over the counter remedies are ineffective. Side effects are typically minimal and in all but the worst cases are still better than suffering from your allergy symptoms. If you have insurance and can see an immunologist, I would recommend you do so. As mentioned in tinman's post, they can also assess for food allergies, which may worsen your condition. As always, check with your doc/pharmacist prior to starting any new therapies, including over the counter stuff.
Side note-someone mentioned the neti pot earlier. This can be effective if used once/twice daily. It is very difficult to get used to at first, but basically flushes out the paranasal sinuses, clearing allergens from the area. You tilt your head while pouring warm salt water into one nostril. The water circulates through your sinuses and out the other nostril. You might give it a try if your symptoms are limited to nasal/eye regions.
Hope this helps
PharmDoc OSU/OHSU Pharm.D. class of 2010

Originally Posted by PharmDoc

A side note: The king of treatments for allergy symptoms will be corticosteroids either inhaled orally or nasally, or taken in pill form for severe symptoms. Examples are a flovent or qvar inhaler...or flonase, veramyst, rhinocort nasal sprays. The number one problem I see with patients not sticking to their routine with these meds is that there is no immediate relief with them. Taking a couple inhalations or a spray in each nostril will give no immediate relief whatsoever. That's not how these meds work. They work at the DNA level and that takes time...like 1 - 2 weeks time. Many people give up or fail to make the connection with relief when the results are that delayed. A common problem is for people to stop using their steroid meds and just rely on the fast acting stuff that should be reserved only for "rescue" situations. Problem is, that if there is truly a need, the rescue med will be much less effective when used so often.
For best results, an allergy med regimen needs to be started about a month prior to allergy season and continued throughout, without interruption.

Pharmdoc just saved you a $75 office visit fee. I've been repping respiratory products for 15 years and I pay attention.

The only change I'd make to his second post is the brand of intranasal steroid. He forgot the branded market leader.

P

[6wapiti6]

I've struggled for years and was always to stubborn to go see a doc for my allergies. This year after a misrable weekend I finally broke down and went. Since then I've been doign the Zyrtec/Flonase combo every morning. It's been a huge relief. Just wished I would have went 5 years earlier...!