Help please....allergies 🙁

I am not very tree and bloom savvy, but suffer from a host of allergies. I know that for me, the University area is verboten right now because the Night Blooming Jasmine and I believe Rhododendrum (sp?) are in bloom.

BTW, Dr Audria Thomas does have Saturday and early morning hours, so maybe you can get in to see her?

I am not sure if you can get some local honey. A little of that is like getting shots for allergies and should ease your allergies in time. In the meantime perhaps take some Claratin if you can get it.

Hope you are better soon.
Iris

Thanks to both of you 🙂

Iris, I will try the honey - I've been on Claritin D, NasalCrom (nose spray) and allergy eye drops and have had no relief for 5 weeks now 🙁 so at this point I will try anything.

Thanks again, and I welcome any suggestions 🙂

Pia

Since you mentioned that you never had allergies before, I'm wondering if it is something in your home that is bothering you?

Check out your house for new wet spots where maybe mold has started to accumulate. make sure to check in the backs of closets, in your attic, around base boards. The wet spot might be inside the walls so poke around.

Also, have you changed laundry detergent? Added a new fabric softener? Bought some new sheets or blankets?

Maybe also consider your ventalation. New fans? New duct system? New A/C?

Just some things to consider...

piaa -

Itchy eyes - Naphcon A. It will kind of numb them but will keep you from rubbing them raw.

Alavert is Claritin by another company - you might see if your doc will write you for Clarinex, it's prescription and a little stronger and longer acting. Also, I've used Rhinocort Aqua with Claritin and had great results - but it is also Rx.

Do you have any new pets? Cats and dogs are the two major causes of in home allergy problems.

Then there is the usual culperts, dust mites, dust, and mold. Outside allergens are blooming plants and trees.

But , my allergists told me that people and cats do not mix. They cause more in home allergy than any other source.

piaa,

I found out after I got a dog that I'm allergic to pet dander. It sounds like you got your pups shortly before your allergy symptoms appeared. I'm sorry to hear that you're facing some difficult decisions.

I suffer from extremely bad allergies, and I used to get really bad sinus infections too (but I had surgery last summer to open up my sinuses and it helped immensely). In fact, I got a really terrible sinus infection a few years ago in St. John...it was horrible and ruined my vacation.

Environmental allergies generally don't come on suddenly, so I'd guess that either a) you're allergic to your dogs or b) you have a sinus infection.

I am very allergic to my cats (a 4+ when allergy tested, the highest score), but taking Claritin-D (24 hour) takes away probably 95% of my symptoms and I tolerate my cat allergy just fine (I'm allergic to tons of other stuff too, so I had to be well medicated even before I had the cats). If Claritin-D doesn't work for you, then try another anti-histamine/decongestant combo (I've found that I need BOTH to feel well).

However, when I have a sinus infection, nothing but an antibiotic will make me feel better...so if that's your problem, then an antibiotic will do the trick....however, not all antibiotics are good at getting rid of sinus infections, so make sure your doctor knows what he/she is doing. I found the Z-Pack to be the best for me.

I will say though that itchy eyes and sneezing are generally associated with allergies, not sinus infections.

Good luck!

I wonder if it is really an allergy you have. I would go and see a doctor. If anything he or she can give you the allergy test to make sure. If it ends up being the dogs there is something you can rub into the fur that helps with the dander. I can't recall what it was called. Most pet stores carry it. Off course there is mold. If you find your home has mold you need to get rid of it many problems can come from that. One of them is Athma.

Get better soon
Iris