Allergy sufferers - question for you

[SiouxJ]

Normally my allergies only bother me a few times a year. For some reason they are just really bad right now. We're in the middle of monsoon season here in AZ and I think I must be allergic to mold as my allergies have been horrible lately. I've tried Claritin and Zyrtek but they make me too sleepy. Allegra doesn't seem to work for me. I've gone back to OTC Actifed as even though it makes me sleepy, it only lasts 4 hours, and it does work. I'm going to my doctor today and want to ask him about Flonaise (sp?). Anybody have any experience with it? What works for you?

[CO Liberal]

1. Allegra Works for Me

My wife takes Clarinex - she tried Claritin when it was an Rx drug, but it didn't help her.

I've also had pretty good success with Wal-Mart's version of Benadryl - it's effective and cheap.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Flonase (or something like it) worked for me...

...but I haven't used it in a while. Just the thought of spraying it in my nose is a little ooky. I also freaked out that it's a steriod (or at least the stuff I used was). But, it does work!

[GainesT1958]

3. Flonase works but especially if you...

SIOUXJ--Have rhinitis, or severe inflamation of the sinuses and nasal membranes. I say that from experience because I've been a lifelong allergy sufferer, and right now the fall pollen season is starting to get going for me, too--and also made worse by the mold spores from the rainy summer we've been having here.

I hope that will work for you, but it particularly helps if you're at that painful stage of inflamation and sinus infection. OUCH! Hope your feel better soon! :D

B-)

[Paschall]

4. Whatever medication you take...

...I've found that it helps enormously to cut dairy products out of my diet during allergy crises. No milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, anything that contributes to the formation of mucous. May be an old wives' tale type remedy, but it's worked for me. Also jalepeños, other peppers, and garlic are useful supplements.

[SiouxJ]

5. Thanks everyone

I like the idea of Flonase as my biggest complaint with these things is how sleepy they make you. I like to work out every day and taking this crap makes it hard to do that. I blew it off yesterday. The dairy thing is interesting too.

I find what helps the most is closing all the windows and staying inside, but that's not very practical. Especially here in AZ. This seems to come on at night and early morning and I just can't bring myself to sleep with the A/C on when it's perfectly cool outside at night. It's so wasteful.

[curlyred]

6. Flonase is a commitment

You have to use it regularly to experience relief, but it does work. I just couldn't stick with it. I have farily good results with a 12 hour time released generic sudafed......

[otohara]

7. Natural Approach - Freeze Dried Nettles

won't make you sleepy, give em a try.

[SiouxJ]

8. actually, my acupuncturist

gave me something once and it did make me sleepy. Very sleepy - lol. Not sure what it was but it was almost worse than any of the meds. One time I had an attack while I was in there for a treatment. She tried and tried to stop it with the needles but didn't have any luck. It was interesting though. I'll look into the nettles. Thanks!

[otohara]

9. Get One of These, Also

http://www.unimedprod.com/

rinse those spores out of your nose...and, you might want to clean your ears with ear candles...it's all connected. You will be absolutely amazed at what comes out. Pollen, wax, yeast, yuck. Use two in each ear, one after another.

[Coffee Coyote]

10. Do you know what else you are allergic to?

I am sure you do, but I keep track of the pollen count on my weather forecaster, and these days the chenopods and ragweed have been moderately high.

If those don't affect you, it is probably the mold, which I have no record of, but like in the Northwest, it gets high when the weather is damp.

Sorry I don't have any insight on medications, and...

Stop being sick! :stern:

:hi: SG!

[SiouxJ]

11. I'm pretty sure it's the molds

It only seems to affect me during monsoon. In the spring, when the pollen from the junipers flies in great dust clouds that you can actually see, I'm perfectly fine.

I know! I've had more than my share of health problems these past few years. Seems like I'm due for a break eh?

:hi: LL!

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Something to Watch For, Sioux!

Mold content is tough on me too. But, it tends to activate my immune system and causes a mild, but fully recoverable, exacerbation of the MS. (That's mild by MS standards. I get pretty tight and the burning sensations are pretty intense. But, when it goes away, i'll settle back to baseline.)

Happens every year in the wet part of the spring. (Unless it's a HOT, wet spring and mold doesn't do as well.)

So, whatever is recommended by the M.D., you should ask for something that treats the symptoms, more than the allergy itself. That way, you won't be taking a med that activates the immune system more than it does naturally. (Weird! I'm not a "treat the symptom" type guy. But, since i'm on a immunsuppressant drug, the last thing i want to do is defeat the concept of my most important med!)

Anyway, i think there are things that will simply treat the swelling of the nasal passages and won't trigger any immune response on their own.
The Professor

[SiouxJ]

14. that's interesting

as I've also been having unexplainable pain and burning sensations. I've never had pain as an MS symptom with any of my flares so I didn't know if that could be the cause or not. It seemed to come on with Monsoon season too. The ground never gets a chance to dry out becuase we get cool storms every afternoon. Hmmm.

I actually have only had 2 real flares before I went on the Avonex, which seemed to stop them all together. Last real flare was in '99 in fact, before I got going on it. I keep thinking I must have some nerve damage that didn't raise its head until now that might be causing this pain. Maybe the mold is a trigger.

Thanks for the input. I never thought about the effect allergy meds might have on my MS meds.

[Coffee Coyote]

13. I heard from my best friend in WA

This morning he says he is attending an orientation at Prescott College in October. He wants to get a bilingual endorsement so he can open up his teaching options.

Currently he and his family reside in Humptulips WA (lol - I love that name), and they are sick of it. In any event, I am excited about his visit soon!

:hi:

[SiouxJ]

19. Cool!

hey you! Did you get that song I sent you?

[Coffee Coyote]

24. yes!

It's an unjust world when a song like this isn't a hit.

I like her copping of Ann Richard's famous "silver foot" line, and the Twain-lke "Connecticut Yankee" line. :-)

Thanks for sending!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. I've used just about everything....

and Beconase worked best for my nasal allergies. It is a topical steroid, but I was running so badly I was getting nasal polyps! Flonase never really did the trick for me.

Interestingly, I did try the homeopathic nasal gel that is out -- and it worked! It took around a week for it to kick in fully, but it dried me up nicely and kept the sneezing way down. I'm not remembering the name right now, but I'll drop back with it soon.

Found it -- it's Zicam! You pump the gel up your nose -- the first few times I started sneezing uncontrollably, but it got better after that. No sleepiness, no other side effects. You do have to use it everyday, though.

[Susang]

16. This may gross you out

But get a Neti pot. It's an old method for dealing with allergies but works as good as antihistamines. Unfortunately it involves using warm salt water to wash out your nasal passages, so some people can't really handle it.

You place the spout of the Neti pot into one nostril and tip the pot so that the water flows through the first nostril and out the second. Disgusting, I know, but it really works.

BTW, I have such severe allergies that I've developed allergy triggered asthma. I'm now on Advair, Allegra-D and Patanol eye drops.

[SiouxJ]

18. It does sound gross

but I'm so sick of taking meds that I may have to look into these rinses you guys have suggested. Sounds like you have it bad. I've been pretty lucky in that I only have this come on about once or twice a year since I left San Diego (which was much more damp than AZ). I was really bad when I lived there.

Thanks!

[amazona]

17. beconase (spelling?) also worked well for me

I no longer need to use a steroid inhaler because I made radical changes in my life to severely reduce exposure to my allergens -- the main trigger being cat dander, with another trigger being dust mites. However, it took me many years to settle down from being severely over-exposed to the cats, and I found the Beconase (if I remember the name correctly) to be very helpful. I'm assuming Flonase is much the same thing. If so, you should be very pleased.

Nowadays, when I am exposed to cats or know I am going to be exposed to cats, I can handle it by taking on Claritin, which is not much help to you, since you already report a problem with Claritin.

[Lady President]

20. My two cents

I've had seasonal allergies as long as I can remember and I've tried it all, so I'll throw in my two cents too.

Currently, I take Zyrtec. It does make me sleepy, but it's the best I can find. Claritin didn't help at all and I'm one of the minority that gets flu-like symptoms with Allegra. As for OTC meds, the only one that works well is Benadryl and I practically have to take that lying down it makes be so sleepy. I know it wasn't the safest med, but I Seldane was the best thing I've ever taken and I miss that one.

I tried Flonase, but it is not a good choice for occasional problems. It needs to build up in your system to be effective, so you have to use it every single day, regardless of how you feel and wait for weeks to feel better. In general, AZ is a great place for allergy sufferers, so you might want something you can take when symptoms flare up rather than all the time. Also, some people are very steroid sensitive and if you know you are, remember that it is a steroid based med.

Best of luck and if your doctor thinks of something new, please let us know.

[SiouxJ]

21. some great advice and insight here

thank you! That's a good point about the Flonase. I really only have this a few times a year so it's something to cosider. I'll see what my doctor has to offer on the subject.

[PATRICK]

22. Something dumb

During the savage sudden fits when one gets a snootful of whatever, simply calm yourself, breathe through your mouth alone and stop the cycle. AC and filters at home. Not being exposed or uncomfortable for half the day does help endure the rest. Even our lousy AC at work with all the stuff passing over the workfloor helps.

Or maybe it is just age, but I don't take any meds at all anymore. In the past we had zilch and no AC. I went from chronic sickness during the warm seasons to wallopping flu winter(no shots then) and on and on fighting the cycle. Get flu shots.

Since the meds only alleviate symptoms they are not as good long term as boosting your immune system and not getting real sickensses.

[qb]

23. Try Actifed for a while longer.

My allergies used to be worse than they are now and I took Actifed regularly. It made me sleepy at first, but after a while it didn't make me sleepy any more. I didn't need to take them every 4 hours, usually 3 or 4 per day. I just kept a little tin of them in my pocket and popped one as needed.

[Bombero1956]

25. I have severe seasonal allergies

I was having to take meds all year round. I've been on them all and it got to the point where my doctor had to give me an injection of Depo-Medrol. This medication may be used to treat a wide variety of conditions. It can be used to replace cortisone in people who are deficient in cortisone. It can also be used to treat a number of other conditions, including respiratory diseases (such as asthma), skin diseases, severe allergies, certain eye diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, certain blood disorders, and certain types of cancer, but it have a few siee affects, like stomach upset and over prolonged use bone loss causing osteoporosis.

[leftofthedial]

26. allergies awful in Colorado too

very wet June, Incredibly hot July (hottest ever). Hot august so far.

Flonase worked well for me in Tennessee.

I just pop a couple of Sudafed twice a day and it works fine.

Take them with a Mountain Dew and you're good for two or three days! Catch up on all those projects you need to get done before Fall.

[SiouxJ]

29. Lol!

good idea. Yeah, a couple of cups of coffee with it works too. :-)

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

27. I have congestion, but not rhinitis, and found that, for me, Flonase

was having a rebound effect. When I stopped using it, I stopped getting the daily congestion. Now what I do is, when I start getting stuffed up, I know I am at risk of a sinus attack, so I take Sudafed for a day or two until the congestion clears up.

This might not apply to you, but just a suggestion to people to beware of rebounding. Sometimes taking meds only as needed rather than daily can work. I did get a neti pot, recently, but haven't gotten up the courage yet! Think I'll go try it.

[SiouxJ]

28. Well the doc said

stick with the Actifed if it does the trick. Big help he was :eyes:
I think he's not very concerned since it's not a long term problem for me.

I did find that if I take it with coffee the sleepiness isn't bad at all.

Thanks for all the advice/ideas!

[stoner_guy]

30. Sudafed

I take sudafed. I like it because it clears my sinuses but doesn't make me sleepy. The symtoms that remain I can generally tollerate until the episode passes.