Seasonal allergies please help

I have had seasonal allergies in the past. The spring isn't usually much of an issue. Fall is bad but doable.

Since the birth of my DS in 2007 I haven't suffered at all.

This has all changed this season. I am suffering beyond belief. My doctor told me to just take claritin and left it at that. Honestly I don't think I can last until it kicks in. My chest is very congested, unless I use nasal spray I can't beathe at all through my nose, my throat is sore from coughing, my voice comes and goes.

If you have very severe seasonal allergies can you please share with me what your protocol is. What works and why? What doesn't work? Do you see a GP or do you see an allergist?

TIA

Re: Seasonal allergies please help

I see an allergist, have taken shots but I'm not currently doing that. I take an allergy pill every day during the season. My Dr. would prefer for me to stay on them year round but I like taking the break. There are tons of different allergy pills. I usually try the news ones and then go back to Claritin. The decongestant leaves me so dry that I then get a sore throat from that, so I never take the Claritin-D. I add Benadryl any time the allergies are really bad and if I am having an acute reaction. Nothing works like Benadryl but I can't take it every day b/c of the hangover it gives. I am currently on a trial of Xyzal to see it if works better than Claritin. I have tried all the Rx nose sprays but they all seem drip down and burn my throat. I am still hoping to find a good one. At some point during the season, I will get a sinus infection as a result of the allergies and especially because I do not use a decongestant. I just get treated right away so it does not drag on. I use allergy eye drops but I am currently in the process of changing. My worst allergy issue is with my eyes. I also use Moisture Eyes PM Lubricant Eye Ointment in additrion to whatever eye drops I am on. It's not medicated but it helps a lot and it's safe to use as much as I need.

Message edited 4/2/2010 11:57:42 PM.

Re: Seasonal allergies please help

this is my response to a post here a few days ago:

ok all! a few years ago i recommended apple cider vinegar to help with allergies.

my experience was good with it, but a lot of people did not like the taste or the way it upset their stomach. i still highly recommend it for decongestion though!

i did however find something REALLY amazing and i stumbled upon it accidentally.

i was taking bioflavonoids for tinitus in my ears. i started by taking the max doasge. i was at my bf's family's house (they have dogs that always make me sneeze and a cat in the apartment upstairs which kills me)...

anywho...after being there for about 3 hours i realized i had not sneezed once..so i thought, what did i do differently today?

the only thing was that i had been taking bioflavonoids.

i went home and googled bioflavenoids and allergies and it comes up they they are actually prescribed to allery and asthma sufferers! it is NOT a medication, it is a supplement.

i have NOT experienced allergies yet this season.

i highly recommend trying them. they cant hurt, wont give you medicine head. (i have to add that allergy meds do not work on me anymore becuase i have been taking them for so long)

i had planned on starting allergy shots this year but i dont think ill have to now.

try it! take the highest dosage recommended and see how you feel for a week or so.

(you can probably return them if they dont seem to work for you..i return open bottles to the vitamin shoppe when im not happy with something..)

good luck! feel better everyone!

Re: Seasonal allergies please help

I take claritin every day, year-round. I must be allergic to something indoors... even in the dead of winter, if I skip 2 or 3 doses, by Day 3 I'll practically have to take a day off of work, it's so bad.

Anyway - don't wait for the symptoms to start. Take a claritin once a day, regardless. If you're getting sniffly you don't have to wait the full 24 hours. If it's really bad at bedtime, my doc said it's okay to take benadryl to help me sleep (something about the antihistamines taking 'different pathways'.). Benadryl kicks the allergies' butts, but I could never take it at work because it makes me fall asleep within half an hour.

Nosesprays like Affrin are a godsend but use them sparingly because they dry you up so much, it leads to other problems. Just a 2 or 3 12-hour cycles, max.

Feel better.