Seasonal allergy sufferers

[peapod1980]

Are you suffering? My daughter has been miserable this allergy season; it's been just horrible. Didn't go to school yesterday or today because her symptoms are so debilitating. This is supposed to be the worst season in 10 years, so I just wondered if others are as miserable as she is.

[whiteyfunn]

Are you suffering? My daughter has been miserable this allergy season; it's been just horrible. Didn't go to school yesterday or today because her symptoms are so debilitating. This is supposed to be the worst season in 10 years, so I just wondered if others are as miserable as she is.

I usually have really bad allergies but it's not so bad right now. Except for the constant sneezing. Hope she feels better!

[Kimmifunn]

Are you suffering? My daughter has been miserable this allergy season; it's been just horrible. Didn't go to school yesterday or today because her symptoms are so debilitating. This is supposed to be the worst season in 10 years, so I just wondered if others are as miserable as she is.

Oh sister. I woke up to go to the gym this morning and my eyes would NOT open. I didn't want to take my Clairitin on an empty stomach AND before spinning. I almost died. I sneeze all the way to work in my free paper. Usually by 10 the Clairitn kicks in. I have about 2 weeks really bad and then it subsides. When I was younger, it was worse. Same for D-Rex. I hope to outgrow it soon! They say it's the worst in years. I think we rank #5 for some reason...not sure why. It's early though. I'm sure I'll snot my way into May.

What does she take? I remember being MISERABLE in middle school.

[peapod1980]

Oh sister. I woke up to go to the gym this morning and my eyes would NOT open. I didn't want to take my Clairitin on an empty stomach AND before spinning. I almost died. I sneeze all the way to work in my free paper. Usually by 10 the Clairitn kicks in. I have about 2 weeks really bad and then it subsides. When I was younger, it was worse. Same for D-Rex. I hope to outgrow it soon! They say it's the worst in years. I think we rank #5 for some reason...not sure why. It's early though. I'm sure I'll snot my way into May.

What does she take? I remember being MISERABLE in middle school.

Oh, gosh, this sounds so much like her.
Well, she's tried a million things; she was taking Claritin, now she's taking Allegra, not sure it really matters, you know? She has to use a nose spray, used to be Flonase, then this year the doc changed it to something that has a steroid in it because she's such a mess. She has prescription eye drops and coughed so much over the weekend that she went off OTC Delsym and got a prescription cough syrup.
Sorry you're in bad shape, too. Whitey must be really lucky!

[JT]

Oh, gosh, this sounds so much like her.
Well, she's tried a million things; she was taking Claritin, now she's taking Allegra, not sure it really matters, you know? She has to use a nose spray, used to be Flonase, then this year the doc changed it to something that has a steroid in it because she's such a mess. She has prescription eye drops and coughed so much over the weekend that she went off OTC Delsym and got a prescription cough syrup.
Sorry you're in bad shape, too. Whitey must be really lucky!

Have you tried the seldane-d. I live in Atlanta with all the dogwoods, cherry blossoms, azalyas. Im having lots of trouble this year. I use the seldane but I have to cut it in half and take one half in the morning and 1 half in the afternoon. It has even helped this year. Caritin didnt do anything for me and Flonase is worthless in all this pollen.

[peapod1980]

Have you tried the seldane-d. I live in Atlanta with all the dogwoods, cherry blossoms, azalyas. Im having lots of trouble this year. I use the seldane but I have to cut it in half and take one half in the morning and 1 half in the afternoon. It has even helped this year. Caritin didnt do anything for me and Flonase is worthless in all this pollen.

No, we haven't, and thanks for the suggestion, JT!

[Ocean Lover]

Kimmi, try taking your claritin before bed if it's the 24 hour kind. That's what we do and it works well.

When my daughter was younger she responded better to Zyrtec. She has severe environmental allergies and tested positive to 40 of the 48 things that were tested when she got her back pricked. That was when she was 5 and they did it again last year and the results were the same. It has gotten a little better in the past few years and this year hasn't been too bad except lately. She's actually home from school today just feeling very blah. She had a sinus infection and is on the last few days of the meds. Unfortunately she's on a lot of meds for allergies and asthma. Someday we hope for less meds but I don't see it happening any time soon. We tried immuotherapy shots for over a year but it was so hard to get to the office once a week and then they changed their shot times to the same time she had her dance classes. She's been fine without them but I'm wondering if starting them up again would be the key to getting her off so many meds.

I feel your pain Pea, and hope your little one feels better soon!

[shakennotstirred]

Every season for me. The past couple weeks have been bad. I take the Costco versions of Claritin & Sudafed. I also use a sinus rinse: http://www.unimedprod.com/products.shtml

It is slightly unpleasant to use but really helps most days. I can be totally stuffed up & this will clear things up immediately.

[Jdarg]

OOh yuk. We live in the House of Snot. Both kids have allergies, which will blow up into the the asthma bark if they are not on their regular meds. We finally seem to have the right combos to avoid bad trouble-

Kate- a.m. Singulair, Flovent inhaler, Nasacort nosespray
- our allergist recommends using a saline nosespray a few minutes
before the regular nosespray

p.m. Zyrtec, Flovent

Allergy shot once a week, which has made all the difference- no ER visits anymore, no coughing all night!

When the pollen was making her stuffy and have a gooky cough, used Ryna-tuss with success. Sometimes Sudafed.


Will- a.m Advair, Allegra, Astelin nosespray
p.m. Advair

Both kids have albuterol inhalers if they start the barky cough, which was about a once a month occurrence before these meds. I wasn't a huge fan of medicating these kids, but they were miserable, and now they are great! The respiratory stuff really kicks their butts and you don't realize it until they feel better for a stretch of time, and you think "Eureka"! These meds really DO work!

[seagrovelover]

Are you suffering? My daughter has been miserable this allergy season; it's been just horrible. Didn't go to school yesterday or today because her symptoms are so debilitating. This is supposed to be the worst season in 10 years, so I just wondered if others are as miserable as she is.

Pod........I'm dying here the last week or so, my eyes are the worst ever

[peapod1980]

OOh yuk. We live in the House of Snot. Both kids have allergies, which will blow up into the the asthma bark if they are not on their regular meds. We finally seem to have the right combos to avoid bad trouble-

Kate- a.m. Singulair, Flovent inhaler, Nasacort nosespray
- our allergist recommends using a saline nosespray a few minutes
before the regular nosespray

p.m. Zyrtec, Flovent

Allergy shot once a week, which has made all the difference- no ER visits anymore, no coughing all night!

When the pollen was making her stuffy and have a gooky cough, used Ryna-tuss with success. Sometimes Sudafed.


Will- a.m Advair, Allegra, Astelin nosespray
p.m. Advair

Both kids have albuterol inhalers if they start the barky cough, which was about a once a month occurrence before these meds. I wasn't a huge fan of medicating these kids, but they were miserable, and now they are great! The respiratory stuff really kicks their butts and you don't realize it until they feel better for a stretch of time, and you think "Eureka"! These meds really DO work!

Wow. How did you finally reach the magic potion for each of them--trial and error? I'm surprised allergy shots haven't even been mentioned by our doc, much less the suggestion of seeing a specialist...? I keep hearing from people that eventually you find what works and realize it's possible to feel normal during this time of year. At this point, I can't even imagine it.
seagrovelover, that's what happened here over the weekend--her eyes were almost swollen shut!

[Sheila]

I take Singular. It seems to do the trick. Unless I am forced against my will to work all weekend in the yard helping spread pine bark! Stupid pine bark!

[Jdarg]

Wow. How did you finally reach the magic potion for each of them--trial and error? I'm surprised allergy shots haven't even been mentioned by our doc, much less the suggestion of seeing a specialist...? I keep hearing from people that eventually you find what works and realize it's possible to feel normal during this time of year. At this point, I can't even imagine it.
seagrovelover, that's what happened here over the weekend--her eyes were almost swollen shut!

Allergy testing- the kids were getting sick year round and surprise, surprise, allergic to things that are around all year- molds, dust mites, cats mostly. I freaked about the cats, but our allergist said even if we got rid of them (and they are old ), their dander will be in the house for the next 10 years anyway. What would I have done with 2 elderly cats? I vacuum alot and try to keep the cats off their beds- ha!

Despite all the meds, Kate was a bit bleary eyed and stuffy during the heaviest pollen weeks- that's when we gave her the Ryna-tuss. Took the edge off, but not perfect. As far as the perfect combo, it was trial and error. Frequent visits to the allergist and charting their progress (or lack of, which is when we would make a medicine change). The only recent change has been switching Will's nosepray from Nasonex, which gave him nosebleeds.

[Ocean Lover]

Allergy testing- the kids were getting sick year round and surprise, surprise, allergic to things that are around all year- molds, dust mites, cats mostly. I freaked about the cats, but our allergist said even if we got rid of them (and they are old ), their dander will be in the house for the next 10 years anyway. What would I have done with 2 elderly cats? I vacuum alot and try to keep the cats off their beds- ha!

Despite all the meds, Kate was a bit bleary eyed and stuffy during the heaviest pollen weeks- that's when we gave her the Ryna-tuss. Took the edge off, but not perfect. As far as the perfect combo, it was trial and error. Frequent visits to the allergist and charting their progress (or lack of, which is when we would make a medicine change). The only recent change has been switching Will's nosepray from Nasonex, which gave him nosebleeds.

So the Astelin doesn't cause nosebleeds? I may need to look into a switch on that one. Our insurance suggested it but I just haven't made the switch.

[ShallowsNole]

Oh man...I am in treatment with my eye doctor for allergic conjuntivitis - have had it for YEARS and doc was uncomfortable with me using Opcon-A three or four times a day . Been using the medicated eyelid scrubs and been on doxycycline for a month, and really seems to have helped until last weekend. Took a plane trip to Orlando and back and I don't know if it is allergies or airplane air, but my eyes looked like Satan when I came home Saturday. Still not real clear - and my head hurts, and I sneeze. Am taking Singular and an Advair inhaler, and have albuterol if I need it...

While I don't feel good, I'm an adult and can deal with it. The one I feel for is my son, who has inherited my allergies and his dad's tendency towards asthma. Earlier this week, his nose was running non-stop (and don't you love it when they wipe their nose with their arm and then wipe their arm on their pants!) and now, the left side of his nose is completely clogged, he feels it in his head, and he has the sneezes too. He stayed home from school today as he advised he didn't want to be miserable in school again. He takes Claritin and Singular, but they didn't stop this from happening. I'm heading home in a few minutes with Sudafed, Breathe Right nose strips (I hate those things but they seem to work) and some of the new Shower Soothers.

I thought the rain we finally got would help, but my family seems to have gotten worse!

[peapod1980]

Allergy testing- the kids were getting sick year round

I don't know why our doc hasn't done testing or referred her to an allergist. Maybe we're not conveying well enough just how miserable she is.
I just got off the phone with my SIL, who's a physician, she's suggesting giving the Singulair a try since it works differently. Hoping the doc will call this out for us today.

[Jdarg]

So the Astelin doesn't cause nosebleeds? I may need to look into a switch on that one. Our insurance suggested it but I just haven't made the switch.

Not yet- he has been on it 3 months.

[audie]

it is terrible here too. between trees budding, grass being mowed, etc. i am stuffed up all the time. i don't take anything for it tho, most stuff makes my blood pressure go up so i don't even bother.

[peapod1980]

it is terrible here too. between trees budding, grass being mowed, etc. i am stuffed up all the time. i don't take anything for it tho, most stuff makes my blood pressure go up so i don't even bother.

Hey, audie, you didn't give any professional input here, gull!
Called the doc, he agreed to let Girl Peachild try the Singulair. So, hoping for good results with that.
ktschris, we're going to the game tomorrow, and I really want her to feel well enough to go!

[audie]

Hey, audie, you didn't give any professional input here, gull!
Called the doc, he agreed to let Girl Peachild try the Singulair. So, hoping for good results with that.
ktschris, we're going to the game tomorrow, and I really want her to feel well enough to go!

sorry pea, i'm off the clock for another 2 hrs this whole allergy thing is really individualized, each person just has to find what works for him/her - i think it's all trial and error. just my opinion....

[peapod1980]

sorry pea, i'm off the clock for another 2 hrs this whole allergy thing is really individualized, each person just has to find what works for him/her - i think it's all trial and error. just my opinion....

I agree. I just thought maybe if you were getting some money under the table from one of the big drug companies, you might confess.
Or, better yet, you might admit that you're addicted to one of the allergy drugs, and then I could set up your intervention.

[Johnrudy]

My son's allergies are bad now too - - he said mainly its his eyes - - itchy. Said the Patenol eye drops are a life saver and the Flonase. Allegra and Clrairitin dosen't help.

And yes, the Claritin is supposed to be taken the night before I believe.

[whiteyfunn]

I don't know why my allergies aren't going nuts right now. Seagrover had to give me shots when I was little too. Mine were food allergies which I eventually outgrew but now they are your regular itchy, sneezy, watery- eyed symptoms.

I used to take Allegra but it was so expensive I have to settle for the OTC stuff. I do have some rx eye drops that work well. Flonase works ok...it made me feel really dizzy.

Hope everyone feels better!

[Miss Kitty]

Achoo and Bless you, one and all! I have used Zyrtec for years...no drowsiness. I have been mostly fine down here, except for itching now and again. You should have heard poor Donna trying to leave me a message earlier...she's got the sneezies BAD!!!

There are some really good mommies here trying to help their babies!!

[audie]

I agree. I just thought maybe if you were getting some money under the table from one of the big drug companies, you might confess.
Or, better yet, you might admit that you're addicted to one of the allergy drugs, and then I could set up your intervention.

just don't forget - i want to be intervened with ken !!! i don't take anything, and i am lucky - never see drug reps. since they are no longer allowed to leave gifts, samples, lunch etc. at the hospital they all took off like a bat out of he((

[peapod1980]

Achoo and Bless you, one and all! I have used Zyrtec for years...no drowsiness. I have been mostly fine down here, except for itching now and again. You should have heard poor Donna trying to leave me a message earlier...she's got the sneezies BAD!!!

There are some really good mommies here trying to help their babies!!

Well, I ended up having to get all pro-active this afternoon. The pharmacy called and said the Rx wouldn't be ready because they couldn't get authorization. So, I called Walgreen's, and the pharmacist said he couldn't fill it because it required prior authorization, which they didn't have yet. I said, are you waiting to get it, or have you not called my doctor's office yet? The latter--"We're short-staffed this afternoon." So, I made myself an honorary employee and called the doc's office--"They're short-staffed, here's the story, can you go ahead and handle this?" They did, got the meds, woo-hoo!
(That's what I get paid the big bucks for!)

[whiteyfunn]

My allergies have come full circle. May have to leave work early today! IMy throat is really sore...mmmboo hiss.

[peapod1980]

My allergies have come full circle. May have to leave work early today! IMy throat is really sore...mmmboo hiss.

Poor girl--they finally tracked you down and attacked, huh?
Taking the two oldest Peas to the doc at 2:00 today--Girl Pea is still pretty miserable, in spite of the long list of allergy meds, and I have my suspicions that Teen Pea is having asthma issues, which he hasn't had since toddlerhood!
Feel better, whitey.

[whiteyfunn]

Poor girl--they finally tracked you down and attacked, huh?
Taking the two oldest Peas to the doc at 2:00 today--Girl Pea is still pretty miserable, in spite of the long list of allergy meds, and I have my suspicions that Teen Pea is having asthma issues, which he hasn't had since toddlerhood!
Feel better, whitey.

Thanks, pea to the pizzy. They found me alright. I am dazed and confused (and not in a good way).