Should dry you up and knock you out
I only take it a night because it usually knocks me out
For sinus headaches I take Sudafed (pain & relief)
Posted on 05/06/2005 9:17:12 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
I never thought I would be doing a vanity on this but here it goes.
I am interested in knowing how people cope with Spring allergies. I have never had them until this year apparently. I have had a sore throat now going into day 18,I have seen the doctor twice where once gave me Ketex and decongestion meds and those did nothing,so they ruled out the common cold or flu or any bacterial infection.
My throat is still red,I still am congested,I have regular acid reflux (gerd) to be exact so when I sleep at night all of the congestion and post-nasal drip about drowns me. I am miserable to say the least.
I feel physically fine half of the day and then all of a sudden it feels like I have zero energy. I wake up and my eyes are dry as can be. So I went back to the doctors yesterday and they believe it is really bad allergies and want to put me on some kind of steroids which I am not crazy about. I usually stick to eastern medicine i.e. acupuncture and that sort of thing but even that is not working. My blood work came back fine so I know it is not anything serious of nature causing it.
I just need some kind of relief and remedy as I have never had Spring or any kind of airborne allergy. Supposedly the Pollen and Oak count is the highest its ever been in Central Florida mainly due to the 3 hurricanes that came through my town this year and what it did to the trees,everglades,and ocean air flow.
HELP! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Go to the drugstore, get saline solution nose drops. Use them often to clear out your nasal passages. Drink warm tea with lemon and honey to soothe your throat. If your throat is really raw, gargle with salt water. Hot steamy showers especially if you have been outdoors and your allergies are to pollen, grass, etc. help clear your nasal passages and, as importantly, remove the allergens. Try to avoid decongestents--use them only when nothing else works.
Should dry you up and knock you out
I only take it a night because it usually knocks me out
For sinus headaches I take Sudafed (pain & relief)
You need to see an allergy specialist. They can recommend something like a corticosteriod nasal spray, or a non-drowsy antihistamine, and maybe some eye drops. They can also test you to see exactly what you are allergic to if they feel it's necessary.
If you need immediate relief from your symptoms, maybe you want to go to your local drugstore/Target/Walmart and get an antihistamine.
Be sure to keep your windows closed during the allergy season. And wash your hair every night before going to bed, as pollen can collect on your pillow.
Good luck!
I have not done the lemon and honey thing as of yet.I have no idea why I haven't...everyone has told me to try it.Tomorrow first thing I am doing is heading to Publix for lemon and honey. The over the counter throat lozengers do absolutely nothing!
See an Allergist ASAP. I was suffering as you are last year and getting sinus infection after sinus infection. Found out I was terribly allergic to mold and dust mites. I take shots (give them to myself-it's easy) and I'm doing well, no more sinus infection or misery.
Are you joking? If not...how so? First I have ever heard of red wine helping allergies. Wow.
Did you have allergies before last year? This is new to me. How about the sore throat?
The trick with allergies is a preemptive strike, that is getting your arms around the symptoms before they knock you out. I have allergies that can cause me to feel very viral, running a low grade fever and so on. I have gotten to the point that I take Allegra almost daily during peak season and a low dose (25mg) of benedryl at bedtime. Advil or Aleve for the general crappy feeling works well too. Steroids are find for 4-5 weeks, but not longer. That said, at even a low dose you might have headaches and have problems sleeping. Watch your caffiene intake during the steroid course so your head does not explode. Good luck!!
Yes..and then more wine..much more wine...
I know the feeling. Calratin usually helps some, but not recently.
I began taking a private label equivalent of Benedryl and Nasalcrom. (Several years ago, Nasalcrom was prescribed to me by a dotor, but now it is over the counter.)
95% better.
P.S. The pharamicist told me that he has seen prescriptions written for 2 Calritin tablets a day. He also said I could take the Claritin with the other medications.
Good luck.
1. Force myself to get at least 8 hours of sleep (keep up the immune system).
2. On the worst days, take a 12 hour allergy medication. Any OTC antihistimine will do. Pick your flavor: regular, non-drowsy, etc.
I have no studies to back this, but I think the extra sleep really helps (when you can get it).
I've had horrendous allergies most of my life, and wine does NOT help. In fact, it makes it worse, something to do with the congestion. Anyway, I went to an allergy immunolist and got treated, and now I feel like living isn't such a bad thing after all. Besides the medications (like flonase and allegra), using a saline nasal wash helps tremendously. I bought one of those little cup thingys that looks like a small Aladdin's lamp, and wash my sinuses out a couple of times a day during periods of time when my allergies really flare up.
I am assuming it is the post-nasal drip that causes the constant sore throat? It feels more like chronic dry throat than anything else to be honest.
They can start as you get older .. or so I'm told
I never had them before either .. but the last few years have been terrible
I've gotten to the point I can tell when they will start and take something to head it off
Yep, the drip is actually fairly caustic and will cause the throat to be sore and raw. Allergies can really do a number on the body. There are some lozenges (nope, can't spell) that are specifically for keeping the throat soothed, but watch out for ones that have high sugar as there is some thinking that coating the throat with sugar sets up a great host for a little bacteria bug.
Cover your mattress and pillows with allergy proof covers, get a HEGA (not Hepa) air filter and see the allergist for testing.
Good luck...
My own allergist, Dr. WIlliam Rea , often speaks of the "allergic threshold". You may be sensitive to a number of different things, but you my only have a bad reaction when you encounter a number of them at the same time. If you can get a few of these things from your environment, you may return nearly to normal. His work made it clear that such sensitivities may include foods, pollens and other plant stuff in the air, animal dander, house dust (and the dust mites), perfumes and other scented items, and environmental pollutants such as natural gas from water heaters or stoves.
The other thing worth trying is to spend some time by the ocean, preferably on the windward side. Ocean air is clear of most allergens and pollutants, and is high in negative ions, which are also good for you. It's the weekend -- go for a drive!
And, although overadvertised, those Ionic Breeze things from Sharper Image really do help (if you keep your windows closed).
Ask your pharmacist if they carry something called Aklalol. It will cost about three bucks. It's an all-natural solution originally devised as a mucous solvent for burn victims (if I'm not mistaken). The active ingredients are salt, alum (astringent), and baking soda. It also has a touch of menthol, some cinnamon -- things to make it smell good. I use it whenever allergies are causing my nasal passages to swell, and there's fluid backing up. I especially have that problem with my ears. The eustachian tube swells and fluid backs up, causing phantom ear infections out of nowhere. Every once in awhile my head gets overwhelmed, but for the average days, this stuff works.
We own 2 Ionic Breeze machines here at the house and I live 10 mins from the ocean...am heading there tomorrow for some salt air for sure.
I'm sort of joking, but I am in the same boat as you, my allergies have been driving me crazy. I've been really hit hard this year and have had hard time dealing with it.For some reason drinking wine eases the problem,and not just in the short term for me.
Your throat's still red? As a veteran of the allergy wars that sounds a little unusual. Tell me, and I have a good reason for asking, are your face and neck showing some red streaks?
The absolute best antihistamine for me once my sinuses REALLY get going is chlorpheniramine maleate. It is an old one and sedates but it also dries. Look for it in the generic as Wal-finate at Walgreens etc. It is dirt cheap. None of the new ones do squat against a really inflamed sinus cavity.
There is also a prescription decongestant that is a mixture of psuedohedrine and belladonna alkaloids that will dry you up ASAP. Very good but new doctors don't know what it is!
Get the one time steroid shots and get on the singulair and nasal cortisteroids. They will control it unless you get to thinking you don't need them. I take them starting in the early spring and early fall.
P.s. I have allergies that result in severe rhinitis - I mean blood coming out of my nose. When it reaches that point only the steroid shots will stop it.
I know red wine is excellent for you and recommended to drink a glass a day but just wasn't sure if it worked for this...if it did..I was on my way out the door to grab a bottle right now at 7-11...whether I look like a whino or not :)
no red streaks..no spots inside..glands are not swollen...just when the doc put his light inside he said and I quote "yep..still kinda red back there"
I just started Singular yesterday...also a nasal spray.
My whole family is "allergies are us", except me, unless I'm in central Florida! Between the FL pollen and the no-see-ums I'm sure to be miserable.
Claritin works wonders for us, but so did time in Nevada. I'd get it checked out with a specialist or consider moving.
1)Take a bath when you get home 2)Get one of the 3M micro allergen air filters for your house. It will do wonders for your house dusting and allergies.
Do not get any red wine, it will make you worse.
I know you think I'm just goofing on you,but I'm serious, for some reason it works for me.Maybe the alcohol kills the problem or the acidity of the grapes neutralizes the problem, give it a try,..you might be surprised.
You crack me up..lolol
A steroid one? The singulair does wonders - in the long run.
I swear by the chloripheiramine maleate. It works better than benadryl for me and that is saying a lot. This year I worked outside and the combination of Singulair, nasacort and occasionally Chloripheniramine kept me relatively clear of symptoms. Without the singulair and nasacort - it would be miserable!
Again get the best 3M microallergen air filter and take a bath when you come in for the evening. That too goes a long way.
MFH, take Zantac ( over the counter ) for the GERD, or get your doctor to give you samples of Nexium ( this is expensive medication, but it works like a dream and heals the ravages of the reflux, unlike Zantac ) ASAP.
Gargling with warm salt water will make your throat feel better, but it won't help the allergies at all.
There are many different types of allergy meds now available. Go see an allergist; regular MDs aren't going to know just which ones are going to do the best job for you.
Nasonex is the nasal spray they gave me
1) Steam. Get a personal steam inhaler from the drugstore or Wal-Mart. You can find them in the allergy medicine aisle. About $30. Use it ever day...use the heck out of it. It'll loosen the phlegm so it can be blown out.
2) Ask your doc about Flonase. I have used the stuff several times over the past few years and it's been a Godsend. I can wake up in the morning without gasping for air.
I have the GERD under control by about 80% through acupuncture and herbs...besides I also take nexium by script. I am making a laundry list here to go from...I just wish I could have a normal throat again...I am sick of it.
1 jar tang
1 pk lemonaid mix (Unsweetened)
1/2 cup instant tea (Plain no lemon or sugar)
1 teaspoon cloves (ground)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups sugar
Mis all in a large bowl and put in plastic containers and put in fridge. Also you might get a little bottle of honey and add a teaspoon after you mix your tea. 3 or 4 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water.
I appreciate it..I am going to take some of your advice to heart in the morning and get cracking on some of it.
FOOD allergies!!!! What in your diet has changed? Try a "challenge diet" and report back - I had terrible allergies for several years....turned out to be food.
Don't you think Flonase has an odd smell? I couldn't stand the smell of it.
I was just about to buy a steamer today to have next to my bed in the meantime for my dry throat. I am headed to wal-mart when I wake up to do that. I am gonna go hang out in the shower until the water turns cold.
P.S.....sugar was part of my food allergy problem.
A bit of one, but as soon as I started using that, I didn't need any Afrin for months. I get some EVERY spring and it helps me every time.
Lemme ask you one thing here...is it better to use hot/warm when drinking with these kinds of sore throats? Or cold/mild? I have been buying slurpees like crazy the last few days for relief of the dry throat.Not the soda ones...but the juice ones...crystal light.
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