I have had bad allergies, pollen, dust, dander, smoke, all my life and never, NEVER has any doctor or allergy specialist ever said wear a mask. I took allergy shots to desensitize me somewhat, but never did any one of them ever mention wearing a mask. lot easier than shots and experimental allergy drugs (that are now otc)...
Yeah, here’s some pre-COVID articles you need to read.
https://www.achooallergy.com/blog/buying/allergy-asthma-mask-buying-guide/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16405270/
https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(12)02690-5/fulltext
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/allergy-relief-20-simple-secrets/
Maybe you just had old school medics that didn’t keep up on stuff.
Having a deviated septum/broken nose does not do me well. Having to sleep on my back elevated by a bunch of pillows with a couple under my knee does wonders for nothing. Helps my knee, that is all. I am a side sleeper, but I wake up not breathing right. It sucks.