Allergy or Cold?

[Christine]

Mindless fun poll: So I've got something weird going on and I can't figure out if it's an allergy or a cold. One minute I lean toward cold, then I change my mind.

Last Wednesday evening, quite suddenly, the right side of my throat started to hurt. But it was way high up, more like the soft palate area in front of my tonsil. I looked and looked at it and it was just kind of red. Then I remembered that when I came home from work I had scarfed down a bunch of Ruffles chips and thought maybe I abraded it. There were times that it hurt worse than others and other times it didn't hurt at all. By Friday morning it was gone. Along with this, I had some general achiness but I thought I was tired.

Friday morning, the throat issue was just about resolved but I noticed when driving to work, my nose was kinda itchy (just on the right side, mind you) and I felt like I kept sniffing and had post nasal drip really bad. Nothing comes out when I blow. I didn't notice this until I got in my car.

At work, it intermittently happened and I also felt like a I needed to clear my throat a lot and cough. Again, the irritation/itchy feeling seemed concentrated to my right side of the nose/throat.

Yesterday, it was about the same. I woke up in the middle of the night very stuffed up and right side of nose itchy and a lot of draining which caused my throat to feel parched. Coughed a bit, went back to sleep, woke up like nothing was wrong at all.

I just went to do my grocery shopping and by the time I left the store and was driving home, my nose (right side again) itching, feeling like I have to sneeze but can't and drainage. Can't really produce anything when I blow. But I'm "sniffing" a lot. It's just so weird that it's on the right side only.

Now, I'm not an allergy-free person but as I've aged they are much milder. Usually when it's allergies, my eyes are involved but there is no eye involvement on this one.

Whatever it is, it is really mild yet very annoying. Because I felt fairly bad at the onset, I'm leaning toward a weird cold (and since I don't really suffer from allergies either), but the "up and down" of it has me stumped.

What do you think?

 

[polly p]

They just had a segment on this on TV.
They said if you are itchy and sneezing also its always allergies.

They also said its been a bad year for allergies.

 

[cybrkitn]

I'm going to say allergies. I just got over exactly what you described a few days ago.

Make sure to pick up some Mucinex. That will help clear your chest since that is where all your post nasal drip is going. And trust me, it really does work. I've also used Vick's Sinex nasal spray (otc) to help me breathe. Just use as directed.

This may also be a tad TMI, but here it goes. The way I can tell the difference between a cold and my allergies is from my nose. If it's runny and there is no hard stuff in there, then it's a cold. If my nose is runny and I have that hard stuff inside, then I know it's my allergies.

 

[Christine]

I'm going to say allergies. I just got over exactly what you described a few days ago.

Make sure to pick up some Mucinex. That will help clear your chest since that is where all your post nasal drip is going. And trust me, it really does work. I've also used Vick's Sinex nasal spray (otc) to help me breathe. Just use as directed.

This may also be a tad TMI, but here it goes. The way I can tell the difference between a cold and my allergies is from my nose. If it's runny and there is no hard stuff in there, then it's a cold. If my nose is runny and I have that hard stuff inside, then I know it's my allergies.

Well, the bizarre thing is that I'm not stuffed up at all. I just get this itchy feeling, sort of like I got some pepper up my nose, then it tickles, I get some mucous and then it goes away.

It has been itchy all day today, on one side but I'm clear as a bell really. Weirdest thing ever.

 

[cybrkitn]

Well, the bizarre thing is that I'm not stuffed up at all. I just get this itchy feeling, sort of like I got some pepper up my nose, then it tickles, I get some mucous and then it goes away.

It has been itchy all day today, on one side but I'm clear as a bell really. Weirdest thing ever.

Not really. That's what happens with allergies. I've got hay fever (nasal rhinitis) and that happens to me when something iritates my nose. Drives me nuts!

 

[Rora]

I vote allergies.

 

[Christine]

Make it stop!!!

 

[stsomewhere]

Allergies with throat drainage.

If it was a cold, the mucous would be yellow.

 

[cybrkitn]

Christine, you could try an OTC medication. Just one word of warning if you go for Benedryl. Use that only at night. Most people I know (myself included) that have taken that during the day are pretty much down and out for the day. It makes you very drowsy.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

I say allergies. My allergies act like that (except, much worse) every fall starting at the beginning of September and ending mid-November. During that time I feel completely awful every day and, so far, I have yet to find anything to make me feel better. I just have to wait until it goes away on its own. It's horrible.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I voted other.

To me it sounds like a mixture of a cold and allergies.

 

[Christine]

I voted other.

To me it sounds like a mixture of a cold and allergies.

Hmmmm...so a hybrid of sorts.

I just wonder how I made it through the worst allergy months and now, in July, where are levels of whatever, are the lowest they have been, my nose is itching. And just one side too. Weirdest thing in my 47 years....

 

[Pooh67_68]

I feel for ya, my allergies are kicking my butt this year.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[miralys]

I vote allergies. Itchiness, intermittent symptoms and post-nasal drips are always signs for me. Hope you feel better soon. I hate it when allergies flare up

 

[pppiglet]

Try taking Loratadine. (generic Claritan) It's real cheap and you can't tell you are on allergy meds, but you can definately tell the difference during the day with no itchy, runny nose or drainage. I didn't think I had allergies and my DH was taking this (1 daily) so I tried and take one every day now. It's great!

 

[Christine]

So, last night I slept pretty soundly and woke up at 4AM. I was not itching in my nose (right side only, remember) and was pretty clear. I got up to use the bathroom and laid back down. As I became more and more awake, the right side of my nose started itching again and it started to feel stuffed up. So I got up to blow it (clear), laid back down, it started up again, got up to blow again. I finally went back to sleep and when I awoke again, I was pretty clear until I started moving around.

This is just the weirdest thing. It is 100% on my right side, the left side is normal and it itches and runs, and then it will be fine for a bit.

If this was one of my kids, I'd think that maybe the put something up there, but no. My nose feels clear. No lumps, bumps, pimples, or objects.