Allergy sufferer's.............Atarax??

[tink29]

Ok, I have had allergy problems for over 20 years now. Went to an allergy Dr. in April, and he said the top 3 problems were

1. Mites
2. Cat
3. Grass

Ok, I have been on all the other allergy meds. Zyrtec is the latest one. My family DR. put me on that @ 2 years ago. Allergy DR. said to stay on it. I am NOT getting any relief. I constantly feel/sound like I have a cold. I pretty much have sinusitus/sinus infections every month. I called my family Dr. today and asked if Zyrtec med. could be increased. She wants me to try the Atarax for 2 months. She said if that doesn't work I will have to come in to see her and figure out things from there.

I'm at my wits end, and I'm tired of feeling sick and tired!!!! Who has had similar situation as myself?? Did going on Atarax help???

Thanks!!

 

[Christine]

I can't help you as I don't take allergy meds, but Atarax is an "old school" medication. I think it works well; however, it really causes drowsiness and that's why most people can't take it daily. I think, these days, it is mostly given if you break out in hives or have severe itching.

 

[tink29]

Thanks, Christine!

We do have 2 cats in the house though. NEVER had reaction to cats before, but Allergy Dr. said we can develop allergies to things at any time in our lives. Strange! The one cat would willingly go to my mom, and the kids and I would be o.k. with that. The old cat, gonna be 15, has to stay. He is our "Baby". I can't part with him, love him too much!!

Now, if I'm willing to go the injection every month route ( and I know I have to do a shot per week and so on, until I'm at 1 per month ) does that really help better than anything else??? I'm willing to get a shot every month!!! I HATE needles, but I want relief sooooo badly!!

 

[robinc71]

Hi there. I'm not a doctor or allery sufferer but I am a RN and our docs prescribe nasal meds for the congestion and really swear by it. Things like auqacort, rhinocort, nasonex, flonase to name a few. Maybe something like that would help as well. Good luck.

 

[DVC Jen]

I would ask that they do allergy testing on you. This way you and your doc will know exactly what you are allergic to and how best to treat it.

If it is your cats you may be able to go in for weekly or monthly allergy shots instead of trying to find a pill to help.

I am HORRIBLY allergic to ragweed and have taken many things for it - but eventually I build up an immunity to the meds and have to try something new. Since Claritin went OTC my insurance won't pay for anything else... and you guessed it - Claritin and the likes no longer work for me.

Good luck. I know exactly how you are feeling - just like I do from late August - early Sept until mid to late November.

 

[HaleyB]

Have you done the mite treatments on your bedding? Super high temp wash and encase mattress, box-spring, and all pillows, in special fabric?

Have you tried something as simple as a nasal rinse. OTC and not expensive- just a rinse of the nasal passages with salt water solution, if swimming helps in the summer this is worth a try.

And I love Nasonex. Love it.

Allergy shots are more like 2-3 times a week, not once a month. There is much debate as to how well they work. Some insurance companies will not cover them and they are very expensive. I did not find them any help at all. Tried them for 3 years, too.

Also the best (I think only worthwhile) allergy test is a blood test.

Oh and I have never heard of atarax for ragweed... I took it daily for a long time for hives (years actually, 10mg a day as a child).

 

[Nala2007]

I feel your pain as I suffer tremendous allergies as well. Although it is a pain in the rear I have to:
Vacuum everything atleast once a week
Shampoo carpets every 3 to 6 months
Change air filters once a month
Clean around a/c vents once every other month
Wash sheets/change sheets once a week

I noticed the most difference even though it sounds ridiculous, take my meds every day even if I feel fine, but MOSTLY use the Flonase every day!!

 

[tink29]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I was starting to feel alone. LOL

I have went to an allergy DR. and they did do the "prick" test on both forearms, that had at least 6 differnt "things" for each arm. Then 4 shots of different things on the back of each arm. Let me tell ya, I was a nervous wreck when I heard 4 injections on the back of each arm!! But I wanted to know what the heck was going on! The test results showed that I was most allergic to mites.......then cat........then grass. I have done the "special sheets" for the mattress, boxspring, and pillowcase. I vacuum every other day, dust while doing that. I vacuum the curtains, vents and such once a month. And I do change the furnace filter once a month.

I have done the flonase, but I get nosebleeds by the 3rd day, so Dr. said to only use it for a couple days.......stop for @ a week.......2-3 days again.......week off....etc... But still no relief!! I will try the water/salt cleasing though, cuz being in the shower REALLY helps!!

There is a new procedure out for the sinus cavitiy. The Dr. puts a small balloon in the area, blows it up to stretch the cavitiy and make it bigger. I'm thinking I should ask about that, and if it would help an allergy sufferer.

 

[believe]

I had your same systems (sinus infections every month, never feeling 100%). I now take 2 weekly allergy shots, DH gives them to me. What a difference. I have not had one sinus infection in over a year. I am allergic to cats, 7 different types of trees, mold, dust... The only time I don't feel well is when it rains or there is moisture coming into the area. They were not able to get the mold reactions 100%, but it is still better. On these days I take some clarinex and excedrin migraine


Definitely ask your Dr about the shots.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I suffer from bad allergies to go with my asthma. Are you taking anything besides the atarax? I was on flonase for 3 months and also started having nose bleeds so swtiched to nasailcourt(or something like that) and hated it so getting ready to try something else next week. I also started out on zyrtec with no response what so ever. I might as well been taking candy.

Also, do you use a humidifier? I find that my nose bleeds and my sinuses are worse when I'm really dried out. This is a stupid question but do you still have your tonsils and get sore throats alot? I got alot of relief after having my tonsils out because they were constantly infected and would cause even more allergy/sinus flare up.

As of right now I take allegra d 24hr 1x a day and a nasal spray 1x day. I was getting allergy shots but found them useless and I've been very sick since before Christmas and if you have a sinus cold or any asthma problems they won't give them to you. I haven't decided about going back on them.

 

[dodukes]

Well I just finished testing and this is what was given to me, the nasalcort once a day, but with this you apparaently have to spray towards the middle of the eye, meaning you stick it up your nose and then adjust it so it is spraying away from the middl eof your nose and you cant stick it too far up, just kinda in. The reason I tell you this is because my PCP gave this to me a while back and I thought it was junk, well my allergist just gave it to me and explained the proper way to do it and I think it was been helping.

She also gave me sinus rinse. Pretty much rinses the allergens and particles out of your nose so they dont sit there. It also helps since you alreayd have sinuses. You squir tup one nostri and it comes out the other.

I also take allegra-d 24hour once a day. I have tried the zyrtec a long time ago and didnt feel a thing wth it. Found it useless. I am starting shots next week so we wil see how those go.