Allergy sufferers, I need some advice...

[Aurora63]

On Monday, I went to my dr. with what I thought was a bad cold or sinus infection. It was the first one this month, but I have been getting a cold about once a month since January.

She thinks it is alergies, and gave me samples of, and a presctiption for both Nasonex and Clarinex. The Nasonex, I don't think has helped at all, and the Clarinex, maybe a little.

My question is, do these medications take some time to kick in (I've only been on them since Monday) or should I be noticing some immediate relief? My concern is that since my symptoms are still here (even a little worse at times), maybe the dr. was wrong and I am cooking up some infection.

I go back to her on Tuesday...but in the meantime, what do you think?

 

[Christine]

I've been through similar suffering. It has been 4 weeks now. I was given Claritin and Flonase. Yes, it takes the nasal sprays up to a week to work. I don't think the Claritin works at all (I think Clarinex is similar). Keep at it with the nasal sprays. After a few days on all this, I did clear up a bit but I had to stop using them because I got so dry that I could not swallow. Now the congestion is back. Today my forehead was hurting and my ear seems to have some fluid in it.

My doctor does not want me to take an antibiotic unless the drainage is purulent. It is not, it is clear, so no infection. He thinks mine are allergies too. I don't know why I am doubting this?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As an allergy sufferer, there is no such thing as immediate relief. You have good days & bad days.
It is very hard to tell what works and what doesn't.
It is going to be a trial and error kind of thing. It takes a lifetime to figure it out.

I will say this...and this is a NEW revelation to me, at 41. I was finally officially diagnosed as having acid reflux, through an endoscopy.
Interesting thing about sinuses and reflux....your sinuses will drain to protect your esophagus from the acid.
I am now starting to suspect that this is a part of my "allergies".

 

[always quiet]

Same thing happened with my DD. I know she has allergies but the Benedryl she has been taking since she was 6 always kept things 'in check'. When this "cold" appeared in March (way sooner than the allergy season starts normally for her), I thought "Oh, she has a cold". Tried OTC med, nothing. Took her to the doctor, thinking sinus infection. When he said it was severe allergies, I was floored! We are now trying different things to help, but it always takes about a week to really start seeing the effects. Currently she is on Claritin and Patanol. She gets really bad allergy eyes. She has been on this combo for 3 days now. The ped. recommended an allergist to "see" what she is allergic to. Well, they are booked solid til Sept (!!) and I know what she has a problem with...........she doesn't have a problem all winter...only in the spring. We have a cat, a dog and a rabbit. Obviously, it is not pet dander. We have been dealing with this since she was 2!!

Oopps...sorry for the rant...just a frustrated mom here!

 

[Quinn222]

I use the nasal sprays (Flonase now) and they do take some time. If you take them regularly then in a couple of weeks you should notice a pretty dramatic improvement. I like them a lot and am really happy not to be taking pills for it.

 

[Karel]

Allergies are really really bad right now. I have developed itchy, rashy skin, which is a new allergic thing for me - aren't I lucky.

I too grew up with cats and dogs and yes, I found out later in life that I am allergic to them!

Does she have a problem in the fall too? And if she is allergic to mold and dust mites, that is a winter/summer problem but her symptoms might be mild enough that you don't recognize them.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We have a cat, a dog and a rabbit. Obviously, it is not pet dander. We have been dealing with this since she was 2!!

Not true. She is probably allergic. Trust me if you had no animals she would be better.
The cat is the thing that seems to be the worse thing for sufferers.
I had cats all my life and suffered all my life.
When I had younger dd she suffered from exercise induced asthma. Once we put our last cat to sleep (our old college cat, Honey), she improved and never had to take meds again.

Now we have 2 dogs (which my older dd and I are allergic too).
I have had shots which have helped. I have so many allergies, it doesn't matter.

 

[Morganpics]

I have allergies and asthma. I tried every allergy pill known to man, and nothing was successful until I tried Flonase. It has been a godsend for me. I can actually act like a normal human being and don't have a runny nose, puffy eyes and headache all the time. I do find in the winter my throat and nose get dried out more, but for me the tradeoff is WELL worth it.

 

[Ava83]

It does take a week or 2 to build up the medication in your system.

 

[always quiet]

Not true. She is probably allergic. Trust me if you had no animals she would be better.
The cat is the thing that seems to be the worse thing for sufferers.
I had cats all my life and suffered all my life.
When I had younger dd she suffered from exercise induced asthma. Once we put our last cat to sleep (our old college cat, Honey), she improved and never had to take meds again.

Now we have 2 dogs (which my older dd and I are allergic too).
I have had shots which have helped. I have so many allergies, it doesn't matter.

If the pets are part of the problem, why wouldn't see suffer from this all year? She only suffers from allergies in the spring. During the winter, she is fine. Also, the allergies began when she was 2. We got the cat when she was 4. I didn't notice anything different with or without the cat...also, no difference when Thumper arrived...or Tazz.......... She suffers from the seasonal allergies so bad that when she was in the lower grades in school and they were cutting the fields outside the building, the nurse would actually call me to come and get her, she was in such misery!

 

[mouseRD]

Claritin/Clarinex does not do much for me. I pretty much use Nasonex year round for allergic rhinitis/post nasal drip symptoms; it may take a couple of weeks to kick in when first starting use. Then, when allergy season is really bad, I've found taking a Zyrtec in the evening works wonders; I am a little groggy during the day (supposed to be non-drowsy like Claritin, but some people still are affected by drowsiness; I am, my sister is not) but not like Benadryl.

 

[Christine]

If the pets are part of the problem, why wouldn't see suffer from this all year? She only suffers from allergies in the spring. During the winter, she is fine. Also, the allergies began when she was 2. We got the cat when she was 4. I didn't notice anything different with or without the cat...also, no difference when Thumper arrived...or Tazz.......... She suffers from the seasonal allergies so bad that when she was in the lower grades in school and they were cutting the fields outside the building, the nurse would actually call me to come and get her, she was in such misery!

It's hard to explain, but if you have allergies, animals are a good bet to be in there too, whether you notice it or not. My son has terrible seasonal allergies. The rest of the year they are much improved but if a doctor looks at him, he can tell that he is suffering year long. Probably due to our dogs. I also have low-level animal allergies (with the exception of cats which send me gasping). I think if you live with them, you just get used to it and you won't see the allergy "spikes" like with the pollen. You will just have constant nasal swelling. I have it all the time and I don't even notice it, but when a doctor looks up my nose he will say "Oh, you have allergies" and I don't even feel that I have symptoms.

 

[CheshireVal]

I have had sinus infection (horrible pressure all over face, ears popping constantly, post-nasal drip) symptoms since early April. I've been on 2 courses of antibiotics and am also taking Flonase. I have good days and bad days but still don't feel like myself.

I've been to an allergist and have only mild allergies that shouldn't cause symptoms like this... not bad enough to warrant allergy shots.

I'm so fed up! I bought a sinus rinse/nasal irrigation kit yesterday and am hoping it provides some relief after a day or two of use.

I have an appt with the doctor again on Monday morning, but I really don't want to spend another weekend feeling bad, and I don't know how willing he'll be to prescribe more antibiotics.

 

[Christine]

I have had sinus infection (horrible pressure all over face, ears popping constantly, post-nasal drip) symptoms since early April. I've been on 2 courses of antibiotics and am also taking Flonase. I have good days and bad days but still don't feel like myself.

I've been to an allergist and have only mild allergies that shouldn't cause symptoms like this... not bad enough to warrant allergy shots.

I'm so fed up! I bought a sinus rinse/nasal irrigation kit yesterday and am hoping it provides some relief after a day or two of use.

I have an appt with the doctor again on Monday morning, but I really don't want to spend another weekend feeling bad, and I don't know how willing he'll be to prescribe more antibiotics.

Mine has been going on since Easter. Yesterday I had the sinus pressure/pain and a bit of pain in my ear. But, I am breathing through my nose. Have a post nasal drip. Doctor says this is not a sinus infection. What the heck is it because I, too, do not feel myself. Each night I am in bed at 8:15 and sleeping like a rock until the alarm goes off, and then tired all day.

CheshireVal, the antibiotics aren't helping you?

 

[CheshireVal]

Mine has been going on since Easter. Yesterday I had the sinus pressure/pain and a bit of pain in my ear. But, I am breathing through my nose. Have a post nasal drip. Doctor says this is not a sinus infection. What the heck is it because I, too, do not feel myself. Each night I am in bed at 8:15 and sleeping like a rock until the alarm goes off, and then tired all day.

CheshireVal, the antibiotics aren't helping you?

I was on Biaxin XL for 10 days, and then a Z-pak for 5. I felt a little better towards the end of both, but then as soon as it's out of my system, I start feeling worse again. I feel like maybe I need a longer course of treatment, but my doctor is always reluctant.

I'm not sure it's really a sinus infection, either, but I'd really like to know what the heck it is!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If the pets are part of the problem, why wouldn't see suffer from this all year? She only suffers from allergies in the spring.

If you have allergies, animals are bad. Sorry. I know you don't want to hear that.
You see....people with allergies suffer year round. At times it will not appear your dd is suffering, but the reality is she is.
I have "mild" allergies, not severe.
What happens is you get "used to" the way you feel. When the seasonal stuff kicks in, now you are just "adding to it".
Does that make sense?

One of the issues with animals is that go outside & bring in allergies.
Cats are just bad for sufferers, period. Their saliva is very high on the allergy list.

I am allergic to cats & dogs but we still got 2 dogs last year. I have many allergies and while I would be "better" had I not gotten the dogs, I choose to do it anyway.

 

[Christine]

If you have allergies, animals are bad. Sorry. I know you don't want to hear that.
You see....people with allergies suffer year round. At times it will not appear your dd is suffering, but the reality is she is.
I have "mild" allergies, not severe.
What happens is you get "used to" the way you feel. When the seasonal stuff kicks in, now you are just "adding to it".
Does that make sense?

EXACTLY what I was trying to say. I also have two dogs that I have NO plans to get rid of. I am so "used" to having the mild stuff that I don't even know it. Every doctor that looks up my nose says "Wow, you need some Flonase."

 

[Crankyshank]

I've had constant sinus infections since last August with no relief. My ENT is talking surgery as soon as I am able to schedule 6wks out of work for recovery. My sinus damage was so bad that even though I felt fine, it was still showing infected on my last CT scan.

If you're not feeling any better within two weeks of taking the new meds and you're avoiding allergens then I would make an appt with the allergist to discuss a med change. sometimes it takes a while to find the right one. I'm on 2 nasal sprays and zyrtec and to be honest they work ok on mild days but they're not terribly effective for me and I've tried everything on the market and things still on trial. Nothing has worked spectacularly for me since seldane got taken off the market

 

[hydster]

It sounds to me like your dd needs something with a Decongestant in it! Claritin D or Allegra D might give her the relief she needs.

I know for my whole family *yep all 5 of us lucked out with seasonal allergies* I have 1 who can ONLY take Zyrtek, I have 2 that have had great luck with just the over the counter claritin and then there are dh and I who have to have either Claritin D or Allegra D along with nightly Benadryl.

We have had to buy an air purifier for our bedrooms because of the pollen. Also every single night we make sure we shower and wash our hair and then we don't go outside since pollen LOVES to live in your hair, clothes everything. I wash our bedding twice a week just to keep it in check as well.

I would ask your doc about trying her on something like Allegra D just to see if the Decongestant would help and seriously I'd try to get her to shower just before bed and no going outside to get more pollen on her clothing, skin or hair!

Good luck..I know it's frustrating but keep trying different things. If it is seasonal allergies something should work but it might take some time to find the right thing!