Anyone here dealing with allergies??

[mommaU4]

If so, what are you allergic to and how do you deal with them? And how did you find out in the first place?

Thanks for the info

 

[CathrynRose]

Are you kidding me??/ Ive dealt with allergies since the day I exited the womb!

Im allergic to every animal you can name - they even tested me for horse allergies In case I decided to move out west and start a dude ranch, I guess....

All the "basics" Mold, Pollen, Dust, blah, blah, blah...

Im allergic to Pork & Lamb - thankfully Im not a big pig eater...or sheep. ***bahhhhh***

Im SO thankful for the new breed of allergy pills, though. When I was younger, your choices were Benadryl and Allerest. Lovely meds, if you wanna feel stoned all day. (I was bartending once, my allergies were KILLING me, took a couple Benadryls - was $40 short in my register that night... I was a zombie!!!!)

I like Allegra - and I like Claritin.

But I AM wondering why my allergies have been SO bad the past few weeks - ITS FEBRUARY FOR CRIEN OUT LOUD!!!

 

[Crankyshank]

I've been seeing an allergist since I was 4. My whole paternal side of the family has sinus issues and allergies. I first went because my parents suspected some food allergies and grass allergies. they've changed over time and I'm almost completely cured (moving to FL and back threw my allergies for a bit of a whack or I'd be almost cured by now).

My allergies now are: codeine, dust mites, various pollens, ragweed, bees & wasps, cat dander, and mold. I get weekly shots for the pollen and mites allergies because they are really bad. I'm also on 2 types of nasal sprays, an inhaler for asthma, and claritin.

I have air purifiers with hepa filters throughout my home. I have mostly wood floors throughout my house. I do not dust or vacuum (DH does) and I use a special wash additive when I launder my sheets for dust mites. I also make sure to not work outside during peak pollen times

 

[disykat]

Yes. I'm allergic to many pollens and fragrances, and also dust mites and some pet danders. Most of my allergies are pretty self explanatory, but I do get odd looks when I try to find out what kind of wood things are made out of, etc. Try finding a hotel room in a small town in Montana without cedar!

I'm on Singular and Clariton year round, Nasalcort most of the time, and Albuterol and Q-var inhalers part of the year. When it gets bad, I also require drops for my ears, eyes, and special cremes for skin rash. I also have protective bedding, hepa filters, and a gas mask for cleaning.

I am fortunate that I don't really have food allergies, but I do have to watch natural foods and skin products for different varieties of weeds, cedar, juniper, etc. Alcohol can also be an issue (gin is made from juniper, wine cured in wooden barrels, etc.).

I've always had allergies to dust mites, but the other allergies compounded over the years. Allergies are just part of my life and I live accordingly. The only thing that makes me different is that I don't enjoy outdoor activities as much as most people, especially at certain times of the year. I've discovered I can camp in the late summer and early fall, so that's when we go. We just make adjustments.

For the record, I grew up with cats and dogs and I'm not a clean freak. (Just tossing that in here because it always comes up!)

 

[Christine]

I have them, but have never been tested so I don't know what I'm allergic to (or it's not documented anyway).

I've had them as a child. Very bad swelling during grass growing season (May/June) and the fall (ragweed). So, I know I have grass pollen and ragweed allergies though, as an adult, I get no more eye swelling or obvious runny nose.

I'm also very allergic to cats.

Other than that, I don't know. But everytime I go to the doctor and they happen to look up my nose, they immediately want to give me a prescription for Rhinocort, or Flonase or something. They say "Wow, your nasal passages are swollen." Well, I guess I'm so used to feeling this way that I don't even notice.

In the past two years, my eyes have been getting very itchy in February/March and I have to you an antihistamine for my eyes. But that's about it.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I've got them. Haven't been to an allergist, but unfortunately, I think that's going to have to be the next step. Have had seasonal allergies (mostly spring) since about 7th grade. Then developed the chronic runny nose but never understood why. Then last spring (my senior year of high school of course), I had the spring from hell. Couldn't talk, couldn't breathe, constantly choking on all that post nasal drip gunk, puffy eyes, endless sinus headaches, you get the idea. Doctor put me on Claritin, because at the time we thought it was seasonal. Now we're realizing that there's probably something year round too (nothing like feeling good for the first time in years, then coming off of it and feeling crappy again to clue you in). Through trial and error (ok living life), we're positivie I'm allergic to certain cats, probably dust, definitely pollen, and who knows what else.
At the moment, I'm always stuffy, have at least a sinus headache a week, and have a cough that I'm sure has a lot to do with the stuff running down the back of my throat. Yup I'm painfully aware of the fact that they're probably not being managed very well. I'm dreading this spring, because I know it's only going to get worse, and I expect it will be especially bad with the mild winter. Nothing has had a chance to freeze. I'm sorry, there's nothing healthy for me about this weather.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

For me:
5 grasses
4 trees
dust
dogs
cats
all citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines, strawberries tomatos)
citric acid (included in soaps, shampoos, most cleaning products, and, believe it or not ANTI-ITCH medicines!)
eggs
cheese
milk

To deal with the airborne allergens, I had part of my nasal passages removed and the bone in my nose shaved. I also went through 3 years of allergy shots. As for the food, I used to live on migrane medicines. Now, I avoid those foods and am patiently waiting on a cure...