I hate springtime!

[KanoasDestiny]

If I'm not sneezing nonstop, then I can't breath. I hate when things are in bloom! I used to never be this bad, but the older I'm getting, the worse my allergies are getting. Claritin seems like the only thing that gives "temperary" relief. Instead of taking one a day like the instructions say, I have to take two. And they're expensive.

Does anyone else have allergies? If so, what do you do for relief?

 

[Miniv]

My allergies are grass related......so things aren't too bad YET.

My routine is to take my allergy pill about a half hour before going out in the morning to do horse chores. (I carry kleenex.)

After coming in from my chores I immediately change out of whatever outer shirt I was wearing and throw it in the washer. This gets repeated whenever I go out again in the afternoon. (This limits the pollen that attaches to my clothes to bug me too much while I am INdoors.)

During the height of my allergy season, I also brush out my hair on the back porch after being outside.

My eyes are affected too, so the first thing I tend to do when I come inside is apply allergy eyedrops.

Last year my hubby found some lovely grass hay for a GREAT price.......Only problem was that it had Timothy in it and I am horribly allergic. I tried working with a face mask, but my lungs still swelled up and I felt like I couldn't breathe! It was one of the worse episodes I've had in many years.

 

[chandab]

If I'm not sneezing nonstop, then I can't breath. I hate when things are in bloom! I used to never be this bad, but the older I'm getting, the worse my allergies are getting. Claritin seems like the only thing that gives "temperary" relief. Instead of taking one a day like the instructions say, I have to take two. And they're expensive.

Does anyone else have allergies? If so, what do you do for relief?

I use generic Claritin for my allergies, I just bought a 90 ct bottle for like $20 (it may have been less, can't remember if the tag says $9.95, or $19.95, yes I know thats a big difference, but still much cheaper than name brand), just check the active ingredient and try the generic. Claritin is the only thing that works for me, also; I've tried Benadryl, but its makes me groggy.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

I use generic Claritin for my allergies, I just bought a 90 ct bottle for like $20 (it may have been less, can't remember if the tag says $9.95, or $19.95, yes I know thats a big difference, but still much cheaper than name brand), just check the active ingredient and try the generic. Claritin is the only thing that works for me, also; I've tried Benadryl, but its makes me groggy.

Oh my gosh, I didn't know they made a generic Claritin! I've never seen it at Walmart, but I'll look harder. I sure hope they have it! A couple of years ago, I took Zyrtec because it was the only thing that helped. Well, this year it is doing absolutely nothing.

 

[wrs]

My husband has year round allergies. He has to cover all the basis to find relief- pill by mouth (he's currently using Zyrtec), a prescription nasal spray (currently Nasonex) & eyedrops (currently Zyrtec) every day. So far this spring he's doing well.

Hope you find some relief.

 

[AppyLover2]

I've been so miserable this week all I want to do is nothing. Sit around and do nothing; lay down and do nothing; walk around outside but do nothing. I'm hot and cold, stuffy then runny, sneezing and watery eyes. Sure wish there was some magic potion out there somewhere.

 

[chandab]

Oh my gosh, I didn't know they made a generic Claritin! I've never seen it at Walmart, but I'll look harder. I sure hope they have it! A couple of years ago, I took Zyrtec because it was the only thing that helped. Well, this year it is doing absolutely nothing.

The active ingredient is "Loratadine" (10 mg tablets). [some will say "compare to Claritin", some don't; this particular bottle doesn't.] I'm pretty sure I've bought it at Walmart, but its been awhile (my closest Walmart is 150 miles

).

 

[Bess Kelly]

WalMart's here have the generic for about ten cent a pill.

Last yr more issues than now. Pollen still bad but I just don't seem so affected -- which THRILLS me!!

I don't like to take meds if not needed, so I keep some of the Zicam nasal swabs to use if I'm mowing, out and pollen is high, or if I've been out and now cussing that I didn't do something before

It works pretty well. I don't get the eye problems, often but, the nasal/sinus ones are more than enough!!

 

[BBH]

use a netti pot from walmart every morning when i get up and then again during day if feeling stuffy.....it washes that sinus nastiness out of there.....sort of gross the first time you use it but easy to get used to.

 

[JaniceZ]

I have horrible allergies in the spring and fall. I take 2 reactine per day at the beginning of allergy season, and three when it gets terrible. Reactine works best for me of the meds i have tried.

 

[shadowpaints]

im right there with you all! UGH cant take too many meds or it causes headaches.. soo i have to wait for the allergies to get almost unbareable. then i take em.. im alergic to everything it seems...

Cats (have 6 outside only)

dogs(3 long haired in the house and 1 short hair)

horses ( i wont even count those!)

alfalfa hay

grass hay

straw

pollen

the list goes on and on !

and my doctor tells me to get rid of the critters.. of course i dont see that happening! LOL

 

[wildoak]

Flonase is a lifesaver! It's a prescription nasal mist, comes in a generic and works quickly. I've had to back off of it this year as it really dries out your nose, but I've used it for years. My worst time is in the fall with ragweed, and then cedar season. I've seen an immediate difference with flonase and also with a cortisone shot. My GP won't give them to me anymore - not good for your bones and I'm "at that age" lol, but I was willing to deal with that for once a year relief!

OTC I have better luck with Zyrtec now than I do Claritin.

Jan

 

[Valerie]

Ahhhhh....a subject near & dear to my heart......

I have had continuous allergies for over 5 plus years now...have been getting allergy shots for over 5 years now........another 3 plus years of shots....but here is what I have found that helps me....... (I am allergic to everything, except cattle and cockroaches)...... grass, pollen, trees, hay, cats, dogs, horses, mold, dust, dander.....(you get the picture).

Anyhoooooo....besides the shots.... I take Allerclear daily (one a day pill...it is Costco's version of Claritin)...same ingredients & is non-drowsy....for those that take meds regularly you know how important the non-drowsy stuff is. Much cheaper than Claritin and it was my allergist that recommended I switch since it's the same thing (I took Claritin for a few years before the switch). I also take a generic version of Flonase (I personally like Nasonex better)..but my current health insurance does not cover Nasonex......so Flonase nasal spray, my generic version is the best I can get right now...and it does help, just not as well as Nasonex. Another secret from the allergy people.....Pepcid AC....yes the acid controller.....and it can be the generic version as well..(again I buy mine at Costco, saves me $)...also helps with allergies....I take the Pepcid stuff each time about an hour to hour 1/2 before I get my allergy shots...(so about once a month now).....plus if I am having an esp bad time with allergies on a given day, I will pop a few of the Pepcid pills....

I also take singulair every evening .......so I have asthma & allergies....but the Singulair helps with both....plus I have an inhaler, which I have had to use more frequently lately.....so much blooming right now. I also would say if you are going out to do yard work, etc....get a mask to wear.....and like MA said, if you change out of your clothes that may help you as well.

NeilMed makes a great nasal rinse that can help with seasonal allergies too....and it comes as a kit, very easy to use....I find easier than a Neti-pot.....comes with a saline solution and you just mix it up & squirt up your nose, etc......tends to rinse all the irritants out of your nasal passage etc.

Sorry this is so long, but gosh, if this info can help anyone, I am happy to share.

That said, even with all of the above, I do have some "bad" days where nothing works as well......and I have indoor cats so I am constantly barraged with allergens, but I am not about to give up my cats because of allergies.......but they do know on "shots" day, they can't snuggle with me.

Take care and I hope you find a way to get through your allergy season...unfortunately for me, my allergy seasons last all year long.......the only relief I get is when I go on vacation to somewhere tropical......Hawaii is my cure for my allergies....

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Thank you allk for your replies! We did find the generic Claritin at Walmart, although the biggest they had was just 30 pills.

But it is a LOT cheaper than the brand name and works just as well. One year I did use a benadryl tablet, but for the life of me, I can't remember which one it was and I think it did cause drowsiness.

I've been taking a pill every 12 hours and as long as I do it right on time, it seems to work really good. Unfortunately, if I miss it by an hour, then the allergies kick in and it's that much harder for the pill to work.

I have to be honest, I'm scared to death to inhale something up my nose. I'm not sure why.

All of this information has been very helpful and interesting. I didn't know there was a shot for allergies - to find out which ones, yes - but not to help them. Is it a antihistamine?

 

[Valerie]

Actually the shots I take are serum and it's all the stuff I am allergic too.......hence the reason it takes years to do the shots......each time they put a little more of "what" you are allergic to into your body with the hope that in time you will then build up a tolerance to them, so in the end you won't be allergic to what you were allergic to in the first place.

I will say this, it is a huge time committment and it has had it's ups and downs.....but I don't have near the amount of sinus infections & colds that I used to have, etc.

I would say if you can, go get tested by an allergist and then you can find out what type of meds will work best for your type of allergies......again, I have so many types of things that set me off, that the shots plus the meds have helped me a great deal. Not fun, no, but it's better than feeling cruddy all of the time.

I know putting things up a nose is not that fun for anyone, but if you can get yourself to do it, the nasal spray will help.......and the nasal irrigation will help as well, just to irrigate things out of your nasal passages..... I know, gross, but it can help...... and it really doesn't hurt...at least the Neil Med stuff doesn't....it's a saline solution you make and it really doesn't hurt at all.....

Good luck....when I get home from my shots I will take a benadryl to sleep that night because sometimes my arms hurt or itch and that knocks me out....so yes, benadryl will make you drowsy.....

 

[Connie Ballard]

I'm with you Valerie...that Neil Med Sinus Rinse has been the greatest find for my allergies....it was little gross at first...but it helps so much I wouldnt be without it. It is $9.89 at WalMart comes with 50 premixed packets of salt and soda that make it a ph balanced rince (like saline...natural fluids in your system). I go to Dayton Head & Neck ..where my allergist recommended that I use it a.m. and p.m. every day. He said if I've been mowing, clipping horses, cleaning stalls...anything dusty/dirty...when I come in...shower and use the Neil Med nasal rinse.

I too was sick every time you turned around, sinus infections, colds, one right after another. Now with my weekly allergy shots, Clariden D, Singular and NeilMed...I'm doing great with my allergies. Tim tells people I never get sick since started the Neil Med rinse. My doc said I am allergic to every weed known to man, along with tree and grass pollen. Thank God...not allergic to horses, cats and dogs. Yeah.

Getting shots is a weekly hassle...but a combination of all these things has it under control..no sneezing, coughing all night, headaches...really improved.