Are you swollen? Itchy? Runny, coughy, phlegmy, and sneezy? Talk about it. The rest of the seven allergies dwarves and I will share your pain. You may not get any sympathy from the rest of the world, but you'll get it here, I promise.

And if you have some miracle cure, we'd like to hear that, too.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Answers

As a former itcher, sneezer, dripper, and allergy sufferer, I can totally relate.

At the age of 5, my mother took me to the pediatrician to ask about the possibility of allergy testing. I had already had scores of ear infections at that point and it really did seem like I was always going to be a phlegmy little kid. The pediatrician blew her off, saying some kids were just prone to things like that.

Flash forward 13 years. 18 years old-tonsils removed. 9 sinus infections in a two year period requiring meds, three bouts of bronchitis in four months, and my ears were constantly full--for a year straight I felt like I was on a plane. My ears felt totally sealed off and no matter how much gum I chewed, they would not pop.

At this point, I worked in a radiology department and the CT techs were tired of my constant sniffling, hacking, etc. They offered to do a no- charge CT of my sinuses to see what it was like up there. I had pansinusitis--every cavity was infected. I was then shipped to an allergist and underwent the testing-NOT FUN IF YOU HAVE MANY ALLERGIES. It hurt and my back was so swollen I was almost in tears. They tested me for about 60 different indigenous allergens--I reacted to all but four. Yowch.

Long story after that, I was hospitalized due to the fact my allergist overprescribed sinus-draining meds and all of the gook dumped into my lungs overnight. I was admitted the next day and spent four days in the hospital with breathing treatments and spent the following two months on steroids. Not pretty.

After that, I was pretty scared to go back to an allergist but I kept getting sick. I had endoscopic sinus surgery in '96 (basically, they stick a rotor-rooter up your nose and clean out the sinuses) and that helped a lot. I then went to see a different allergist and was put on shots twice a week. I still had the full-ear feeling and LO AND BEHOLD--he knew what it was.

Seems that a few, lucky people have a rare allergy response--the eustachian tubes in the ears swell, giving that on-an-airplane feeling. I was prescribed Zyrtec daily (Claritin and all the other stuff didn't work and just made me jittery) and that has fixed it. I haven't had a problem with it since.

I'm on Zyrtec once a day and allergy shots once a week, which I give myself. I've had two colds in the last three years. I had one sinus infection that cleared up by itself in three days. I used to take A- acetylcisteine (sp?) supplements--they help keep the mucus, etc. thinned out and free-flowing, which results in a runny nose but nothing gets globbed up long enough to produce a painful infection. I also used to take daily doses of echniacea to ward against infection. Those both seemed to work pretty well but the shots have allowed me to go off of all the other supplements I was taking. Those shots have made my life sooooo much better.

I'd try Zyrtec and talk to an allergist. My own quality of life has been improved DRAMATICALLY. I can't recommend it enough. I haven't had a sinus headache in two years (hold on, I have to find some wood to knock on) and my headaches used to be daily and so bad that I would have to take three or four Aleve a day.

Oh, for sinus headaches, popsicles help. I ate about a box of 48 a week and the cold really does feel so good.

No miracle cures offered here but allery testing and shots really do work wonders.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I didn't have allergies until moving to the valley from San Jose. Eighteen years in the Sierras, three in SJ, no problem. I move to Sacramento in the spring and I forget what it's like to be able to breathe. It doesn't help that my house is covered on all sides by trees. I had to finally see an allergist and get a prescription for eyedrops and Claritin (which didn't work for you anyway). There's got to be something else...

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I am with Erin, Zyrtec was the one for me. Claretin (sp?) sucks ass. I went to my doctor a few years ago due to the fact that Alabama is the allergy capital of the free world (and then some) and told him I was tired of getting sinus infections ever few weeks and was in danger of over-dosing on over the counter stuff. I made it very clear to the doctor that Claretin was not working for me. Thus he put me on the Zyrtec and also a nasal spary Flonase (ask for it by name). Still have problems with my sinuses but I am much, much better.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Well, I got home with raging cold, was miserable for a few days, then I had about three days of feeling well before the allergies kicked in. So I'm living on Sudafed right now. And taking one of my various antihistamines when I feel like dealing with the possible drowsiness. Or when the itchy red skin gets to be too much. I suppose I should go in to see an allergist, but since last time (7 years ago) they did tests and said I was only allergic to dust mites and a tiny bit to cats (yeah, that's why it's so seasonal, right?), I doubt it would be too helpful. Though I might get another prescription for Beconase or something. Or, if I'm unlucky, get a doctor who won't help me because I'm not willing to wrap my bed in plastic and get rid of my pets.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

You can actually develop allergies as you age. The popular belief is that little kids can grow out of their allergies but no one ever tells you that as an adult, you can grow INTO them.

Sudafed is addictive. I was hooked on the stuff until, well, just read above. It can produce a rebound effect, much like Afrin nasal spray. If you take Sudafed for longer than three days--when you stop taking it your sinuses will only be worse. Sudafed, although helpful in the short term, will only aggravate the problem in the long term. It doesn't help that they look like Red Hots, either. Candy-looking little things that they are.

I'm a worshipper at the shrine of Zyrtec. It works.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I never had allergies till I was like college age. Then it seemed like I had a cold I never got over. I got tested and found that I'm allergic to cats and dust. The doctor at Kaiser was singularly unhelpful, though he did give me steroids to help me get over my addiction to nasal spray. I guess I'd had allergies for a long time since I was always stuffed up and always spraying stuff in my nose. However, he didn't see the point of doing much else if I wouldn't get rid of my cats, which wasn't going to happen.

Then I changed medical plans and went to another allergist who said none of her patients will get rid of their cats, which she understood. She suggested I get shots, which I did. They really helped. I started taking another prescription antihistamine and it worked, and am now taking Claratin which works great for me. Life is so much easier.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I MISS SELDANE!!!!! (Well, and Seldane-D, which is what I took.)

NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING works like Seldane did. I'm on Claritan-D and it has never really done wonders. I just take it because if I don't I'm really miserable. Allegra & Zyrtec were like sugar pills for me.

And I despise that stuff they make you put up your nose - eeeewwww! You can taste it in the back of your mouth all day long and get a headache from snorting something. Ylick!

NOTE: One thing that does work wonders for congestion is that herbal remedy tea -"Breath Easy"- sold in most grocery stores. Love that stuff. Also, if I really get in a bind (and don't have plans because this sends me to la-la land), Dimetapp does an admirable job.

BRING BACK SELDANE!!!!!! PLEASE!

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I inherited my dad's terrible sinues. I've known of various allergies since childhood, and suffered almost daily headaches since my teens.

A few years back I finally saw an allergist and I started on shots. Then I changed insurance. And just got my regular doctors to continue giving me my Claritin (which works wonders for me) prescriptions. After moving back to Austin (a.k.a. Allergy Central) my symptoms started getting bad again, so I found an allergist.

I was tested for over 60 allergens, and I'm allergic to everything. Cats was one of the worst, which figures since I have three. And, I refuse to get rid of them though the allergist tried to talk me into that. Now, I'm still on Claritin but beginning shots again. Yum. 2 shots twice a week (total of 4)....

If only my cats knew what I suffer for them.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

There was a point at which Claritin was useful for me, but not anymore. I don't know if my allergies are actually worse, or if I just got used to the Claritin. I've been taking Reactine (another OTC antihistimine) until recently when I switched to a prescription drug so my health plan would cover it and discovered that I really need this stuff. I'd forgotten what clear sinuses were like. Now I can drive Mack trucks up the damn things. I'm taking something called Optimine, which gave me blinding headaches for the first two days, but I halved my dosage and now couldn't be happier.

I did the needle thing too - about seven years ago, for three years. They start out with tiny amounts of what you're allergic to (in my case, every pollen known to man) and work their way up to amounts that exceed what you'd encounter naturally, sort of like building up immunities. It worked really well - I was drug free for three years afterwards, and got off the nasty nasal steroids they had me on within the first few months - but for the past year I've noticed increasing symptoms. I'll probably have to do it again in a year. But still, the cost of the treatment (to the health care system - I live in Canada) is less than the cost of the drugs, so even aside from quality of life issues it's a great thing to do.

Joanne

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

P.S. Along the lines of Erin's response - freeze your face if your sinuses hurt. Put a bag of ice on your face (paper towel or something in between so you don't get frostbite) and stay there for 20 minutes or so. (You are basically trying to freeze your sinuses.) This will be uncomfortable at first, but once you get used to it, you'll be fine. And if your face hurts enough, a little more discomfort for the GREAT RELIEF afterward is totally worth it. Headache gone, face feels alive, amazing.... You'll almost feel human again.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

O how I miss Seldane. Allegra is a mediocre substitute.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

As a kid, I was the snottiest, hackingest, runniest, and eye itchingist thing you ever saw. I'd go from doctor to doctor, and was never skin tested or given anything to treat my symptoms. I went through my childhood, teens, and even college carrying kleenex in my pockets, and sleeping with a box in my bed. Sometimes if I was REALLY miserable I'd take an OTC like benadryl, sudafed, or Tavist- D. These things did work a bit, but I was usually too comatose to do anything. I could take one benadryl and be knocked out for hours! I thought that this was the way I was gonna be for the rest of my life. I became used to the snot because I was raised on the snot.

Until... I moved up to MN, where I decided to go to an allergist. I was skin tested and reacted strongly to pretty much everything. Grass, trees, animals, molds, dust, weeds, the planet earth...you name it I'm allergic to it. I even found out that I developed asthma because my stupid allergies weren't controlled when I was younger and on no meds. The Dr. pretty much put me on the works as far as meds go. The result? I can finally <> & >>Exhale<< without expecting anything to stop up or run outta my nose! I think people don't realize what a blessing it is to walk around without making sure you've got tissue in your purse or your pocket. I actually feel free!

fyi-I'm on allegra & flonase for the allergies and they work fine for me, but you gotta remember that everyone is different. Some drugs will work for one person, but may not work as well for the next. If what you're on doesn't help, tell your allergist!! There are plenty of other options out there for you.

By the way, I now work at a research clinic that tests allergy meds. Isn't that ironic?

-Zhyla

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I get hay fever and I'm also allergic to dust and to cats, like the one i live with. I had a lot more trouble with allergies before I took 3 steps. These may or may not apply to anyone else but i thought i'd throw them out there.

1) I quit smoking. The hardest, and the biggest help. nuff said.

2) We hired a cleaning lady to come every two weeks. This keeps the dust and cat hair to a tolerable level. I was hurting before we did this. Dust kills, no joke. I was shocked how much of my allergies have really turned out to be dust/particulate matter instead. If i disturb some dusty thing somewhere, i'll wheeze and sneeze for the next couple hours.

3) Got an air purifier and started running it full time in the bedroom. This keeps dust and cat dander from collecting on the bedcover during the day and getting stirred up when you jump into bed, thus avoiding the dreaded "hacking yourself to sleep" syndrome.

hope that helps.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I'm with the seldane crowd. I went back to Claritin after a really horrible experience with Zyrtec. "Oh, you'll LOVE it," said the doctor. Yeah, right. It made me verrrrrr sleeeeeeepy. Yeah, I took it at night. Couldn't wake up with the alarm clock. I was routinely a half hour late for work every day. Then my metabolism slowed down. Yeah, even MORE than it already is. I gained TEN pounds in a month. No, I wasn't eating more. And never mind the unmentionable eruptions in my belly. Oh, and to top it off, I couldn't get my contacts to come off my eyes. Back to Claritin. Which doesn't work.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Ironically, I used to be hayfeverish (i.e. sneezing a lot either when outside, or coming inside after being out) more when I lived in Livermore (a similar area, I think. Asthmatics everywhere in my middle school) than when I moved to Davis. Here I have maybe a few days of that, and am otherwise perfectly fine.

Boy, am I weird.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

When I lived in Illinois, I'd have an occasional bout with allergies in the fall when the goldenrod would come out. That was about it.

Fast forward to Texas...I'm constantly hacking, dripping snot, and yacking up phleghm. The second I got off the plane, my eyes started watering. Texas is evil...lots of cottonwood fluff floating around. This seems to be the stuff I'm most allergic too.

Claritin-D seems to help. Freezing the sinuses really *does* work. Sitting over a pot of hot water, or running the hot water in the bathroom and sitting in there seems to help with congestion.

I've actually gotten used to it, or perhaps just resigned to the fact that I'm going to drip 9 months of the year.

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2000

I didn't have allergies until I moved to Davis. I had been doing yardwork for someone when I suddenly realized I was having an asthma attack at 27. I didn't recognize it at first because I hadn't had one since I was 12. That was after living in Davis for 4 years.

My kids also appear to have my allergy problems, too. There's just nothing like clearing the snot out of a 6 week old baby and hearing her scream bloody murder -- it's up there with chewing aluminum foil or dragging your nails across a chalkboard. My son had ear infections from allergies until he was 4.

Claritin doesn't work in our house for shit. We take benadryl at night if we're suffering. Works like a dream. I can actually take 2 at night and take one during the day. I get a little fuzzy, but I'm functional. If I took 2 during the day, I wouldn't be legal to run an electric egg beater, much less drive.

--Wendy (See pictures of the baby at http://beam.at/genevieve)

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2000

Reading all this made me realize how damn lucky I am when it comes to allergies. No hacking or sneezing or anything like that - well, I do sneeze more during springtime, but an average of ten sneezes a day is nothing to worry about, right? I do have a food allergy, though: grapes. All it takes is one single grape to make my stomach swell up like a balloon - well, that's what it feels like anyway, and it hurts like hell. I used to eat plenty of grapes and my mouth still begins to water when I see someone else eating them. I love 'em, the juicier the better, but when this allergy came around a few years ago I had to banish them from my menu completely. And yes, that includes wine as well.

Beer, anyone?

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2000

Man, I seem to be the only one here who couldn't use Seldane - that was completely useless, but both Claritin and Allegra work for me. BTW Joanne, those are all prescription meds in the U.S. I have been known to stock up on them over the counter when visiting my folks in Toronto (I was on student health and my prescriptions were more than I could afford here). This year has really been strange for me allergy-wise. I usually have horrendous hay fever in the spring - stuffed sinuses, uncontrollable sneezing, itchy eyes, wheezing. This year, I have had none of that, instead my skin has become amazingly dry, itchy and falls off in flakes, so that I now have prescription body lotion to deal with it. Luckily, that seems to work, but I am really puzzled by the transition.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2000

Hey Laurie you were preaching gospel when you said TX was evil. That's where I was raised, and where I became one with my snot. My family still lives down there, and every stinking time I pay them a visit my allergies get super-nasty, and I also get the luxury of having an asthma attack. Never fails!

-Zhyla

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2000

Seldane, Hizmonal, Allegra, Claratin, NONE of them work for me; I was always a snotty mess. My miracle has been Flonase. It kicks major allergy ass for me. Been on it five years faithfully. I can do without it from November to March up here in Wisconsin, but I was on it year 'round when I lived in Texas. After about a week of using it, I quit tasting the spray in the back of my throat at all.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2000

I tried to give my girlfriend oral sex and my tounge swelled up and I got hives on my face. I just want to know if this is anywhere near normal. Is it actually possible that I'm allergic to her?

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

I was diagnosed with allergies and asthma about eight years ago, after spending 65 percent of my high school years feeling like I had a constant cold. After that I was on allergy shots for about two years, and let me tell you...my life was frickin' perfect! I didn't get sick once, my lungs were as clean as a whistle, I had no drainage, nothing. I then stopped getting the shots and got sick on and off. I just got on Claritin and it has done nothing for me. Sudafed did a better job! I'm going to try Zyrtec or Allegra (hopefully they'll help) because I've been hoarse for more than a month now and my job requires that I actually have a voice! I hope it works.....

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

I lived in Sonora, California and Medford and east of Eugene, Oregon, and I coughed and sneezed all spring. Now I don't have the running nose, but since moving to the Sacramento Valley 18 years ago, I have had one miserable sinus headache after another. They become migraine headaches with shoulder, neck, sinus and head pain and last for days. Like I say, running nose isn't the problem. When it does run due to allergies, I don't have the headaches, but the running doesn't last long. The sinus headaches take over my life. Someone, please advise what has helped for you in this situation.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Oh, Patricia, welcome to my life. I wish I had some magic cure for you, but I only have a few suggestions that might make it better.

First, get some of that saline nasal spray and use it as often as the label allows. I think you can use it as often as every hour. NOT the Afrin type stuff -- that's bad for you. Just the saline stuff. It doesn't help immediately, but if you use it consistently you'll feel better.

Second, if you don't have access to prescription sinus medicine, get the blue Sudafed capsules, Sudafed Non-Drying Sinus. They're Sudafed plus guafaisin (I can never spell that), and they're a low-dose form of the standard prescription treatment (Entex). Don't just take them when you feel bad -- during sinus season, or whenever you can feel a sinus infection coming on, take them all the time, and take each pill with a full glass of water. Again, it won't help immediately, but it will make the sinus headache go away over time.

Finally, if you have insurance, SEE YOUR DOCTOR. You may need antibiotics. If you have sinus infections that don't get treated, you can wind up with scar tissue in your sinuses that just makes the problem worse. That's what happened to me, so I now have chronic sinus infections. If you finish the antibiotics and you still feel bad, keep bugging your doctor. Some people wind up having surgery that cures the problem, or getting allergy medicine that works for them. But doctors in Sacramento are for some reason resistant to taking this seriously, so you have to keep bugging them, and don't stop until something works.

Good luck. I'm right there with you because I hate hounding doctors and I can't get my insurance to pay for surgery, but the blue Sudafed and the saline spray makes it tolerable most of the time.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Oh, I left out one thing. You know how the doctor always tells you to drink lots of fluids? When you have sinus problems, it really does help. One full glass of water every hour, along with the saline spray and the blue Sudafed or Entex. Even if your doctor gives you a prescription, it will work better if you follow this regimen.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Many contributors are helpful, but don't tell where they live or where they experienced allergy problems. I lived in The Washington D.C. area as a boy, Chapel Hill, NC and Charlotte, NC later and Richmond, VA for for 20 years, Atlanta, GA for the last 8 years. Allergy problems primarily in the spring and some in the fall. Have always had post nasal drip daily. Nothing works. Am trying Flonase now. My fiance moved to Atlanta and had constant sinus infections and severe headaches to the point that we moved to San Diego so she could get better more concerned medical attention.

Now here's the problem. In Atlanta, we were told that Georgia is the allergy capital of the USA and to move west. A San Diego doctor tells that Southern California is the allery capital of the USA. Contributors to this site have suggested other areas. We are literally homeless, searching for the best place to live allergy free in California and were considering Sacramento due to the lower cost of living. But several contributorsa apparently have had bad experiences there. Please help. Share your ideas. Thanks.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2001