Hey, are your allergies kicking your butt? Pine pollen here is gettin to me. Went to bed at 8:30 with a killer headache.Nick said I snored for a couple hours.I wouldn't know.I think it was the dog, myself. That's abt. the only pollen that bothers me.Are you having it heavy up there? How are you doing?

So far this year I've been ok with my allergies. The thing I'm paranoid about right now is my asthma - it's gotten MAJOR worse in the last year. And it's manifesting in an entirely different way than from what I experienced as a child. I'm still trying to discover what all the triggers are. I know that smoke (especially wood smoke) is a major trigger but I'm not sure if my allergies to dust, pollen, and mold are also triggers.

I had a little asthma flare-up about a month ago but went on Prednisone for a few days and that knocked it down and I haven't had any problems since.

It's been windy and warm here today (high of about 80 degrees with 20 - 30 mph winds) so I've been hiding in the house with the air conditioning on. I do get pretty disgusted with my allergies/asthma at times. It seems like my body is at war with nature - do you ever feel like that?

And now I've found that I can't take ANY allergy medications except a nasal spray (Nasonex) to treat the allergies. The side effects from antihistamines and decongestants are WAY too unacceptable as I discovered vividly a few weeks ago. My doctor said I should go back to an allergist to see if allergy shots would be the way to go now. I took them from age 2 to 15 but went off them at age 15 as my allergies went into remission.

It's been a challenge trying to live lightly on the earth when you can't heat your home with wood, can't dry your clothes outside on a clothesline because of dust, pollen and mold, and need to have air conditioning in the summer to help control your allergies.

Well, that's enough griping I guess. How do you deal with your allergies, sharon? I'm curious how others cope with it...

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2001

Answers

Not Sharon, but..

I got sheep....keeps the grass down! Moved cats outdoors....keeps the dander down. Mold, I have no idea....maybe I should learn to keep house!!! LOL! Or move to Arizona....

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2001

Good grief Jim!! Sounds really bad!!!!! Sounds like shots would be the answer. Asthma is nothing to fool with as I'm sure you know. I have a problem with mold which I use nasonex but the sinus headaches are disabling. I found some of the migraine stuff helps. Gosh I hope you can find some relief!!.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

OK Jim,I'll decloak now.Done fishin' and got the key:o)

Actually I was painting and caulking and laying low till conditions improved.Ever suffering husband has to put up with my "I'm now officially 40 something" mood swings.No need to inflict it on anyone else.

Boy,do we need to talk! It's not nature you are battling, but the modern world.We're just canaries!Born 100 years too late. I think I can help.Prepare for major lifestyle upheavel.You adapt,tho.

I've got lots of info for you.Will email you.Meanwhile read what I wrote under "I ate a dog turd" thread.

Talk to you later.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

Jim-just got my Countryside delivered by Pony Express and skimmed the brief article on allergies and acupunture.You know, when I got stuck with those 55 needles,I actually did feel better afterwards and commented, on the way out of the office, that their treatment? must have been like acupuncture! Seriously.

Might be something to it.Will read the article more completely when I can

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001

Thanks, sharon.

I don't subscribe to Countryside anymore but I do read it at the library. I'll have to check out the current issue the next time I'm in town.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001