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Email a FriendA few suggestions: Stick with the neti pot daily, it does wonders! Use a humidifier at night, EVERY night!! Avoid chocolate and wheat in the spring. Yes, it helps. I am MISS ALLERGY, however my symptoms have been greatly reduced because of the above strategies. Also, I NEVER use prescription or over the counter allergy meds. I find they make me feel weird and really dont’ help that much. The neti pot helps tremendously, and you can use it more than once a day. Some supplements I take are Quercitin, a multivitamin and Vitamin C. I am also on a gluten free, dairy free, soy free diet. The food sensitivities I have cause my allergy symptoms to worsen. I may sound as though I use drastic measures, but it does work for me. I also see a chiropractor who helps me with nutrition and can work on my sinus’ if I am having a flairup. Try it, you may like it. I will send up prayers for you, it took me a long time to figure out what worked for me, I will pray your solution will be shorter than mine. God BLess you! I’ll say it as many times as you need me to ! ; )
Spring's Not-So-Fun Side
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 9:18 PM
It’s unseasonably warm for Michigan right now, with highs in the 50s all week.
How fondly I remember the springs of my past, when I could enjoy the suddenly warm temperatures, the melted snow trickling along the gutters, the trilling of birds newly-arrived from the south. Early spring, with all its promise, was one of my favorite times of year.
I’ve even managed to enjoy it through the past few years, when it became clear that adulthood had brought me a gift inherited from my mother: allergies. The approach of winter’s end meant I must keep a box of tissues nearby to deal with my watery eyes and runny nose, but I still felt that the warmer weather was worth a little congestion and discomfort.
Unfortunately, over the past year I’ve developed a case of chronic sinusitis. So far my doctor and I have not been able to figure out the cause. Using a neti pot helps some with relieving my symptoms, but I have to do it daily for it to make a difference.
Even more unfortunately, allergy season - previously a time of minor discomfort for me - is now a time of major headaches. Literal ones. I’ve had a little bit of outdoor exposure over the past few days and this morning it felt like an elephant (okay, maybe a baby elephant) was sitting on my forehead. Ibuprofen barely helped, and I’ve been in pain all day. I can’t help but think that my allergies have to be making my sinus pain worse.
Since I’m fairly new to the world of seasonal allergies, having never had them before age twenty-five, I feel like a rookie when it comes to managing my reaction to the outdoors. If you’re a long-time allergy sufferer, what remedies have worked for you? Do I just have to wait it out?
Oh, and if you don’t have advice to share but just want to commiserate about your allergy sufferings, please feel free to do that too!
Comments
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Arwen, I have had this problem since I hit about 25 (I am 31). I cannot stand it, especially since we live in the Northeast and I just want to enjoy Spring, not complain about sinuses! I try home remedies….neti pot and also steam showers and I drink A LOT of water throughout the day…I find if I stay overly hydrated it helps. I also use saline spray (or homemade salt water spray) and do stay inside when its particularly bad. I am eager to read other people’s b/c I just realized the season is upon us!
If you don’t mind using pharmaceuticals, Claritin is awesome. You can buy it (or it’s generic counterpart Loratadine (sp?)) over the counter. It lasts for 8-12 hours and I haven’t felt any weird side effects—just a marvelously drip-free nose and non-itchy eyes. I don’t take it often, maybe 2-3 times a year, on days when I just need to function normally, and not be wiping my nose all day.
Hi, I can relate to your pain with sinus issues. Have you gone to an allergist and been tested to find out what you are allergic to? I did last fall and found out I am basically allergic to the whole outdoors as well as dogs. Once I moved and got away from my roommate’s dog, my sinus issues went away. Also, look into organic apple cider vinegar for help with your sinuses. You can swallow two tablespoons a day which helped clear out my sinuses right away, or try putting a little bit in hot water and inhaling the steam through a steam bath (put a towel over your head and inhale the steam). You can also dilute the vinegar in hot water and drink it. Google “apple cider vinegar cures.” Make sure you get the organic kind. Good luck! I feel your pain.
I live in the Pacific Northwest, not too far from the valley of sickness and disease (the Native Americans termed the Willamette Valley). I am itching eyes, sneezy, tickeling throat, runny nose, tired tired tired. Yep no fun here. Guess I better start the daily nasal rinse. And switch from Claritin D to Claritin. sigh. And offer up these minor sufferings.
Can you take Claritin while nursing or pregnant? I have developed terrible spring allergies in the last few years. If I am not pregnant this spring, I plan to see an allergist, but I am nursing still so I have to be careful what I take.
I just wanted to second (or third?) the suggestion to think about food allergies. Wheat and dairy, in particular. It sounds drastic, but I know a number of people who cannot believe the difference it has made for them and their chronic sinus problems!
I have asthma, so I already take Singulair for that. It doesn’t do it for all the allergies, though (but it keeps me breathing better than anything else, so I’m happy enough). When I wake up with a headache, I take an Excedrin Sinus right away. Herbal cough drops help also—they’re really good for clearing the head. Just don’t take the ones with Echinacea in it as if you have seasonal allergies, you’re probably allergic to that too.
I feel for all of you. I remember the days of what I dubbed “hay-fever”. But I don’t deal with it anymore. I was surprised to learn that an allergic response to an airborne allergen is actually a misfiring of one’s immune system and it’s possible to strengthen the immune system - to empower it to respond appropriately to these allergens..like the rest of the human race that does NOT suffer from allergies 
. There are a number of natural approaches to strengthening the immune system. The one best targeted for this challenge is called NutriFeron. And if you’d like a more complete description of options for natural allergy and sinus relief, feel free to contact me through my blog (yes, I get to share these ideas through my home-biz—and I do it because they have helped me so much). God Bless, all…
Loratidine is okay to take while pregnant (according to my OB). I’m not sure about BF. I can’t remember what the label says. Here’s what Motherisk (http://www.motherisk.org) says:
Only a few drugs pose a clinically significant risk to breastfed babies. In general, antineoplastics, drugs of abuse, some anticonvulsants, ergot alkaloids, and radiopharmaceuticals should not be taken, and levels of amiodarone, cyclosporine, and lithium should be monitored.
I don’t see antihistamines on the list, so you’re probably okay.
Good luck!
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