I've always had a very light spring and summer allergy, to what I have no idea. I've managed with OTC Claritin in the past, not even having to take that very often.

This year (as I know it is for everyone) it's terrible! The little white things floating through the air must be killing me. When I go outside I can feel my nose closing up. I've been dealing with it since Saturday and it's not getting better. Luckily, we stayed in most of the weekend because it rained almost the whole time, but I did mow yesterday before the rain came again. My Claritin is doing nothing and other OTC meds for symptoms (decongestants, Benadryl, etc.) aren't helping either. I called my doc to see if he will call in some Allegra (something I took years ago with success), but I'm quite certain he won't. He's very particular about seeing you before prescribing something.

My questions are these:
If I was to get Allegra today and it worked for me, when would I see the difference? Is that something that has to build up in order to work? I'm sure that once the "little white things" finish passing through I'll be fine. Until then though, it's finally beautiful out and I don't want to go outside and play!

Suggestions? Experience with allergies? I haven't had a problem for quite some time. I'm trying to decide if I should cancel my developmental therapy appointments because not only do I feel bad, but I sound so terrible. I wouldn't want a therapist coming to my house that sounded like me! LOL
TIA

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 11:01 am:

I can't answer your questions, but one warning about Allegra. My ENT had me on it and it turns out I am in the 10% that have problems with it with excessive and very thick mucus. I would wake up in the morning with so much mucus I would be coughing so badly I was gagging and feeling like I would hurl.

Oh, as to your appointments. Would your clients really not understand that this is allergy season?

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 11:35 am:

Oh they understand. I just hate to cancel, it's me. I took Allegra before with no problems, but I'll keep that in mind.

Another question for those that experience allergies: When you're having a spell, do you have a lot of drainage causing your throat to hurt? Do you have swollen glands in your throat?

My throat is really sore today, especially on one side (the side where my nasal passage is blocked as well) and the other side has swollen glands.
I really need to educate myself more about allergies since it appears we're going to be dealing with them. I went ahead and scheduled a dr. appt. tomorrow. Arggghh...it's such a pain to go!!!

By Tarable on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 11:48 am:

I suffer from seasonal allergies and I do get a sore throat sometimes from the drainage. But normally if my glands are swollen my dr goes ahead and puts me on antibiotics because my allergies have caused an upper respiratory infection or something else.

Good luck and I hope you feel better.

BTW.. I don't know if you have them up there, but I know the white things floating around here are from the cottonwood trees and I am EXTREMELY allergic to them.

By Cocoabutter on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 12:16 pm:

OTC antihistamines should start working within a few hours to a day. For me it may take a few hours. I find that Chlor-trimeton 12 Hour works for me, and I take it before I go to bed so that when I wake up, I won't have any problems in the morning.

Allergy shots are meant to build up your immune system over time so that eventually your body won't react to allergens. You have to have an allergy test to determine what substances you are allergic to. The shots will contain the substances you are allergic to in minute quantities which allows your body to build immunity to those substances.

By Debbie on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 12:48 pm:

I take Allegra-D, this helps with the post nasal drip. When I started taking it again, my doctor told me to give it 3-4 days to work. Allergies are very bad here too. So, I am also using Nasonex to keep them under control.

I hope you feel better soon!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 01:18 pm:

I can tell that that Claritin is only effective if taken on a regular basis. My doctor said it needs to be in your system several days before it starts working. It is not a drug you take when you feel bad. I am terrible about not taking pills and I kept going back for my allergies. It came out that I wasn't taking them daily and I was given quite the lecture.
I DO take Claritin daily now and I feel much better.
Did you see the Neti pot thing on Oprah? I am considering trying that because I am often congested.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 01:34 pm:

Thanks for the info ladies. I'm not even considering a shot, I really think it's the "white things". Yes, that's what they're called..from teh cottonwood trees! Usually they give me a touch of trouble, but nothing more than a day or so and not that bad. This year it's BAD, so I'm assuming they're doing it to me.

Good info on the Claritin. So that's a no-go, it hasn't helped at all. Debbie-I think I used to take the Allegra-D as wellbut maybe not the D. I can't remember. I've never tried Chlor-trimeton...I'm so sensitive to most meds I never thought of it. If I take one dose of anything with pseudophedrine in it and I can't sleep for the whole night; I does of Excedrin and it's the same. I'm allergic to about 5 prescription meds as well. It's a real pain.

Thanks for the input everyone. I scheduled an appt. tomorrow and have a list of questions for the doc. The throat seems more painful than regular drip, so we'll see.

That brings to something else...Natalie had been on Zyrtec for about 2mths and went nuts with allergies last Monday night. We saw the ped on Thurs. and she added Singulair to the Zytrec for 2 weeks, then to try just the Singulair after that. Natalie's symptoms have VERY GRADUALLY decreased, but she still complains some of not feeling well, has a runny nose, and the wet cough from the drip. It's better, but still there. She's got 5 days of Singulair+ Zyrtec in her now. Shouldn't she be feeling better?

(Can you tell I don't like this allergy business??)

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 01:36 pm:

Something else..when she went allergy on me again Monday middle of the night, we had spent an hour or so at my parents with a litter of 5 wk old kittens. Holding them, close to her face. No reaction while we were there though, just woke in the night with the congestion and drip coughing. She's been around cats before, but not that many and that close to her face. We were also outside the entire time, but absolutely no issues prior to that. If it were the cats, shouldn't she be fine by now?

Sorry, I'm hi-jacking my own thread!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 01:45 pm:

I agree with Tara, if you have swollen glands it is something in addition to the allergies. Yes, post-nasal drip makes a sore throat, but not, in my experience, swollen glands. Your glands are the trap for infections, so if you have swollen glands I would serious think infection.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 07:53 pm:

You may have a sinus infection along with allergies - just got over the same thing ...
I'm taking Nasonex and I love it. It's a spray so it does not get into the bloodstream. Just takes care of the nose.
Feel Better.
Ame

By Nicki on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 09:54 pm:

It's strange, but Lara will have a reaction if we are around other people's pets, (ie: dogs,cats) but not our own cats. Her reaction is more in the way of runny eyes and itching, everywhere.
I feel for both you and Natalie. We struggle some with allergies here, and it gets so tiresome, I know.
Oh, and our neighbors went to the extreme of cutting down all the cottonwoods on their property because they are so sensitive to the flying white, fluffy stuff. I love the look of cottonwood trees, but I feel for those who are so sensitive this time of year.
Hope you and Natalie are feeling better very soon.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 08:46 am:

I saw the doctor! She thinks I have the signs of having an infection, so she gave me an antibiotic (a high dose, I love her) and some Allegra. I slept terribly lastnight! I took Mucinex to decongest in the early afternoon and I everything BUT my nose was still running when I went to bed at 11pm. Then I took Benadryl to counteract the Mucinex! Grrrrr. It was the worst night yet. For me, the Mucinex has helped with the fluid in my ears and and pressure in my throat, but my nose is still clogged for the most part. Plus I'm still loopy this morning from the Benadryl. Ahhhh this too shall pass...

Thanks everyone.

By Karen~admin on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 09:14 am:

Hope you feel better soon, Deanna! I have an Rx for Singulair and it works *most* of the time. however, sometimes I need Benadryl because my eyes and nose are pouring (today is one of those days!).

The problem I have is, with most allergy meds, I canNOT sleep when I take them. The only exception is the Singulair.

Hang in there!

By Debbie on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 09:24 am:

Deanna, did she tell you not to take the Allegra until your nose clears up? When I get a sinus infection, my doctor has me take a decongestant, and stops the Allegra until it clears up. Allegra dries you up, and won't let your nose clear.

I hope you feel better soon.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 09:33 pm:

Debbie- Hmmmm, no she didn't mention that at all. She recommended the Mucinex as a great decongestant, but as I said before it helped and caused other problems (run, run, runny eyes and throat) so I won't be taking it anymore. I see you as an allergy veteran , so I'm going to take your advice! I'll finish the antibiotic and then start up my Allegra again. I've gotten 4 doses of antibiotic in and feel better overall, except still very congested on the right side. Thanks for the info!

By Pamt on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 10:06 pm:

Deanna, my dad is a pharmacist and the last time I was congested he told me a miracle cure. Buy some over the counter Afrin. Spray it in each nostril according to instructions and immediately lay down on your back with your head hanging off of the side. Stay that way for about 1-2 minutes. When you get upright you should notice almost immediate relief. Only do this for 1-2 days because nose sprays can be addictive and you can have rebound effects. Just using it a couple of times won't cause problems though and should give you some awesome relief.