Comments on: Allergies

By: Mark Madrak

Mark Madrak — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:23:13 +0000

Wow, it took 18 comments before somebody suggested an air filter for your bedroom. That was my first thought. I have one and it works very well. Given that we have the same biology it mighw work for you too…Nasonex also works.

By: memyself

memyself — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:49:32 +0000

AC usually only filters fairly large particles. For several weeks out of every year I have to use an air purifier with both standard and hepa filters and a light that kills mold spores and germs.

This is the one that let me breathe again I’ve used it off and on since 2004 and it looks like the model is no longer available - but you can get the specs from the page.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000050AOV

By: daria

daria — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:11:43 +0000

What finally worked for me was the sinus irrigation - as needed, not daily - and Flonase. I resisted the drug route for a long time - and foolishy so since I enjoyed immediate relief with squirt #1. So I’m with jerri: “drugs… they really work.” Wishing you unstuffy days ahead….

P.s. #10-djmm mentioned relief with DanActive. I’ve heard the same from 3 other people.

By: jerri

jerri — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:52:52 +0000

Susie…drugs…they really work.

By: momofed

momofed — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:45:48 +0000

1. Gently use a tongue scraper as far back as possible into the throat, applying light pressure to the tongue; do this 2x daily. It has stopped my post-nasal drip sore throats.
2. Use trigger point therapy; I use the Claire & Amber Davies book as a guide. Working trigger points in the mouth & on the face makes a huge difference, and you can redo as needed.
3. Long-term acupuncture helps

By: Orson

Orson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:34:59 +0000

You might be carrying the pollen into the bed on your person. Our face and hair are big dust collectors. During the season I wash both at bedtime and install a clean pillow cover. Otherwise it’s hours of rubbing eyes and nose in the pollen and dander falling from the face and hair. It works for me.

By: Mad Martigan

Mad Martigan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:29:37 +0000

High doses of antioxidants can reduce the free radicals that lead to inflammation. Cranberries, blueberries, and some green teas are all good sources of antioxidants. The best source is the acai berry from Brazil. The best acai juice blend available is from Monavie.

By: Elayne Riggs

Elayne Riggs — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:18:01 +0000

Try to find out if you can get specific allergy filters for your AC. That’s what we’re starting to look into, as the regular filters just don’t work with a lot of allergens.

By: votermom

votermom — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:48:12 +0000

I forget if you have insurance right now, or if you have any objections to it (since it is a steroid), but Flonase could help.

By: djmm

djmm — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:44:49 +0000

I am so sorry about your problem! I agree that a teaspoon of local honey a day might help. I have been taking DanActive for about a month for GI problems — and my allergies (normally terrible this time a year) seem to be gone. Not sure if it is causal, but I have not been doing anything else new.

djmm

By: nora

nora — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:29:15 +0000

It is possible to do the saline thing too frequently or too vigorously, or make the solution too salty.

Also try running your pillows/blankets through a hot dryer for as long as they’ll tolerate.

I find it helps to sleep face-up with my head and shoulders slightly elevated (as in prop the bed’s legs up, or sleep on a wedge of pillows). The minute I lie flat or turn my head to the side it hurts like hell.

By: merciless

merciless — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:24:17 +0000

You’re doing all the right things and still suffering, poor baby. The only thing I have left is local honey, which may help to immunize you from some of the local pollen.

Other than that, you can always move out to the beautiful high desert with me.

By: k

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:03:00 +0000

I can’t help you. Having become “a certain age,” I’m finding that my allergies are dropping off - or else it’s the whacking huge amount of drugs I pour into my system every day.
Water, orange juice, red wine, washing your face a lot - all I can offer.

By: eRobin

eRobin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:57:24 +0000

I’m with DBK on the milk - even cutting way back on dairy will help. Also, is it possible that you’re doing the saline too much? I’m a big fan of saline irrigation so that’s a real question.

By: DBK

DBK — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:49:27 +0000

Give up all milk products. Milk makes allergies worse.

By: John Gall

John Gall — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:21:56 +0000

More: my doc also want me to use a humidifier. Says it will help to take pollen out of the air. I’m saving for one now.

By: zuzu

zuzu — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:13:24 +0000

Make sure the AC is set on recirculate rather than intake. If you’re pulling in air from outside, you’re going to get pollen coming in.

Of course, if you recirculate, you’re recirculating all the dust already in the house, but at least you’re already used to that and you can get rid of some of it.

By: votermom

votermom — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:08:20 +0000

Try putting a pan of clean water near the window/ source of air to help trap foreign particles (poor man’s version of filtering air through water). Try to aim the air onto the water.
Make sure you change the water daily.

By: John Gall

John Gall — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:06:05 +0000

Is the saline solution you use buffered? My doc says it should be. Recipes are on the web.