allergies/asthma

[fetchspot]

Does anyone else find the weather.com allergy maps (Mold, Tree, Grass, and Weed) helpful to pre-treat for allergies before heading outdoors for a ride? Do you have any other suggestions on finding allergy pollen levels?

Haven't been riding as pollen is high for the trees currently.

fetchspot

[pumpkinpony]

I do, but for me I need to look a few days in advance, not just right before a ride. I find the allergy medicine to be much more effective if I'm taking it up to 48 hours prior. I also travel a lot so find that quite useful.

[Owlie]

Does anyone else find the weather.com allergy maps (Mold, Tree, Grass, and Weed) helpful to pre-treat for allergies before heading outdoors for a ride? Do you have any other suggestions on finding allergy pollen levels?

Haven't been riding as pollen is high for the trees currently.

fetchspot

I can't actually go outside during pollen season (April and May for me) without being miserable, unless it's just rained. Then I'll head outside!

[OakLeaf]

If you don't mind looking weird, you might try wearing a respirator. The ones they sell in the drugstores for pollen are useless, but the slightly more expensive OSHA sanding masks work great for me. I only use them on the moto, not on the bici, though.

[Eden]

most allergy meds work best if you start getting them at least a week before you hit your allergy....

I find I'm just as miserable indoors, unless I'm in a super tight HEPA filtered building.... (like at work, I work in a hospital), so I just ride. My nose runs more initially, but the congestion actually clears a bit with exercise and in the long run I feel better.

[fetchspot]

I am so glad others find these maps helpful. I love that this site has mold allergens also. My relatives are all over the US and I can just tell when they will be miserable. Also it helps me plan vacations to areas.

[Owlie]

most allergy meds work best if you start getting them at least a week before you hit your allergy....

I find I'm just as miserable indoors, unless I'm in a super tight HEPA filtered building.... (like at work, I work in a hospital), so I just ride. My nose runs more initially, but the congestion actually clears a bit with exercise and in the long run I feel better.

I start taking them at the end of March or thereabouts, depending on how bad the winter was. (I should probably pick my pill and stock up, given how mild this winter has been.)
My problem is that I must have stupid histamine receptors or something, because every drug I've tried works for one season and then barely the next. It's not so much the congestion that gets me (I can live with that), it's the constantly itchy, watery eyes.

[OakLeaf]

It's not so much the congestion that gets me (I can live with that), it's the constantly itchy, watery eyes.

If you have drug coverage, see if you can get a scrip for Patanol. I still have breakthrough symptoms even with immunotherapy, antihistamines AND leukotreine blockers, and last year I wound up with a raging case of conjunctivitis. The stuff is expensive, but it works.

I also take the old fashioned sleep inducing antihistamines at night. It helps me get on top of the symptoms and lets my sinuses clear a bit.

[fetchspot]

I start taking them at the end of March or thereabouts, depending on how bad the winter was. (I should probably pick my pill and stock up, given how mild this winter has been.) ....

Owlie,

If you start looking at the maps two weeks or so before your allergy season you can get an idea when the pollens will be in your area.

http://www.weather.com/maps/activity...dex_large.html

They really do fluctuate according to the wearther though.

Crankin,

I gave up on the year-round nasal spray steroids. I got just as many sinus infections on them as without. I find I can get by on the OTC Nasalcrom in a pinch.


Mid-January everyone here was getting "colds and flu" but the tree pollen was on a major increase. I used to keep bees and new that birch was blooming in January.

Surprisingly since I found out by testing, what allergies I have, I have not had a "cold" if I keep after the allergy and don't let it go into a sinus infection. It took going to a allergy specialist and ENT to figure on my own how to keep my nose passages open. I hate that I miss out on outdoor activities when pollen is high. Once or twice a week I can get out and ride/whatever if I am on top of my allergy treatments.

Here is a note- my kids are getting treated with allergy shots. A few days after a treatment (the 22 yo, she is 2 years into treatment) she got shingles. I think it may have been due to weakness from the immune stress. She did enjoy reading about how the shingles vaccination is suggested for persons over 65yo while waiting for her pain meds at the pharmacy.

fspot

[ACG]

Fetchspot.
I am allergic to all types of trees and all types of grass. I also have asthma. I always look at the allergy maps. It took me years to figure out what was wrong with me. I couldn't figure out why some days on the bike I couldn't breathe. For years I tried everything, changing my diet, taking supplements, nothing, the netty pot, etc. Then one day after my 3rd bout of bronchitis a doctor told me if was obvious I had allergies, and maybe I should stop riding my bike! I now see a specialist and I'm under control.I did go thru the series of allergy shots. I don't take the singular she prescribed for me. I do take over the counter claritin for a week or so when I see the pollen levels spiking. I didn't take the other meds either but finally sucumbed in the name of being able to breathe and see straight. I have an inhailer and a nasal spray that I do use.

Good luck to you!

[KatzPajamas]

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Once in your system, it remains dormant until your immunity is low. 2000-3000mg of L-Lysine daily will stop shingles in its tracks! Studies to prove it have been done at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Michigan Health System- http://www.livestrong.com/article/27...-and-shingles/

Aches and pains? Take a double shot of pure cherry juice just before bed. In the morning you will feel like a young gal again. I take it every night, especially if I have eaten alot of sweets during the day. It really does work.http://www.cherryjuicepower.com/frui...chbenefits.htm

Allergies? I have a cup of my vinegar cocktail as soon as I wake up in the morning all year long. During the allergy season, I will drink more throughout the day, even with a meal. Use 1/2 cup natural organic honey and 1/2 cup Dr. Braggs organic vinegar with the mother. Add enough water to make it palatable...I usually add enough to make a total of 2 qts of liquid. It really is not bad at all and it definitely helps alleviate the symptoms of allergy-sneezing and runny nose and cough. Also, Echineacea taken for about 6 weeks, starting just before the allergy season, will build up the immune system to fight off possible sinus infection. Remember what your mom taught you too-keep your fingers out of your nose.

Don't want to sound like a "know it all", but I am old (pushing 60) and I don't like going to the doctor or taking prescriptions. Therefore, I have tried alot of natural remedies and found a few that really work.

[OakLeaf]

My experience with echinacea is the opposite. With me, it ramps up my immune system indiscriminately, making my allergies much worse.

The good news is we decided to go ahead with last week's allergy shot and I didn't have any reaction. Phew. Still wish I knew what did cause it though - inflammatory arthritis scares the cr*p out of me.

[Slowspoke]

It's unseasonably warm here and has been for the past few days. My throat is getting more and more sore and I started coughing. The worst part is the foggy brain and feeling soo tired. My DH has not experienced this and doesn't really get how I can be so tired! I have dealt with alergies all my life. I can already tell this spring will be a hard one.

[Slowspoke]

Honestly, I am so tired of coughing! I went to the doctor. I got nasonex and claritin. By the second day, BAM my throat got more sore and I was up for 30 hours straight! No, not just awake, but cartwheels while I vacuume at 4 am awake! I stopped taking everything and am staying indoors and waiting it out. Thankfully my lungs are clear and I am not wheezing at all.