How do you deal with allergies?

[HappyAnika]

I tested positive for 53/64 allergens, 42 of which were severe. Its a wonder I'm alive . I did allergy shots for a few years which helped. Then in 2005 I had no symptoms. Yippee!!! Until last year when the grasses hit me hard. Hay is one of the things I'm most allergic to and there are hay fields everywhere around here. So I went back on the Rhinocort (I think this is similar to Nasonex, not sure what the difference is exactly). I have taken every pill, both otc and prescription, and they all make me drowsy, no matter how much they claim to be non-drowsy. Zyrtec makes me the least drowsy, but it still saps my energy some. Since my symptoms are all in my nose, the nasal spray works well. Would be different if I had problems with watery eyes, and/or hives.

Last year in July I was trying to wean myself from the spray (I would like to be medication free), but then it got so bad I could barely get out of bed. My nose was such a mess I couldn't even use the nasal spray, it would all just come back out. I ended up getting a cortizone shot from the family doctor while my allergist was on vacation. I felt great on the coritzone, but the allergist was none too happy about it. . .

(Making a mental note to start ramping up on the nasal spray since it takes about 2 weeks to work and the grass is a-growin'.)

[Kathi]

I used to live in Cincinnati, also high humidity. I thought I was allergic to everything but when I saw an allergist and got tested all I tested postive to was dust, clams, and cat dander (I have cats). However, I have non allergic rhinuitus, which means there are lots of things in the air that I react to. So, I'm on Singulair (also for asthma) Nasonex (at night) and Astelin, 2x a day. I still get stuffy, especially in our ski condo where there is carpeting so I also use nasal rinse 1x per day and an air cleaner.

When I lived in Cincy I was getting sinus headaches everytime a front came through. Since Cincinnati gets a lot of rain my headaches were constant. My allergy doc. here gave me Liquibid-D. It's a decongestant and I only use it when I feel the sinus pressure or headache coming on. For some reason, they often occur in the early morning.

Now that I live in a dryer climate the headaches have decreased dramatically.

And for itchey eyes I use Patanol, a prescription eyedrop.