Sneezing attacks??

[Miranda]

I definately think it's an allergic reaction gone wild! I've done the allergy testing thing and don't really have any specific severe allergies.

I am more sensitive to molds.

I do wear a balaclava and keep it over my mouth sometimes, but just can't breate well through it under intense effort.

Other specific times that I remember this happening....The Chicago marathon, the ride to Louisville. Seems like mostly during the autumn.

I think that I may start taking sometime that doesn't make me drowsy like Claritin prior to riding in the cold.

The sneezing is slowing down, but my ribcage is sore from so much sneezing.

Hey Silver... sorry your ribs are sore... been there. One thing my allergy doc told me is that some people can do fair on the scratch test stuff, and still just have it "all in their nose". Meaning, being very allergy/sensitive and get the sneezing thing.

Mold is one of mine too. The thing that happened with Mr. Silver's "freshly washed car" could have been some type of cleaning solution scent. They ask when I pull in the car wash for a detail "what scent of air freshener would you like today?". My answer is "NONE!!!". Makes me sneeze like crazy. Sometimes it's just the cleaner itself (not the scent). Or the fact that extra dust was stirred up in the car while being cleaned.

If there is swelling in the nasal tissues that could be adding to the problem, you could try a steriod spray. Doesn't cause the drowsiness. Veramyst is one we use. We have also used Nasacort.

One of the main things in the Fall is rag weed and pig weed. The rag weed is what some people refere to as "golden rod" (yellow bloom). There is regular rag weed, and giant rag weed (grows many feet tall). Pig weed has purple blooms and low to the ground. Both start about first week in August. Goes until hard snow flying. Pollen easily blows up to 50miles way from it's source.

Also, when the farm hay is bailed for animal winter feed and bedding, a certain amount of this weed gets mixed in it. Riding by the farms can do it. I'm with Mr. Silver... the leaf piles with mold are the worst. Bleah. Like the other day, temps warmed up in the area. Also very windy. Guess what happened to all the mold in those left over leaf piles? Yea... double bleah.

There are many meds that don't make you sleepy. The trick is finding the right one.

EDIT: I used to take Claritin when it was script only. Seems like when it became OTC, it stopping working right for me. My allergy doc's RN said that I was not the first pa to say that. Some said they "doubled up" on the OTC Claritin to get it to work right. I stopped using it, and got something else script. A pharmacist told me once that if you have taken a med so many years, the body can get immune to it. Dunno for sure there. DH takes Claritin and it works ok for him though.