Sneezing attacks??

[silver]

Anyone else develop sneezing attacks after riding in the cold? Every week or so I develop a sneezing attack after riding or running in the cold. My nose drips and I sneeze hundreds of times. This usually lasts the rest of the day and sometimes a little into the next day.

It must be some kind of irritation in my nose to the cold. I'm going to take some benedryl and go to bed now.

Anyone else get this and what do you do?

[andtckrtoo]

I have that happen when I ride or hike in areas that have things I'm allergic to - like Ponderosa pines (which was a real pain when I lived in New Mexico!). Might be something in the air you can find only this time of year. Cold does not affect that me that. My nose runs, but I don't sneeze like that, and it stops as soon as I come home.

I find that Claritin helps when it's allergy related. If Benedryl helps, consider some kind of allergy meds. But man, it wiped me out! I was pretty miserable for about 24 hours.

[Miranda]

It's an allergy attack. It's to something other than the cold itself. A tree, mold spores in the air, etc. You are working hard to suck more air in as you ride/exercise, so you get more of it than just standing still breathing normal.

We are the house of allergies and asthma here. This happens to me periodically. Awful. You just can't stop sneezing! Your body is saying "I do not like this and by sneezing maybe I can get rid of it!". Sorta like choking on something that would be obstructing your airway.

Only when your immune system is crazy confused allergic/overaly sensitive, it doesn't stop at the norm... and then can keep up it's protest for the day.

It's a release of hystamine in your body... the Benadryl is an ANTI-hystamine, and helps with the reaction. Some allergy meds have properties called "hystamine blockers" that are suppose to prevent the sneezing overly sensitive attack from occuring in the first place.

If you know what things you are allergic too, you can try and plan around it to reduce the reaction. We have all had a test called the "scratch test". It's where they stick a bunch of needles in your back with various stuff and see which ones swell up or cause a reaction. There are also allergy blood test panels for this. Process of elimination is another stone age approach (IMHO) that some docs use to figure out what you are alergic too.

We are signed up on an allergy web site that emails me the stats locally of air pollen measurements. Certain times of day the pollen counts are higher or lower. Dry and windy conditions make pollen travel further like from trees and be more. A rain helps the tree pollen (knocks it down). But a rain generally stirs up the mold spores. Thus why it's helpful to know exactly what you are allergic too. I use this right along with Weather.com and wind speed to plan my ride sometimes.

Also, keeping the car windows closed and using the air re-circulate buttons helps. If you use the vent, or have the windows down, you are blowing that allergic air straight into your face at a speed way faster than you bike travels... what speed the car is doing.

Use A/C in the house and keeping the windows closed helps to keep outside air pollen out of your house too. Lastly, simply changing your pillow case more, or rinsing your hair before bed helps. Otherwise, you have a ton of pollen particles in your hair, you lay down on your bed pillow, and suck air all night long with what you are allergic to right in your face. Not good.

Hope you are better.

[OakLeaf]

There are basically no outdoor allergens in Indiana this time of year.

It's possible you have a cold allergy - that was just discussed here not long ago. There's an easy skin test for it. Usually it manifests itself first in skin symptoms, but it wouldn't surprise me if sneezing is possible. If you test positive, and if you don't already carry an Epi-pen and use the buddy system, please do so!

You might also try wearing a balaclava that covers your nose and mouth, to try to warm the air a little more. It's pretty difficult to do anything aerobic wearing a real mask...

Hope you get it sorted Silver.

[Mr. Bloom]

There are basically no outdoor allergens in Indiana this time of year.

I would agree...except for the field with freshly laid Turkey Manure! EEEEKKKK! It's like the dead skunk you pass...but stays with you for a mile!

Also, yesterday was a very windy day and she was riding through hilly woods. Blowing road dust, mold spores from the mulching leaves, etc...there are more histamines than we would like.

Funny story: She was getting in my freshly washed car last night and had an unexpected sneeze come on - with both hand full - She freshly sprayed my freshly washed window

[sundial]

Silver, try wearing a buff over your nose to filter cold air and pollens.

Mr. Silver's car--LOL!

[silver]

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.

[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.

[jesvetmed]

Silver: Wow -- sounds like a heck of a reaction to something!
I wonder, too, about just plain drying of the sinus tissues -- that cold dry air dries everything out and makes you much more sensitive to things that may not otherwise bother you.

I agree with trying something like Claritin. You might also consider (and I hate using these so to recommend it is painful) a nasal spray that is just plain saline or something mild (ie, no "medicine" in it... that would only make things worse in the long run) -- use it prior to riding?

Just a thought. Good luck. Hope the ribs are better soon!
Jes

[silver]

follow up....

I believe that the answers indicating just plain dry sinus tissue may be the culprit. I woke up this morning sneezing and the inside of my nose feeling raw. I went to the drug store on my way to spin class and the pharmacist recommended a product that is a saline based gel with aloe that is sprayed into the nose. I think that this may be the ticket.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll keep you up to date on whether this works.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That sounds like a good natural gentle solution to try. If your sinuses are sore from dryness, you might want to put a nighttime humidifier on in your bedroom as well.

[Blueberry]

Trying a netti pot may help - just flushing salt water through the sinuses/nose. Works wonders for me in the winter - no more bleeding sinuses.

CA