I've been feeling very allergic lately...

[topless_mike]

Am i the only asshole who prays for 40 days/nights of rain between mid-april and
mid-may ? any dry sunny day, and im a mess. really.
i could quit bitching and take something, but i have this thing against medicine.

Could this be natures conspiracy against mankind? since mother nature cant physically punch us in the balls, she can make our noses drip, our skin itch, and our sinus's (or would it be sinuii- "SIGN-EYE") feel like they are filled with cement?

[RAAMONE]

unless mother nature is grlNIN

[Dan 'Hampton]

I've been fighting them for 2 weeks now. Today my eyes are all puffy and I feel like shite. Love allergies!

[angrymissy]

Not only am I allergic to cats (I have 4 now), I get really bad seasonal allergies this time of year. You need the good stuff:

http://www.nextrxotc.com/Images/Zyrtec%20OTC%2045%20ct.jpg

It's OTC now.

[StupidGirlllll]

Not only am I allergic to cats (I have 4 now), I get really bad seasonal allergies this time of year. You need the good stuff:

http://www.nextrxotc.com/Images/Zyrtec%20OTC%2045%20ct.jpg

It's OTC now.

That stuff in a godsent.. IThe funny part about my allergies is that I never had them until afer I had kids.

[topless_mike]

Not only am I allergic to cats (I have 4 now), I get really bad seasonal allergies this time of year. You need the good stuff:

http://www.nextrxotc.com/Images/Zyrtec%20OTC%2045%20ct.jpg

It's OTC now.

4 cats and pronto?
its like a zoo. that dyson is getting a workout.

[Thebazile78]

If you're not going to use OTC loratidine (Claritin) or Zyrtec, some people SWEAR BY bee pollen, provided it's from a local producer.

It's usually available at any health/natural foods store. The theory is that it's forcing your body to desensitize itself to the pollen blowing about in the air.

For the congestion, get some sterile saline for the nose (I like the brand Simply Saline, but it's about $4 or $5 per container) and squirt some up into your nose while hanging your head upside down or tilting sideways. Then blow your nose. Repeat as needed.

If it's just congestion, it should get enough of the gunk out of your sinuses to stave off something more serious. Plus, it moisturizes your nasal passages where a decongestant pill will dehydrate them ... causing more irritation.

Those things should make you more comfortable, although they are NOT "cures" by any means.

Drink lots of fluids, especially something hot (like tea or coffee) if you can stand to (the steam helps loosen the mucus in your nose & keeps nasal passages moist) to keep things moisturized and moving.

In the meantime, identify any triggers you might have inside your home - feather pillows, moldy air ducts, dusty carpeting, dust in general, scents, cleansers, etc. - and do your best to eliminate them.

Wash your sheets & blankets frequently. If you have drapes, launder them in hot water and use the dryer to dry them (if they are machine washable; if they're dry-clean only, try using an organic dry cleaner instead of the regular one to reduce chemical exposure.)

Vacuum (check the filter, dust cup or bag before you start) and dust more frequently, but remember that dry-dusting, even with a Swiffer, will release a lot of dust into the air, so wherever you can, use a damp cloth or dusting spray (like Pledge or Method ... personally, I prefer Method. It smells like almonds....and the scent dissipates more quickly than Pledge.)

Switch to unscented laundry detergent & choose softener sheets over liquids... and use the dryer rather than the clothesline. Arm & Hammer usually costs less than a bigger brand name detergent; I usually get the 200 oz container for around $5 or $6. (Compare that to Tide at almost $14 for the 200 oz and you're talking some HUGE savings long-term.)

Needless to say, I am also an allergy sufferer. I've tried a number of things over the years to make myself more comfortable this time of year, including foregoing contacts for my glasses because my eyes are constantly itchy ... and many of the tips I offered above. Except for the bee pollen. That's too crunchy even for me.

[angrymissy]

4 cats and pronto?
its like a zoo. that dyson is getting a workout.

Thank god for the stupid dyson. I've been vacuuming every day now. The 4th cat (kitten) was supposed to be temporary. We took her in from outside. But Pronto loves her and she's Jeff's cat now. All of the other outside feral cats we took care of, save for 2 disappeared suddenly a few weeks ago (we suspect the neighbor).

[JerseyRich]

Thank god for the stupid dyson. I've been vacuuming every day now. The 4th cat (kitten) was supposed to be temporary. We took her in from outside. But Pronto loves her and she's Jeff's cat now. All of the other outside feral cats we took care of, save for 2 disappeared suddenly a few weeks ago (we suspect the neighbor).

FYI...

The Dyson is a rip-off.

A good Miele vacuum is the way to go.

[angrymissy]

FYI...

The Dyson is a rip-off.

A good Miele vacuum is the way to go.

Teh Dyson FTW. With turbo brush attachment to remove pronto hairz.

(i got it with points anyway)

Isn't a Miele over $1k

[topless_mike]

FYI...

The Dyson is a rip-off.

A good Miele vacuum is the way to go.

Easy there JerseyMartha

[JerseyRich]

Teh Dyson FTW. With turbo brush attachment to remove pronto hairz.

(i got it with points anyway)

Isn't a Miele over $1k

Nah...around $500 for the Plus series.

[JerseyRich]

Easy there JerseyMartha

Until you've enjoyed a vacuum removing every trace of cat hair...

[topless_mike]

Until you've enjoyed a vacuum removing every trace of cat hair...

dont like pussy, eh?

its all very clear now.

[JerseyRich]

dont like pussy, eh?

its all very clear now.

No, just pussy hair.

[zathrus]

nope, my allergies are killing me. i'm either stuff and congested or my nose is runny and my eyes always feel like they are dry & itchy. Needless to say that I am just plain miserable.

[milliehatchett]

thebazile is right on about the bee pollen....another good way to go natural is to grab some honey from a LOCAL farmer's market (as long as the honey is produced locally).

[drusilla]

Not only am I allergic to cats (I have 4 now), I get really bad seasonal allergies this time of year. You need the good stuff:

http://www.nextrxotc.com/Images/Zyrtec%20OTC%2045%20ct.jpg

It's OTC now.

holy crap i had no idea you were allergic to all of your cats. how the hell do you manage to survive? if i go to someone's house who has a cat i have to come home & take an outbreak shower & do laundry without touching anything.

i have really bad seasonal allergies too. i take allegra & singulair everyday. i've been feeling great until last night & have been kinda miserable all day. this thread reminds me that when i was out to dinner earlier i noticed the bottle of zyrtec i was carrying opened up & spilled out all of the pills to the bottom of the bag. i should go take care of that.

missy, you amaze me. i'd die.

[PapaBear]

For some reason, even though the pollen count has been way high lately, my allergies seem to have completely disappeared this year. I hope it's not a fluke.

[drusilla]

For some reason, even though the pollen count has been way high lately, my allergies seem to have completely disappeared this year. I hope it's not a fluke.

that was what i thought....until yesterday evening

[PapaBear]

that was what i thought....until yesterday evening
Uh oh.

[grlNIN]

I honestly can't tell when or even if im at all affected by pollen and the typical allergy causing stuff. However, I do have some days where my head feels groggy and my eyes do start to itch but i attributed that to maybe not sleeping so well.

The things that really kills me is the constant weather changes. The extreme from 40s to 70s and then back down to 50s makes me feel like death.

[topless_mike]

For some reason, even though the pollen count has been way high lately, my allergies seem to have completely disappeared this year. I hope it's not a fluke.

wait for it...