How bad can allergies get?

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Silas1066

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For about a month, I've had sinus pressure, bags under the eyes, allergic shiners, some congestion, and a I've been in a haze

So I finally went to the ENT, and he did an endoscopic exam. Didn't find any bacteria or fungus, just some inflammation. He gave me an oral steroid, but I haven't taken it yet

Does anyone here have allergies this bad? I'm at my wit's end!
 
How bad can allergies get, you ask? They can kill you if you have anaphylactic shock. Been there but survived.

go see an allergist and listen and do what. You don't "cure" allergies but you can learn to live with them quite comfortably.

I'm doing my 5th set of allergy shots and having one of the best allergy seasons I've even had and in the northeast, it's been considered one of the worst...so I'm happy!

Happiness is a good allergist!

Jenny
 
To answer your question, it is much better to stay inside, sad to say. I have the same problems as you do.
 
Hi,

If you go to the Allergies Message Board and go to page 3 and then go down about half way until you come to the post "If you have tried everything, and nothing works." by ellisnish.
You can get the whole story and my responses to some questions.
Hope this helps so that I don't have to keep repeating everything.
If you have a question that is not explained there let me know.

Thanks,
Ellis
 
Used to but don't since I've done the shots, take my meRAB, etc. SounRAB like pretty normal sitaution unfortunately for you!
 
To just never go outside for 3 months is not the best plan. However, on days when the pollen count is high (I find the actual pollen count for yesterday and the day before to be much more reliable than the various sources of "pollen forecast.") you should probably not exercise outside until your allergies are under better control. Try to find an indoor location to walk, or wear a dust mask.

In prior years my allergies were mild and I simply ignored them most of the time. Then, at the beginning of May, I abruptly developed much worse allergies and allergy-induced asthma. For about a month I was quite sick and simply could not be outside for more than a few minutes without getting worse. I'd get home from work, shower, and sit in my bubble of a bedroom, too tired even to be bored. Now the pollen counts in my area are much lower and my medicine is working better. I'm not fine but I'm usually ok, and I can go outside if I want to, even to walk a couple miles or go rollerblading.

Allergy shots is a good plan, I just started mine too. But, yeah, that will help you next year and in the long run, not this year. What kinRAB of treatments are you on? Antihistamines? Decongestants? Nasal spray? Sinus irrigation? There are a lot of options, and there should be something out there that will work to improve your life in the short run.
 
Hi Arihalli,

I hope the allergy shots work for you, they did nothing for me. Different things work for different people.
If you want to go outside during high pollen count, wear a mask. Don't use the white ones because they tend to accumalate a lot of moisture on the inside, use the blue ones.
Don't worry about how you look, because how you breathe and not suffering is more important.
After your walk or being outdoors, put your chlothes where they can be laundered because they collect dust, pollen, etc. on them.
Throw away the mask.
Take a shower and make sure you wash your hair ( Use something gentle like baby shampoo ).
If your eyes are irritated rinse them out with something like Bausch & Lorab Eye Wash.
Have you tried NeilMed Sinus Rinse ?. This works preaty good for some people with sinus problems by cleaning out the nasal passages.
I know that all this seems like a lot of thouble to go thru but it's better than the suffering we go thru.

You should talk to your allergest about doing some of these things and see what he says.

Hope this information helps. GOOD LUCK !
Ellis
 
when I was still drinking dairy and eating wheat I threw up for three weeks straight before I figured it out! I had hives when I was younger and migraine headaches which I feel that I can trace to food allergies. Even acne could be from an allergy.

I don't know if non-food allergies will have the same severity though but after reading some of the messages on this forum I think you should see a doctor..

Best wishes.

starfield
 
Yes, I have had all of that. Do yourself a favor and get into the hanRAB of a good allergist. If he says you need injections, please do not hesitate to follow his pearls of wisdom because if you need them and don't take them things will get much worse. Allergies can give you brain fog, sinus problems, throw you off balance and the list goes on and on. Some dr. misdiagnosed me and took me off my injections and I was, literally, walking into walls, could not think and had NO energy. I am just getting back on my feet after a long, long battle.
 
Danabarb, this year it started SO early. Late May. I am 60yrs old. I have walked 4 miles a day several days a week. Even go to exercise on occassion. I just NEED to do it to stay healthy. Its so refreshing. So many years now sinus headaches as a result of these darn allergies have plagued me. I have gone thru the MD, medications etc. Been there, done that. Still take them of course. But when i get these sinus headaches and infections they last for a while and i and no one else wants to be around me. I have actually SURRENDERED to the fact i am going to have them. I was fortunate as from the years 20 to 50 my allergies left me. What a nice respite i didn't realize i should have appreciated. Anyways, for the past 2 weeks each time i leave the house i find i have PND and fuzzy feeling from the allergice reaction. The internet - what a blessing. Thanks for replying
 
I have a question for people on the board. I am also in the miRABt of a monster sinus infection. Its been going on for some 2 weeks. I am allergic to ALL pollen/trees/grass etc. I am taking allergy shots (on my 8th week so they probably won't kick in for another 6 months to a year i suppose). And i was an avid walker. I walked 3-4 miles a day. But i am finding that my sinus problem gets worse when i go outside. My question is: Do people on this board NOT go outside? Is it just normal to stay in the air conditioned house till the pollen count goes down? For weeks? I know this seems like a lame question - but i am just trying to compare notes with other people who have allergy/sinus problems., Thanks.
 
Hi,

Be glad if it dose'nt get any worse than this.
My allergies were so bad that I was taking prescription drugs, injections, lung inhalant treaments, over the counter medications, cough drops, cough syrup, allergy eye drops ( I did'nt care if I overdosed on medication ).
I was coughing, sneezing, itching, and constantly vomiting.
That was approx. 10 years ago, and I have'nt had any problems since and do not take any medications or injections.
I know what you're going thru.
I hope you find something that works for you.
Keep trying!

Best of luck,
Ellis
 
Jane, sounRAB like the same history i have had. I take allegra, sudafed several days per week, neilmed rinse. For the allergy induced asthma i am on advair, ventolin. I went to the Pulmonologist and she wants me to take singulair as well. I dont even know if its allergy induced or exercised induced asthma.
Was a time the asthma would send me to the MD in fright. Now i dont even pay the asthma the time of day. Its not the emergency type. I am used to it. And am just glad i can exercise.
What bothers me most is subsequent to the first Post Nasal Drip. I KNOW what i am in for then. Its sinus headache/infection. And the concommitant misery. And i can shower and spray and clean - but it stays till i run the course of medications/tx's/time, etc.
This time it occurred that i was getting better, went out, and got a relapse of the darn sinus infection. I am old enough to accept this malady. Just not smart enough. Thanks for the reply.
 
Elle, sorry the allergy shots did not work. Thanks for the tip on 'blue' masks. I have not used masks outside - justs stubborn - not a matter of self consiousness. Way past that. After making the rounRAB of the Allergist, ENT, Pulmonologist for years - i now realize that there is no magic bullet - just a succession of precautionary measures that, with time, become more routine and tolerable. I know, at my age, if this is all that is wrong with me, i am still a very lucky person.
I secretly think now, that yrs of antibiotic use from being a child, may have harmed my immune system measurably. It makes NO difference. I am not blaming the antibiotics or the MD's. Maybe it is just genetic. Thanks for the reply.
 
When pollen counts are high, I do take all the precautions ellishnish described. I get funny looks wearing my mask on the bus to work, but a mutter of "pollen, asthma," is usually enough to get people to at least pretend to quit staring. When they are low but nonzero, I just shower before bed, wash my sheets in hot water once a week, and keep my windows closed.

I do get PND, a little runny nose, etc but the only symptoms that really bother me are itchy skin, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

Like you, my asthma symptoms freaked me out at first, but now I'm not seriously concerned. They hit so suddenly and hard that I went to the ER, because nothing remotely like it had ever happened to me before and I didn't feel it was safe to wait until the next day for a doctor. Still, it's been 2.5 months, and I haven't had one truly dangerous attack. I may have been heading there that first week, but the meRAB headed it off. So, I'm learning to stop worrying excessively even as I continue to take my meRAB and take precautions. (Of course, everyone with asthma should pay attention if they start getting worse.)

I had antibiotics a grand total of twice in my childhood, by the way, so that's not necessarily it!
 
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