take drugs that you know help!

I get two allergy shots weekly year round. Take Allegra during cedar tree and ragweed pollen time. I add a nasal spray when it gets worse, and at the top of the mess I also take musinex.

I am a firm believer to take what ever helps me.

Then, when I come inside from spending any time out, I toss my clothes in the hamper, take a shower and wash my hair to get all pollen off.

I also sleep with an air purifier/cleaner on during these times, and even have it on 24/7 during the worst time.

With other words, keep trying till you find what works for you.

Moni

I've rediscovered Nasacort nasal spray, which has recently become available OTC. One spray in each nostril in the morning pretty well sees me through 24 hours. Amazingly effective for me. A small size spray is only about $18 if you want to try it.

I never had allergies when we lived in the north, but it seems after living in Georgia for several years, everyone develops allergies. I take a Loratadine every morning. (generic Claritin) Our pollen count is quite high right now.

Moni we could be twins!

I get allergy shots (3 different vials of serum) Have 2 prescription nasal sprays, a prescription inhaler and I take Allegra every morning.

I also shower at night. The allergist told me to keep my windows closed and use AC when it's hot. We pulled out all the carpet.

Also use a nasal rinse. Use the salt packets that come with it and use distilled water. This is the one I use, I think it works better than the neti pot

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=142205&catid=59915&aid=338666&aparam=142205

And when despite all the meds it gets the best of me and my ears, eyes, forehead, face, neck hurt I zap my neckwrap in the microwave. It's almost a miracle how good it feels and relieves the pain. It's long enough to wrap around my neck then up around across my eyes/sinuses. Ten bucks at bed bath and beyond.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/anti-stress-microwaveable-comfort-wrap/1016883620?Keyword=microwaveable+neck+wrap

Good luck to everyone trying to get through this horrible allergy season. (Did I ever mention I love winter??!! haha)

I do suffer, but I don't know from what. I was tested 15 years ago and didn't react to a single thing. Am going to get retested. I moved this last year and I'm having weird reactions. I don't have the usual nasal congestion, but it is affecting my breathing. I'm having to use an inhaler this year. I've never had to before. I've had to switch allergy medicines from Zyrtec to Allegra.

In other years, I have used a neti pot. It has worked really well to clean out the nasal passages and loosen up some of the crud in my throat. It takes a little while to get the hang of it, but worth it when you do.

Do any of you use a face mask when working outside? Robert sure does. He stocks up every winter.

Katlan, my husband has used an electric nasal irrigator for years. His is Grossan 'hydro pulse', purchased twice in twelve years. His doctor writes a prescription for it. No more sinus infections or suffering.

Thanks rhizo, I've never heard of it before. Definitely worth checking out. Moni, and others, is your voice hoarse now all the time? Mine is, ugh.

Before I went to the allergist and got things under control I would literally sneeze 40 times every morning. I'm honestly not exaggerating. Then 3 or 4 other sneezing fits throughout the day. Which lead to almost 100% blockage in my nose, constantly. Which lead to sinus infections and horrible nasal polyps. I haven't had them removed. Last resort is surgical. They are controlled now with all the allergy meds. My mother had them removed and they came back so she had them removed a 2nd time. Her recovery was terrible the second time around. And took forever. No thanks.

Apparently, I sometimes react to pine pollen of some spieces of pine. Luckily, grass pollens do not bother me. I have a nephew who is very sensitive to grass pollens and that poor fellow lives on a farm! He was in the 8th grade before his parents discovered what had been bothering him all those years.

oh yes indeed and the pine pollen was so bad here this year every thing was yellow and when it rained it looked like yellow rain. The oak and cedar pollen is everywhere. Ours hit pretty bad already since we had everything in bloom and going strong while so many areas were still having snow and ice.
I have the whole regimen of meds, the nasal spray, the various inhalers, the prescription pills, the neti pot with salt packets. It helps but it sure does not stop it. My voice left me back in December when I was so sick with what ever the heck that was that lasted for months and my voice is still not fully back and now with using all the inhalers and stuff it is getting worse again. I was going from Marge Simpson to Trace Adkins and never knew when it would squeek out or nothing come out.
Now it is just very raspy and scratchy. I am waiting for my doctor to decide on which ENT she wants me to go to so I can find out what is going on in there and if my real voice will ever return.
I think the inhalers have contributed a lot to the voice problem. I do wash out my mouth well after every use as it instructs but I think it must coat the vocal cords.
During the time that I had stopped the inhalers before the pollen storm, my voice was getting a little better.
Seems you have to choose which you want a voice or the relief the inhalers provide. And well breathing is pretty high on my list LOL.

I just crack up, when people tell me, I shouldn't take so much meds.

Sometimes, I offer them, I could pull their heads off instead... it would make me feel better, but not offer any relief.

Some people just don't have a clue, how miserable this crap is.

Yes, my voice gets raspy. Yes, I get short and impatient... and Yes, I know it is because of the drugs, but still better than ripping someones head off, cause they irritate me.

;)

No. Guess I'm lucky. Or Happy Hour helps?

Raven, my allergist told me to not only rinse out my mouth after using the inhaler but to also gargle with mouthwash. It does settle on the vocal cords. I will say I don't gargle with mouthwash every time but I do gargle with whatever I have to drink. Or just use water.

You are lucky Old Fixer. And Happy Hour is always welcome!! haha

I take Allegra and Singulair, use Nasacort and OTC nasal sprays (which I know are not good for you), as well as get 3 allergy shots per week. All this just to function. I've tried Zyrtec and it works very well, but to me it's just like taking a sleeping pill.
I saw a funny comment on Facebook... if pine pollen was gold dust, we would all be millionaires.

I take Allegra D,Singular and Zetonna a nasal spray n still suffer.