I am SOOOO...

...Allergic to the air.
People keep giving me advice for medicines, but honestly, pills just aren't helping me. All the ones BEHIND the counter make me sleepy, and all the ones of the shelf make me behave as a crack addict.
Is there a secret weapon to dealing with the air here that I have yet to discover?
Help me!!

Allergies - an old wives tale tells of consuming local honey (a spoonful a day).
I know where this is going! It takes about 30 days for the effect to lessen, with spring coming on -- get at it.

So true! All potential jokes about local honey aside, it is a really good way to reduce allergies. I know some people who opt for allergy shots - a long process.

No one warned me about this one awful Austin fact before I moved here. I feel your pain. Pleh.

...Allergic to the air.
People keep giving me advice for medicines, but honestly, pills just aren't helping me. All the ones BEHIND the counter make me sleepy, and all the ones of the shelf make me behave as a crack addict.
Is there a secret weapon to dealing with the air here that I have yet to discover?
Help me!!

Originally Posted by MaggieSinead

Had exact same issues, sneezing, stuffed up, nasal passages felt dry and itchy, itchy eyes and so on. Used Zyrtec, Benadryl, stuff behind the counter and nothing worked. Called up the doc and got an Rx for Flonase and within 3 days all was great. It worked like magic, only $15 for a bottle.

Good luck, hope you feel better; I know others who get Nasonex and swear by it as well.

Try a Nettie pot. Basically a nasal douche with Saline. Cedar has been terrible this year, and I have not had to use any meds since I started the Nettie pot in December. Wallgreens has them, the solution, and instructions.

Had exact same issues, sneezing, stuffed up, nasal passages felt dry and itchy, itchy eyes and so on. Used Zyrtec, Benadryl, stuff behind the counter and nothing worked. Called up the doc and got an Rx for Flonase and within 3 days all was great. It worked like magic, only $15 for a bottle.

Good luck, hope you feel better; I know others who get Nasonex and swear by it as well. Originally Posted by KosherCowboy

KC got it right. I use Nasonex and Astaline daily. I've battled sinus issues for 30+ years. I have not had any problems for the last 2 years but I use both of these sprays daily. The sinus rinse helps as well. I have tried the honey remedy but it did not help me at all. Good luck.

Claritin D is the only allergy medicine that works for me.

Ah, Austin her loathsome, lurking allergens... Cupressaceae Juniperus ashei, mountain cedar, is the likely culprit this time of year. The cedar pollens do most of their damage from December to February, but I've waged epic battles against cedar up until mid-late April some years.

The Good: Neti Pots, colloidal silver, zyrtec (take it or leave it, no OTC medicine can keep this menace at bay), local honey, steam facials.

The Bad: It's obvious Mother Nature neglected this one... As tempting as it may be to cut down all the cedar in your yard (which you should, if you're a home owner) and put it good use, well, it has none. It makes for poor firewood, provides virtually no food for native animals, and is poor choice for any type of construction.

The ugly: Itchy, runny nose and eyes. Sneezing. Sinus pressure and congestion. Sore throat. Mild to severe, chronic fatigue. Coughing spells that can last for weeks, if not months. Headaches. Body aches. Fever. Nausea. Coughing. Loss of appetite. Secondary ear infections. Bronchitis. Believe it or not, this is the short list.

It took me 3 years of living in Austin before I figured out that no, I don't get the flu 4 times a year: I'm allergic to this city. Well, I'm allergic to the mold and cedar that take pleasure in calling (haha, incall-ing) Austin home. I've been taking colloidal silver since November (it's best when used preventatively, not to treat immediate symptoms) and I neti pot every day, sometimes twice a day. I will say that the results I've achieved with colloidal silver are far better than I've experienced with local honey, but I keep the honey up because it's super yummy. Also, I have two of these in my home. As far as air purifiers go, they are zero maintenance and relatively inexpensive. Usually by this time of year I'll have had to take at least 2 weeks off of work, spending one of those weeks unable to do anything save writhe around in misery, barely able to get out of bed. Last year was bad: ear complications including multiple infections and a burst ear drum, brutal asthma attacks, pneumonia... So far this year I've had minimal cedar symptoms, just a slight ear infection and some sinus problems.

Feel better...

I'm absolutely dying today, and I'm guessing cedar and mold levels are through the roof. I was fine until I went outside. Oh yes, the asthma attacks. They rule my entire life. The mere possibility of having an attack in public keeps me away from doing normal things such as dining out. I've tried every pill you can name. And shots? Pfffft! Twelve-hour Sudafed usually works, but not today. I've had a year's worth of congestion in the past hour alone. So, I'm going to try the local honey approach. Also, I'll check out the colloidal silver. Anything!!!

I don't get it.

I have very mild allergy problems, but they affect me the same no matter if I am here in Austin, or Dallas, or Chicago, or anywhere else.

I grew up with a giant cedar tree in my front yard so maybe I am aclimated to Cedar Pollen. I love the smell of Cedar...

It all depends on you and your immune system. If there are molds around, I'm screwed. Add cedar and Bermuda grass and I'd rather be in a coma until they leave. Molds are everywhere, but one of the highest concentrations in the U.S. is right here in Central Texas. So far, Arizona is the only place where I have never felt the effects of molds. My best days are sunny and dry. My worst days are days just like this ... cool and drizzly.

I went to an allergist because I could never breath. Turns out I'm not allergic to anything, I just react to it. Put me on a flonaze and the problem is completely gone.

Neti pot is a big help. Rinse a large volume several times a day. Rinse after being outside. Unfortunately, if you are congested, not much (if any) will get through.

Hepa filters made a big difference in my life. The windows of my house are always closed. Unfortunately, mild weather is also mold weather.

Oh yeah, Austin is a great place to live . . . except for the broiling heat and the river of snot!!

Thanks for your help everyone! I have a doctor appointment tomorrow to get some Flonase! It seems like I sleep all the time, but I'm forever tired, and the end of my nose is raw from all the wiping, wiping, wiping.
Glad to know (but not glad to hear) this is a common problem, and that I'm not suffering a lone war.