Adventures in Allergy Land; The Search For Allergy Relief
By Nicole W.
@things4gotten (476)
United States
May 8, 2018 1:19pm CST
Behind our apartments is a field and a bunch of farms. They are very pretty right now, filled with blue, pink and yellow wildflowers. It is hard for me to resist the temptation of going out on those country roads and taking pictures...but they are also full of ragweed and golden rod which my neighbor pointed out a few days ago. A mere hour or two after that I started experiencing drainage and found myself with a throat so sore it felt as if someone shoved a bunch of lit matches down there.
On top of that, a little red triangle had appeared on my phones weather app warning of an 'ozone action day', which is something I wasn't even aware was a thing until I moved out here. The quality of the air outside was bad for sensitive groups. The doctor told me not to go outdoors during these periods due to my asthma. So I spend a few days cuddling a large box of tissue in the bedroom with the air purifier, sucking on coughdrops until I can't stand the taste of them, and dreaming of the day I could have a drink of cold water again without it irritating my throat. Even my husband found himself retreating into the room because his allergies were killing him as well.
Rains came and we had storms for about three days here. The air quality got a little better because of it, and I started to gradually feel a little better. For about a day I was able to turn off the air purifier and step out of the bedroom to get some much needed housework done...
Only for my allergies to come back with vengeance and for an ozone action day warning to go up again. Back to the bedroom with the air purifier I go! At least I was getting a great deal of reading done with all of this? Ah but not tonight! Suddenly I could barely keep my eyes open and it felt as if I was repeatedly being punched in the face. I was miserable. I took some medicine, put a hot wet washrag over my mouth and nose, a for a moment before going to sleep had some minor relief.
The next morning I feel a pain just under my left eye, coiling around to the temple and coming to an end at a swollen lump of pain at the base of my skull. A sign of a migraine, probably being triggered by allergies. I took care of what I could around the house, saw my husband off to work, took some medicine, showered, grabbed an ice pack, some water, a wet washcloth, closed the curtains and tried to sleep it away... until the nausea started. I struggled that for four hours before I lost that battle and had to rush into the bathroom. After taking some more medicine (and failing to find the anti nausea pills), I sipped some water and returned to bed. My dog, an extremely loyal and sweet black lab sharpei(?) mix who is my best friend, at one point hopped up and curled up next to me as she tends to do when I am not feeling well.
When my husband came home that night, he made me some toast. I do not know if it was due to the heightened senses caused by the migraine or the fact that I was really really hungry at that point but it was the most delicious toast I ever had!
I seem to be doing better today, but I don't want to experience a relapse. My allergies are still present and will probably continue to be a bother to me for the rest of the season and then some.
So for those who suffer from allergies or know someone who does, what kind of measures have you or others taken outside of medicine for allergy relief? Because right now, I am running out of ideas.
3 people like this
2 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
19 May 18
I have some friends that suffer from allergies and they don't seem to have found anything that helps. Sorry that I can't be much help. Has your doctor anything that might help?
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
19 May 18
@things4gotten I hope you are able to find something that helps!
1 person likes this
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
20 May 18
@1hopefulman Thank you! Hopefully something can be figured out so I will not have to put up with another year of this.
1 person likes this
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
19 May 18
I have some medicine that is supposed to help both my allergies and asthma but not a whole lot else. I think I might have to talk with her about some other options when I go in to see her next month.
1 person likes this
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
9 May 18
I have been taking what my doctor prescribed but I don't think it is helping much with this. I am currently reconsidering those shots.
1 person likes this
@rakski (123327)
• Philippines
9 May 18
@things4gotten I think you should go for the shots. I would not want you to spend most of your days dealing with the allergies than living life
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
10 May 18
@rakski I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for next month. Might bring that up.