I would like to hear some Allergy solutions if anybody has any. I am still struggling with this.. so far


Medicine - cant really find one that works that I really notice it, anyone found one?
Breath Right strips are great. Help me sleep and I get to wake up all cleared up.
Tissues - Im becoming a pro with these.

I've used Claritin for a while, OTC. Sorta tempers mine enough to get me by. I also tend to only take it when I'm really dying, not when it's just sorta bothering me.

If it flares up at home, what I often do is apply some Vaseline to my nose. Helps to keep the noise from getting chewed up. Even if you just wind up wiping it off quickly, it helps lubricate and keep the skin from totally getting destroyed. It doesn't take more than a couple applications a day to keep from getting bad.

Also: I do not use those Puffs Plus tissues--I go with dry tissues. Much better at sopping up what comes out of my nose. Cheap tissues seem to be dusty, but I just live with it.

Lastly: I find it a bit better to be outside and alone. Call me crude, but I just suck it up and spit it out. Easier on the nose doing that, and it seems to help somewhat. At the least, it's something different.

Claritin and Flonase daily
NeilMed Sinus rinse 2x daily
Dust mite resistant bedding
Allergy shots for dust mites and mold - based upon 96-panel allergen testing

I am on monthly shot regimen now and coming up on the time that I should start seeing results. The proof will be the end of October and whether I suffer the Fall version of my semi-annual sinus attacks. The doctor assures me the Fall attacks are caused by mold.

Forget self medicating from advice on Internet forums. See an alergist.

+1.

My boyfriend thought for a while that he had developed an allergy for almonds. Had all the classic symptoms: rashes, swelling, tightness in the throat (scary, that one). Lived with that for 2 years. Then it suddenly got worse: rashes and swelling for just about any food! So he went to see an allergist. Turned out he didn't have a full-blown allergy per se, just some strange allergy-like condition that was curable. Don't ask, I'm not a doctor, but after a couple of appointments and taking the prescribed medicine (whatever it was), his immune system calmed down and all the symptoms went away. He's been happily munching almonds ever since.

For immediate relief, if you're talking about allergic rhinitis, a decongestant nasal spray like Otrivin. When the nose is clear and I can breathe normally, I can handle any of the other symptoms of allergy, and there's no need to take a pill that has effects on the whole body for 24 hours. For longer term relief though, there's nothing like a prescription for a steroid nasal spray. Sometimes, if the eyes are really bothered too, it helps a lot to use a cromolyn eye drop starting well before the expected allergy season. But if you didn't do that, there's nothing at the store that really helps, at least not in my personal experience. At that point, it's time for prescription eye drops. Don't suffer on your own though. See a doctor and get a referral to a good allergist (but a family doctor can easily prescribe these things too). Still, it really helps to get tested by an allergist to see exactly what it is your are most allergic to. It can help with avoidance and planning.

All that being said, sometimes it's so bad out there that you just have to take a pill. It's tempting to fall for the marketing of the non-drowsy 24 hour allergy meds, but I find that (a) they aren't really non-drowsy, and (b) they aren't that effective. I get the most relief by taking a simple, very cheap generic chlorpheniramine. Pennies a pill. It's full-drowsy and not 24 hours, but, if I take it at bedtime, the drowsiness is a benefit, and even though it's nominally only good for 4 hours, it carries me through most of the following day.

But again, don't suffer in silence. This kind of allergy is a lot more disabling than we realize at the time. It's not just a minor problem. If you are a working adult, it can significantly affect your performance at work. If you are a student, it can have negative impact on your future because it's hard to perform well on exams and hard to concentrate in class, and for a cyclist, it affects breathing and performance for sure.

Besides routine allergy meds, including inhalers for pollen sensitive asthma, I wear a 3M HEPA mask while ridilng durilng pollen season. It really filters out all the crap well. It makes me look like a freak, but asthma attacks are no fun. So I wear it. bk

Definitely go see a doctor. They can put you on a treatment plan that is tailored to your allergies, not those of people on this thread. If you want, you can try to cut back on eating dairy products. It's harmless to try, and some people find their pollen allergies lessen with a low-dairy or dairy-free diet.

I just suck it up and go out and ride as much as possible in the spring. A few weeks later my body adjusts.

The only allergy I can't deal with is cats, so I stay away from them at all costs.

Definitely go get allergy testing! I couldn't ride more than 10 minutes without runny nose and watery eyes, so I got tested and I'm allergic to about a thousand things. The medication is fine-tuned to my exact allergies. Depending on how progressive your health provider is the treatment could take different forms. I self-inject which is not as bad as it sounds and it works!

I wanted to get tested a few years ago, but my doc wanted me to stay on Claritin (or similar) as long as it was doing the trick. So, you might have to "prove" that OTC and stronger "generic" prescriptions aren't able to cut it.

I get bogged down incredibly badly by heavy pollen or trail dust. Hence I pack a respirator on rides now.

I don't like putting chemicals in my body if I don't have to, so I use my 3M half face from work. A good half face respirator with HEPA filters will stop any allergen. For a price of less than 50 bucks and some goofy looks, problem solved.

your problem is that you dont know exactly what you are allregic too and are taking meds that werent prescribed for your known allergies.
Go see an allergist who will determined what the cause is and will prescribed the right meds, there are many great allergie meds out there.. claratin/asterin/rynacort/advaid/singulair ect..
Some might be right for you, but you wont know till you seek help at the right place, the allergist that it, and not the net!

Michigander, I'm with you on the respriator. They really work. So well, in fact, that my lungs feel much better after a ride with it on. I guess they like really clean air. bk

There are good over the counter options available now, since you can buy loratidine now OTC. But if your allergies are bad enough you might benefit from a nasal spray like flonase. This combo completely eliminates my symptoms every Fall.

I struggled for years before going to the doc, wondered why i waited so long.

if you dont want a prescription, i use wal-mart claritin rip off, and a nasal spray called Nasal Crom. Helps me get through they day, and actually the nasal crom saved me last night so i could sleep. apparently something triggered my allergies yesterday on my 20 mile slow paced canal path ride....oops