[Quick Orange]

My allergies just kicked in last night and made me completely miserable. I have two treatments: 3M(TM) Half Facepiece Respirator 7502/37082(AAD), Ultimate Reusable, Medium 10/Case and a load of vitamin C. The respirator is for more or less instant relief while the vitamin C helps me kick it long term. I've found that no medicine available gives me nearly as good or consistent results

What're your treatments?

[Russel Baldridge]

I have medicinal allergies, not seasonal, no treatment for 'em either, just have to tell every doctor I'll ever see before being given a prescription.

Sorry to hear that, do you have to wear the respirator all the time? or just when outside?

[chief]

From the end of april 'till about end of september I have hay-fever, results: itchy red eyes, runny nose, sneezing... terrible!
I'm taking an antihistamine called Ceterizine, and it helps, but it has some unpleasant side-effects like a dry mouth. I have to try something else soon.

[Bruno]

I have a number of food allergies. The only thing I can do is not to eat the things I am allergic to
I mustn't grumble though. Mine are mostly avoidable, though every once and again, I discover that a chef used some herbs that really didn't hit the spot, and I spend a night of non-sleep, followed by a day of feeling sick.

One fo the scariest moments was when I woke up at night, covered with coin sized lesions, fainting every 5 steps I took, and lying on the floor trying to throw up. A nightly trip to the ER and several shots later I could go back home. I looked like an alien for 4 days. To this day I still don't know what caused this. I have a couple of likely suspects, but I don't know for sure.

For me, there are no cures. Only dodged bullets.

[Quick Orange]

Originally Posted by chief

From the end of april 'till about end of september I have hay-fever, results: itchy red eyes, runny nose, sneezing... terrible!
I'm taking an antihistamine called Ceterizine, and it helps, but it has some unpleasant side-effects like a dry mouth. I have to try something else soon.

Try Vitamin C. That's how my allergies used to be- they'd take over my life for months at a time, and the best the doc could give me was some dry up pill like what you're talking about. Unfortunately, a lot of my work is conducted via phone, so dry mouth is out of the question. When you're sick, there's almost no limit to the amount of C you can take. Depending on how sick I am, I take about 6000 mg of C a day. It lets me sleep at night without issue and get through the day comfortably. The best part though is that I'm not an itchy, sneezy mess for a month. I can usually kick it in about a week.

Wear the respirator outside?! Some idiot would freak out and call the cops if I did that. No, I only wear it at home to get instant relief if I need it. Last night was really bad though, so I slept in it. Here's what I look like in it. It's actually a respirator from my composite days (aka guaranteed lung cancer without a respirator). If I was asthmatic or something, I'd buy one of those trendy contour ones like from Batman Begins.

[Russel Baldridge]

Huh, I guess I didn't realize seasonal allergies affected people inside their homes. You learn something new everyday.

What kind of composites? I work just down the hall from a composites lab (in an aircraft research facility), never see the guys coming or going wearing respirators etc. but maybe they do the hazardous work in vaccuum chambers or something.

[Mike7120]

I was a very sick kid and had seasonal allergies and was allergic to dairy products, animal dander, dust, etc. and almost died from a bee sting. My allergies were so bad that I had to take shots every week. But when I was about 13 years-old my allergies stopped completely. My brother on the other hand has had an opposite experience. He never had allergies until he became an adult.

[iron maiden]

Allegra..........works for me. I get the ragweed pollen allergy that affects most people. Seems like I only get it in the spring for a few weeks. This year has been much better than most.

[Quick Orange]

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

Huh, I guess I didn't realize seasonal allergies affected people inside their homes. You learn something new everyday.

What kind of composites? I work just down the hall from a composites lab (in an aircraft research facility), never see the guys coming or going wearing respirators etc. but maybe they do the hazardous work in vaccuum chambers or something.

I did aircraft too. Most guys don't wear their respirator in composites. They're pains in the ass and as long as you breathe selectively you can get by. Personally I thought it was worth the pain to wear it

Mike, if only

[Smurf87]

I used to get really bad seasonal allergy attacks, but lately...knock on wood... I have been doing better, unless I'm near cats. I usually just take a bunch of zyrtec for during the day, and benadril if I need to sleep. Once I get those in my system for a couple days I'm usually ok, but Florida is pretty rough sometimes on me.

Sorry to hear your's get so bad.

V/r,
Scott

[Chady]

My immune system is so harsh it kills children and small animals if i thouch them. Actually I have no idea what fights allergies, I just wanted to write that. Didn't see any other conversation getting closer to the subject

[Bruno]

Actually, an allergic attack is caused your immune system itself, fighting against imaginary threats and going completely haywire. It thinks strawberry is a highly dangerous compound and goes completely nuts trying to eliminate a threat that is not real.
Most allergic treatments try to get your immune system to back down.

So if your immune system was really that strong, it would have killed you a long time ago.

[Chady]

It tried but it fought back killing itself and then ressurecting again, i think i might be jesus

[sensei_kyle]

I had allergies really bad as a kid, did the shots, hated it. Couldn't tell much difference. Took a ton of Benadryl, because that's about all we had in those days.

When I was about 19 I got a job in the road construction business, and worked outside for about 5 years. Haven't had much allergy problem since.

The first trip to the field for dove season usually gets me a little sniffly, but that's about it.

[jockeys]

according to my asthma and allergy doctor, when she did the grid test on me, i am allergic to everything she can test for except mold

so, i'm taking several shots a week now, we'll see if it helps. makes sense, i am always sneezing and sick.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by jockeys

according to my asthma and allergy doctor, when she did the grid test on me, i am allergic to everything she can test for except mold

Wow!
I have the exact same results.

I underwent some extensive testing after my midnight ER visit, and from the dozens of tests, only the mold spots failed to react.
They also found that my throat doesn't consrict during an alleric reaction, which is always good to know.

[Quick Orange]

Originally Posted by jockeys

according to my asthma and allergy doctor, when she did the grid test on me, i am allergic to everything she can test for except mold

so, i'm taking several shots a week now, we'll see if it helps. makes sense, i am always sneezing and sick.

Damn son! I feel bad for you guys. I need to have that test done, I just haven't had the ability to get it done. As far as I know, my immune system does a pretty good job, but when it gets bogged down it really needs a helping hand to stay on top, otherwise I look and feel like crap.