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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Girls with allergies, please help!
I'm dying today. My eyes are itchy, watery, red. My nose is stuffed up. GAH.
And I take Nasonex and Alavert (I've been taking these for the last 6 weeks in preparation for allergy season) and then I take Benedryl at night.
I'm on my last straw. I hate having allergies. I can't even cut the grass without itching up a storm.
I'm trying local honey. Anyone know of a good place to find local honey?
Oops, I got into Dad's hair goop. At least I gotta mohawk!
Re: Girls with allergies, please help!
Don't have any suggestions re: the local honey, but what a bummer that your allergies are so bad even with all that medication! I've been doing allergy shots for the past 1.5 years and they're definitely helping. Before I was taking nasonex and zyrtec (over-the-counter generic version) and that seemed to manage my seasonal and year-round allergies. I was able to give up the nasonex last year, and now I just take zyrtec (less for allergies, and more for a chronic hive condition I'm dealing with).
Good luck finding relief from your allergies! I know how miserable that is
I've been doing allergy shots for about 5 years and they have literally saved my life. It might be something to look into for the future (they don't work right away so they wouldn't bring relief for this season. You have to build up immunity to the allergens.)
My allergist told me if I need to add a little boost of something if I felt sneezy to take Zyrtec. He recommends that about 99% of the time. I've been taking it the last couple of weeks and it has helped BIG time!!
For itchy eyes I like Similisan eye drops. They don't make my eyes burn like other drops do. I also drape a cool wet washcloth over my itchy eyes and that helps!
Costco has huge bottles of generic Zyrtec called Aller-Tec.
If you're interested in seeing someone I like my allergist. He's a little dry but he seems to know what he's talking about! Dr. Wyatt at SLP Park Nicollet Asthma and Allergy.
Allergies SUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. Hope you feel better soon!
You could try the St. Paul Farmer's Market. There is a seller there who has all sorts of honey product and I believe you have to be from within a 100 mile radius of St. Paul to vend there.
Have you tried a netti pot? I don't get allergies nearly as bad as it sounds like you do but I get them a little and I get a lot of symptom relief from rinsing out my nose/sinuses when I feel things coming on.
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I saw an allergist in Indiana when we lived there (my allergies were then 10x worse than now... so moving back here is sort of a relief! Last year I was in Heaven when my eyes only watered when I took Zyrtec. LOL) and I'm pretty much allergic to everything outside. GAH.
I did shots when we lived down there, so I might have to go back to that. Which is fine but I was hoping they wouldn't be so bad this year. Oh, well.
I may have to call all of your allergists!
Definitely see an allergist. I have been getting shots for 2.5 years now, and the difference is amazing.
I had no idea about the wide variety of things I am allergic to. I thought it was just generic "pollen," "mold," "dust." Oh no... there are like 12 different trees, 6 or 7 grasses, cats, dogs, a couple of different species of dust mites, many types of mold...
A note about the local honey thing... I was just reading an article somewhere (sorry, don't have the link) about a study that was done on this. They used a group of allergy sufferers, divided them into a local honey group, a commercial honey group, and a placebo group... there was no difference in the outcome between the groups. One of the conclusions was that there wasn't really any protective benefit from being exposed to local pollen, because the plants that honey bees typically frequent aren't the ones that generally cause an allergic reaction.
Mississippi Market in St. Paul has local honey. The other co-ops should have it too....Wedge, Seward, Linden Hills all in Minneapolis. I know there are others but I don't know all the names.
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
Another vote for Zyrtec! I've tried Allegra and Claritin, and neither work well for me. I've actually been taking my Zyrtec since February (when we had those few 'warm' days.) I was doing ok until this morning, but I've wanted to scratch off my face all day. So you're not alone on the horrible allergies this week!
Not sure where you are, but I know the Arboretum (in Chaska? Chanhassen?) has some really good local honey. I don't think that will help until next season, but it's worth it to try!
Eat.Drink.BeMarried. Blog.
This actually makes sense, now that I think about it, because many of the plant species that commonly induce allergies (particularly the grasses and trees) are wind-pollinated, not insect-pollinated. Ragweed is wind-pollinated as well.
I've been taking this homeopathic allergy stuff for the past 4 years now and I haven't had a single allergy attack since. I see an allergist regularly and even he's blown away by how well I'm doing. I've had 8 other allergy sufferers in my life try it and they swear by it as well.
I opted to try it as a last straw for me after having 9 months straight of constant sinus issues due to allergies. I was on a new antibiotic every 2 weeks, no OTC allergy meds were doing anything, not even flonase nasal spray.
I went to a whole foods grocery store and some hippie-looking lady said all the allergy people come in there and swear by this stuff. So I tried it and I could breathe like I could never have breathed before in my ENTIRE LIFE in just 2 hours later. I've never looked back.
Seriously. It's worth a shot...
And it's a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
Quarcetin with Bromelain
I buy this brand (it's the cheapest I've found) and have it shipped to me in 2 days from California. Otherwise you can buy it at Fresh & Natural Foods grocery store.
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Evan James was born 1/24/13 and matched with us 2/20/13. The LOVE OF MY LIFE!!!
Here's a link to an article talking about honey and allergies in reference to the study that PP mentioned: http://www.allergyexpert.us/FAQ/honey.html (I assume this is the study she's referring to, although there might be more recent studies out there.)
I accessed the scientific journal article and can send it to anyone who's interested. In the study, fresh local honey had no more of an effect than pasteurized honey or a placebo. The study authors do note, however, that the sample size in the study was relatively small, and that it's possible that the dosage was insufficiently small, or the study too short of a duration to see effects on allergy symptoms. They recommend further testing.
Oh goodness.. ragweed and I definitely don't do well together!
Good to know about that local honey study though.
I'm so glad to know that I'm not alone - this season is rough!
Thanks for all the info ladies! I really appreciate it!
Another vote for zyrtec and visiting an allergy specialist.
I buy the generic zyrtec at Sam's Club and it's $15 for 350 tablets, killer deal...
My 18 year old sister recently went to the allergist and found out she is allergic to numerous different trees, flowers, and pollens. She is now on allergy shots and they gave her some great lifestyle tips that have helped a ton.