I may have a new allergy "system"!

[ktgrok]

Took an Allegra, and it doesn't work QUiTE as well as zyrtec, but I wasn't a sleepy space cadet all day! And I also ordered and just tried Nasalcrom, the mast cell stabilizer nose spray, to try using alongside my other stuff. 

Dear Lord, let this work! I've been miserable for months now!

[prairiewindmomma]

I am going to ask a really dumb question, but you had already been taking your Zyrtec at night, right, because of the labeled drowsiness issue? Just curious as it seems there is a certain class of people who Allegra works well for that also use nasalcrom over fluticasone and I am trying to sort that out…

[Carol in Cal.]

That’s my regimen.  The naselcrom takes a bit to kick in as it is building a physical barrier.  For me it’s usually less than a week but my allergist says two weeks is typical.

[Faith-manor]

I really miss Allegra. It worked miracles for me for 20 years. Then one day I took it and had anaphylaxis! I was lucky that I was near the hospital doing errands. Zyrtec doesn't work, Claritin doesn't work. I hate how sleepy I get on Sudafed. So I barely survive and straight up Benadryl.

Ugh! I want my Alleged back!

Katie, I hope this regiment works well for you. I have never tried the nasal spray. Maybe I should.

[sbgrace]

I hope you get good relief. 

I'm so glad you posted--my son's allergies are struggling this summer, despite Singulair and Zyrtec. He did well w/Nasalcrom many years ago, and I had forgotten about it. I'm going to get some for him. 

I really hope it helps you. 

[Spy Car]

3 hours ago, Faith-manor said:

I really miss Allegra. It worked miracles for me for 20 years. Then one day I took it and had anaphylaxis! I was lucky that I was near the hospital doing errands. Zyrtec doesn't work, Claritin doesn't work. I hate how sleepy I get on Sudafed. So I barely survive and straight up Benadryl.

Ugh! I want my Alleged back!

Katie, I hope this regiment works well for you. I have never tried the nasal spray. Maybe I should.

Any of you all use a Neti pot (nasal irrigation)?

I never had allergies, but in recent years (and as I've been gardening more) that has changed. I've never really used allergy meds, but have recollections from way back taking both Sudafed and Benadryl (for some reason) and having them knock me for a loop. Not good. At all.

When I start feeling the pollen type allergies kicking up, I'll do a nasal rinse, which helps me.

Perhaps I'm just on the mild side?

Bill

 

 

[Faith-manor]

5 hours ago, Spy Car said:

Any of you all use a Neti pot (nasal irrigation)?

I never had allergies, but in recent years (and as I've been gardening more) that has changed. I've never really used allergy meds, but have recollections from way back taking both Sudafed and Benadryl (for some reason) and having them knock me for a loop. Not good. At all.

When I start feeling the pollen type allergies kicking up, I'll do a nasal rinse, which helps me.

Perhaps I'm just on the mild side?

Bill

 

 

Yes. You have it mild. Basically irritated passageways, congestion. I have "would gouge my eyes out, and claw my nose off to get relief, been known to produce hives, lips tingle, sneeze 18-30 times in a row, sometimes migraine inducing congestion" allergies. But seasonal stuff here is not offered allergy shots. Sigh. If Ragweed became extinct, I would party so hard!

[ktgrok]

9 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said:

I am going to ask a really dumb question, but you had already been taking your Zyrtec at night, right, because of the labeled drowsiness issue? Just curious as it seems there is a certain class of people who Allegra works well for that also use nasalcrom over fluticasone and I am trying to sort that out…

Yes, I tried taking it at night, but then could barely get out of bed in the morning, which makes sense as it is 24 hour dosing so at it's peak in the morning. Plus that put the lowest part at my worst allergy time, evening. So then I tried taking it in the morning, which is what my mom does. She does that so that it hits it's peak around evening. Easier to get up in the morning, but then a few hours after taking it I was a zombie. SOOOO sleepy and brain fog. 

What's odd is I'm pretty sure i've taken it years ago without that level of drowsy. 

I do take ADHD meds, which you would think would make me more awake, but who knows. 

I've also been taking flonase. 

6 hours ago, Spy Car said:

Any of you all use a Neti pot (nasal irrigation)?

I never had allergies, but in recent years (and as I've been gardening more) that has changed. I've never really used allergy meds, but have recollections from way back taking both Sudafed and Benadryl (for some reason) and having them knock me for a loop. Not good. At all.

When I start feeling the pollen type allergies kicking up, I'll do a nasal rinse, which helps me.

Perhaps I'm just on the mild side?

Bill

 

 

My septum is so messed up that trying to irrigate is pretty pointless. Especially once I'm that stuffed up - nothing goes anywhere. 

My mom, after septum surgery, can irrigate and says it helps her a bit. 

But yeah, you are on the mild side. When you are literally (not figuratively, LITERALLY) choking on your own snot, your head is a ticking pressure bomb, and your eyes are red and swollen and burn....that's the level I've been on since late January. Oh, and add in being itcy all over, especially at night, similar to the type of itching I get from opioids, but thankfully no actual hives. 

 

[ktgrok]

So, update:

Took an allegra at lunchtime yesterday, and a 12 hour sudafed (we'd been out, DH got more for me) late afternoon/evening. Did Flonase around lunch, and the Nasalcrom right before bed. 

I woke up feeling somewhat rested, although was itchy before bed and during the night again. I could have piggybacked some benedryl but didn't want to deal with morning drowsiness so didn't and it was fine. Woke up once pretty stuffy but got up, got a drink, walked around and went back to bed and was fine. It was just from laying in one position. 

That's darn good compared to previous nights. 

Edited September 8, 2021 by ktgrok

[Dmmetler]

Have you tried adding an H2 blocker? It usually helps with itchy, especially. Famitodine is sold over the counter as an acid reducer. H2 blockers also don't seem to be as fatigue inducing as H1 antihistamines are. 

[ktgrok]

9 minutes ago, Dmmetler said:

Have you tried adding an H2 blocker? It usually helps with itchy, especially. Famitodine is sold over the counter as an acid reducer. H2 blockers also don't seem to be as fatigue inducing as H1 antihistamines are. 

you know, I haven't because since I'm already on prilosec the thought of adding another antacid type thing didn't come to mind. But I certainly could. Would help with breakthrough reflux if I took it in the evening. I have some pepcid here I can try. 

[Spryte]

11 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

you know, I haven't because since I'm already on prilosec the thought of adding another antacid type thing didn't come to mind. But I certainly could. Would help with breakthrough reflux if I took it in the evening. I have some pepcid here I can try. 

Not sure about Prilosec, but my docs took me off of protonix to add the famotidine. Maybe you just need one of those type meds? Also, if you like it, your doc can Rx it rather than buying OTC (once in a while an insurance co balks, but mine paid no problem). 

I have mast cell issues - wondering about that Nasalcrom. Is it OTC or Rx? I need to ask about that!

[Spy Car]

4 hours ago, Faith-manor said:

Yes. You have it mild. Basically irritated passageways, congestion. I have "would gouge my eyes out, and claw my nose off to get relief, been known to produce hives, lips tingle, sneeze 18-30 times in a row, sometimes migraine inducing congestion" allergies. But seasonal stuff here is not offered allergy shots. Sigh. If Ragweed became extinct, I would party so hard!

Sounds awful.

Given the severity, would something like thrice daily nasal irrigation serve as a complement to allergy meds?

Bill

 

[Faith-manor]

7 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

Sounds awful.

Given the severity, would something like thrice daily nasal irrigation serve as a complement to allergy meds?

Bill

 

I don't know, but I am more than willing to give the suggestion a whirl!!

[ktgrok]

2 hours ago, Spryte said:

Not sure about Prilosec, but my docs took me off of protonix to add the famotidine. Maybe you just need one of those type meds? Also, if you like it, your doc can Rx it rather than buying OTC (once in a while an insurance co balks, but mine paid no problem). 

I have mast cell issues - wondering about that Nasalcrom. Is it OTC or Rx? I need to ask about that!

I absolutely cannot do just famotidine. My reflux is too bad. (hiatal hernia and weak LES valve). But sometimes one priolosec a day isn't enough, so I will add famotidine in the evening in those instances (pizza does that, lol). So I've got permission already to use it as needed. 

The nasalcrom is OTC, but you have to use it 3-4 times a day. 

[Spy Car]

8 minutes ago, Faith-manor said:

I don't know, but I am more than willing to give the suggestion a whirl!!

I remember working with a guy (an Academy Award winning film editor) whose son suffered from terrible asthma attacks. Really bad. He told me that they saw a specialist who had the boy start doing regular nasal irrigations and that their world changed. I think it was thrice daily.

They still have medical backups, of course, but flushing irritants out of the nasal passageways significantly alleviated/reduced the attacks.

This is one of those "what the heck do I know" scenarios, but I'd suspect washing out pollen and other irritant with a balance saline solution might be helpful. Ask your physician. My allergies are mild and recent but I know it helps me when I have an issue.

I don't like knowing you're suffering.

Bill   

[Spryte]

2 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

I remember working with a guy (an Academy Award winning film editor) whose son suffered from terrible asthma attacks. Really bad. He told me that they saw a specialist who had the boy start doing regular nasal irrigations and that their world changed. I think it was thrice daily.

They still have medical backups, of course, but flushing irritants out of the nasal passageways significantly alleviated/reduced the attacks.

This is one of those "what the heck do I know" scenarios, but I'd suspect washing out pollen and other irritant with a balance saline solution might be helpful. Ask your physician. My allergies are mild and recent but I know it helps me when I have an issue.

I don't like knowing you're suffering.

Bill   

Our allergist recommends nasal irrigation. There’s a bit of an art to it, but once you figure it out … it works. Kid used it in combo with other tools (allergy and asthma meds, filters, more filters, a strict allergen routine, all kinds of stuff, even our flooring helps filter his allergens, or so they say). Kid no longer needs maintenance meds, just the occasional one off dose or puff, thankfully.

[Spy Car]

2 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Our allergist recommends nasal irrigation. There’s a bit of an art to it, but once you figure it out … it works. Kid used it in combo with other tools (allergy and asthma meds, filters, more filters, a strict allergen routine, all kinds of stuff, even our flooring helps filter his allergens, or so they say). Kid no longer needs maintenance meds, just the occasional one off dose or puff, thankfully.

Do they have you use a Neti pot or something more elaborate?

Bill

[Spryte]

41 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

Do they have you use a Neti pot or something more elaborate?

Bill

Neti pot. It made quite a mess till he had the hang of it.

[Spy Car]

2 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Neti pot. It made quite a mess till he had the hang of it.

I will grant you that the whole head tilting (and then pouring water through one nostril and out the other) takes a little getting used to and not being relaxed about it--which is normal--doesn't help.

But once a person gets the hang of it, not a big deal.

Bill

[ktgrok]

Y'all, it is afternoon, and I'm not choking on snot or falling asleep!!!!!! I've taken my allegra at lunch, and did nasalcrom at breakfast and lunch and will do at dinner and bedtime. Did allergy eyedrops last night and this morning. I mean, I have some post nasal drip, some sinus congestion, but I'm not DYING like I've been doing. AND I was outside for nearly an hour cleaning up the patio. 

[ktgrok]

My mom uses this instead of a neti pot, per her ENT doctor. https://amzn.to/3BVVucq