Author Topic: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?  (Read 9507 times)

griffam

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Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« on: April 12, 2016, 07:58:46 AM »
Hello all!

My poor wife has been hit very hard by seasonal allergies over the past few months. Most of you who have similar issues know the usual symptoms: congestion, sneezing, cough, wheezing, etc. This is really starting to make her feel bad and thus deflating her mood as well. She has an upcoming appointment with an allergist, but I was wondering if anyone here had any tips or advice on how I might be able to ease her suffering a bit. I feel really powerless and guilty because I haven't found any ways to help. She works from home, so if the allergens are there she is getting constant exposure, although it doesn't seem like the symptoms abate when we leave the house, either.

I keep a clean house and vacuum regularly (especially since we do have a dog), and try to dust regularly as well. She currently takes a 24 hour anti-histamine as well as Flonase, but these only moderately help.

Has anyone had any success in fighting symptoms like these? Test for mold? Clean air ducts? Homeopathic remedies? I'm really just looking for anything that I can work on to try to make her feel better. Thanks for your help and your time!

Spitfire

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2016, 08:13:25 AM »
I am allergic to cats and dust mites. The dust was the rough one, it would get me while I sleep and give me a sore throat very often. A few years back I went to an allergist and started getting shots. It is a little time consuming at first, having to go every couple weeks, but once they build it up it's only once a month. I still get the shots, but I have not been on any antihistamines lately and so far so good. They are $12 each time to administer the shot ($1.20 after my deductible), which isn't bad, but once a year or so they have to order the serum for about $200. I didn't do all that much to minimize the allergens around me, so I won't be much help there.

RichMoose

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2016, 08:26:53 AM »
The best place to start is getting tested to find out what exactly is causing her allergies. Not only will the prick testing tell her what she is allergic to, but also how allergic she is to each concentrate. Unfortunately for me, I was highly allergic to many different tree pollens, grass pollens, and cats while being only mildly allergic to dust mites and dogs.

If her pollen season spans months, then it is best to go with shots. If it turns out that she is most allergic to say dust mites and dogs, then shots is not worth it. Simply replace your carpets with hard surfaces where feasible and consider finding a new home for the dog (this might be a no go).

At the start shots are around $400/yr for serum plus a fee for each injection. After the build-up phase many doctors will allow you to self-administer at home as long as you have an EpiPen. The cost of serum also drops to around $200/yr in the maintenance phase as the vial concentrations don't have to be continuously increased. Fortunately the serum costs were covered under my extended health plan.

I've tried every homeopathic remedy you can think of and nothing worked. Cleaning air ducts might help if you live in an older house and don't believe they have been cleaned in a long time. Other than that, just replace furnace filters regularly. I always apply a light coat of cooking spray to the intake side of the filter to help with additional filtration at virtually no cost. If she has pollen allergies, don't open windows during heavy pollination seasons.

GuitarStv

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2016, 08:54:38 AM »
My wife is on her second year of allergy shots after being tested.  She was having about four months of non-stop sneezing and runny nose during the spring/fall each year for the past four or five years.  Now she's at maybe two weeks of runny nose.

The shots are really pretty amazing.  Way better than OTC antihistamines which leave you feeling like a zombie.

warmastoast

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2016, 09:00:44 AM »
This wonderful woman was my husband's aunt.  She was one of the pioneers of allergy treatments. 
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/secretariat/obituaries/2011/anthony_honor.html

Briefly,  you know that you get allergies if the allergy load increases (pollen, or if you move areas/houses and get new exposures) , under normal conditions your body can cope.  You also become more susceptible to allergic responses if your health is less than optimal   So Honor's work was based on working 2 areas:
1. reducing toxin/allergy load
2. improving health
Start with identifying possible allergens and toxins (paints, carpets,laminate floors, car fumes, poor ventilated houses)  and reducing these as much as possible.  Often, simply taking out a bedroom carpet (with all the dust and mites) and replacing with tiles or wood is enough to help overcome asthma, especially if the asthma is worse at night.
Next look at your overall health. Taking Vitamin D is usually a very good idea for most of us (don't get me started on the inadequacy of the official recommended dosages and why the research it's based on is flawed) and magnesium citrate.
For allergy symptoms - my family use xylitol nasal spray. (Wholefoods $14?). It washes out, calms down and inhibits bacterial growth. Very soothing without being drying.


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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2016, 10:18:54 AM »
When I was a kid, I had terrible allergies. Part of it was stress, part of it was because I'm allergic to my crappy hometown, part of it is because my mother likes to spray chemicals in the house because she thinks it keeps it clean. Never mind that her daughter couldn't breathe, we had to have a clean house.

I moved and my allergies cleared up. I replaced the sugar in my tea with local honey and the remnants of my allergies were gone. So: move, and eat local honey.

Fireball

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2016, 10:31:01 AM »
I replaced the sugar in my tea with local honey and the remnants of my allergies were gone. So: move, and eat local honey.

I've always heard local honey helped, but assumed it was an old wives tale?  I keep my allergies in check with an Allegra each day and a Benadryl at night when it's especially bad.  Benadryl works the best although it turns you into a zombie if taken during the day. 

I buy both Allegra and Benadryl in bulk amounts off of Amazon and it cuts the cost by about 60%.

TheOldestYoungMan

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2016, 10:43:17 AM »
I used to take a claritin every day.  I now do fine most days with just a few spoonfuls of honey per year.  I don't even go out of my way to get especially local honey.  It is honey from the same state, but just the stuff they sell at the grocery store.  I put it on a sandwich when I remember, one little 12oz bottle has lasted me close to 3 years so far and it still has about 2/3 of the bottle left.

For pet allergies I just had to not have pets anymore.  Even with drugs and such, nothing compares to just not being exposed to the irritant at all.


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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2016, 11:00:09 AM »
I have had allergies all my life which get worse with age. My youngest had asthma from age of 1 and out grew it by 12.  WE took out all the carpet, have curtains on windows and not drapes so can be washed frequently, try not to have a lot of stuff in your bedroom.  I tried shots a few times and they  never worked. I had a bad reaction and almost died from them so quit. I have tried drops, homeopathic stuff, local honey, etc to no avail.  It finally turned into asthma.  They say you should shower at night and wash your hair so you are not sleeping in pollen.  Knowing what you are allergic to is important. I am really allergic to cats so don't go anywhere they are.  I have a mild dog allergy but some breeds cause less problems then others. WE have Maltese and most people aren't allergic to me although it is possible.  I am allergic to tons of stuff outside and dust mites for the inside. We cover out mattress with a special cover to cut down on that. Wash all bedding in hot water.  I really feel for her. I should have stock in kleenex and I leave a trail where ever I go:))

HenryDavid

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2016, 11:08:50 AM »
If you find an antihistamine that works, check the active ingredient it contains, and get a generic version.
Antihistamines cost more than gold per ounce. (OK I didn't check this, but they're super expensive.)
Don't get brand names, get generic. Costco has the ones that work for me, for my one remaining bad allergy.

The advice to get long-term allergy reduction therapy is smart.
I had childhood asthma triggered by allergies. Gradually the weekly allergy treatments I got reduced these, and after age 13 or so the asthma went away. This sometimes happens with kids. Adult onset asthma probably isn't going away. But you can manage it. Get those triggers down.
Think a bit about environmental conditions where you live and work, too. If you have any control, exercise it.

MillenialMustache

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2016, 11:16:38 AM »
My husband and I both have asthma that is under control. When it acts up, the only thing that has ever worked for us both is a nebulizer. It is a life saver. We like to have albuterol to put in it, but if we don't have any on hand (it is a prescription) then we use saline that is for inhalation, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Modudose-Saline-Solution-Inhalation-5257/dp/B002YRY3HI/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1460481368&sr=8-1&keywords=saline+inhalation. Best of luck.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2016, 11:20:01 AM »
My husband and I both have asthma that is under control. When it acts up, the only thing that has ever worked for us both is a nebulizer. It is a life saver. We like to have albuterol to put in it, but if we don't have any on hand (it is a prescription) then we use saline that is for inhalation, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Modudose-Saline-Solution-Inhalation-5257/dp/B002YRY3HI/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1460481368&sr=8-1&keywords=saline+inhalation. Best of luck.

Saline nebs are a godsent for reactive airways. Thinning secretions is awesome. Just be sure to talk to your doc, use sterile saline, and make sure you're timing them appropriately with any other inhaled meds you take. (Ie, don't do your steroid inhaler then a saline neb... it kinda washes the steroid from where it needs to be). Source: pediatric nurse who gives approximately 70 billion nebs per week.

And be sure you take the electrical subsidy/write off for DME ;)

rubybeth

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2016, 11:41:47 AM »
I've had diagnosed allergies since age 11, to all kinds of things, some of which I can avoid (cats) and some of which I can't (dust). I am sure an allergist will review all the options with your wife, but a few thoughts:

Things that work:

1. 10 years of allergy shots reduced my dog and ragweed allergies to not being allergic anymore

2. daily Zyrtec (aka Cetirizine) (Claritin does nothing for me, neither does Benadryl), but Zyrtec has been my holy grail, and I have no side effects; I probably tried every prescription and OTC allergy med there was between 1991 until Zyrtec came out by Rx only. I happily paid the high price and am now even happier now that it's generic. Maybe your wife just needs to try more options.

3. daily Fluticasone aka Flonase nasal spray (I have an Rx but they sell it OTC). I was having pretty severe allergies (main concern being my itchy/watery eyes) last fall and saw my doctor, and she recommended the nasal spray. I was like, "Nasal spray for my EYES?" and she said yes, and that I could do two sprays in each nostril TWICE per day while things were bad. I was skeptical but tried it, and what do you know, it worked. Not having the nasal reaction totally stopped the itchy eyes. Also, I have kept up with it and I haven't gotten sick all winter. This may be the preventative cure for the common cold.

4. When I'm sick or having especially bad nasal congestion, I use the NeilMed sinus rinse: http://shop.neilmed.com/Sinus-Rinse/b/9814764011 It's just a bottle and a little packet of solution to neutralize the water you put in the bottle, and you squirt it through your sinuses, same principle as a neti pot but easier to use. It cleans everything out. During high pollen season, this can be helpful. I also shower at night so I get all the day's dust/pollen off of me before getting into bed. This seems to help me a lot.

5. Albuterol inhaler for asthma-like reactions. I only need this when I've been around a cat. It's an awful feeling, and I hate using it since it makes me jittery, but sometimes it's the only thing that works to get my airway to open and stop coughing.

Things that I hate:

1. People who insist their cats are "clean" or that their house is "clean" from cat dander. Sorry, I can tell if your house had a cat in it at some point, even if you haven't had a cat for years. The best way to avoid allergies is avoid allergens, so if there's anything your wife can do to avoid what she's allergic to, do it.

2. If I complain about allergies or ask if someone has a cat, I hate it when people say "do you take allergy medication?" I usually try preempt this by saying, "I'm allergic to ___ and take daily allergy medication" to stem this, but I don't want to get into a health history with most people.

Good luck!
« Last Edit: April 12, 2016, 11:44:27 AM by rubybeth »

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2016, 12:21:18 PM »
I've had diagnosed allergies since age 11, to all kinds of things, some of which I can avoid (cats) and some of which I can't (dust). I am sure an allergist will review all the options with your wife, but a few thoughts:

Things that work:

1. 10 years of allergy shots reduced my dog and ragweed allergies to not being allergic anymore

2. daily Zyrtec (aka Cetirizine) (Claritin does nothing for me, neither does Benadryl), but Zyrtec has been my holy grail, and I have no side effects; I probably tried every prescription and OTC allergy med there was between 1991 until Zyrtec came out by Rx only. I happily paid the high price and am now even happier now that it's generic. Maybe your wife just needs to try more options.

3. daily Fluticasone aka Flonase nasal spray (I have an Rx but they sell it OTC). I was having pretty severe allergies (main concern being my itchy/watery eyes) last fall and saw my doctor, and she recommended the nasal spray. I was like, "Nasal spray for my EYES?" and she said yes, and that I could do two sprays in each nostril TWICE per day while things were bad. I was skeptical but tried it, and what do you know, it worked. Not having the nasal reaction totally stopped the itchy eyes. Also, I have kept up with it and I haven't gotten sick all winter. This may be the preventative cure for the common cold.

4. When I'm sick or having especially bad nasal congestion, I use the NeilMed sinus rinse: http://shop.neilmed.com/Sinus-Rinse/b/9814764011 It's just a bottle and a little packet of solution to neutralize the water you put in the bottle, and you squirt it through your sinuses, same principle as a neti pot but easier to use. It cleans everything out. During high pollen season, this can be helpful. I also shower at night so I get all the day's dust/pollen off of me before getting into bed. This seems to help me a lot.

5. Albuterol inhaler for asthma-like reactions. I only need this when I've been around a cat. It's an awful feeling, and I hate using it since it makes me jittery, but sometimes it's the only thing that works to get my airway to open and stop coughing.

Things that I hate:

1. People who insist their cats are "clean" or that their house is "clean" from cat dander. Sorry, I can tell if your house had a cat in it at some point, even if you haven't had a cat for years. The best way to avoid allergies is avoid allergens, so if there's anything your wife can do to avoid what she's allergic to, do it.

2. If I complain about allergies or ask if someone has a cat, I hate it when people say "do you take allergy medication?" I usually try preempt this by saying, "I'm allergic to ___ and take daily allergy medication" to stem this, but I don't want to get into a health history with most people.

Good luck!

People seem to be personally offended that I am allergic to cats. Like... I'm not saying your cat is a bad person. I'm just saying I'm allergic to it.

Mtngrl

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2016, 12:21:58 PM »
I too have suffered from allergies and asthma for most of my life, sometimes severe enough that I was on prednisone.
New-generation asthma drugs (Advair) and OTC antihistmines (Zyrtec) have been life-changing. Zyrtec is the only OTC antihistamine I have found that works for me and doesn't make me drowsy. Other people I have recommended it to have found the same results, so it is worth a try. I buy the generic version.

Also, if you have carpets and can get rid of them, do so. Hard-surface flooring made a big difference in my allergies (we have two dogs -- I was tested as allergic to cats and mildly allergic to dogs, but getting rid of the dogs is not an option.) I'm allergic to dust, mold and pretty much all pollens.

rubybeth

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2016, 09:25:11 AM »
People seem to be personally offended that I am allergic to cats. Like... I'm not saying your cat is a bad person. I'm just saying I'm allergic to it.

Haha, yeah, I totally get what you're saying. :) I have so many friends who have cats, and it sucks because I really don't want to risk my health to hang out at their houses. When I was younger, sometimes I'd risk it, but my reactions seem to be getting more severe the older I get, so I'm not willing to visit at their homes anymore--it does seem like people take it personally. It's like, would you risk getting bronchitis to come to my house? That really is the choice I have to make, and I'd rather go out to dinner together or meet up at a park than be near a cat for any period of time.

gardeningandgreen

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #16 on: April 13, 2016, 09:42:23 AM »
I've had allergies for most of my life. I can say that many of the things people are saying here can help if you know what she is allergic too! If she knows that then you can target the problem. If she is allergic to pollens then the honey trick can do wonders. Basically the reasoning behind this is that you are getting a small dose of pollen every day and so your body eventually realizes that it should stop freaking out about this. If it is pets then getting hard surfaces as much as possible helps. Also keeping the dog clean helps a lot. Good luck! I hope she feels better soon it really sucks going through it!

Guava

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #17 on: April 13, 2016, 09:47:57 AM »
The allergy testing should help. For years we didn't know why exactly I was miserable outside and would get migraines and rashes. It was all allergy related and I was allergic to almost everything ouside, especially the grass in the front yard I had to mom I did shots for 5 years two times a week, spent some time on prednisone, and can now mow my lawn again.

I definitely second anyone saying remove carpet. My hard floors significantly reduced my dust mite problem and I dust and vacuum and swiffer often. I also keep my windows closed when certain pollens are high.

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #18 on: April 13, 2016, 09:58:43 AM »
I would say cutting out toxins and foods you may have sensitivities to is the place to start.  I've had allergy problems my whole life.  I needed some kind of allergy pill every day at work.  I cut out gluten and sugar and went mostly Paleo and things improved dramatically.  I no longer need allergy pills.

Eating clean real food and healing your gut is the best way to reduce allergies.  Drink bone broth, take vitamin d, fermented cod liver oil, magnesium, eat fermented foods - all help your system repair. 

robartsd

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #19 on: April 13, 2016, 12:44:39 PM »
I replaced the sugar in my tea with local honey and the remnants of my allergies were gone. So: move, and eat local honey.

I've always heard local honey helped, but assumed it was an old wives tale?
I think it would depend on the type of allergies you have, but if it is a pollen allergy and you get honey from bees that visit type of flowers that are causing you problems, I think there's a good chance that the honey can have a positive effect. It seems to have worked for me (especially worth trying if you experience an increase in seasonal allergies after relocating to a new region).

rubybeth

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #20 on: April 13, 2016, 02:21:49 PM »
I replaced the sugar in my tea with local honey and the remnants of my allergies were gone. So: move, and eat local honey.

I've always heard local honey helped, but assumed it was an old wives tale?
I think it would depend on the type of allergies you have, but if it is a pollen allergy and you get honey from bees that visit type of flowers that are causing you problems, I think there's a good chance that the honey can have a positive effect. It seems to have worked for me (especially worth trying if you experience an increase in seasonal allergies after relocating to a new region).

Local honey is kinda the same idea as allergy shots (immunotherapy): get exposed to small amounts of the allergen to decrease sensitivity. The honey thing isn't scientifically proven, though, but it's not going to hurt or cost a lot (I'm looking at you, essential oils!). I do buy local honey and use it in tea, but I can't definitely say it helps my allergies at all--it's certainly nicer for the local economy to support a local honey producer.

Sibley

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #21 on: April 13, 2016, 02:43:40 PM »
I think pretty much all the tricks I use are covered (shower at night, 24/7 allergy meds, trying different meds, generic, avoiding allergens, cleaning, etc). Definitely get tested if you're miserable, and consider allergy shots.

However, I do want to make people aware of a possible issue with the steroid nasal sprays. Not sure how common it is, but some people are "steroid responders" - meaning they're extra sensitive to steroids. A little goes a LONG way for them. So they tend to get all the nasty side effects, faster, and at lower doses. If you are one - avoid steroids. To make things worse, not all doctors are aware of it.

My mom is one and I've shown signs of being one as well, so I have to be monitored (thanks asthma meds!), and am very leery of taking steroids, especially long term.

steveo

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #22 on: April 13, 2016, 04:21:53 PM »
I think taking the default drugs works best. Nasal sprays/anti-histamine tablets etc. I tend to suffer a couple of times per year and I just take the drugs when required.

Dee18

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #23 on: April 13, 2016, 04:30:10 PM »
I suffered with allergies for years.  Here are things my doctor advised that I have found helpful:

Easy ones:
All hardwood floors, no carpet at all
Dust mite proof mattress cover
Dust mite proof pillow covers
Frequent washing (in unscented detergent) of comforter
Leave shoes at the door...don't wear them in the house to track in allergens
No pets
No indoor plants (due to mold allergy)

Expensive but best ever:
Had duct work in my old house replaced....old duct work was lined with crumbling insulation
Had furnace cleaned (former owners had dog and cat and HVAC said furnace was full of animal Hair)

Mostly covered by insurance:
Started allergy shots 15 months ago; they have really helped

Re nasal spray and meds, try different ones. Flonase did not work for me, but Nasacort did, although I've quit it now as shots are working.  Claritin did not work for me, but half a Zyrtec does ( and I get it with a prescription so it's about $3 for 30 pills).

Next on my list: a better vacuum

What did not work:  air purifiers...totally worthless

One thing I learned is that when my allergies are triggered, the effects last up to 48 hours...so an hour with a cat will bother me for two days, not just the hour.

Milizard

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #24 on: April 13, 2016, 06:47:40 PM »
I used to get allergy shots as a child.  I had problems a my last job (paper dust probably), and running a desktop air purifier in my cubicle really seemed to help.  Last summer, I started getting insane drainage from my sinuses down my throat that wouldn't go away except for maybe a couple of weeks.  Saw my ENT specialist, and he used a balloon to open up my sinuses.  (Apparently, they can also scrape them, but that requires much more recovery.).  It was either that, or going to an allergist to find out what new allergies I may have developed and allergy medicine.  The sinus surgery seems to have worked.  I haven't had any more of the insane drainage, though I will know more about the effectiveness after this summer is done.

katstache92

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #25 on: April 14, 2016, 08:41:19 AM »
When I was in elementary school I was tested and did the allergy shots.  I stopped the shots when I was in college.  At that point Zyrtec D was doing everything I needed.

Got 2 cats, developed a cat allergy, and was totally miserable plus I already loved the cats so they weren't going anywhere.  I got tested again but with the intention of doing sublingual drops rather than shots.

I've been on the drops for 3.5 months now - the time to get to maintenance on the drops is much shorter than for shots which can take years.  I am now up to my maintenance dosage and I'm hoping to drop the Asteline and Nasonex asap.

Asteline is absolutely amazing, it's a nose spray.  I reacted poorly to Flonase so we're trying Nasonex which might be okay, I'm not sure yet.

The drops are great since you can do them at home and I only have to see the doc once a year.  The unfortunate side of the drops is they are not yet covered by insurance since they are an "off label" use of serum.  So I pay $200 for a 3-4 month supply.  Once I can drop the Asteline and Nasonex I will actually be ahead of where I was cost wise.

andy85

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #26 on: April 14, 2016, 08:51:41 AM »
What's up fellow Kentuckian!

I just sniff and rub my eyes a lot...seems to do the trick.

But seriously, when i was actually on medicine it was a combo of zyrtec D and nasacort nose spray. after a couple of weeks a good nose spray works wonders...flonase never did much for me.

But this time of year in this part of the country...she could just be s.o.l. Pretty sure all of the tree pollen counts are in the extreme category this week. Grass pollen will be next.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2016, 08:54:03 AM by andy85 »

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #27 on: April 14, 2016, 09:00:30 AM »
Lots of good suggestions here. Those who have dust mite allergies would do well to wash all bedding every week in hot water. Use a dryer. Don't line dry anything either indoors or outdoors. Keep your windows closed when pollen counts are moderate-to-high.

If you can get by on OTC pharmaceuticals, great. I have severe allergies, and require shots in order to be able to function. They are very expensive. Worth it? Absolutely.

I sympathize with those of you who encounter difficult attitudes towards, or people who take offense at, your allergic reactions to their pets. I think there are several root causes. First, many people view their pets as family members, so it's tantamount to telling someone, "I can't be around your child, because s/he makes me sick." Also, there are some people out there who have phobias where animals are concerned, and falsely claim to be allergic as an excuse to avoid them. This of course delegitimizes those of us who have a bona fide medical issue. In general, however, I think the general public is only starting to recognize that allergies can be a serious illness. In my experience, the attitude I have encountered is that allergies are a nuisance, but not a real medical condition. The emphasis on children and allergies as a topic also implies that this illness is a pediatric issue, and that we'll all "grow out of it" in time. If only it were true. Some of us have actually gotten worse as we have grown older.   

Concluding thought: There are so many degrees of sensitivity to allergens. Some people can be around certain breeds of dogs and cats, others will start to sneeze, and some of us end up with life-threatening asthma attacks. The same can be said for reactions to dust, tree pollens, etc. I wish more people recognized this, instead of making assumptions that all allergies are created equal. They are not.   

« Last Edit: April 14, 2016, 09:33:23 AM by Inkedup »

Meowmalade

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #28 on: April 14, 2016, 09:35:48 AM »
Use a neti pot!

I got allergy shots for four years, which helped somewhat.  I have inhalers for "as-needed" use, which I combine with a neti pot morning and night when my mold allergies are bad.  It cleans the spores out of your nasal passages so you're not continuing to breathe them.  I really like the porcelain one that I got at Whole Foods, which is a lot nicer than the plastic one I used to have.  I use it with NON-iodized salt (was warned that iodized salt will make it burn!) and warm tap water in Portland.  I wouldn't use tap water everywhere (brain-eating amoebas killed people in Louisiana) but it's clean here.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #29 on: April 14, 2016, 12:29:55 PM »
FWIW, apparently the honey thing is a myth. Bees do not make honey from the same kinds of plants that most people are allergic to.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #30 on: April 15, 2016, 08:18:45 AM »
Use a neti pot!

I got allergy shots for four years, which helped somewhat.  I have inhalers for "as-needed" use, which I combine with a neti pot morning and night when my mold allergies are bad.  It cleans the spores out of your nasal passages so you're not continuing to breathe them.  I really like the porcelain one that I got at Whole Foods, which is a lot nicer than the plastic one I used to have.  I use it with NON-iodized salt (was warned that iodized salt will make it burn!) and warm tap water in Portland.  I wouldn't use tap water everywhere (brain-eating amoebas killed people in Louisiana) but it's clean here.

Yeah not gonna lie, seeing the house episode where brain-attacking amoebas was the cause of his mystery illness was a pretty big turn off to me! (And yet I eat sushi and unpasteurized cheeses. Ahh, cognitive dissonance, how are you today?)

GoCubsGo

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #31 on: April 15, 2016, 08:31:12 AM »
I have/had major seasonal allergies that led to multiple sinus infections a year which led to sinus surgery.  My current routine (especially during allergy seasons) has helped immensely:

  • Flonase (from Costco)
    Allegra (Generic vesion from Costco)
    12 hour psuedophed caplet each morning
    Shower every evening
    SINUS RINSE EVERY NIGHT during allergy season- My ENT mandated it and it helps quite a bit
    I also have a Vornado air cleaner in my bedroom 365 days a year

    Once you know what your allergic to you can add dust mites pillow/mattress cover if necessary- I found a couple of good inexpensive online source.
    My life use to revolve around allergy symptoms and they are almost gone at this point.

    Best of luck!

acroy

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #32 on: April 15, 2016, 09:34:28 AM »
OK here is a friggin book on the matter.
I am lifelong allergy and asthma sufferer.

Noob guide to allergy sufferers

Common allergens are ‘environmental’: plants and animals: pollen, mold, dander, etc. Some people are allergic to other things such as certain foods, household chemicals, etc. There is no way to know 100% what you are allergic to without testing. However, if you get ill every Spring when the flowers bloom, it’s a pretty clear indication you are allergic to certain pollens!

Go in the sequence below. Only go to the next step if the previous step is not sufficient. The goal is to minimize allergies while minimizing cost, meds, etc. DO ONE THING AT A TIME otherwise you don’t know what worked.

1)   Reduce allergen exposure
2)   Control with cheap meds if needed
3)   Allergy testing and shots


Reduce allergen exposure
Think of your house as a box of air. You want to clean it out, get clean air in there, keep clean air in there, and do not re-introduce allergens to the clean air.
-Remove pets from the house.
-Do a good deep cleanse of the house, once. Vacuum super well with good filter vacuum (cheap uprights often have very good filtration bags) dust super well, wet wipe if needed. Wear a dust mask while you do this if you are the sufferer.
-Leverage your house’s existing air filtration system. Install 3M ‘Filtrete’ air filter in your HVAC. BAM, for $15 you have a whole-house near-HEPA filter. (Fancy hvac systems have a real HEPA filter). This will take care of the vast majority of the allergen load in the house. Set the fan to ‘on’ and shazam, it’ll do a fantastic job cleaning the air. If you have a fancy thermostat, you may be able to program it 1hr every 3 or similar. The normal cycling in summer and winter is usually plenty. I have to manually run mine in Spring when temp is moderate and the HVAC will not cycle.
-High humidity promotes mold and dust mite growth. Get a $15 humidistat from Amazon. If the house is routinely much above 50% humidity, consider getting a dehumidifier. A decent one is $250 or so. It takes a significant amount of energy to run, but prevents mold and dust mite growth. Again, here in N Texas I only have to run it off and on for a month or so per year. Winter is dry, and the AC in the summer dehumidifies the air.
-Keep windows & doors closed. Sealed box of clean air. Vac and dust every week or so, as needed. Dust mask!
-The hvac air filter will get a lot dirtier, quicker, than a normal cheap filter. check every 4weeks and replace as needed.

That’s about it for the house.

Treat used air filters, vac dust bags, etc like bombs. Be ever so careful not to re-dirty the house when you change these.

Food allergies and household chemical allergies; this involves ‘elimination diets’ etc to hone in on an allergy. Not going to cover it here, much information is out there.

Control with cheap meds
-Best is (near) free: salt water sinus rinse. Read up on it and do it.
-Experiment with generic fluticasone propionate  (Flonase), loratadine (Claritin), ceterizine (Zyrtec). They are super cheap, can get via Amazon, Walmart, etc. Often ½ dose will do it.

Allergy testing and Shots
-This is the ‘big gun’. Find a local allergist or 2 and go for the free consultation. Good luck!
-It is expensive, inconvenient, and lengthy. But it is the only proven way to reduce or eliminate reactions to allergens.

Best of luck!

MrMoogle

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #33 on: April 15, 2016, 10:52:58 AM »
You really have to first find out what she's allergic too.  Lots of good advice here already.

The only thing I'm going to add is specific to dust mites, which give me the most problem.  I use laundry detergent and a spray to specifically kill them, in addition to the dust mite covers on my bed.  Yes, removing carpets is preferred, but I get by with the spray:
http://www.amazon.com/Allergen-Wash-Laundry-Detergent-oz/dp/B0010DN1UW?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
http://www.amazon.com/ADMS-Anti-Allergen-Spray-32-oz/dp/B0010DLYR4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I noticed huge improvements when I started using these.

Meowmalade

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #34 on: April 15, 2016, 01:55:15 PM »
Use a neti pot!

I got allergy shots for four years, which helped somewhat.  I have inhalers for "as-needed" use, which I combine with a neti pot morning and night when my mold allergies are bad.  It cleans the spores out of your nasal passages so you're not continuing to breathe them.  I really like the porcelain one that I got at Whole Foods, which is a lot nicer than the plastic one I used to have.  I use it with NON-iodized salt (was warned that iodized salt will make it burn!) and warm tap water in Portland.  I wouldn't use tap water everywhere (brain-eating amoebas killed people in Louisiana) but it's clean here.

Yeah not gonna lie, seeing the house episode where brain-attacking amoebas was the cause of his mystery illness was a pretty big turn off to me! (And yet I eat sushi and unpasteurized cheeses. Ahh, cognitive dissonance, how are you today?)

The real reason I don't use distilled water is because I'm lazy.  First you have to buy the water in a jug (blech), then you have to heat up the right amount of water and pour it into the pot twice (for each nostril), and that just adds too many steps!  I did take the plastic neti pot to India and was intending to warm up boiled drinking water there, but my allergies didn't get bad enough for me to try it.

I second the recommendation from someone for dust mite covers!  Our roommate suffered from allergies for years and she always thought it was from pollens, and would lie miserable in bed all day.  She recently did the prick test and it turns out that her only major allergy was dustmites, and her bed was making her sick!  She's been doing great ever since she got dustmite covers.

paddedhat

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #35 on: April 16, 2016, 11:22:06 AM »
I would say cutting out toxins and foods you may have sensitivities to is the place to start.  I've had allergy problems my whole life.  I needed some kind of allergy pill every day at work.  I cut out gluten and sugar and went mostly Paleo and things improved dramatically.  I no longer need allergy pills.

Eating clean real food and healing your gut is the best way to reduce allergies.  Drink bone broth, take vitamin d, fermented cod liver oil, magnesium, eat fermented foods - all help your system repair.

It's a shame that the vast number of allergy/Asthma suffers will never be exposed to this information, or if they are, they ignore it as if it's some type of voodoo. In my case, like most (all?), my allergies and asthma are auto-immune symptoms. If I eliminate grains, the asthma disappears nearly instantly. If stray from clean food, reverting to the standard American diet, the allergies flare and the asthma is right back. If anybody is interested Dr. Sarah Ballantyne wrote "the Paleo Approach" to auto-immune diseases, and it can, and will, change your life if you are willing to take the time to read the in depth science she covers, and follow the guidelines. As typical, 99% of what I being discussed on this thread is symptom mitigation and exposure control. If you view the problem from the other end, as in "why I my body reacting like this, and how can I heal it" Your quality of life may increase exponentially.

Loretta

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #36 on: April 16, 2016, 11:38:45 AM »
Allergies suck.  My advice is AC, no matter how antimustachian it may be.  Neti pot as needed.

When my allergies were really bad this Spring I went to an allergist for tests.  Per the tests I am allergic to mold and a little allergic to cats (I have several).  The dr gave me no real treatment plan other than an Allegra in the AM and a Loratadine in the PM.  I am much better off with the AC on and the windows tightly closed.  Local honey hasn't had a noticeable effect on me but when my nasal cavity was all jacked up I did find a snort of Afrin was awesome.  The Afrin can be addictive and fiery--irritating, but short-term helpful.  When this group of cats is no longer with me I may scale back my cat parenting.  The next time I move apartments I will try to go with hardwood floors again. 

Wordstew

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #37 on: April 17, 2016, 06:22:33 PM »
You need these two products 


Nasal spray-Azelastine is a potent, second-generation, selective, histamine antagonist (histamine-H1-receptor antagonist) used as a first line therapy of mild intermittent, moderate/severe intermittent and mild persistent rhinitis (new classification system for rhinitis).

Use the below product in a neti pot
Alkalol is a nasal wash and oral rinse. Alkalol dissolves mucus, cleans and moisturizes the nasal airways, and provides relief to agitated sinus, nasal passage and throat tissue.[1] It is an alkaline saline solution that includes a mix of menthol, camphor, eucalyptol, thymol, benzoin, and oils of wintergreen, spearmint, pine, and cinnamon, as well as potassium and sodium salts. First formulated by James P. Whitters in 1896 in a small laboratory above the A.J. Barker pharmacy in Taunton, Massachusetts, Alkalol is one of the oldest over-the-counter pharmaceutical products sold in the United States
« Last Edit: April 17, 2016, 06:25:19 PM by Wordstew »

fmzip

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #38 on: April 17, 2016, 08:46:39 PM »
I did the allergy shots for years.

Now I take this DAILY and it's helped bigtime! Typically no issue with allergies any longer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IWL6KV2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1/182-4275341-3718346?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=1J5VFQ908QE7DHT0BSCD&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687542&pf_rd_i=B0054RZS4M

And Flonase one spray a day when things flare up a little or when the pollen count is going to be high.

Neilmed Sinus Rinse helps too...

Sibley

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Re: Any Allergy/Asthma sufferers with Mustachian Advice?
« Reply #39 on: April 18, 2016, 06:44:15 AM »
After reading all of this, I find it interesting reading the varying advice, and levels of allergies. For anyone reading and looking for ideas, not all allergies are the same. You can have minor allergies (an annoyance, but you're fine with doing the minimum), moderate (bigger issues, and you do more to control them), and severe (life-threatening). With allergies in general, trial and error is a big part of the process.

Nasal sprays, for some people, are a godsend. If they work, if you can do them right, if your nasal cavities aren't weird somehow. For others, they don't do much or actually make things worse. There are steroid and (few) nonsteroid nasal sprays, some are over the counter and some require a prescription.

Allergy medications (both over the counter and prescription) work best if you start them BEFORE the allergies hit and take them regularly. For some, that's seasonal, for others it's year round. Different medications will have different effects for different people. For some, Claritin is great. For others, Zyrtec works better, and so on. The only way you know is to try different ones and see what works best.

Netipots and saline washes of the sinuses can be helpful for some people. Again, it doesn't work for everyone, for different reasons.

Tips to avoid allergens will help anyone who has problems with that allergen. Showering, washing your hands and face, etc will also help to reduce your exposure.

You get the picture. But not everything works for everyone, and depending on how severe the allergy is, then how much to do to control things will vary.