ETTM: seasonal allergies

[jennlin]

i don't have them...h does. and they bother me probably close to as much as they bother him. our options are him sneezy/stuffy like crazy and grumpy because of it, or if he takes an allergy pill and is drowsy/grumpy/still-sniffly from it.

how are allergies normally dealt with?

[amandasw]

well, the only thing I can think of is that he tries different allergy meds and uses them consistently for a couple weeks before giving up.

I have allergies all the time and it's a constant battle

[FrozenSunshine]

He just needs to find the right medicine for him. If over the counter doesn't work, he can talk to his doctor. My uncle gets a shot at the beginning of every spring for his pollen allergies.

[madDawg228]

I used to have horrible hay fever/seasonal allergies and then I out grew it when I was around 20. But when I was suffering from allergies I would take Claritin and that worked for me and didn't make me drowsy. Claritin didn't work for my brother, but Zyrtec works great (it makes me feel drunk and loopy).

Ditto amanda, your H needs to try all kinds of over the counter meds and find the one that works for him!

[mkate710]

Ditto Kari, I think it's just a matter of finding the med that works for him specifically. My H tried all OTC versions and finally his doc prescribed Singulair (sp?). That made a huge difference - he takes one every other day and his allergies are much better.

[jennlin]

Aug 27, 2012 14:34:27 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

well, the only thing I can think of is that he tries different allergy meds and uses them consistently for a couple weeks before giving up.

I have allergies all the time and it's a constant battle

are you supposed to use it *everyday*, even when his allergies aren't bothering him?

[Deleted]

Yep, ditto everyone about finding the right meds. For H things finally calmed down once they added a nose spray into his arsenal.

[amandasw]

Aug 27, 2012 15:04:27 GMT -5 jennlin said:

Aug 27, 2012 14:34:27 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

well, the only thing I can think of is that he tries different allergy meds and uses them consistently for a couple weeks before giving up.

I have allergies all the time and it's a constant battle

are you supposed to use it *everyday*, even when his allergies aren't bothering him?

well, I think he should use it EVERYDAY during the whole season his allergies bother him. If he knows that Oct-March he's fine, they he doesn't need to take it then. But I don't think it should be like taking benadryl (where you take it in response to feeling bad). And I've never felt sleepy on Zyrtec, so it could be different for each person.

[amandasw]

also allergy related, I bought a hypoallergenic pillow cover and guys, I feel AMAZING. seriously. such a huge difference for me! I'm so excited.

[jennlin]

if he takes an allergy pill after he starts feeling the effects, it's too late, right? i always tell him to take one everyday, regardless if he feels it or not, but he doesn't want to.

[fiddles]

Yes use them every single day during the period his allergies affect him. Reason being, they don't work right away. You want the medicine in your system. You don't want to take a pill once you have an attack cause it will probably take 12-24 hours for the pill to help.

My allergies have been really bad this year. I take my allergy pill every single day until probably late September - early October.

[jennlin]

so jennuinne, since you don't take the pill everyday, how long does it take for it to go into affect once you do?

[FrozenSunshine]

Aug 27, 2012 15:23:12 GMT -5 jennlin said:

if he takes an allergy pill after he starts feeling the effects, it's too late, right? i always tell him to take one everyday, regardless if he feels it or not, but he doesn't want to.

Yup. At that point he's trying to catch up.

[amandasw]

Aug 27, 2012 15:24:23 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Now that everything w/ pseudoephedrine (used to make meth) is behind the counter and requires an ID, the stuff on the shelves is the stuff that doesn't have pseudephederine. That stuff is completely worthless. Also, there is non-drowsy. So, if DH hasn't tried it, get Claritan (the kind you have to show ID for at the pharmacy counter), non-drowsy, 24-hour.

pseuphedrine isn't necessary for relieving allergies - I take Zyrtec OTC and it works well for me. Obviously each drug has different effects on different people, but I don't really think it's fair to say no OTC meds work.

[sarack]

omg, h has allergies too, and it DRIVES ME nuts.. i seriously get irritated and i need to quite. he needs some otc.

[picksthemusic]

There are drugs out there that won't make him sleepy. He can take Allegra (which is over the counter now and is non-drowsy). Or, if he's got really bad allergies, he can always go to an allergist to see exactly what he's allergic to and then give himself shots to desensitize himself. Or, they can put him on a prescription strength allergy medicine (my favorite is Clarinex-D).

[picksthemusic]

Aug 27, 2012 15:04:27 GMT -5 jennlin said:

Aug 27, 2012 14:34:27 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

well, the only thing I can think of is that he tries different allergy meds and uses them consistently for a couple weeks before giving up.

I have allergies all the time and it's a constant battle

are you supposed to use it *everyday*, even when his allergies aren't bothering him?

During the season, yes. When Fall/Winter comes, not so much. But again, it depends on what exactly he's allergic to.

[jennlin]

thanks for the insight ladies, i love/hate how h never listens to my advice (take a pill everyday), but as soon as i say "the girls online say to take a pill everyday", he complies.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 8:12:17 GMT -5 jennlin said:

thanks for the insight ladies, i love/hate how h never listens to my advice (take a pill everyday), but as soon as i say "the girls online say to take a pill everyday", he complies.

:Y: