Anonymous wrote:All of you who think you have allergies ---

Please take a COVID test.

I thought I had a bit of pollen allergies -- scratchy throat, congestion. I took a Covid test b/c we have some that are left over and I thought Covid was basically over.

Surprise, surprise! I tested positive last week! Fortunately, it was not as bad as the first time I had covid. Neither my DH or DS got it (we masked in the house once I tested pos, and I tried to stay away from them).

Covid is still out there. And it's much sneakier now b/c it looks like allergies.

Re-read the OP.

I have bad allergies, bad persistent sinus issues and headaches/pressure, everything. This year I started a new protocol after some research and it’s actually helping. This is what I did:

Brought an in home air purifier and run it overnight all night in the bedroom. It barely makes any noise. During the day I move it to the hallway between my kids’ rooms so it can purify that area of the house, but at night it runs in our bedroom. I also run a dehumidifier in the basement during the summer and fall whenever we’re running the AC because the house gets too humid otherwise.

I brought 2 new pillows. I have found that sleeping on a too firm pillow gives me headaches. Now I’m sleeping on a semi-firm pillow on the “bottom” layer and a soft pillow on top directly under my head.

Med-wise I switched to a new nasal spray called NasalCrom. I haven’t seen it too many places, just Amazon and Walmart. It is not a 24 hour med, you have to use it multiple times per day. It has helped significantly- the “24 hour” nose sprays never worked for me. I use it 3 times a day generally. I also take the Costco generic version of Zyrtec. Like a PP mentioned you have to start your allergy meds early, I start around late February. It has to build up in your system.

I walk/jog outside and when I come back in I do a saline nasal rinse. The neti pot things never worked for me so I use the spray kind.

I have a lot fewer headaches now, a lot less congestion, and even when I do go outside by the time I’m done outside I am not completely sniffling and sneezing and out of breath. I feel like I’m sleeping better due to less coughing and sniffling at night, and I have more energy.

All of you who think you have allergies ---

Please take a COVID test.

I thought I had a bit of pollen allergies -- scratchy throat, congestion. I took a Covid test b/c we have some that are left over and I thought Covid was basically over.

Surprise, surprise! I tested positive last week! Fortunately, it was not as bad as the first time I had covid. Neither my DH or DS got it (we masked in the house once I tested pos, and I tried to stay away from them).

Covid is still out there. And it's much sneakier now b/c it looks like allergies.

My allergies are INSANE so much mucous, (I can't breathe!) itchy eyes. I can FEEL the pollen on my eye lashes outside. I can see the pollen plumes off the trees its crazy. I've worn a mask out the last two days and its helped a little bit.

I am with you. DS is having the hardest time this year. He has mild asthma and the allergies kicked up an asthma flare for the first time in years. His eyes were so red I thought it was pink eye and took him to doc, who said, nope, it's allergies. Here is what we are doing:

shower and wash hair before bed (best if you can do it with a change of clothes when you first come in from outdoors)

OTC eye drops

Flonase

Claritin

wash all comforters and bedding

rescue inhaler

herbal tea