They sell it. (I don't know this company though)

This has been a terrible allergy season for me as well. I went for a 3 hour hike yesterday and despite taking Zirtec D in the morning (I have chronic sinus issues and must take a decongestant in the spring/fall), I must have come in contact with a plant on the hike as the next thing I knew, I broke out in hives..ughh! I bought over the counter cetrizine to help but I am still struggling. Maybe when they finally cut the grass, all will be good but for now, not the best! "This too shall pass " (my Mom's favorite adage! LOL One day at a time as they say but my skin is not a happy camper at the moment - nor my sinuses for that matter!

This might be more of a side note (but something I wished I found out much sooner):

I never suffered from allergies and this year hayfever kicked in for real. Doctor assured me it is quite usual for it to start in adulthood. After some weeks of trialing different drugs, I managed to get the sneezing and itchiness inside the mouth under control and I could breathe again through my nose. However, my eyes continued to bother me no matter what I did. Teary, red, swollen, itchy.. and it kept getting worse. One night I considered going to the emergency room such was the pain I was in! I had seen 4 different doctor by then, took antihistaminics, antibiotics, cortizone... all helped a bit on the short term but I ended up just getting worse. Everyone had a different opinion and no solutions.
I was so desperate that I just booked a flight and went back to Portugal to see a doctor I trusted. What was it??? I had dry eyes!! That's it!
He said he sees this a lot! That many people that develop allergies as adults actually just have dry mucosas (nose, throat, eyes..) and that the symptoms can be identical to allergies. The teary eyes and runny nose are caused by the body trying to compensate for poor lubrication, the itchiness is caused by irritated tissues. (All this damage can, however, also trigger a true allergic reaction.) Antihistamins help a bit but only dry tissues further, perpetuating the problem. Weather changes (rain, colder temperatures) might help, not because the pollen concentration diminished but because air humidity augmented.
This is more common in women and people who suffer from autoimmune diseases (as I do).

So, after some medication to treat my damaged corneas, some special washing solution to prevent further infections and abundant application of well chosen artificial tears, I am as good as new and never needed an antihistamin again. (I will need to keep using artificial tears before going to sleep ad aeternum.)

So if you feel suddenly worse as soon as you wake up (specially you eyes) as I did, no matter what time you took your medication; please consider the option that dry mucusas might be your (main) problem.

Hope it helps someone out there.

That was very interesting, joanamc , and comprehensible. Thanks for that input.

I find the allergie disappears as soon as one is in Tessin.

My mother who's 80 odd years has that problem quite baldly, she can be good in the winter and then has to wear sun glasses 24/7 even indoors and put drops 3 times a day because her eyes are bad the rest of the year. Miserable condition and her cataract surgery didn't help.

Simply put an onion near your eyes. That will make you cry. Or watch a Trump video

Benedryl is called Benocten here and it is marketed as a sleep aid. You can get it from your pharmacy.

One should resort to hard drugs when everything else is exhausted. Highly addictive!!

My only input here will be:

NO ALCOHOL! As soon I as have beer or wine I get a complete block. Drinking alcohol makes the situation minimum 10 times worst!

RUNNING! As soon I’m past my first kilometer, My nasal area unblocks and can breathe. Soon after my run, all goes back to “normal” / all blocked.

I know, you can’t run all the time but at least you get a break

ITCHY EYES: 2 pieces of wool cotton, dump them in hot water drain and place them over your eyes. Itching stops. Cold water makes situation much worst.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I invite more to share their experiences and remedies.

Wine and beer both have high levels of histamine since they are fermented and
can indeed make allergies worse. While it is a good idea not to drink in excess, moderate levels of clear distilled liquor should be fine.

that's a relief!

Yesterday and today very bad for me.
Fully blocked.
Nothing works.
10k run helped but as soon as i cooled down, all back to normal.

Topical steroid nasal spray. Only thing that works for me. Works on receptors in nose so that no/less histamine produced in first place upon breathing in pollen. Prevents most physical symptoms although you might need smth else for your eyes. OTC since few years: https://www.sandoz-pharmaceuticals.c...pollen-sandozr Takes few days to take effect so don’t give up too early. I start taking it a few days before predicted birch season.

alot of rain in the last month. And alot of heavy growth especially grass. Most likely they start cutting it back soon for the farmers hay supplies.

A nasal/sinus wash is very helpful. Plus dont use paper tissues to blow your nose. And wash hair regularly.
But the best is to go to the mediterranean and swim in the salt water.

So what do you suggest to use?
The hand-into-ground like the football players?
Or a shirt sleeve?

Ever heard of a cotton hankerchief. Or if you are at the bathroom sink just blow it there.

Blinking alot can also help or putting an onion in front of your eyes!

It's October, I had loads of green tomatoes hanging on the plants and a friend told me to harvest them and wrap them in newspaper. So I did that, in the freezing cold.
But those darn plants are obviously very much alive still. Minutes after my nose ran like MAD! (I'm actually pretty amazed about this body function, it's obviously trying to flush out what ever got in there), then I couldn't stop sneezing (that is pretty exhausting but I don't need to tell you that).

I did a nasal douche and the nose immediately stopped producing liquid and the sneezing is gone. The nose is free.

Doing it correctly it is actually dead easy and not uncomfortable (do remember to keep your mouth open at all times! Water will only go down into your mouth if you don't).
5dl of warm water, 1/2 an US teaspoon salt (normal salt but without added iodine or fluorine they say. No need to buy the fancy-pancy salt sachets they offer in the pharmacy for this) and I add 1/4 US teaspoon baking soda. If you don't add baking soda you have to put that amount of more salt.
That's it, 5 minutes max. and I was back to normal.

Try it out. Quick, cheap, natural and very effective. If you don't have tomatoes to harvest still now, you might remember it next spring.

__________________
It's all a matter or perspective.
So move your butt and look at it from the other side

Anyone having allergic reactions in the past couple of weeks ?


I usually react to perfumes, cleaning chemicals, smoke, some foods...


Oh, just had a thought - what changed in the past few weeks with the colder weather - wood smoke!


Persistent itchy throat and inside ears with no progression in symptoms now for 2-3 weeks..