allergies becoming a bigger problem than I thought (San Antonio, Austin: buy, deductible)

[justanothercalifornian]

Texas, I am trying desperately to hold onto my love for you but I am being tortured by your trees. This is my first year with allergies and they have been so unbearable that I'm actually considering shorting my stay. My husband and I had planned on being here at least 10+years but if this is the way it is going to be then I cannot stay. Please tell me what I can do. I thought it was just the Cedar so I fought through that but it's April and I'm dying again. How do you cope?

[someguyatx]

Allegra D helps, I just wake up and take it with a glass of water every day. Also change your cabin air filter in car, air filters in home, clean fans, keep windows closed.

[cBach]

You've probably been suffering from Oak, the peak for that is mid April so that should be improving. Pecan is also peaking right now.

The only thing left after that is grass, and with the dry weather I don't presume it will be bad.

If you wait another 1.5 months you will have no allergies anymore. The summer, while brutally hot, causes a lot of vegetation to die off and most people are fine until Fall. Ragweed can hit in late September, but probably not this year due to the dry weather.

My advice is to hang tight and in a few weeks you'll be feeling a lot better. If you can't stand it, go to an allergist and they'll take care of you.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by justanothercalifornian

Texas, I am trying desperately to hold onto my love for you but I am being tortured by your trees. This is my first year with allergies and they have been so unbearable that I'm actually considering shorting my stay. My husband and I had planned on being here at least 10+years but if this is the way it is going to be then I cannot stay. Please tell me what I can do. I thought it was just the Cedar so I fought through that but it's April and I'm dying again. How do you cope?

Allergy shots. My wife goes to an allergist at Mopac/Lake Austin blvd that accepts UHC. They will administer a scratch test for several dozen allergens, see the reaction, then give you weekly shots for the next fews months. The results should last about 7+ years. It takes about that long to completely replace every cell in your body, and so that is the "shelf life" of most allergies.

Good luck, we'd hate to see you go because of it.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by jobert

Allergy shots. My wife goes to an allergist at Mopac/Lake Austin blvd that accepts UHC. They will administer a scratch test for several dozen allergens, see the reaction, then give you weekly shots for the next fews months. The results should last about 7+ years. It takes about that long to completely replace every cell in your body, and so that is the "shelf life" of most allergies.

Good luck, we'd hate to see you go because of it.

The only problem with this are the "vials" run like $800 to $1200 for the initial purchase. If you have a high deductible then the first time you go you'll be paying the whole deductible then. These vial costs are in addition to your usual copay for each time you get the shot. Just something to consider.

[centralaustinite]

Zyrtec is what works for us. See a doctor, zyrtec plus a nasal steriod like Flonase can be a huge help. Then there is allergy testing and shots or drops (drops can be self-administered).

[Bo]

A few years ago an asthma and allergy medical professional association put together a list of the worst cities in the country for allergies. Austin was #1 on that list.

If you're bothered to the point where you can't stand it, don't just see any doctor, see a specialist. I have one in San Antonio that I use. I'm sure there are good ones in Austin.

[winkosmosis]

Try Claritin

[justanothercalifornian]

I have friends that take meds as soon as they wake up, every single day, during the high allergy months. The problem for me is that I am uber sensitive to meds and although they take away the sinus pressure etc. I end up having unwanted side effects that are not worth it in the end. I'm thinking the shots may be in my future, if I last that long.

[iloveflowers]

It really helps if you use the natural teardrops eyedrops. When I was really bad last year, I bought an eye rinse and woke up in the morning, and rinsed my eyes. Then follow that with a couple drops of natural tears in both eyes.

You can use a saline nose rinse (buy a Netipot kit at the drug store) and that will help, or just buy the Ocean nasal spray and do that a couple times a day.

Taking an extra shower a day helps, and keep your windows closed. Avoid going outside during peak pollen hours in the afternoon.

I had to do this last May-June when I had really bad allergies. I hope you find something that helps you!