Why are KXAN and KVUE always polar opposite on their allergy report? (insurance, allergies)

[blameyourself]

I've always been amazed by this. I'll be completely congested and look at KXAN and their report will say mold and/or grasses are high. Then I look at KVUE and it says everything is low (or vice versa).

Here's an example:

https://www.kxan.com/weather/allergy...-austin-texas/

https://www.kvue.com/allergy

[Need4Camaro]

Lately the only thing that really gets to me is the Cedar.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Lately the only thing that really gets to me is the Cedar.

Unfortunately, when I got allergy testing, I was allergic to 53 of the 58 allergens they tested me for. I am 1 1/2 years into drops therapy. It's still problematic for me but not quite as bad.

When I eventually retire, I'll probably do what some of my clients do right now and leave the area during Cedar season. I'm not sure how to avoid the mold since that can be throughout the year (I already keep the AC on to keep the humidity down and always run our fan after a shower).

[Need4Camaro]

I also take Flonase everyday too though. I can usually get by without taking Zyrtec most days, until Cedar season hits. I also have to watch what I eat though. If I eat too much mucus inducing products (dairy, cheese, especially) then my allergenic symptoms multiply.

I think over time of being here my allergies have somewhat calmed down over most things except the Cedar.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

I also take Flonase everyday too though. I can usually get by without taking Zyrtec most days, until Cedar season hits. I also have to watch what I eat though. If I eat too much mucus inducing products (dairy, cheese, especially) then my allergenic symptoms multiply.

I think over time of being here my allergies have somewhat calmed down over most things except the Cedar.

I had the same regimen before I started on the drops (taking both of those medications). I still have to do Zyrtec when mold and cedar are high.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Unfortunately, when I got allergy testing, I was allergic to 53 of the 58 allergens they tested me for. I am 1 1/2 years into drops therapy. It's still problematic for me but not quite as bad.

When I eventually retire, I'll probably do what some of my clients do right now and leave the area during Cedar season. I'm not sure how to avoid the mold since that can be throughout the year (I already keep the AC on to keep the humidity down and always run our fan after a shower).

I did the shots years ago, and they really helped. But I probably need to do another round. Just curious, is your insurance covering your drops? At the time, the drops were still not FDA approved or something, so mine wouldn't. If that's changed, I'd much rather do the drops. Shots don't actually bother me, but it was just the time it took to go to the office, get the shot, then wait around to make sure I don't react.

My big thing is cedar. And I don't even need to see the allergy report. I'll tell my husband at the very beginning of the season, "I feel cedar." He'll tell me that the news said there was no cedar. Then sure enough, the next day, they'll report cedar registering. It's like I can detect it before they can.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

I did the shots years ago, and they really helped. But I probably need to do another round. Just curious, is your insurance covering your drops? At the time, the drops were still not FDA approved or something, so mine wouldn't. If that's changed, I'd much rather do the drops. Shots don't actually bother me, but it was just the time it took to go to the office, get the shot, then wait around to make sure I don't react.

My big thing is cedar. And I don't even need to see the allergy report. I'll tell my husband at the very beginning of the season, "I feel cedar." He'll tell me that the news said there was no cedar. Then sure enough, the next day, they'll report cedar registering. It's like I can detect it before they can.

Totally agree on being able to detect it early.

And no, insurance didn't pay for it (or if they did, it was minimum). They poke your forearm with this grid of little plastic spikes now (I believe they use to put scratches on people's backs with different allergens). The nurse said it should take about 20 minutes for welts to appear of anything I was allergic to. She came back in 10 minutes later and said "whoa" because I had marks all over my arm. Then she said there was a 2nd confirming test (I was like...wtf do you have to confirm...look at my arm). Anyway, I grudgingly let them do it as I didn't want to throw off their testing. Then I found out the total out of pocket was $1500 (I would have definitely declined the confirming test if I knew they were going to charge me that much). Going forward, the drops are $600 per year out of pocket.

The only alternative that was offered was 3 shots for the major allergens I was allergic to (a friend did that and it didn't help and was much more expensive). I don't even think the clinic I went to even gives you the old option of getting shots weekly.

[ashbeeigh]

Without diving into personal allergy stories, I'm assuming it's the way they report it. My understanding is that KXAN has their own allergy reporting stations and process now and I wouldn't doubt if KVUE is using data from a local allergist. I'm primarily a KXAN viewer and they've always been spot on when my allergies are going haywire. Neither of them say where they are getting their data from. If it's a concern for you, you could reach out to ask where they are getting their data from because even a few geographical miles could impact what is measured.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

Without diving into personal allergy stories, I'm assuming it's the way they report it. My understanding is that KXAN has their own allergy reporting stations and process now and I wouldn't doubt if KVUE is using data from a local allergist. I'm primarily a KXAN viewer and they've always been spot on when my allergies are going haywire. Neither of them say where they are getting their data from. If it's a concern for you, you could reach out to ask where they are getting their data from because even a few geographical miles could impact what is measured.

I did. Unfortunately, neither station responded.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Totally agree on being able to detect it early.

And no, insurance didn't pay for it (or if they did, it was minimum). They poke your forearm with this grid of little plastic spikes now (I believe they use to put scratches on people's backs with different allergens). The nurse said it should take about 20 minutes for welts to appear of anything I was allergic to. She came back in 10 minutes later and said "whoa" because I had marks all over my arm. Then she said there was a 2nd confirming test (I was like...wtf do you have to confirm...look at my arm). Anyway, I grudgingly let them do it as I didn't want to throw off their testing. Then I found out the total out of pocket was $1500 (I would have definitely declined the confirming test if I knew they were going to charge me that much). Going forward, the drops are $600 per year out of pocket.

The only alternative that was offered was 3 shots for the major allergens I was allergic to (a friend did that and it didn't help and was much more expensive). I don't even think the clinic I went to even gives you the old option of getting shots weekly.

Yeah, they did the grid thing on my back. When the doctor came and looked at it, he held up a mirror so I could see, and said, "Guess which one is cedar?" It was the one that was damn near golf ball sized. My insurance covered that and the shots. The shots weren't covered 100% but almost. I had to go in twice a week for the first month. Got a shot, sat there for 30 minutes, got another shot, sat there for 30 minutes, then I could leave. After the first month, I could only get one shot at a time. My doc is literally right down the street, but it's still a pain to skip out of work twice a week to do that.

I was hoping that insurance had started covering the drops.