Cedar Fever (Austin, Center: insurance, allergies, maintenance)

[CarnivalGal]

Anyone else ready to just cut their head off? I can't breathe, can't sleep - it sucks. I am going through 2 boxes of tissues a day (no exaggeration). I am on about every prescription allergy medication known to man, and nothing is helping.

[achtungpv]

Get tested and start giving yourself shots. It literally changed my life. I was the same way but now I rarely take any allergy meds. On a rare occasion, I just pop a single Zyrtec and I am fine.

[TexasHorseLady]

I get by on Alavert-D. (Non-prescription, but you do have to sign for it.) Only thing that works for me - I had to try several until I found the one that worked with my particular body chemistry.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

Get tested and start giving yourself shots. It literally changed my life. I was the same way but now I rarely take any allergy meds. On a rare occasion, I just pop a single Zyrtec and I am fine.

I think it's too late to for the shots for this year. When do I have to start? I've been to docs for this before, but they just give me a script for a different allergy med (I'm actually going to another one next week). And I only have issues with cedar.

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by mm57553

I think it's too late to for the shots for this year. When do I have to start? I've been to docs for this before, but they just give me a script for a different allergy med (I'm actually going to another one next week). And I only have issues with cedar.

I started right in the middle of cedar season last year so you can start anytime.

Request a referral to see an allergist. Regular doctors just prescribe drugs. They'll test you for the 40 or so most common allergens in the area and then give you a serum of the ones you are allergic to (there's no drugs in allergy shots). You give yourself the shot (2 in my case since I am allergic to 27 things) once a week. The dosage increases each week until you start your next batch of serum and then you start over.

[justinblott]

My wife and I just moved to Austin in August and while we love it, we have been having some of the symptoms of Cedar allergies over the last week. The only thing about taking shots is, that we're trying to have a baby. Does anyone know if they're OK for someone who's pregnant or trying to get pregnant?

[jobert]

You must live west of Mopac. Allergies are ridiculous out there - it's night and day.

[yam]

Arrghh! I wrote up a nice detailed reply a few minutes ago but it got lost somewhere.

I had similar problems in the past. Here's a quick summary of what worked for me: find an allergist near your workplace or commute, check your insurance, and get the shots. Use sinus irrigation, meds, and nose strips in the meantime.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by jobert

You must live west of Mopac. Allergies are ridiculous out there - it's night and day.

Yep. I'm in Steiner. Funny thing is, I lived in Austin for over a decade before I developed this allergy.

Thanks, everyone, for the info. I am going to look into the shots. I guess I'll stick to my meds for now. Only thing I won't do is nose drops/nasal sprays. I just can not stand to put anything in my nose. I did suck it up and try the nasonex, and it didn't work anyway.

[timfountain]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

I started right in the middle of cedar season last year so you can start anytime.

Request a referral to see an allergist. Regular doctors just prescribe drugs. They'll test you for the 40 or so most common allergens in the area and then give you a serum of the ones you are allergic to (there's no drugs in allergy shots). You give yourself the shot (2 in my case since I am allergic to 27 things) once a week. The dosage increases each week until you start your next batch of serum and then you start over.

I agree with all of the above. As to how long, I saw results after about a year on the shots, so it takes a fair time for the body to build up resistance, but it is totally worth it if you want a long term drug-free solution. As has been mentioned before, we are discussing immunotherapy shots, whoch expose your body to minutely increasing amounts of the things your body reacts to, not steroids which can provide temporary relief.
I'm on a 2 shot maintenance dose now (one in each arm) every 4-6 weeks. I use these guys, and have no affiliation other than as a satisfied patient....
Allergy and Asthma Center of Austin (http://www.nosneezes.com/index.html - broken link)

- Tim

Oh and another thing, you can try flushing your nose with saline solution, it does work!