Sick in Alabama (Birmingham, Huntsville, Madison: environment, hotel, rent)

[Big Ken]

Sorry to hear about the orginal posters situation. I'm just the opposite. I'm transferring to Huntsville with Boeing (just got my offer today) and everytime I'm down there my allergies get better. I live in California now and have terrible allergies, I was in Huntsville all last week and everything cleared right up - strange!

[Bravo35223]

Allergies can definitely be a problem in the deep south because of the huge number of flowering plants and because of the forested land.

Tree pollen is the number one source. As new buds from winter-dormant hardwood trees such as oaks and maples blossum, they generate massive amounts of pollen. The fact that so much of Alabama is forested, along with the azaleas, and and other flowering plants, causes a huge amount of pollen. It's unavoidable and if you and your family are sensitive to it - it can really cause you misery.

See a doc until you can move back West. There is so much open land out there that the allergy issue is not as bad.

[SnowFlower]

Thank you to all that posted. It is more then just the pollins though.. Our asthma is not just pollin related triggered... it is also triggered by High Humidity... which from what I understand will only get worse as the summer progresses here.

Good news is my husband has had a lot of responses recently to his resume postings... but he still has not received an offer... So heres to HOPE.... Thanks again for listening...

[SnowFlower]

Ok, I need to vent a little bit here...

I am not sure how many readers are on here from Boeing here in HSV or have a spouse that is from Boeing, butI am very irratated with what seems to be all of them if the truth was said.

My husband works at the Boeing that is located of Wall Triana down from 20 closest to Madison.

Brief back-log : I have ASTHMA. I have had it ever sense I was a little tiny kid... I am now 36 years old... I am very aware of my condition and what triggers it and what helps it...

Update: My husband comes home from Boeing yesterday... telling me that MANY of his Co-Workers there told him that a temporary cure ( and he insisted that I understand it was not a permanent cure) but a temporary cure that is helpful daily for asthma is a "SPOON FULL OF HONEY".

Apparently they also told him there at Boeing that the honey would be better then useing an inhaler or any other meds that a doc could provide.

Ok here is the problem I have with that.... if a spoonful of honey was going to help asthma better then medications.... I think all asthmatics would be praising Boeing at this very moment.

That is just pure ignorance in and of itself ... That would be like looking at someone with [SIZE=2]epilepsy and telling them that a jelly bean would work better then thier medications they take.[/SIZE]

I rather doubt that all of his Co- Workers in the Engineering GMD department said this, but I felt the need to vent about it.

At least in Alaska I didnt have a group of Engineers attempting to tell me what I should be taking for my asthma when they themselvs dont suffer from the problems. If indeed the Boeing Engineering group did say this to my husband as he said they did... then please stick to designing and engineering GMD projects instead of trying to medicate with honey to those that have asthma. You are not Doctors ... you are Engineers. Medicate the missiles... not the people..

Thanks again for listening.

[NicoleC]

A spoon a *local* honey can help with some kinds of pollen allergies for some people.

Someone missed a few details.

[Southlander]

LOL!
It's amazing what people will believe, even when well educated!
Yes, it's a spoonful of LOCAL honey, preferably with a bit of the comb in it, according to folklore.
Well, my husband and my kids were all three raised here in Decatur, exposed to local pollens etc. and me feeding them local honey, and they all STILL have asthma!
I had a friend SWEAR to me that 21 raisins dropped into a bottle of gin would CURE my arthritis. All I had to do was eat 1 or 2 raisins a day. What a crock! Now, if somebody could tell me how to make a good drink with gin...THAT might do some good!!

[Threestep]

You speak of "Boeing". Your husband was told by co-workers about a folk remedy. Honey does have healing powers. Like vaccination - exposure to local pollen may in some cases trigger a body's natural defenses.
This may sound blunt but why should your husband's employer be concerned about your medical issues?
Allergens were and are bad this year. It finally got to me AND my cat. She is miserable.
Of course your husband can request a transfer withing company policy or look for employment elsewhere

[FlourChild]

Bless your heart, Snowflower. I know what it's like to be stuck somewhere you don't want to be. I hope you're feeling better soon. I'm sorry Huntsville isn't to your liking.

Until we moved to Hell, I worked at the same campus where your husband works now. I know those folks probably meant well and were just offering advice.

[cat09lives]

I lived in Decatur and Gadsden until I was in my mid-20'a and suffered each year with what we called hay fever. As I got older it became chronic bronchitis. I lived in central Alabama for the next 20 years and all my breathing problems went away. In 1996 I moved back to Decatur and had to leave because I was sick all the time. My sinuses were practically destroyed and I had pneumonia twice in that year. After moving back to the Montgomery and good health we traveled a few times to Nashville and I'd start wheezing every time we entered the Tennessee Valley area. I moved back to Decatur about a year and a half ago and am fine. I have no idea what the difference is this time besides age.

[Southlander]

Maybe you live on Burningtree Mountain? That would get you out of the valley. Another possibility...I don't see cropdusters as much as I did even 5 years ago. Lots of the former cotton fields have build up, or they're planting corn. Glad you aren't suffering anymore!