Allergic to the Bay Area :( (San Diego, Oakland: transplants, allergies, living)

[04kL4nD]

So I've been living here for about 5 years and I've noticed that my allergies during the spring seem to really kick in around mid-April. It's complete misery- non-stop sinus pressure, constant coughing, itchy red eyes, etc. Currently I'm taking Flonase, Allegra D, an inhaler for asthma, and I use a neti pot. Anybody out there in the same boat with any tips to be less miserable? When will it end?

[Gentoo]

I didn't start having allergies till I moved to SD. However, many people do get them in the Bay Area especially if they're transplants to the Bay Area. I think it's one of the worse places for many allergy sufferers.

[sav858]

^weird, I was the opposite. I used to get allergies BAD every year growing up in the Bay Area, I hated it so much. Then they pretty much disappeared after I moved to San Diego. Now that I've been back I haven't really had many issues yet. So I'm kind of curious, did you get them bad you're first year after moving up here or did the progressively get worse? I'm just wondering if my allergies are gonna return as I live here longer.

Also I don't know about transplants getting them worse, a lot of my friends and family (all natives) get them bad every year. I thought maybe being by the bay would make them better than out here in an inland valley, I suppose not though.

[04kL4nD]

When I lived in SD for two years I had ZERO problems with allergies. Since moving to Oakland, they are about as bad as they were growing up on the East Coast. I had seasonal asthma as a kid that came and went throughout the years, but it seems that it is back with a vengeance now. Sucks

[bigdumbgod]

Last year was historically bad, this year appreciably worse for allergies. Brutal for just about everybody.

[mayorhaggar]

There's definitely a lot of flowering plants in Oakland. SF by comparison is kind of barren. Also it rained a lot this winter and early spring so plants are going hyper.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

When I lived in SD for two years I had ZERO problems with allergies. Since moving to Oakland, they are about as bad as they were growing up on the East Coast. I had seasonal asthma as a kid that came and went throughout the years, but it seems that it is back with a vengeance now. Sucks

I think there's like 1 or 2 things in SD that the Bay may not have that trigger them for me.

The Bay Area though has a higher than normal number of plant species due to it's many pronounced microclimates. This along with the fact that the climate allows everything from tropical to cold temperate exotics mean that allergy sufferers are in for it big time.

[chicago81]

I'm from the midwest where we have the A/C running 24/7 all summer and the heat on for the remaining months. Dust, mold, germs and illness run rampant year round as a result. I have experimented with a variety of solutions to my chronic sinus problems, I tried every medication out there to treat it. I finally had to look at what I eat and clean out my system for two weeks to determine if I have any food allergies. I went on a yeast free diet (check out the Yeast Connection Handbook) and discovered I'm allergic to white flour, sugar, and dairy. Since then I have cut out alot of trigger foods and now I hardly ever get sick anymore. The only time I have issues with infections at this point are when I am eating a lot of foods that I'm allergic to. Check out your diet, changing it is rough and involves a lot of discipline but it might help you feel healthy on a consistent basis. Also, go and get yourself an air purifier. My boyfriend used to have bad asthma attacks and now hardly has them at all ever since we bought one for our bedroom. Hope that helps.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by chicago81

I'm from the midwest where we have the A/C running 24/7 all summer and the heat on for the remaining months. Dust, mold, germs and illness run rampant year round as a result. I have experimented with a variety of solutions to my chronic sinus problems, I tried every medication out there to treat it. I finally had to look at what I eat and clean out my system for two weeks to determine if I have any food allergies. I went on a yeast free diet (check out the Yeast Connection Handbook) and discovered I'm allergic to white flour, sugar, and dairy. Since then I have cut out alot of trigger foods and now I hardly ever get sick anymore. The only time I have issues with infections at this point are when I am eating a lot of foods that I'm allergic to. Check out your diet, changing it is rough and involves a lot of discipline but it might help you feel healthy on a consistent basis. Also, go and get yourself an air purifier. My boyfriend used to have bad asthma attacks and now hardly has them at all ever since we bought one for our bedroom. Hope that helps.

I've noticed that my allergies during the spring seem to really kick in around mid-April.

I think it's safe to rule out food allergies

[chicago81]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I think it's safe to rule out food allergies

The body can be much more resilient to allergy season if the immune system isn't being attacked by foods one might be sensitive to to begin with.

Perhaps you should stick to what you know, plants and climate change.