What's the worst thing about living in Austin? (Spring, San Diego: best city, cost of living)

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

Worst thing about Austin? Ask me today and easily it's the allergies. They hit me last year for the first time like a ton of bricks and they just hit again a couple of weeks ago. Nonstop sneezing, itchy eyes, and antihistamines aren't doing squat. I started taking them back in December hoping I'd have enough in my system when allergies hit again this January. No such luck. If I were single and younger, it might actually cause me to leave. It's that bad right now.

I got smacked with something for about three weeks in November. Actually, a therapist neighbor suggested it might be a touch of West Nile Virus . Fortunately, it cleared and I've felt fine for about 7 weeks. It's amazing the difference between having respiratory challenges and being free of them! If I suffered because of the cenTex environment and had symptoms for much of the year, I'm afraid I'd be packing the car to leave in short order. I could not do what my across the street neighbor does and suffer for 2-3 months each year .

So my vote for the worst thing in Austin is the weather/atmospheric conditions. However, that's also one of the BEST things about Austin. Just walk outside this afternoon and make a cell call to someone around the Great Lakes

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

Worst thing about Austin? Ask me today and easily it's the allergies. They hit me last year for the first time like a ton of bricks and they just hit again a couple of weeks ago. Nonstop sneezing, itchy eyes, and antihistamines aren't doing squat. I started taking them back in December hoping I'd have enough in my system when allergies hit again this January. No such luck. If I were single and younger, it might actually cause me to leave. It's that bad right now.

If you become non-functional, as happens to me every few years when the allergies hit me real bad, and I can't even talk on the phone, a cortisone shot will fix you right up. You get that from the allergy doctor. You can't take one every year as it's not good for your system, but, at some point, when all else fails, it's an effective relief and works like magic through the rest of the season.

Steve

[Trainwreck20]

Regularly scheduled allergy shots pretty much made my dad's life bearable for a few years, but it isn't an instant fix - I think he pretty much had to take shots year 'round for a couple of years, but I don't remember the details.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

If you become non-functional, as happens to me every few years when the allergies hit me real bad, and I can't even talk on the phone, a cortisone shot will fix you right up. You get that from the allergy doctor. You can't take one every year as it's not good for your system, but, at some point, when all else fails, it's an effective relief and works like magic through the rest of the season.

Steve

I'm biting the bullet and getting one tomorrow. I haven't had a cortisone shot for a few years, but this year is killing me.

I got tested for the allergy shots but our insurance only covers a portion after I pay the $1000 deductible. And I would have to go nearly every day for 6 weeks to get the shot. Between work and kids, I don't know how I would be able to get to the doctor (and sit there for 30 minutes) every day.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by mm57553

I'm biting the bullet and getting one tomorrow. I haven't had a cortisone shot for a few years, but this year is killing me.

I got tested for the allergy shots but our insurance only covers a portion after I pay the $1000 deductible. And I would have to go nearly every day for 6 weeks to get the shot. Between work and kids, I don't know how I would be able to get to the doctor (and sit there for 30 minutes) every day.

Do you happen to know if only allergists will administer cortisone shots or might your PCP be able to give one?

[G Grasshopper]

I am going to agree that the worst part of living in Austin is the pollen, and in particular, the Ashe Juniper pollen, which is apparently much more allergy-causing than most pollens. When I lived in Marin County, CA, people used to say "if you didn't have allergies before, you will get then when you move here." So they thought their allergy quotient was high. But from my experience of the last 2 years living in Austin, those folks in CA don't know what an allergy season is compared to here. I have never seen so many miserable people as I have seen this month. Luckily, I only have only mild allergies at this point, but being really disabled by this is so common in Austin, I think our unique pollen mix is a strong contender for the worst part of living here.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

Do you happen to know if only allergists will administer cortisone shots or might your PCP be able to give one?

A PCP will do it. But just be aware that not all doctors will give you cortisone shots. Some will only give them every few years, some twice a year, and some not at all. You may want to call and ask.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

I am going to agree that the worst part of living in Austin is the pollen, and in particular, the Ashe Juniper pollen, which is apparently much more allergy-causing than most pollens. When I lived in Marin County, CA, people used to say "if you didn't have allergies before, you will get then when you move here." So they thought their allergy quotient was high. But from my experience of the last 2 years living in Austin, those folks in CA don't know what an allergy season is compared to here. I have never seen so many miserable people as I have seen this month. Luckily, I only have only mild allergies at this point, but being really disabled by this is so common in Austin, I think our unique pollen mix is a strong contender for the worst part of living here.

I lived here for about 12 years before I developed a cedar allergy. I am miserable - like literally sat down and cried today, because I am so miserable.

I did the testing for the allergy shots, and the doctor said it was one of the strongest reactions to cedar he's ever seen.

So just because they aren't bad for you yet doesn't mean that you won't still develop an allergy.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper
I am going to agree that the worst part of living in Austin is the pollen, and in particular, the Ashe Juniper pollen, which is apparently much more allergy-causing than most pollens. When I lived in Marin County, CA, people used to say "if you didn't have allergies before, you will get then when you move here." So they thought their allergy quotient was high. But from my experience of the last 2 years living in Austin, those folks in CA don't know what an allergy season is compared to here. I have never seen so many miserable people as I have seen this month. Luckily, I only have only mild allergies at this point, but being really disabled by this is so common in Austin, I think our unique pollen mix is a strong contender for the worst part of living here.

Originally Posted by mm57553

I lived here for about 12 years before I developed a cedar allergy. I am miserable - like literally sat down and cried today, because I am so miserable.

I did the testing for the allergy shots, and the doctor said it was one of the strongest reactions to cedar he's ever seen.

So just because they aren't bad for you yet doesn't mean that you won't still develop an allergy.

I think the OP pretty much agreed with you on how bad it can be.

What you have described is comparable to my experiences after moving here from Colorado. It got worse each year, 1-2 bad sinus infections or colds each year.....

until I stared taking allergy shots, and those have helped a great deal. It took 5 years but I'm talking about going from totally debiliating sinus infections and colds, to now where I can control it all with sinus sprays and salt water irrigations (neti pots, etc), and rarely ever get a sinus infection.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by mm57553

I lived here for about 12 years before I developed a cedar allergy. I am miserable - like literally sat down and cried today, because I am so miserable.

Thanks for the cortisone shot info. Our level of suffering is similar. I kept all of us in all day Monday because I was too afraid to go outside as was still dealing with the after-effects of having simply done errands on Sunday. It was so bad (throat, sinuses, sneezing, aches, eyes and skin on fire) I was convinced I was coming down with the flu or something but after a day indoors it was back to just a constant runny nose and gross throat which is was mold does for me on any given day -- my new normal in Austin with the mold count consistently high since summertime.

Just like you, I cannot wait in a doctor's office every day for several weeks with small kiddos to care for, not to mention the cost. Then there's also budgeting for laser eye surgery since I can no longer keep my contacts in due to allergies.