Allergies (Phoenix, Scottsdale: rentals, landscaping, casino)

[cjs123]

Anybody's allergies going bonkers this January? Figure I can't be the only one in the entire Phoenix metro valley with this issue.

Thought perhaps it was a cold but it feels more like allergies, and has been an intermittent thing over the past week.

Unfortunately, my usual OTC med isn't working--at all. The last time I encountered this was late 2011 and I figured it was due to those massive dust walls that blew through, which no doubt brought a lot of stuff with them. Not sure what has me in an uproar this time, however.

[mikejjones1234]

January is a strange time of year for allergies if you are allergic to anything that grows. Maybe it's a touch of the flu or a cold.

[Finger Laker]

yeah .... I usually have a rough time in early December .... this year it wasn't so bad so I thought maybe I was out of the woods

The past 2-3 weeks though have been absolutely brutal ..... nothing is working and I feel like I want to rip my eyes out

[Zathras]

Yes, it has been awful this year. Last year I think it started around mid-Jan, but this year it was a week or so before Christmas. I've been popping Claritin like skittles... an allergist I know recommended I switch to zyrtec for several weeks and see how that goes.

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by cjs123

Anybody's allergies going bonkers this January? Figure I can't be the only one in the entire Phoenix metro valley with this issue.

Thought perhaps it was a cold but it feels more like allergies, and has been an intermittent thing over the past week.

Unfortunately, my usual OTC med isn't working--at all. The last time I encountered this was late 2011 and I figured it was due to those massive dust walls that blew through, which no doubt brought a lot of stuff with them. Not sure what has me in an uproar this time, however.

Might be some food allergy, that can happen anytime of the year. The air pollution has not been very good lately, that can cause some problems.

[AZgarden]

Yes, me too. Sneezing my head off. Thought it was cause I was in a smoky casino which always aggravates my sinus, but I don't feel sick, just sneezing and stuffy, Itchy nose. It will probably develop into a sinus infection which is usually the way it goes.

[cjs123]

I was in the bank yesterday and went on such a sneezing jag I had to hurry out of there. Itchiness in the nose/sinuses has been fierce. I was OK the other night and then stepped outside to look at Jupiter and after I got back inside, I was a mess. In a way it feels like the beginning of a cold but if so I would have moved on from the beginning stage by now (I think), so I figure it's allergies.

Claritin isn't working and last time this happened, Zyrtec and Allegra (prescription) didn't work either. Went on for about 6 weeks that time.

Heading up to the Grand Canyon next week and hoping the change of location may help, if in fact there is something blooming at night/early morning that is making me nuts.

Thanks, and hope everyone feels better soon.

[Galaxie Girl]

Originally Posted by cjs123

Anybody's allergies going bonkers this January? Figure I can't be the only one in the entire Phoenix metro valley with this issue.

Thought perhaps it was a cold but it feels more like allergies, and has been an intermittent thing over the past week.

I live in CA (OC), but we were out there in Scottsdale for the week from Christmas to New Year's, working on rentals we own there. I didn't have any sneezing/sinus issues, but my eyes were absolutely burning during the day! You know the feeling when you try to keep your eyes open and they burn because they're getting dry? Or the burning you get when you get some sunblock in your eye? Felt like that, but stronger. At first I thought it was just the dry air, but I've never had that happen in Scottsdale before (been there at least 8 times, including the same time period the 2 years before), plus, my eyes were watering, so they were definitely getting moist. The only thing that helped was staying indoors (which was only an option at lunch time since we were working on landscaping the whole time), and at night it generally went away. I'm wondering if maybe it was an allergy, although I don't seem to have much allergy problems otherwise.

Anywho, just thought I'd post my potentially-allergy-related issue since I saw this thread.

[leavingutah]

YES!! I have had terrible allergies since about a week or two before Christmas. I thought it was a cold too. This is my first year down here how long before this stops?? I'm going crazy!

[cjs123]

Originally Posted by leavingutah

YES!! I have had terrible allergies since about a week or two before Christmas. I thought it was a cold too. This is my first year down here how long before this stops?? I'm going crazy!

I did read on Accuweather that while pollen and mold counts were low, dust/dander was in the red zone. I don't have pets and vacuumed/dusted thoroughly after putting the holiday decorations away, and just dusted again today. Dusting/vacuuming can kick up allergies for obvious reasons, but it usually settles down quickly.

Still not sure if it isn't partly a light cold too, though it waxes and wanes more like allergies and my head isn't clogged. I'm sure i'll live , it's just weird. Never had a January like this.

Hope you feel better soon!