Dealing with allergic rhinitis?

Daniel Booth88 said:But honestly, I don't get how you can just suddenly develop an allergy once you're all grown up. 😠

Sadly, you can become allergic to basically anything at any point in your life...

Robert Long3 said:Unfortunately, you can develop allergies to just about anything at any time...

Ugh... as if I didn't have enough going on, now I just need to become allergic to pet dander too, right? 😢

Just stick to your yoga and breathing exercises... you'll be fine.

Mine started up this past weekend. It’s raining now, though, so I finally have some peace...

Anyway, has anyone actually tried Letitia?

I picked some up today after searching for anything better than Claritin, so I'm curious if it actually works for anyone. Personally, Claritin, Rhinocort, Fexofenadine, and all that other junk hiding behind the same generic names don't do a thing for me—not even a little bit.

It’s about as effective—or ineffective—as Claritin and the other brands you mentioned.

Antihistamines generally work, provided you start taking them a week before the ragweed season kicks in and if your rhinitis isn't too severe.

Otherwise, it's hard to see anything helping besides corticosteroid sprays.

Though, some people find relief with leukotriene antagonists (Singulair is available here)... have you tried that yet?

Ugh, I am actually going to lose my mind!!!! 😬

I’m saving my Singulair for my last line of defense. My plan is to start taking it right before August 15th—just in time for Ragweed season—and I’ll probably need it for about six weeks. That means two boxes, which comes out to $233 (I have a private prescription). Honestly, I haven't seen a pulmonologist to get their official take on whether I really need it, and I just don't have the patience to go through the whole "evaluation" process only to be told I don't need it... not to mention how much I dread doctors and blood work. One time years ago, they concluded I was a "heavyweight" allergy sufferer, and that was enough for me...

Fall isn't usually too bad for me, though. After June 1st, things generally settle down regarding my allergies. If this Letitia doesn't do the trick, I'm switching over to Fexofenadine; I already cleared that with my doctor.

I do have some nasal steroids, but I'm not exactly thrilled with using them (plus, what good are they if my eyes are still red and swollen, and my throat is itching like crazy?!)

Surviving the fall is easy; the real nightmare is autumn...
I even bought an AC unit so I wouldn't have to open the balcony doors or any windows in the apartment. 😁 I'm thinking of just staying indoors for an entire month—all through September! 😁

Oh, right—does anyone know if those Livestrong eye drops are actually any good? I have them on hand. The ones I used previously were basically useless; they barely gave me ten minutes of relief.

And what about that Allergol cream? I haven't tried it yet, and I really don't want to throw my money down the drain if it's a dud...

Sorry for all the questions!

I've just decided that this summer, I'm attacking these allergies with everything I've got.

Have you ever given Fexofenadine a shot?

Not yet, my doctor suggested I give Letitia a shot instead.

I actually went looking for some Intel, too, but she mentioned they don't even carry it on the market anymore 😢 Honestly, I think it would have helped quite a bit with this asthma I've been developing lately...

I used to take Intel back when I was a kid (the Intel + Gnadion spray combo), and it really did the trick, though applying that Intel three times a day was such a massive pain...

Casey Palmer5 said:Ugh, I’m going to lose my mind!!!! 😬

... so two boxes = $233 (I have a private prescription). Basically, I don't have a pulmonologist's opinion stating I should be taking this, and I don't have the patience to go through the whole "evaluation" process just to end up without that recommendation.

Oh, please, don't be such a chicken. 😁
Just grab your old allergy test results, head to a pulmonologist, and tell them you've been using Singulair and it works—they'll prescribe it for you. There is absolutely no reason to pay out of pocket when it's already on the approved drug list.

Intel is an incredibly archaic way to manage asthma; honestly, I think only old-school pediatricians still prescribe it because they're overly cautious about corticosteroids.

I actually put in some effort and went back through your old posts regarding Ragweed, and I think your perspective on your own symptoms is slightly misguided. From what I can gather, during Ragweed season, you aren't just dealing with rhinitis—you're having asthma attacks (which usually go hand-in-hand). I know you have an aversion to medication, but when it's necessary, you have to take it. If you are suffering from nighttime asthma attacks during Ragweed season (which I read that you are), there is no room for debate: you should be using inhaled corticosteroids at that time. Any potential side effects are negligible compared to the reality of struggling to breathe for 6 to 8 weeks straight. Besides, get a spirometry test done during that period; you'll likely see that even outside of an active attack, your expiratory volume is diminished. If you maintain this state for years, that reduction becomes permanent, and you'll suffer lasting lung damage—regardless of the fact that it "only" lasts two months of the year.
By delaying proper treatment, you risk ending up in status asthmaticus... and then you'll end up needing much higher doses of corticosteroids than if you had simply started with smaller doses on time. Think about that before summer hits. 😉

kodak 😁

Thanks so much for such an informative reply and for taking the time to help me out.

The only real headache is that I have absolutely no idea where all my medical records are hiding. I know exactly what I’m allergic to in my head, but I don't have anything in writing. Back when I was a kid in '89, everything was fine, so I only ever saw a pediatric allergist instead of a regular GP—mostly because I didn't need a referral back then. My entire file is probably sitting in some dusty archive at a General Hospital somewhere. It’s definitely not in my current patient file since I went through a doctor change a few years ago, and they only kept a tiny portion of it.

Right now, I might be able to get some testing done for free at a local clinic since there are some students practicing there. Honestly, it would be great to finally have it all in black and white. Plus, I can get a prick test done—that way I won't pass out from pure terror 😬—and maybe even a spirometry test if I feel like it (though I'm sure the results will be fine since my bronchoconstriction has cleared up).

As for the asthma stuff, that started last year and it hasn't been fun at all, so I’m planning on starting medication soon (which I haven't really done before). I’ve already made up my mind to start "drugging up" once September hits. I'm just a little nervous about facing the doctor 😲

I was also thinking about picking up a peak flow meter; they aren't that expensive. My breathing is great right now, but once ragweed season kicks in, it’ll be a total disaster... I already know I won't be able to exhale properly.

Thanks again!

In the meantime, I ended up coming down with a bout of sinusitis and had to finish a round of antibiotics—but things are finally starting to look up.

On another note, I’ve noticed that Fexofenadine seems to work better for me than Claritin does. Though, honestly, I am just completely over taking all these sprays and pills every single day. It’s gross. 🙄

Steam inhalations help too, but the thought of having to deal with that every day for ten days straight... I just can't be bothered.

Look, I don't deal with anything too crazy regarding my sinuses—it’s usually just a little clear runny nose every once in a while. 😁

It’s such a hassle, though. A close friend of mine deals with chronic sinusitis, and she has a miserable time all through the winter...

I’ve been dealing with chronic rhinitis for quite some time now—it's one of those persistent nuisances that occasionally decides to migrate and mess with my sinuses too. 🙄

I’ve got a dust and dust mite allergy, but it doesn't hit my nose or lungs—it hits my skin. The itching is enough to drive anyone crazy. I've been taking Fexofenadine for three years now, and it keeps things under control. But the second I stop? The itch comes right back. 🙂

Basically, does anyone know if there's a way to actually cure this?

I honestly can't leave the house without a constant fit of sneezing, sniffing, and coughing. It's a total disaster. I picked up some Belocin the other day and it helps, but I can't just live on that forever.😢
Does anyone know of any herbal remedies that might help ease the symptoms?
Thanks!
👋

There isn't really a permanent cure for this. You'll probably have to stick with those pills for two or three months if they actually start working for you, or maybe you could just try using a Taffen nasal spray instead. It's just my opinion.

Kenneth Sullivan58 said:Basically, does anyone actually know how to cure this?

If they did, they'd probably be walking away with a Nobel Prize by now.😉

Unfortunately, there isn't really a cure

but you do have a few paths you could take—you could try taking antihistamines like Claritin, look into allergy shots (though those can take five or six years just to start working, if they work at all), or talk to your doctor about getting an antihistamine nasal spray instead...

I ended up going with the spray, using it twice a day and it's been wonderful, it’s called Nasonex

otherwise I'd probably be stuck indoors from May through October since I'm allergic to grass, maple, and jasmine

There’s no permanent cure for this, you can really only manage the symptoms.

There are so many options out there, so just try to find whatever works best for you.
I’ve been using Letitia lately, and honestly, it hasn't been too bad...

My allergy season kicks off in about 30 days or so

Up until now, I've just been sticking to Fexofenadine tablets, Ventolin, and some nasal rinses.

Does anyone have any solid recommendations for stuff that actually works—better treatments, prevention, ways to ease the symptoms...