Dealing with pollen and dust allergies...

Casey Stewart7, why don't you just go see a doctor?

Emma, you're totally right👍 I misspoke there—what I meant was that you can't just look at fatigue as a symptom and call it an allergy, or something along those lines...

Also, Casey Stewart7, try one of those nasal rinsing methods mentioned above (like a Neti Pot or a syringe)... I've been doing it for three days now and it honestly makes breathing so much easier...

wanderingangler13 said:Casey Stewart7, why don't you just go see a doctor?

I definitely plan on seeing a doctor—but since it's a holiday weekend, I won't be able to get in until Tuesday. Honestly, I’d rather not spend my time dragging myself to the ER; it doesn't feel serious enough for that. Thanks for the advice, though—I'll definitely keep it in mind. As for how I'm feeling, nothing has really changed... My throat isn't bothering me anymore and the fatigue has finally let up, but my nose is just getting worse and worse.

Hey everyone, Happy Easter! 🙂 Just figured I’d jump in here and share what’s been happening on my end.

For the longest time, allergy meds just weren't cutting it anymore, so last year I decided to try a different tactic and actually work on my immune system. I started eating better—cutting back on the junk food and leaning more into whole foods, organic stuff, fruits, veggies, herbal teas, vitamins, hitting the gym, all that jazz.
Honestly, I felt great, and when allergy season finally rolled around, I barely noticed it. I had one tiny hiccup around April 1st—which is usually when everything goes to hell for me because I think the Birch starts blooming—but compared to this time last year, when I genuinely thought I was going to die from misery, it was nothing.

Fast forward to this year... I let things slide again, and well, here we are. I've been dealing with constant runny nose for a month now.

I have a buddy who’s been fighting allergies his entire life. Meds didn't do much for him either, and like someone mentioned earlier, long-term antihistamines can be sketchy since they basically suppress your body's natural defense system, which can lead to other issues. Plus, those corticosteroids can mess with your heart and bones if you use them too long. He was losing his mind because he couldn't function or even get through a workday, especially during ragweed season, so his wife went to the pharmacy and asked for something to boost his immunity. He picked up some Beta-Glucan and swore by it. It actually worked for him. The catch is, it’s pretty pricey. You take it in cycles. For the first month, he spent about $233, and then I think the dosage gets cut in half for the next two months before you take a break. At least, that's how he explained it. And you really have to start taking it a few months before the allergies even show up.

I also use a Neti pot. Picked it up at some yoga studio for about $70-$27. It’s not some magic wand, but it definitely helps. The big thing is making sure you blow all the water out of your nose afterward, otherwise you risk getting chronic sinus infections. Everywhere tells you to use non-iodized salt, but apparently, in the US, there are certain regulations regarding how it's sold in stores (some weird legal thing, I don't know...). I tried using regular iodized sea salt from the grocery store once and absolutely torched my nasal lining. So, I ordered some non-iodized stuff online, and man, it’s incomparable. It’s cheap, lasts forever, works better, and is way gentler on your nose.

A bit of a long one, I know, but hopefully, something in here helps someone out. 🙂

As far as doctors go, some people really just operate in their own little bubbles. About four years ago, I was dealing with this nasty cold that eventually turned into a coughing fit so bad I couldn't sleep or do anything. I went to see a doctor, she listened to my lungs and gave me the whole "it could be bronchitis, or maybe it isn't, maybe it's this, maybe it's that" song and dance. Basically, she just handed me a dose of antibiotics, one pack of Fexofenadine, and some Ventolin to quiet the cough down. No follow-up tests, no allergy panels, nothing. Ever since then, my allergies and respiratory issues have been a total mess. Then, about a year and a half later, during a totally random routine checkup for something else entirely, it turns out I actually have a chronic condition—something that likely started because of that "exhaustive" diagnosis from my brilliant doctor. Honestly, the woman once told me a broken bone would heal fine just because I'd "bumped it," until I ended up at the ER myself a few days later, only to find out the bone was indeed broken and already starting to set incorrectly because we waited too long 👎. You really have to trust your gut and demand more testing when things don't feel right...

Hey!

Thanks for sharing your experience, it’s actually pretty helpful...

Can you shoot me a DM and let me know where you ordered that non-irritating salt?🙂

I really hope you switched doctors...

wanderingangler13, you've got a PM!

fadedstag36 said:As far as doctors go, some people really just operate in their own little bubbles. About four years ago, I was dealing with this nasty cold that eventually turned into a coughing fit so bad I couldn't sleep or do anything. I went to see a doctor, she listened to my lungs and gave me the whole "it could be bronchitis, or maybe it isn't, maybe it's this, maybe it's that" song and dance. Basically, she just handed me a dose of antibiotics, one pack of Fexofenadine, and some Ventolin to quiet the cough down. No follow-up tests, no allergy panels, nothing. Ever since then, my allergies and respiratory issues have been a total mess. Then, about a year and a half later, during a totally random routine checkup for something else entirely, it turns out I actually have a chronic condition—something that likely started because of that "exhaustive" diagnosis from my brilliant doctor. Honestly, the woman once told me a broken bone would heal fine just because I'd "bumped it," until I ended up at the ER myself a few days later, only to find out the bone was indeed broken and already starting to set incorrectly because we waited too long 👎. You really have to trust your gut and demand more testing when things don't feel right...

I've had similar experiences with doctors, and I'm sure most people feel the same way. My doctor is incredibly stingy with referrals, which is beyond frustrating—plus, I can't just transfer my medical records easily since the next clinic is much further away from my house. Every single time I see her, regardless of what's wrong, she just prescribes Keflex—it seems like she doesn't know any other medication. If she actually does prescribe something else, she has to pull out a little handbook to check what it's for and if it's even on the approved list. Because of all this, I don't even want to bother seeing her anymore, because I already know she’ll just tell me nothing is wrong and that I’m imagining things again. And even if, by some miracle, her answer were different, I don't think I could even go get the allergy tests now... or am I wrong about that?

Honestly, general practitioners can be such a joke sometimes. It doesn’t even matter what you're specifically allergic to—if your nose starts running, it's because everything is blooming, so why act like identifying the exact plant species actually matters? I deal with allergic rhinitis myself, and after getting tested, I completely forgot what I was actually reacting to, though I definitely feel the symptoms hit me hard once they start. Of course, people with food allergies have to get tested for specific ingredients, obviously. Catherine, I heard acupuncture helps a ton, but I haven't given it a shot yet.

Casey Stewart7, why don't you just find a new doctor?

I found a physician at a Stela Medical Clinic near my place, and I’ll probably make the switch to her..

fadedheron892 said:Honestly, general practitioners can be such a joke sometimes. It doesn’t even matter what you're specifically allergic to—if your nose starts running, it's because everything is blooming, so why act like identifying the exact plant species actually matters? I deal with allergic rhinitis myself, and after getting tested, I completely forgot what I was actually reacting to, though I definitely feel the symptoms hit me hard once they start. Of course, people with food allergies have to get tested for specific ingredients, obviously. Catherine, I heard acupuncture helps a ton, but I haven't given it a shot yet.

I haven't tried acupuncture either... honestly, I don't even know where to find a decent acupuncturist here in San Diego... I'll have to do some digging. I've seen people on this forum talking about it, though—everyone seems to rave about the places in New York City.👍

Casey Stewart7, I honestly don't see why you wouldn't just go get the allergy tests done.

It’s just better to actually know what you're reacting to—like, which plants are blooming during which part of the year—so you can actually prepare before next season hits. Whether you want to try immunotherapy or just need to start your antihistamines on schedule, knowing ahead of time is key. By the time the symptoms actually kick in, it's usually too late to find a solution that actually works.

So, how does this desensitization process actually work? And what’s the damage like—how much does it cost? Basically, how does the whole thing go down...😕

I see many of you dealing with similar issues to what I’ve been facing. For a few years now, whenever I travel down south to places like San Diego or even further into the Southern US, things go downhill fast. I deal with sore throats, shortness of breath—literally feeling like I'm choking—extreme exhaustion, and sometimes even a fever. Two years ago, while I was vacationing by the coast, these symptoms hit me out of nowhere. Within hours, I ended up in the ER. I was on antibiotics for an entire week because of a massive throat and tonsil infection. My inhaler was my only lifeline back then, and I had to use effervescent tablets just to help clear the mucus. Between the intense inflammation and the phlegm getting stuck in my throat, I actually lost my breath a few times. It was pure horror. I wouldn't wish that nightmare on anyone.

The moment I get back here to Scandinavia, I feel completely healthy again. I went to the doctor, ran all the tests—nothing. They couldn't find a single thing wrong. Even back then, I told them I suspected I was allergic to something present in the US that simply doesn't exist here.

Since last year, I’ve been allergic to Birch pollen (which is everywhere here), and that allergy has triggered reactions to green apples, raw carrots, walnuts, and hazelnuts too. Last summer was absolute misery. Even though I used medication, I started taking it too late since I hadn't been allergic to those foods before.
Thankfully, regarding the allergy I've been fighting since last year, breathing isn't the main issue. Instead, I get heavy cold-like symptoms and severe eye irritation, which is my biggest struggle 😢 .

Ultimately, I decided to try alternative medicine and visit a homeopath. I go for check-ups every two or three weeks, follow the protocols, and use plant-based remedies. I can already feel my body regaining its strength. On top of that, I am working hard to boost my immune system. My goal is to use alternative medicine to finally defeat this nasty allergy so I don't have to rely on antihistamines and other drugs for the rest of my life.

If anyone is interested in what my homeopath prescribed, I can write it down.

By the way... as I mentioned, my eyes have been my biggest problem since last year. Blurred vision and white discharge running from my eyes were part of my daily routine. Since starting with the homeopath, the blurred vision has vanished, and there is much less of that white discharge (it looks like white slime, incredibly irritating and disgusting).
My goal this year is to avoid any doctor-prescribed pills entirely and focus solely on alternative medicine and strengthening my immunity. Based on my homeopath's assessment, I expect at least a 50% improvement compared to last summer.

silvercanyon7, please tell me what exactly your homeopath prescribed... I'm genuinely curious. Can you walk me through how their whole process actually works?

Lately, this allergic cough has been absolutely killing me at night (I can't sleep at all)... Thank God I'm not working right now, otherwise I'd be trying to catch up on sleep during the day while doing meditation techniques just to get my energy back. Honestly, I don't know how I'd manage... I'm heading in for blood work this Wednesday, but I doubt it'll show anything since I don't have a fever and feel fine during the day... It's just this cough at night that drives me insane. I'm getting sick of my own constant overanalyzing... But I guess it's easier to vent here in the middle of the night (while everyone else is presumably asleep)...😢

silvercanyon7 said:I see many of you dealing with similar issues to what I’ve been facing. For a few years now, whenever I travel down south to places like San Diego or even further into the Southern US, things go downhill fast. I deal with sore throats, shortness of breath—literally feeling like I'm choking—extreme exhaustion, and sometimes even a fever. Two years ago, while I was vacationing by the coast, these symptoms hit me out of nowhere. Within hours, I ended up in the ER. I was on antibiotics for an entire week because of a massive throat and tonsil infection. My inhaler was my only lifeline back then, and I had to use effervescent tablets just to help clear the mucus. Between the intense inflammation and the phlegm getting stuck in my throat, I actually lost my breath a few times. It was pure horror. I wouldn't wish that nightmare on anyone.

The moment I get back here to Scandinavia, I feel completely healthy again. I went to the doctor, ran all the tests—nothing. They couldn't find a single thing wrong. Even back then, I told them I suspected I was allergic to something present in the US that simply doesn't exist here.

Since last year, I’ve been allergic to Birch pollen (which is everywhere here), and that allergy has triggered reactions to green apples, raw carrots, walnuts, and hazelnuts too. Last summer was absolute misery. Even though I used medication, I started taking it too late since I hadn't been allergic to those foods before.
Thankfully, regarding the allergy I've been fighting since last year, breathing isn't the main issue. Instead, I get heavy cold-like symptoms and severe eye irritation, which is my biggest struggle 😢 .

Ultimately, I decided to try alternative medicine and visit a homeopath. I go for check-ups every two or three weeks, follow the protocols, and use plant-based remedies. I can already feel my body regaining its strength. On top of that, I am working hard to boost my immune system. My goal is to use alternative medicine to finally defeat this nasty allergy so I don't have to rely on antihistamines and other drugs for the rest of my life.

If anyone is interested in what my homeopath prescribed, I can write it down.

By the way... as I mentioned, my eyes have been my biggest problem since last year. Blurred vision and white discharge running from my eyes were part of my daily routine. Since starting with the homeopath, the blurred vision has vanished, and there is much less of that white discharge (it looks like white slime, incredibly irritating and disgusting).
My goal this year is to avoid any doctor-prescribed pills entirely and focus solely on alternative medicine and strengthening my immunity. Based on my homeopath's assessment, I expect at least a 50% improvement compared to last summer.

bwooo🙂

Hey Catherine, just go get a spirometry test while you're at it, just to be safe because of that cough

I figured I'd just jump in here instead of starting a whole new thread. Last year, I started dealing with this sneezing fits—like, nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. To make matters more complicated, I have a pet rabbit at home who got pretty sick during that same window, so I was running to the vet every single day. That's when I noticed it: every time I handled him, my eyes would start itching like crazy and the sneezing would kick in. Plus, if he accidentally scratched me, I’d end up with these little bumps on my skin, almost like a stinging nettle burn. Eventually, my mom stepped in to take over the pet care so I wouldn't have to struggle, mostly because once my eyes start itching, I’m out of commission for days. Then, this past spring, I did a massive deep clean of my entire apartment—you know, the whole "spring cleaning" marathon—and suddenly I was sneezing uncontrollably, coughing, and my nose was just running non-stop. My first thought was, "Okay, it's definitely the dust." But here's the kicker: back in September of last year, I went in for a skin allergy test, and it came back 100% negative. So now I'm stuck wondering... is there some kind of more sensitive test out there? It feels totally surreal to have these intense reactions when my tests say I'm not allergic to anything!

wanderingangler13 said:Casey Stewart7, why don't you just find a new doctor?

I found a physician at a Stela Medical Clinic near my place, and I’ll probably make the switch to her..

I have a clinic right by my house too, so it’s super convenient for me to go there since it's so close—plus, it rarely gets crowded, which is a nice change of pace compared to that big main one downtown. Honestly, the doctor isn't exactly my favorite, but things might improve since she's currently specializing to become an ophthalmologist.

fadedstag36 said:Casey Stewart7, I honestly don't see why you wouldn't just go get the allergy tests done.

It’s just better to actually know what you're reacting to—like, which plants are blooming during which part of the year—so you can actually prepare before next season hits. Whether you want to try immunotherapy or just need to start your antihistamines on schedule, knowing ahead of time is key. By the time the symptoms actually kick in, it's usually too late to find a solution that actually works.

Yeah, but what I'm really wondering is—can you actually go get allergy testing done this time of year, or should I just hold off until at least the fall?