26 replies to this topic

[Lisa in Folsom]

I am trying a revolutionary approach. Scotch. So far it is working.

[mac_convert]

My routine is very similar! I use the Kirkland brand Zyrtec and haven't noticed a difference and I appreciate the monetary savings. I had a student with really red eyes today from allergies. He was a good sport!

I have always suffered from bad allergies as well and have tried everything. A few years ago I started a new approach to minimize the effects of the medication and the watery eyes/running nose. First take your medication at night before you go to bed. I take a 24 hour Zyrtex. That way it is working when you wake up. If you take your meds in the AM and then go outside within an hour or two the meds have not started working yet and you are exposed to pollen. On really bad days I will take a second pill, if needed. Also, shower twice a day. In the morning, and when you get home from work or after being outside. Get all that stuff of of you before you go to bed. This has not cured everything, but it has really helped. Good luck!

[folsom500]

I have had the tests before but nothing showed up. Also, as one poster said - it would be a pain to have to go to the Dr once a week for shots , plus the likely copay with my insurance. My normal Dr visit co-pay is $40.

I find some relief using a saline sinus spray and more if I use the Neilmed Sinus Rinse daily during the bad times.

In my case - I have sinusitis 24/7 365 days a year but it flares up worse now and in the fall. Luckily I never get a runny nose as it all drains back into my throat.

At least - after my second sinus surgery I do not get the sinus infections that I use to get as often.

And _OH - for the guys- Viagra and beer can increase your sinus pain...

[Carl G]

Be sure to change your pillow cases at least twice a week.

[25or6to4]

I am trying a revolutionary approach. Scotch. So far it is working.

Are you drinking the Scotch?

or snorting it?

I can see how a snort of scotch would make your sinuses immune to anything else they might encounter.

Personally, I use Scotch and Tylenol to fight a cold, works better than Nyquil.

[glad2Bme]

A few years ago, I saw Dr. Oz recommend a nettie pot on the Oprah show. It looks sorta like an aladin's lamp, and you fill it with warm saline water and pour the solution, with head tilted over a sink, into one nostril. The solution will go into the sinuses and then come out the other nostril if done properly! On a follow up show, an audience member said she had been using it for a month, and was free at last from taking allergy medications. Supposedly, if done correctly twice daily, you will rid everything in the path of the saline solution from pollen and contaminants. They said nettie pots can be found at CVS and Walgreens. I've never had problems with allergies, but would definitely try this if I did.

I hope this helps........

[glad2Bme]

A few years ago, I saw Dr. Oz recommend a nettie pot on the Oprah show. It looks sorta like an aladin's lamp, and you fill it with warm saline water and pour the solution, with head tilted over a sink, into one nostril. The solution will go into the sinuses and then come out the other nostril if done properly! On a follow up show, an audience member said she had been using it for a month, and was free at last from taking allergy medications. Supposedly, if done correctly twice daily, you will rid everything in the path of the saline solution from pollen and contaminants. They said nettie pots can be found at CVS and Walgreens. I've never had problems with allergies, but would definitely try this if I did.

I hope this helps........

Ok, I was looking this up on Yahoo for a friend who suffers terribly from allergies-- there is an article by ABC news that says you can get a fatal infection from nasal irrigation if you don't use sterile water! Yikes! Here's a small part of that article......

"If you are irrigating, flushing or rinsing your sinuses, for example, by using a Neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution," Louisiana State epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard said in a statement"Tap water is safe for drinking but not for irrigating your nose."Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose to cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis -- a brain infection with symptoms similar to those of bacterial meningitis. Headache, fever, nausea and stiff neck swiftly give way to confusion, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations. And if left untreated, the infection can cause death within one to 12 days.

Sheesh, if it's not one thing it's another.......

[folsom500]

Ok, I was looking this up on Yahoo for a friend who suffers terribly from allergies-- there is an article by ABC news that says you can get a fatal infection from nasal irrigation if you don't use sterile water! Yikes! Here's a small part of that article......

"If you are irrigating, flushing or rinsing your sinuses, for example, by using a Neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution," Louisiana State epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard said in a statement"Tap water is safe for drinking but not for irrigating your nose."Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose to cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis -- a brain infection with symptoms similar to those of bacterial meningitis. Headache, fever, nausea and stiff neck swiftly give way to confusion, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations. And if left untreated, the infection can cause death within one to 12 days.

Sheesh, if it's not one thing it's another.......

This is also important if you use a sinus rinse such as the one I recommended. It works the same and one should always use boiled water that is left to cool enough...
I have never tried the NETI but use the sinus rinse often...

[Darth Lefty]

I was miserable the last few days but it seems to be tapering off.

[folsom500]

I was miserable the last few days but it seems to be tapering off.

considering how my Silver Car is now Yellow from pollen ( washing it today ) not surprised everyone is feeling it especially with the winds we have had the last few days...

[Lisa in Folsom]

Are you drinking the Scotch?

or snorting it?

I can see how a snort of scotch would make your sinuses immune to anything else they might encounter.

Personally, I use Scotch and Tylenol to fight a cold, works better than Nyquil.

I was drinking it. It seems wasteful to snort good scotch. Maybe cheap stuff. I have done the saline rinse thing and the shiver of the saline is nasty. I don't think that I could do it on a regular basis.

Success!!!! The Zyrtec is doing the trick! It took a couple of days to fully kick in and I have been doing the hair washing at night thing which seems to have helped as well. You guys are fabulous - thanks for the recommendations!

[Darth Lefty]

Even if you are drinking Scotch you can still call it a snort.