Miserable! - Allergies Message Board

cmsaint · 07-22-2004, 06:41 PM

Im new here and Im 27 and my whole life Ive been a walking allergy time bomb! I started taking allergy shots when I was 4 and it helped but we were told to move so we moved in the south and it helped alot but not completly. I had my usual sneeze here and there in the summer but lived with it. Then I got my kids a cat

what a mistake cause I knew I was allergic to them but figured Id just have to take something for it. I went to the allergist and was tested and he couldnt believe I was allergic to everything under the sun here in Florida

! He gave me Claritan and Nasonex but I havent yet taken the Nasonex cause those sprays scare me

so I just take the Claritan and thats done NO GOOD

! Ive had a constant sinus headache for almost 3 months now and congested all day. Ive heard that Zertek is suppose to be alot better, is this true did it help you?? My main problem is congestion

that is causing horrible headaches. Would the Zertek help that? Thanks a bunch

FMY · 07-24-2004, 10:46 AM

I am also allergic to everything under the sun. I used to live in FL but now I live in MI, yikes! I have tried every type of allergy meds and was told the only thing that would work is the shots, but I can't bring myself to do it. I suffer through by combining over the counter meds with perscription.

reader1 · 07-24-2004, 10:49 AM

Zyrtec, claritin/clarinex, and allegra are the only safe non-sedating antihistamines on the market. If you have that much congestion you might want to try claritin-d, which has some sudafed in it--a decongestent.

I don't know why you are scared of nasonex. There are probably 10s of thousands of folks in inhaled nasal steroids, which are much safer than taking anything orally. You have to take it every day to see any benefit but those medicines provide a lot of help to a lot of people. They are anti-inflammatory, which means they will decrease the inflammation caused by the allergic response - the inflammation traps mucus and makes one more congested.