Can't believe after all this time I'm having ot ask for allergy help! Anyway, done the shots 3 times in my life. Finished up the last time about 3 years ago. All going fine. I always have problems in the winter with rhinitis because my sinuses HATE to have the heat on. So I'm on Zyrtec in the day and a benedryl at night to keep it at bay.
This spring, right after turning the heat off for the year (YEA!), I had a horrible allergy attack! First one since going on the shots last time. Took about 4 days to get it totally under control - doubled up on the zyrtec and added the benedryl at night. But ever since, I've had this PND that will not go away. I'm only taking zyrtec. I loved the Rhinocort inhaler when it was on the market but when they discontinued it in the inhaler form, I quit using it. I really don't care for nasal sprays that you can't blow out after using! (Just a personal "thing" since childhood).
So, here I am with new insurance which is crappy and I can't see my allergist till August. Any suggestions in the meantime? I'm not congested - it drains great! That's the problem. Should I try a decongestant? Appreciate any suggestions as I am sort of at a loss since this hasn't happened in years and I just used the Rhinocort inhaler back then. Thanks!
Can't believe after all this time I'm having ot ask for allergy help! Anyway, done the shots 3 times in my life. Finished up the last time about 3 years ago. All going fine. I always have problems in the winter with rhinitis because my sinuses HATE to have the heat on. So I'm on Zyrtec in the day and a benedryl at night to keep it at bay.
This spring, right after turning the heat off for the year (YEA!), I had a horrible allergy attack! First one since going on the shots last time. Took about 4 days to get it totally under control - doubled up on the zyrtec and added the benedryl at night. But ever since, I've had this PND that will not go away. I'm only taking zyrtec. I loved the Rhinocort inhaler when it was on the market but when they discontinued it in the inhaler form, I quit using it. I really don't care for nasal sprays that you can't blow out after using! (Just a personal "thing" since childhood).
So, here I am with new insurance which is crappy and I can't see my allergist till August. Any suggestions in the meantime? I'm not congested - it drains great! That's the problem. Should I try a decongestant? Appreciate any suggestions as I am sort of at a loss since this hasn't happened in years and I just used the Rhinocort inhaler back then. Thanks!
You could take a hot shower for 2 days straight and spit out the PND. Sorry. I have the drip now too. WHENEVER i first feel the PND - then i know i am in for a lousy time. There is nothing i can do. Sometimes i feel i just need to surrender to it. I stay inside. I netty pot. But i dont take the decongestants anymore. I am afraid that the phlegm will just get solidified in my chest. I am 59yrs old. I had allergies up till i was 15yrs old. Then at 53 i got them back. And did i ever. Pollen. No wonder i didnt go out much. LOL, I always loved dentist offices - now i know why. I dont even like nature! I took Allegra and i didn't think that worked well so the MD put me on Singulair. After 9 days i realized it was a mistake. I am going back on Allegra. I also take Spiriva and Azamanex. The latter has been helpful. It even masked some of the allergy s/s. I have had 2 echo and 1 cardiolyte stress test in the last 5 months. I keep confusing this pressure in my chest with cardio problem. I keep doing well on the tests and they tell me its asthma. I am not convinced. I have asthma 24/7 every day now for 5 months? Tichou, i wish i could be more help. I have tried all kinds of foods - they dont help. Extra sleep - but it doesn't end the PND. I have spent 6yrs researching this. And 1,486 different medications later -i am not much further knowledgable re: its causes than before. I sure don't want to take any more antibiotics. I think they harmed my immune system. Let us know anything new you try. I know i will be curious. Ever see those horses in Central Park trodding along slowly pulling a carriage? The horse has a its mouth covered with a feeder bag or something. Maybe i will harness myself with one of those for 24hrs and place a mixture of vaseline, eucalpytus, snake tail and sharks tooth in the little satchel attached to my nose. I will see if anything changes. I will not forget to chant. Its probably important.
You could try the decongestant for a week or two to see if it helps.
I agree with you about the loss of the nasal inhalers. They were my favorite too.
If you do end up needing to try a nasal spray, I like the dispenser on the Astelin. Flonase is a good steady generic though.
Are you able to tolerate a nasal wash? If so, that may help a bit.
Maybe a nasal saline spray? There are some of those you could blow back out after. I really like OTC Xlear. It has Xylilol that helps keep bacteria from "sticking".
I'd think you should have another year or two before you need to worry about the immunotherapy 'wearing off'. My allergiest have always said about 5 years of shots and 5 years off.
If you really can't tolerate any nasal sprays and the decongestant doesn't work, you may want to try adding a second allergy medication to get things back under control. Adding Singulair to my Allergra helped because they were attacking the allergies in different ways. You could see if your PCP would give you a prescription as you wait for your allergy appointment.
Mountain Reader: Thanks for your reply. Some good ideas. I think I'll give the decongestant a try first. I do use a saline spray - Ayr - and it has helped some. I usuallyget about 10 years out of my shots before I even start having to take an antihistamine regularly. However, my doc has told me that the shots tend to work less well in older (YIKES! Is that me???) people.
I added Singulair several years ago as I was having some asthma issues when mowing the grass. I never noticed any difference after 2 months on it so discontinued it. Asthma finally got under better control and I don't have the issue any more. I can always take 2 zyrtec a day...my doc has blessed that so I may try it if a few days of a decongestant don't work. ( I sure do miss my Rhinocort inhaler!)
Odd thing yesterday, after lunch I stopped and bought 3 of these soft peppermint "balls" that they sell at the Quick Mart. All sugary puff. The PND has been better by about 1/2or more since! Peppermint as a cure for PND??????
Just a suggestion along the "peppermint" lines. Have you ever tried Ponaris nasal oil. It has a menthol kind of smell/taste,(My allergist jokes that it's like putting a christmas tree up your nose!) it works great for dry winter nose, but I use it year round since my nasal surgery because my nose is always pretty dry, and it does seem to help with congestion/drip. Just a suggestion. It does take some getting used to the smell/taste, but you don't need to use much of it. In my area they keep it behind the pharmacy counter but it is OTC. It's about 12 bucks a bottle, but it lasts a while.
Just a suggestion. Feel better.
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