Hi everyone,

This is my first posting here. I just wanted to share my story and see if anyone can relate.
First of all, I never have allergy problems until my sophomore year in college, which would have been in 1998. That year, I was constantly congested and fatigued; even my bowels were "off" (something like IBS); it wasn't until close to the end of the school year that I just happened to look under my dorm room mattres and discover a large patch of green mold spread along the particle board and in the fabric of the mattress.
Since then, it seems I am super-sensitive to allergins in the air. While I haven't been tested for allergies, here are my symptoms:
1. I feel the worst in the morning. No pain, just congestion. Basically, I feel as though someone punched me in the face. My nasal passages are almost always clogged, and it proceeds to drain once I get up and moving in the morning. I also sneeze a lot when I wake up. The discharge is clear.
2. This congestion comes and goes throughout the day, but is always the worst when I wake up in the morning.
3. I look fatigued and old. My face seems to sag, and I have dark circles under my eyes. I have no energy at all. I am 27 but I feel like I'm about 70. Basically, I feel like I have a chronic cold.
4. I am currently residing in my childhood home with my parents. My old room has been privy to numerous water damage in the the walls over the years. I have had carpeting in the room for over 20 years. Meanwhile, yesterday, my parents finally took out the carpet --and discovered two large patches of brown and black mold that had been absorbed in the particle board for who knows how long. Needless to say, they are going to get rid of the particle board, try to figure out the source of the leak in the wall, and put in a new floor (no carpet this time).
Also, my parents have a wood-burning furnace; we live out in the country on a gravel road, and our house is old and, because we live near a natural waterway, seems privy to constant water problems, especially in the spring. We also have a cat(whom I love, but have recently become somewhat allergic to) who lives in our den-like basement and isn't allowed upstairs, but nonetheless I wonder if he conributes to my allergy problem).
5. So, I spent last night in my sister's old room and woke up congested once again (it seems like I get congested no matter where I sleep).
6. I am currently on the drug Lexapro (10 mg. a day) to relieve symptoms of ongoing depression/anxiety. Though those specific symptoms have lessened, the ongoing fatigue and "gray" feeling I get day after day is still not diminished. I would love to take an antihistamine like Benedryl (which has helped in the past); however, Benedryl is on the list of drugs I shouldn't take while also taking an SSRI.
Only very occasionally do I not feel allergy symptoms. For example, one day I was visiting a friend at his apartment (wood floors, a couple small area rugs, new furniture); and had no symptoms at all. Air conditioning also seems to help a great deal.
So, I just wonder if anyone else can relate to any or all of this. I'm wondering if my depression may well be because of my allergies rather than something requiring separate treatment. I say this only because while Lexapro takes the "edge" off my emotional/anxiety issues, it hasn't really helped the general fatigue and the fact I feel not at all vibrant and too old for my age. I've been on Lexapro since December of last year.
Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks for reading.

Sara from Iowa

I can relate to the feeling tired and congested, especially in the morning and at night. For the most part, since getting put on prescription medication for allergies and buying some HEPA purifiers, mine have been better. However, last weekend they were absolutely horrible and I still am not feeling real good.
I think it's possible some of the depression is caused by allergies, especially if you are allergic to something you're dealing with on a daily basis.
Have you checked into HEPA purifiers? I have one in my bedroom, one in my living room, and one in my bathroom (my downstairs neighbors smoked and it was coming up through my bathroom the most), and they have helped a lot.

It sounds like you a very allergic to mold and possibly dustmites. I can relate to how you feel. Mold allergies especially can make you really miserable. When I lived in SOuth Carolina my summers were miserable because of all the mold in the air. You need to be frim with your doctor that you don't just have the sniffles, that it is affecting your quality of life, and get a referral to an allergist. You need to find out exactly what you are allergic to so you can avoid exposure, and also possibly get allergy shots.

Since then, it seems I am super-sensitive to allergins in the air.

It seems that, once we get sensitized, by either a bad cold, or an exposure, that sensitization stays with us.

1. I feel the worst in the morning. No pain, just congestion. Basically, I feel as though someone punched me in the face. My nasal passages are almost always clogged, and it proceeds to drain once I get up and moving in the morning. I also sneeze a lot when I wake up. The discharge is clear.
2. This congestion comes and goes throughout the day, but is always the worst when I wake up in the morning.

One of the worst problems for allergy sufferers is wall to wall carpeting. Another significant problem is upholstered furniture. However, to me, the worst of all is the bed, because an allergic person has hours of contact with the bed and with bedding.

Meanwhile, yesterday, my parents finally took out the carpet --and discovered two large patches of brown and black mold that had been absorbed in the particle board for who knows how long.

Getting rid of the carpet was a good idea. An alternative would be throw rugs that are small enough to be washed in the washing machine.

My solution to the nasty allergic effects of sleeping in bed is a little extreme. I sleep on a leather recliner without any blankets or pillows, and just in shorts. I've got a heater on both sides of the recliner to keep me warm. In my case, I've got other health problems, such as advanced heart disease. Sleeping in the recliner significantly improves my energy levels, allergies and other symptoms.

Best of luck finding solutions to your health problems! :wave:

Since you say you notice this first thing every morning, i'd give serious consideration to what you wash your sheets in. I changed what i used (natural, rather than toxic bleach) and it helped right away. Altho, it sounds like you have several issues going on - surely allergic to mold. but you can stay on top of it once you kill it around the home.

A very similar thing happened to me. I'm 28, and after months of suffering worsening allergies and fatigue we finally found mold growing in the furnace/ventilation system of my former house. Even after moving, I found my allergies had become so super-sensitive from the mold exposure that I still feel horrible a lot. It is so frustrating because I was perfectly healthy before this all started. I've actually found that the allergy medicine I was taking was making me much sicker than I felt off of the medicine. But, I have had to mostly quit eating cheese/dairy because I have some milk allergy. However, the mold factor in these things I think is also a problem. What is really terrible is that I get really really tired and sick if I drink beer or wine in particular, but all alcohol in general :( I'm now trying vitamin c and natural stuff to try to boost my immune system....I think if I got rid of my cats and moved into a bubble I would feel better, but I don't think that will happen :) Anyway, best of luck with your problems-I know how miserable it can be.

Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update: I got some Clariton-D the yesterday, and within about 40 minutes after taking, I felt like a whole new person. The chronic congestion is gone and my sinus pressure is gone, too. I feel much more like myself.
That said, is it safe to take something like Clariton-D day after day? I took my first dose last night at about 4 p.m., and was "highly charged" all night-though I was amazed at how much better I felt, I also was so "wound up" I didn't really sleep well. Even though the medication says it's "non-drowsy," does that mean it has no added stimulants? The reason I ask it because I just seemed so "up" and found it hard to relax enough to fall asleep.
My moldy bedroom floor and walls is being worked on; the new (wood) flooring will be put in soon. In the meantime, it's nice to not walk around all of the time with a stuffy, congested head and feel so old and tired.

The "D" means it has a decongestant and the "non-drowsy" means that it might keep you awake. Try taking first thing in the morning. If that doesn't help, get the regular Claritin and some Sudafed. Take the Sudafed in the AM and afternoon and leave it off at bedtime. You'll have to work with the timing and dosage but it can work out. Take the regular Claritin as prescribed.