I've been dealing with what is supposedly allergies but I'm wondering what I'm allergic to and if this is common. It all began in March when I had swelling inside my nasal passage. I began using saline spray and it cleared up. In June, it came back but this time my cheek swelled right next to my nose and nowhere else. I went to the dr thinking it was a sinus infection & was put on augmentin. I started having pain, went back, was put on bactrim but it was way too strong for me so I was then given amoxicillin. I also had a ct-scan performed and it was clear. The dr. said there was minimal mucous. So, I just waited. I started walking early of the morning and the symptoms came back, only this time I had vertigo/dizziness. I finally went to an ENT and was told allergies but not what kind. Actually, he didn't talk to me at all about anything. He just wrote out a prescription & handed it to me. I was given zyrtec & nasonex but the zyrtec makes me sleepy & depressed and the nasonex makes me hateful. I've been ok up until this week and the symptoms are coming back. I'm assuming they're returning because I was outside for about 4 hours this past weekend for a cookout. I don't take the meds as prescribed due to the side effects, but have been using the nasonex more than the zyrtec.

I've been through the vertigo/dizziness before - about 2 years ago and it was the same time of year so I'm guessing it really is allergies, but what kind?

Here's what I'd like to know:

1 - Can allergies cause facial swelling or problems only on one side? (Mine seems to be right side only and right at the point of my cheek bone. No pain though.)

2 - What pollen or whatever is high between June & October/November? (I'm in east TN)

3 - Is there anything I can do to help keep the symptoms to a minimum besides not being outdoors?

If things don't clear up in a few weeks, I guess I'll go back & see the ent again. Maybe I should see a different one.

1) Yes
2) Grasses and ragweed
3) Find a better doctor!
Actually, you might try taking the zyrtec at bedtime. And you might ask for testing to determine exactly what your allergies are. Then you could do immunotherapy (shots).