Never Had allergies...until Now.

I would go to an allergist and talk about getting allergy shots. My allergies were terrible as a teen. The shots defiantly helped.

E.,

I never had allergies until I moved to Belgium and lived next to a corn field. I felt sick all the time. Went to the doctor and had an allergy test done. I was all over the place in my allergies. They put on prescription strength allergy medicine. It worked for about 4 years. Then my body got used to it and we moved back the USA and things were different. So I had to go through it all over again.

I would suggest you use Flonase in the morning to help keep your sinuses clear. I would use a saline sinus rinse to keep the pollen out of your nose - which leads to post nasal drip, which leads to sore throat.

Drink A LOT of water. Put cucumber slices and mint in it. IF you don't like water? Try tea. Just keep away from sodas and carbonated drinks - and dairy! I find that dairy (milk) sits in the back of my throat and makes my throat MORE congested.

This is the beginning of Spring - so pollen is at its highest as things are blooming.

Shower EVERY NIGHT before you go to bed. Get the pollen OUT of your hair.

Keep your bedroom closed up - no open windows - don't let the pollen get in your room.

If you have carpeting? I would personally get rid of it and go with hardwoods as it won't retain the dust and pollen like carpeting does.

Good luck! I know this isn't fun! Spring and Fall are VERY hard times for me. My eyes are swollen today because I was outside yesterday for Easter Egg Hunts and family fun.

I take zyrtec every day...and I also take flonase daily. When it is very bad I also use a neti pot twice a day (this takes some practice...don't give up bc it really helps...lean forward a lot when you do it). Keep your windows shut at home. When you come in from outside take a shower. I end up showering before I go to bed when the pollen is bad out there. Many people swear that not eating dairy and wheat made their allergies go away. This is something you can try. I just don't have the discipline. I first came down with pollen allergies in my late 20s. My mom got them at age 68 for the first time!

Try sipping hot tea in the afternoon. I don't know if it's the heat, or the tannins in the tea, or what. But it seems to help me a little with the throat side of allergy season. I'm hoping we are almost through the worst of it here. The weather is getting warmer and I'd like to get everything outside cleaned up and useable...but there's not much sense in pressure washing everything only to have it covered again the next day or two with another 1/4 inch of yellow stuff. :/

I didn't have allergies in California. When we moved to Georgia? They came out like a bomb! My eyes were watery. My nose was running. My throat was sore from post nasal drip.

My doctor gave my Xyzal, Flonase and a sinus rinse. I feel like a walking drug store! :)

I take two showers a day. My allergies are only in the Spring, and very mild in the Fall. November through early March? I'm good.

Recommend talking with your doctor about what you can use. You might need something stronger than Zyrtec. I would ask for an allergy test to find out what you're allergic to. That would help. If it's really bad? Try the under the tongue drops that they put together just for you or the shots.

My allergist told me that our body chemistry changes completely every 7 years so you can grow out of or into allegergies at any time in your life. I do a saline nasal spray daily. This at least helps my sinuses not get inflamed which used to lead to chronic sinusitis. I also am a fan of Zyrtec but when it really gets bad my doctor has given me steroids to reduce the inflammation in my sinuses. Allergies are no joke...feel better!!

Allergies are getting worse because of climate change - allergy seasons are longer because the blooming seasons of plants, flowers and trees are advanced and longer than normal. The types of drugs you mention are very drying so it's natural that a raspy voice or hoarseness would result.

Short term - honestly, as hard as this is, don't talk! I'm a singer and i can tell you that the 2nd worst thing is talking. The absolute worst is whispering! It really strains your voice more than you think.

You have 2 choices:
1) treat the symptoms after they occur. That can vary from nasal congestion to vocal problems to itchy eyes to sneezing. Medications vary depending on your symptoms, and you may have switch around after a while because the meds don't last.
2) prevent the reaction by stimulating and supporting the immune system ahead of time. It won't help at the moment, but it will help going forward. I've been off my allergy meds for over 8 years.

Everyone has a little different reaction to allergens and medications. The voice problems are probably from 'gunk' draining down the back of your throat, which is what you want to dry up. Try Flonase nasal spray (don't use more than recommended or you get a 'rebound effect'. You might also try Clariton or Allegra; Clariton works the best for me.

I often lose my voice. It is pretty much 100% caused by the nasal drainage I have. Try taking an antihistamine. Just make sure it is safe to take it along with any other med you are taking. A pharmacist can easily answer that. I also have a coworker who swears by her Neti pot to help clear up sinus drainage.

I have battled allergies for most of my adult life. Right now I take allegra in the morning and singulair at night. I also use flonaise in the morning. You should get a humidifier. Allergies tend to make you feel dry so the humidifier will help. My daughter is a suffer too. She is getting allergy shots. I have noticed so many adults getting allergy shots. I talked to one lady in the office and she told me she didn't start having problems with allergies until her 40s. Now she has to have allergy shots. I believe it's climate change. You will need to continue to work with your doctor to find relief. If your doctor doesn't help find an allergy specialist. Good luck!!