With Spring just around the corner I am once again faced with my yearly dose of allergy symptoms. Each year, the first couple of months of Spring bring on itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, etc...It has been about a week now since these symptoms surfaced and I am having difficulty sleeping because of them. On a yearly basis I refill a Zyrtec prescription and immediately notice a feeling of grogginess and discomfort due to the medicine. Granted the medicine helps to somewhat suppress my allergies this Spring will be harder for me to cope with my symptoms because of my training and exercise plan.

Do any of you experience seasonal allergies? If so, how do you manage them?

Do any of you experience seasonal allergies? If so, how do you manage them?
Yes. As the earliest hint of spring pops up here, I have to start taking Zyrtec. I take the OTC version now, as I can get 90 pills at my local pharmacy for $24 (that's cheaper than I used to pay for the prescription version).

I find that Zyrtec amps me up; I can only take it in the morning. If I take it at night, I'll suffer mild insomnia (a condition I tend to naturally suffer from time to time regardless of Zyrtec/allergies). I typically start taking it at the first sign of allergies (which hit me this year in early March) and I'll be stuck living with it until the normal afternoon rains begin with late spring/summer (the rains usually pick up in May). Until the regular daily rainfall begins to take some pollen out of the air, I have to take medication. I've tried to go without, and it's miserable. I've had allergy testing done, and I'm basically allergic to anything that grows green.

I consider it a necessary evil, and it's the only medication I take.

-R

My entire journal is about my allergies.:p:lol:

I'm allergic to trees and weeds, and used to be allergic to grass, but don't seem to have trouble with that anymore. I have pretty much January and July with fewer symptoms. Last year I found out I've developed a dust allergy too.

I go to an allergist, where I was tested, and I get shots which seem to now be working. I need less medication now. I take Clarinex every day, and when things get bad I also have to take chlorpheniramine and pseudephedrine. I also use Nasonex and some other spray sometimes. If I exercise outside, I still take some of these extra things, but if my symptoms aren't bad I automatically start forgetting.

The doctor also told me I have oral allergy syndrome, so I cook all my vegetables and fruits, and I avoid certain ones completely during certain seasons. Since I started doing that, I've gotten a LOT better. Too much protein makes my symptoms worse too, so I keep an eye on that.

Other things that have helped me some are taking magnesium regularly, drinking buckets of water, doing yoga, and learning to RELAX cuz I'm really bad at that. Using a neti pot also helps, especially with sinus infections. I had one this winter, and by the time I got to the allergist, she said I'd already gotten rid of it mostly. And she was right-- I only had a couple more days of feeling somewhat bad.

I also get really sleepless during allergy seasons even if I'm not congested. I guess all the histamine going through your system can really get you pretty hyper.:spaz:

People with pollen allergies should probably avoid herbal remedies, although I guess some people have had success with that stuff. I would have been better off avoiding that stuff when I was in my 20s, before I knew what I was allergic to. Echinacea, chamomile, and chicory come from the same family as ragweed, for instance. Once my old allergist gave me something called Alkalol as a nasal rinse-- I tried it and my nose swelled up inside. It had birch oil in it, and I'm allergic to birch.:doh: What was he thinking?:lol:

It sounds like you won't have this much trouble with your allergies-- it can interfere with training if it makes you sick with sinus infections. You might reduce symptoms by getting your cardio indoors, too. I hate cardio indoors, but this year I'm going to try to do more of that.

You are not alone! :gl:

Two products I'd recommend. Sino fresh! Love that stuff. It's minty and doesn't leave a horrible film in the throat. In two years I've only had one sinus infections and that time it was because I was in Vegas and didn't bring my sinofresh. Out here Osco carries it. I used to get those infections twice a year at least.

But what I LOVE even more is my sinus mask.

http://www.chronicpainstore.com/store/catalog.asp?item=142

My mom has allergies like Butterflyer does, and I got her one of these pillows and we both agree, sometimes it's the only thing that helps. PLUS I am an insomniac, and it really and truely helps me fall alseep at night when warmed.

Two products I'd recommend. Sino fresh! Love that stuff. It's minty and doesn't leave a horrible film in the throat. In two years I've only had one sinus infections and that time it was because I was in Vegas and didn't bring my sinofresh. Out here Osco carries it. I used to get those infections twice a year at least.

But what I LOVE even more is my sinus mask.

http://www.chronicpainstore.com/store/catalog.asp?item=142

My mom has allergies like Butterflyer does, and I got her one of these pillows and we both agree, sometimes it's the only thing that helps. PLUS I am an insomniac, and it really and truely helps me fall alseep at night when warmed.

Maybe I can make one of those masks without the herbs in it.:confused: