Hi all,
It looks like I may have developed an allergy to dogs. I'm waiting for a blood test appointment, but in the meantime -- any suggestions on how to temporarily treat my stuffed up/runny nose?
I'm not a big fan of medicines -- will take ibuprofen maybe once a year -- but I need to clear up the symptoms fast. (I'll be singing in a big concert this weekend.) And yes, I'll be limiting contact with my two beloved dogs and one cat this week :-(
Thanks!
First, thanks to everyone for the great comments! I really appreciate that you took the time to share your wisdom.
I ended up not trying any of the medicine suggestions because I was able to get a testing appointment earlier than expected, and they requested I not take any products that might interfere with the test. Someone gently suggested I not take the test -- thinking if it came out positive it wouldn't change my household (you're right -- I'd never give up my pets!!) -- but I wanted to take it because a negative result would help me figure out my next step.
And that's exactly what happened; no pet, dust, pollen, etc. allergies showed up. The diagnosis is sinusitis, and I'm about to start taking a home remedies treatment.
Also, to the several people who suggested household members clean frequently -- that got a belly laugh :-) Guess it's time to write a rant on getting my husband to pick up/clean up around the house more!
Thanks again, all!
Chaces are good that it's the cat, too! Cats are notoriously the cause of indoor allergies.
I agree with Benedry to help dry you up. But I'd get on Allegra ASAP. Buy some regualr old Allegra and supplement with Sudafed (from BEHIND the counter).
Feel better.
Benadryl but make sure you try it long enough before the weekend otherwise you might be on stage drooling on yourself, fighting to stay awake LOL
My kids are not bothered by it but I take 1/2 the adult dose and I am down for the count.
Claritins and other OTCs take time to build up in your system. Could you get a prescription for a steroid nasal spray. They are fast acting shrinking the tissue. You could also use a sinus rinse bottle by Neil Med. Sudafed (the real stuff behind the counter) also will help as a decongestant.
Staying away from your animals probably will not help as much as you'd like because it is their dander (dried saliva) that is the issue. The dander is all over your walls, furniture, etc. I'm not sure it is physically possible to clean all of it. I understand washing your pets often will cut down on the dander but that won't do anything for whatever is already in your house.
Good luck!
Take 1/2 dose of Benedryl at the most. It should be just enough of a boost to fix the issue.
Get some childrens liquid Sudafed or the pill form that is "Take 2 pills". If you take half a dose it should be enough to open the sius passages and not need the whole amount.
BUT BUT BUT
Do NOT take ANY, nothing at all, at least 1-2 weeks before allergy testing or ALL the results will be wrong and it will be a waste of time. The med will still be in your system and you will not react to any of your allergy's.
When I went to do allergy testing the told me several times to follow this advice, they called me again several weeks before the actual test then the week of the tests. It is the biggest mistake patients make, they take just a tiny dose to fix it and then they complain when the test comes back ngative for everything. When the KNEW they had allergies. They took a med that caused their body to NOT react to the allergens in the test.
So, ask the doc how long before the tests you should be drug free and go by that like it was carved in stone.
I would take an OTC allergy relief medication since you don't have time to build up your immune system between now and the concert. I understand your issues - I too am a singer in a couple of choirs and have done solo work, so I sympathize with your misery.
I got rid of all my allergy symptoms (seasonal, dust, mold, animal) through a great nutritional supplement that a lot of my friends have had great results with. It's not an overnight fix by any means but it's made a huge difference in my life. I started in November 4 years ago and made it through the winter without bronchitis (which I used to get with every cold, about 3-4 times a winter). By the springtime, I was not affected by the pollen and trees at all and stopped taking allergy meds. It might have been sooner but I just didn't notice it - my symptoms don't hit until April. However, I've also been able to be around cats for the past few years, which I could never do before.
Your animals could be getting warmer winter coats so maybe there is more fur and dander action going on. You could have them groomed and bathed but be sure the groomer doesn't use a really aromatic shampoo that makes you worse.
If your throat is bad, try Chinese hot & sour soup about 2 hours before the concert. Works great. For the nose, get a Neti pot at the drug store or health food store, and use warm water with a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda to clean out your sinuses. Feels weird when you do it but it rinses out the junk and is a harmless ancient remedy. The pharmacist can instruct you if the diagrams aren't clear - or email me back for more details.
Sing well!
Edit - just want to add that you can spend the money on an allergy/blood test, but what's that going to do for you? Are you ready to get rid of your animals if you test positive? That's such an emotionally wrenching decision. Limiting contact is difficult when their hair is all over your house anyway. Or would you rather address the problem with a more broad-spectrum approach that will handle any/all allergies?
Be careful because Benadryl will make you sleepy. I agree it works fastest but you should be close to home if you are going to take it.
You can use a nettie pot to clean your nasal passages. Our doctor recommended that for my daughter. We use Claritin or Zyrtec. If you start on them now, by this weekend it will start working.
A stertoid shot will be the fastest most effective way to clear up seriously stuffed swollen nose.
I also agree that you should do a thorough cleaning.
Good luck!!
D.
If you believe in alternative medicine, you can go to a naturopathic medicine doctor and buy an all-natural histimine called Jr. Histimine that works even better than Benadryl or Claritin (at least in my opinion) and it's not that expensive. They come in lemon-lime chew tabs and work very well. I take them for cold hives and my daughter for her grass pollen, and my husband will take them when his seasonal allergies really kick up. But you have to buy them from a naturopathic doctor. They don't make you drowsy and are not addictive.
You have some good suggestions for the over the counter meds. Can you get someone else in your house to vacuum every day? Preferably when you are gone for a little while? That is what I TRY to do and when I'm successful we all are better. Also, it may be difficult with a cat but if someone could take them to be groomed that could help too.
Check out OPC3. It's all natural and really helps allergies. My sister is very allergic to dogs and cats. She has 3 dogs and 1 cat. She swears by this product. I take it too just for overall health. It's great.
Just to look at this from a completely different perspective....
I and some friends noticed that when we changed our pet food, many allergy symptoms disappeared. By switching to a food that is free of dyes and grains, the quality of pet oil and dander changes. Takes 30-60 days to see a complete change. Doesn't help you at the moment, but it is food for thought.
