I’m allergic to everything.
Or so it would appear, since I seem to sneeze when exposed to… life.
I take a whack of antihistamines and vitamins and drink water like a freak. I even tried that whole “nasal flushing thing” (I know, I know, WAY too much information) and found that it made me sneeze MORE. I’ve stuck on the Breathe-Right strips, I’ve tried eliminating things from my diet, I’ve washed my sheets demonically often, I’ve vacuumed like an OCD maniac…
Nothing works.
Now, it’s not like I’m unable to function — I go to work, I do my thing, I exist rather normally.
BUT I AM DOING IT WITH REALLY PUFFY EYES AND A PERMASNIFFLE.
My friends are used to the fact that my voice deepens and gets a bit hoarse for about six months of the year. I only really truly sound like myself around October, and then the winter colds start, and it’s back to alternating between Barry White and Mickey Mouse.
I’m just TOTALLY SICK OF IT. BAH.
If you have had allergies like this and have found some sort of miracle cure, FESS UP. I need it!
SERIOUSLY.
I can’t take feeling like I’m underwater and itchy at the same time anymore…
June 21st, 2006 at 10:37 am
All I can offer is my sympathy…
June 21st, 2006 at 10:43 am
The first issue of Martha Stewart’s new magazine, Blueprint, has an article by a physician who says that she tells her allergy suffering patients to take Stinging Nettle. She says it has enabled some of her prescription dependent allergy sufferers to stop taking their prescriptions. I’ve never tried it so I can neither confirm nor deny, but it doesn’t sound like it could hurt.
June 21st, 2006 at 11:51 am
Aaahh….allergies, I know all about them, one spring I couldn’t even go outside because I would sneeze non-stop and my eyes would puff shut. My allergies improved significantly after I got allergy shots (weekly for a year).
I haven’t had time to commit to this yet but, the TCM Dr. (Traditional Chinese Medicine) I saw last year said she had ways of treating/relieving allergies as well. Now that I have more time I will definitely be trying this as I am immune to the over the counter anti histamines. Vitamin C does help somewhat as well.
I know how you feel I always have a raspy voice and people continually ask me if I’m sick because I sound hoarse.
I’ll let you know how the TCM works out.
July 18th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
That could have been written by me! I too am miserable most of the year with my horrid allergies, and I too have tried EVERYTHING… including breathe right strips, nasal flush (yuck), diet, etc. I practically live on Benadryl, Sudafed and Claritin! Worse thing I ever tried in hopes of curing my allergies: Drinking a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar, a whole glassful every two hours! Ugh… I can still taste it now! (Actually I sort of got used to it after a while) but it didn’t work.
Weirdest thing I’m allergic to: Fermeldahyde. (Is that how you spell it?) The stuff used to preserve dead people. Did you know it is sometimes sprayed on shoes and clothing in stores to keep bugs off? It’s also in mothballs. These are the things you learn when you have weird allergies!
Anyway, I have no solutions for you, but if you find any, please let ME know! I just wanted to let you know you are not alone in your misery! I’m going to an allergist in September when my insurance starts, maybe he’ll give me some pointers I can pass along! :)
Yours in sneeziness,
Angel
September 18th, 2006 at 11:40 am
I too have severe allergies, I am highly allergic to molds, what is even worse, I am also allergic to chemicals and most all medicines! That means I cannot take any meds for my allergies. Is there anyone else out there with this many allergies, or am I all alone. Sometimes it gets so frustrating. I live in the midwest and the town we live in is so full of mold, almost every building in town smells moldy. If I am exposed to mold I get very ill, but I am unable to treat the illness because the treatment will make me sick too. It didn’t use to be this bad, but I lived in a moldy house for 5 years, (didn’t know mold was toxic), and since then my allergies have gotten way out of control.
I know none of this helps you, but know that you are not alone. Also if there is anyone out there who has any ideas on how we can improve, please let us all know.
Carmella - who is sick and tired of her body always reacting to everything in a bad way
November 30th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Thank you so much for posting that and asking for replys.
I have been having the worst 6 months of my life (and trust me my life has had it’s fair share of troubles). I had two major reactions in the summer, apparently to Advil (still noy 100% about this). Anyhow, ever since then I have developed a wack of allergies to nearly every fruit and vegetable. Worst of all tomatos! (I love…loved…ketchup). I am also allergic to nuts (peanuts, coconuts, almonds etc.) And apparently chemicals (?) in this one building at school that I cannot enter anymore. And to varius other things I have been unable to figure out.
My seasonal allergy to ragweed causes me to be hoarse; however my new allergies result in swollen tongue, lips, throat, eyes and most often hives on my forearms.
Anyhow, it’s been a very rough semestrer (I am graduating this year). My allergist has not been very helpful and the only med that works is Benadryll which is exhausting as most people who posted here know.
I was looking for an answer to my problem when I googled and found this page. But I am thankful that I found some other people who are just as frustrated as me. It’s so upsetting when you just can’t fix it. I was actually at the doctor’s tonight for a note and he laughed about my situation…maybe some day I’ll look back and laugh however right now I don’t find it funny at all b/c it’s really messing up my ability to function.
Thanks for making me feel less alone. I really needed it tonight!
January 13th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Oh, I feel for all of you!
I have allergies to every single fruit and vegetable I’ve ever tried. Some havn’t shown up until recently, like watermelon, I had a reaction to it for the first time last summer. AND IT WAS MY FAVORITE FRUIT. What I’ve heard is that its just raw foods blah blah…eat the canned version or cook it…blah blah..BUT WHAT IF I REALLY ENJOY FRUIT?! How in the world am I supposed to deal with this?! I hate canned fruits and veggies with a passion and nothing is healthier than fresh! I hear there are shots you can get? I have yet to visit an allergist about those..
And EVERYBODY is saying “oh, its probably pesticides or just peel the skin of the fruit off, it should be fine.”
BUT ITS NOT!
I’ve tried organic non-pesticide proven fruit and STILL HAVE A REACTION! As for the skin, even if i remove it im in agony for sometimes up to 2 hours.
I’ve heard of
Do any of you have esophageal spasms like me?
You know, those uncontrollable throat tightenings that feels like a heart attack? No idea how this thing started. Only happens when I eat bananas, watermelon, coconuts, and grapes.
January 13th, 2007 at 10:49 am
sorry, it all got cut off somehow?
back to where i was saying “I’ve heard of…”
well i’ve heard of ONE remedy for throat itchyness and mouth itchyness..
this is to mix pepperment oil with water?
never tried it. but maybe it’ll work for some of you?
I empathyze with all of you.
if any of you find some magical cure, LET US ALL KNOW.
February 10th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I fell so bad for everone! I live in Canada & my cousin has the exact same problems. She has been properly diagnosed with Environmental Allergies & has been able to make everything near-normal because she now knows what she is dealing with!
She has problems with all sorts of foods & drugs still, but she was always sick & stuffy & light headed from what she now knows was every day chemicals.
She has now eliminated cleaning chemicals & anything & everything scented from her home environment. She quit working in public & started a home based business that she could control. It kinda sucks that she had to change everything, but she’s no longer sick. She does go out a bit, but smoking, perfumes, & that sort of stuff really stuffs her up for days later. Even a visit to the mall or grocery store has to be breif because the air is not exchanged well in large public buildings. She can take comfort in the fact the her friends & family respect her enough to not wear scents & only clean their homes with vinegar & other organic cleaners. It really has made a world of difference to her because she can live her life without the perma-flu of just a couple years ago.
I hope this helps someone out there!
April 13th, 2007 at 7:28 am
You may have leaky gut syndrome. When you eat and the proteins get into the bloodstream from undigested foods, it leaves behind a myrid of unpleasant symptoms. Fix your stomach and lower your negative reactions.