Could weeds really be doing ALL of this to me?

[jake1991]

Hi, 1st post, here we go. After Years of begging my provider to get looked at for chronic infections and dealing with year long colds (tricare is a horrible, horrible orginization) I finally got a poke test and tested positive for 6 different kinds of weeds, juniper, and cats.

I have pretty harsh allergy symptoms all year.

-Cracking and poping in ears every time I swallow. Mostly the left one pops and the right one seems so inflamed it only does sometimes.

-My ears don't regulate pressure without me doing so and even then It's not the same as a normal poping ear. I live in Colorado, so I'd give anything to have a function eustachian tube. It'd be very usefull.

-constant congestion, normally to one side.

-On and off I'll awake with my throat swollen.

-My body doesn't get rid of colds like normal ppl.

-Frequent infection of ear and sinuses.

-Extreme insomnia from allergy symptoms. I don't want sound dramatic but I feel it is slowly driving me insane. Even under the influence of various sedating substances from sleeping pills to alcohol, they can only keep me down for 3-4hrs at best, and it has affected my life negatively at every level from my love life to my ability to focus and study. I do my best to cope and sleep, but the exhasution and miserable symptoms has me feeling, thinking, and saying things that are not 'me'. It's been described by my mom as "explosive depression and anger".

ok, enough of that, here's my question. Could the weeds and the other stuff really be doing this to me ALL the time even when indoors? I'm paranoid that I am allergic to something that perhaps wasn't on the allergy test and even though I'm getting allergy shots I'm afraid I'm not going to get better. Mind you this is fueled by having gone to the doctor for years with these problems and being sent home with flonase and benydrl hoping I don't come back.

My allergies really show indoors and in bedrooms it would seem. Can anyone recommend something I should get tested for? If it's relevant i have a very very very strong sudafed allergy.

Any information, at all or any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[bsmsl]

You are welcome.  I know it is comforting just to know someone cares.  

Thank you for your service to this country.  It is apreciated.  Unfortunately, the military don't always get the best of care.  

There is a big difference between the testing and ENT does and what an allergist does.  Was your testing the RAST blood test, or skin *****?  The skin ***** is much more accurate.  It does sound like you need to discus allergy shots with your doctor.

Feel better (or take lots of hot showers).

[jake1991]

Thank you for the reply. I forgot to mention my testing was done by an allergist/ent.

No cats, learned the hard way with that one long ago.

It is indeed perplexing; there were countless times I begged my 'care provider' who was a nurse practioner, a Major or Captain in the AF, to see an ENT but her logic was "lets find a way to control this without seeing an ent/allergist because you could be put on meds for life". I also had to tell her not to perscribe me something w/ ephedrine or something similar.; here's the kicker, I was in there for a massive allergic reaction to sudafed..

My symptoms do become far less miserable in the shower, espeically if I really steam it up and close the air registers.

Ok, I'll be sure to grab some zyrtec and a netti pot or something similar.

Thanks again, somone simply replying is quite a mood elevation at this point.

[bsmsl]

Yes, pollen allergies can cause ALL your symptoms, some of which are most likely secondary to the sleep depravation and general drain on the body allergies cause.  

Who did you testing?  Was it an allergist or an ENT?  Usualy primary care providers won't do that kind of testing.  It does surprise me thought that they didn't seem to really care.  Recurrent infections is a huge indicator that allergies are a big problem.  How they doctor avoided that issue is perplexing.  I think you might need a new primary care physician who cares about your quality of life (I am not familiar with Tri-care, but some insurance programs are the pits and only the worst doctors will participate in them).  

It is possible that you are more aware of your symptoms indoors.  Keep in mind that you and others bring pollen with you on your clothes and hair.  You really are still exposed to pollens inside.  For that reason it could help significantly if you shaower and change clothes when you come in from extended time outside.  Then if you have cats, they are among the worst allergens some one can have as far as animals go.  Their dander is smaller and tends to go deeper into the lungs causing bigger reactions.  If you have a cat at home, that could be why you have more symptoms at home.

You could try Zyrtec instead of Benadryl.  Many people find Benadryl to cause a significant problem with drowziness.  Zyrtec doesn't do that and tend to be more effective.

Something else you can try is a sinus rinse done twice daily (minimum up to 5 times a day).  These are quite effective for washing the allergens and junk out of your nose.

If you were not tested by an allergist, I recommend that you see one.  If you are in the Denver area, you might try to see someone at National Jewish Hospital.  They are national leaders in respiratory care.

Good luck and feel better.