What It Is Like to Have Allergies
Posted by Belle on 15 Jan 2009 at 07:51 pm | Tagged as: blogging, health food, Uncategorized
As I approached new year with an upbeat attitude, I was immediately hit with storm of allergies in no time. And to tell you the truth, I am not sure how I am going to handle it again this year. It seems like it came earlier this year, and has worsened.
Many people who haven’t experienced the debilitating effects of allergy to a person like me, may think that it is nothing serious. That it can easily be remedied by over the counter drugs like Benadryl, Chlor-Trimetron, etc. Problem is these drugs bring no relief to my allergies. They simply don’t a thing. And neither those that they sell at health food stores. I also availed of the 2-year allergy treatment since July 2008 from an allergy doctor here in town, which is done orally rather than a regimen of allergy shots, but I haven’t felt any relief.
I don’t want to succumb to another Kenalog shot because of its side effects like halting my monthly period for more than half a year, and still hasn’t showed up to this day. The Kenalog shot did the trick alright as far as allergy is concerned as I was allergy-free for six months after I took it. Yes, it felt good being able to breath through my nose, sleeping through the night, being able to eat the food I love without going into a coughing fit for hours.
Going through coughing spell is no fun at all. First, I feel my throat is sore, then becomes constricted, and eventually the coughing begins and can last for hours especially at night when I am trying to get some sleep. Then wheezing kicks in, and the more I wheeze, the more I cough. Nose becomes completely clogged that even drinking a glass of water is a chore. Why? Try swallowing water while your nose is pinched and see what happens. Or worse yet, try blowing clogged nostrils. It makes a squeaking nose in your ears as if it is creating a detour for the air passage. You feel like you are drowning, gasping for air constantly. It is a terrible feeling.
The only thing that seems to help for me is by drinking juice of fresh fruits and veggies that my husband lovingly fixes every morning, and eating mostly raw food. At least I don’t go into coughing fit like normal food such as adobo, chili, pizza, fried chicken do to me. I found out that I can also take simple food like rice and steamed veggies, fresh organic chicken soup, split pea soup but devoid of spices and salt. Well, it is better than not being able to tolerate food at all.
I am also working on having my mercury fillings removed as my daughter thought it might be the cause of my allergies. I have six mercury fillings from years ago, and, indeed, that is a lot of mercury lurking in my body. Could be it the culprit?
Juice anyone?
Allergies are no laughing matter. I’m allergic to ibuprofen and once had my face bloated and palpitated when I took a pill containing ibuprofen during a fever. Hope you get well soon. XOXO
I hope you find a way to lessen the symptoms soon. I did homeopathy and it worked for me. What it did was helped me stop taking conventional meds for the allergy. It’s been almost a year that I’ve been pill-free and I don’t have symptoms. Sometimes I’d have runny nose but it passes.
Sorry to hear that Belle. Two years ago I had a terrible cough that lasted for 2 months. Been to see the doctor 3 times, got my lung and nose checked but all is well. The strong antibiotic didn’t work either. In fact my body rejected them because I vomited and had head aches as the side effect. I don’t know if it was allergy but that happened after a week long flood in Jakarta. When I had a hard time breathing (my nose clogged as well)…I boiled a water and threw slices of onions and breath the steams by covering my head with the towel. I drank a lot of freshly made juice but no “orange/lime/lemon” at all as they made my coughing worse. So I had green apple juice instead, mixed with celery as it made me sleep better. Hope you get better soon. Been there done that..I know how it feels.
I have allergies too but not that worse.My uncle is IL has injection for his allergy every two-three months but after the meds have worn out, he has to get another shot again. Its an endless cycle.
Its good to know your husband prepares these healthy alternatives for you
Be well and regards to your girls and hubby
terrible thing, allergies… I always have it come spring and summer, and there’s no escaping from it.
I hope you have your allergy remedied soon.
i know what you mean about breathing normally through the nose. i had that problem till last year. i always thought i had allergies, but it turned out i had polyps that complicated stuff in my sinus and nose areas. hope you get better soon!
I also have a bad case of pollinitis, and I could totally relate to the woes you experience when allergies strike. I used to take Allegra, but like you I found that it seems to affect my monthly cycle (symptoms are similar to yours). It’s actually strange, because my doctors didn’t seem aware that taking antihistamines could affect my body that way. I came to that conclusion on my own.
And so my best line of defense is a mask.
Although, I’m curious to find out whether I’ll develop allergies here in the UK – it couldn’t be as bad as in Japan, I hope!
I hope you find the best remedy for yours!
gladita, that was a scary thing. that happened to me, too, when my doctor instructed me to up my pills to 4.
Karmi, I actually avoided conventional meds because of its side effects to my body, but sometimes, I couldn’t help it especially if the severity of my allergies are beyond me.
Elyani, i am glad you found out the culprit of your allergies. am happy for you. definitely, juicing brings wonder to an allergy stricken body like mine.
Julie, I never had allergies until I moved in this state. Evidently, they have trees that my body is not used to. I don’t want to be dependent on those shots because they only bring temporary relief but the side effects can be too taxing on the body.
Pining, unlike you, i am allergy-free during summer and fall. it can be burdensome on the body especially if it interferes with sleeping.
Caryn, polyps huh? i think my husband had a deviated septum surgery, and I think it was worthless. but i hope taking your polyps out helped your allergies.
Kathy, actually, i started using a mask at work lately because i always sneeze. and i get tired wiping my nose while working. it helped but a big nuisance.
though just last week, i began taking cell food drops, and believe it or not, i am breathing like i don’t have allergies. i sleep better at night. i cough and sneeze less. i highly recommend you try it.