Spring allergies in the time of Covid

I swear seasonal allergies started in February this year. I'm on azelastine eye drops for allergies and had to start taking them a good month earlier this year than previous years.

Yeah, my eyes and nose have been itchy so the edict to keep hands away from face has been difficult to follow.

It’s been bad for me as well. We had a warm up and then it got cold and rainy again. I expect to suffer this and corona-paranoia throughout summer.

I moved further south and have been miserable since Feb. 1st. I suggest mass quantities of Allegra. It doesn't have any side effects and really works for me.

R4, thanks. Allegra is what I'm going to buy--thanks for confirming it works well.

It’s unfortunate timing, to say the least. My partner has a cough, went to the doctor who could not test him for CV (of course 🙄), so he just gave him an antibiotic in case there was something bacterial, prescription cough medicine that is out of stock, and an asthma inhaler. He has no fever so we’re hoping it’s allergies but I am definitely worried about him.

My allergies have been horrible this year. Itchy eyes which makes it difficult to do the "no touching face" rule difficult.

Another vote for Allegra, and i agree, it is a bad year for rhinitis sufferers

Down here in Georgia I started getting my tree, grass allergies in February. And now in march everything is coated in tree sperm aka pollen.

Everything down here is coated in a lovely layer of yellow powder.

Take your temperature.

I don't have spring allergies, but I do seem to have picked up a sinus infection. I'm checking my temperature constantly (normal so far), and seizing up every time I cough or sneeze. A bit like this ...

Used Allegra for a few days but was reminded why I avoided antihistamines for years--they are drying and give me blinding headaches. I thought the headache was indicative of a sinus infection and it may well be but I stopped taking Allegra last night and switched to Sinus medicine instead.

Everyone is right about the early allergy season - it's been miserable. I unfortunately get very drowsy on all of the OTC antihistamines. My asthma inhaler makes me very twitchy and gives me major headaches. I am taking generic Daycare that seems to help some, especially with the sneezing/ coughing.

I have Flonase, some sort of prescription eye drops and monteleukast from my doctor.

I definitely don't want to go anywhere with these symptoms. I'd probably get run out of town!

Ugh today is torture.. I also have ongoing sinus issues. Its damp and cold and the weather changes wreak havoc!

Woke up this morning and my chest feels..."heavy". Don't want to MARY! so I'm working from home as usual. But goddamnit, this is not the year for this shit.

Still have the sinus-like headache, you know the type, where you feel like your head and face are in a vice.

I've been taking Allegra but my eyes are still so itchy I could claw them out.

Taking Allegra or any antihistamine was a mistake. They are really drying and likely led to my sinus pain. Talked to a doc and now picking up antibiotics.

How do you people get antibiotics so easily? No doctors in NYC I’ve gone to will prescribe them. It’s like Xanax.

R19, yeah, I've heard but whenever I have sinus problems, it's the doctors who push me into taking antibiotics. I usually put up with the pain and pressure for weeks and hope it resolves without antibiotics. I've read that sinus infections resolve just as much naturally as with antibiotics. I try everything and after a few weeks I give in and take antibiotics. And usually they work--the last couple of times, they only worked in combination with corticosteroids. Today, the doctor (new) wouldn't prescribe the steroids. So I'm not super confident about the antibiotics working. But I'm slightly relieved because steroids suppress the immune system and I really don't want that happening now.

I usually take a nasal spray with mometasone for my allergies, but apparently mometasone is a steroid/glucocorticoid (not sure what the difference is), and I'm also worried about the effect it could have on my immune system. On the other hand, a respiratory tract that is chronically irritated because of allergies is probably a perfect breeding ground for a virus infection ... and antihistamines just stopped working for me at some point. Desensitization didn't work AT ALL. This spring/summer is really going to be a nightmare.

I'm just grateful I don't have asthma ... yet.

Whenever I sneeze or worse, COUGH, I wonder what my neighbors are thinking. Maybe I should put a note on my apartment door saying, 'DON'T WORRY, FOLKS, IT'S JUST HAY FEVER!'

i have seasonal allergies too and I am noticing when I am out at a grocery store they really act up and Im rubbing my eyes and tearing up and runny nose and Im wiping it off with hands that have been on a grocery cart etc etc so I KNOW its not a good combo............I started carrying kleenex so hopefully that mitigates it.

I think for me, it was a little bit spring allergies and a lot the spray cleaners and wipes. I usually use natural cleaners so all the sudden exposure to the chemical cleaners really did my sinuses in.

Just took some Sudafed--don't care if it keeps me up tonight. Pseudoephedrine is the business, I can feel some of the pressure easing off already. Maybe I can put off the antibiotics for a bit. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen did fuck all.

R20 Most sinus infections are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are not just unnecessary - they will have quite a negative impact on your immune function and biome.

With Covid, fever is key. Take your temperature. Also, many cases begin with GI symptoms.

Pseudoephedrine is like cocaine was in the late 1800s. The perfect effective cure to congestion. But the rebound sucks. Now I try to avoid until I’m desperate for relief. Then, damn, I’m not only decongested, I’m wide awake.

I'm constantly touch my face and my eyes. I've been very careful about washing my hands though. My sinuses tend to stay acting up after I have a slight cold. Anyone else have this? It doesn't go away until the weather is consistently warm.

Bad allergy sufferer here... Jersey Shore where I live is noted for it's crazy amount of mold ( a major trigger). Saw on NJ news that tree pollens and grasses came like a month early because of the mild winter. I have been on Claritan-D for over a month! Last summer I developed allergy related Pneumonia and bronchitis twice....inhalers etc. Probably the same this year....every cough makes me take my temp! Yuk!

R25, viral illness may lead to sinusitis but when the sinuses close up and are impacted with stagnant mucus--it turns bacterial. Antibiotics have worked for me when I have had sinus infections. As I have posted, I always hold out but when it goes on for weeks, I have little choice but to try antibiotics.

I have antibiotics now but am holding off and giving Sudafed, steam and neti bottle a shot. The Sudafed was great last night and I even fell asleep pretty easily. But woke up after about 3 hours and was unable to go back to sleep. Miserable from the lack of sleep but not having a hammering headache is fantastic. Have to thank the CVS pharmacist next time I see her. Doc recommended Flonase along with the antibiotics but the pharmacist warned the sprays can be drying and even lead to nose bleeds. She explained Sudafed would do a better job and not dry out my sinuses.

Thanks for this thread OP

I have low key allergies--enough so that I'm congested when I wake up (usually on one side) and then post-nasal drip as it clears out, sometimes even a little dizziness/vertigo because it's unbalanced. Steam and the occasional neti will clear it out and most years I don't even notice it

But now.. "wait, was that a dry cough?" "let me take some deep breaths to see if I hear any raspiness" "let me feel my forehead to see if I feel warm." and everything else you all have been talking about.

I have some of the non-ephidrene Sudafed but have been trying to avoid taking it.

I've had a cough for about 3 or 4 weeks now. It just will not go away. I don't feel fevered or anything, though. And I have heard it's a dry cough for COVID-19. I have been coughing up phlegm so I don't think I have the virus. But I wish it would just leave already.

R31, I was using phenylephrine and it did very little good. I've read there are doubts of its effectiveness. It may be as effective as a placebo and not really a good substitute for pseudoephedrine. I know the latter has its own issues but last night, I caved and bought it for the first time in decades. It works--bracing myself for the rebound effect.

And in terms of the Covid paranoia--yeah, it's true. Every cough, sneeze, etc. I'm checking my temperature daily.

I must have an infection, my morning breath is really foul...

Phenylephrine works for me - but not as effective/strong as pseudoephedrine.