My Symptoms

Since I posted about what I am allergic to, I am also posting about what symptoms I get from my allergies. 

I am a bit stuck with what to write next so this is a good tangent.  Forgive me if it is a while before I post again, I just don't know why I am a bit stuck with what to write.

Major Symptoms.  These are the main symptoms I have pretty much all the time, and they tend to be the ones that affect my life the most.

Sneezing:  I sneeze LOTS.  I have very long fits, and I have many fits all through the day.  Sometimes it feels like I will never stop sneezing.  My sneezes aren't overly loud, but because I sneeze so much, its easy for everyone to tell.  This is one of the main parts of my allergies that makes me very embarrassed.  I will try to run off or duck into a bathroom when I am having a sneezing fit because of the embarrassment I feel.  I hate when my sneezing interrupts me trying to have a conversation or when I am trying to do things.  Most of the time I feel the need to sneeze to at least some degree.  It can either feel like a tickle, thousands of tiny needles, or a tingling.  It can be mild or intense and I usually feel it back deep in my nose and sinuses.  I know I am going to start sneezing when the feeling starts to spread.  Sometimes it doesn't do that though and a fit can hit me by surprise.  The one good thing about so much sneezing is that it helps keep my abs in good shape :)

Sinus Congestion: I always have sinus congestion.  It can range from not too bad to lots of sinus pressure and pain.  It can sometimes hurt to move my head too fast, and often I feel it when I bend forward.  On occasion I wish I could drill a hole into my sinuses!  Luckily I only get an actual sinus infection one or two times a year.

Nasal Congestion:  I am always very congested through most of the year.  I am so congested that I usually can't smell anything and I can't really blow my nose or sniffle.  It can get extremely annoying.  I sound very nasally and that embarrasses me too.  Sometimes my noses feels throbby inside because of all the congestion.

Runny Nose:  I don't understand how I can have such a runny nose when I am also so congested!  Ugh!  My nose runs alot.  Not being able to sniffle or really blow my nose means I have to wipe my nose all day, sometimes almost constantly.  I am REALLY embarrassed about anyone seeing my nose being snotty.  Its hard to tell when my sneezing is going to be messy, so I always use tissues or something if there is any chance anyone will see me.  I also am always wiping my nose just to make sure no one will be able to see anything being drippy.  I just don't understand how my nose can make so much snot!


Other Symptoms.  These can bother me to lesser or greater extents, but they tend not to be as big a deal unless my allergies are getting bad.

Itchy/Watery Eyes:  When my allergies get bad my eyes can water so much that it looks like I am constantly crying.   They also can get very itchy.  Sometimes, if they are very watery, itchy and swollen, it makes it harder to see details well, like in reading.  I try not to rub them because I know it can make them worse, but sometimes I just have to.  I have to be careful when I do rub them because if something I am allergic to is on my hand, it can make my eyes really puff up and swell up and look very bad. 

Itchy/Red Nose:  I HATE when my nose is all red!  Its another thing that embarrasses me a ton.  My nose is red very often though, just from all the sneezing and wiping and everything else.  Sometimes my nose gets very itchy but I usually am able to not rub it because rubbing my nose will be sure to throw me into a long sneezing fit. It can get very distracting though.

Clogged Ears:  When my allergies get really bad, my ears will feel all clogged.  Its like having cotton stuffed in my ears, and it makes things I hear sound like it too.  I think its this (or maybe sinus congestion too) that sometimes makes me feel a bit dizzy when my allergies are bad.


Different symptoms

I don't think these are direct symptoms of my allergies, but they happen because of my allergies. I feel tired a good deal of the time, it interferes with my sleeping, and I do sometimes get sad or angry about my allergies.  I know it affects my moods.  Sometimes that can really suck.  I think I get overly sensitive emotionally at times because of my allergies.

There are a few other random things, but I will bring them up in other posts if/when I remember them.