Ok, I know I have been bad and not posted in a very long time. I had been really busy and I kept putting it off. I finally got a bit of motivation to make a post.
Now that pollen is gone, my allergies aren't as bad. I do have to deal a bit with dust and stuff moving around for heating systems coming back on on the dryness that it can create, but its not as bad as dealing with pollen.
I am not sure what other update to give right now, so i will go into 2 questions I got:
Q:Have you ever considered moving to a different climate? For example I'm
in Seattle and I know of someone who moved from here to Medford, OR for
relief from sinus issues. Would a drier, desert-like climate help?
Would there be less triggers? Or would the air conditioning bother your
allergies?
A: I have looked into that and I have been told that it doesn't really work, and if it does it would only be for a short time, as new triggers would start to bother me. I have moved from the northwest to the northeast and i didn't see any difference. A/C I don't think bothers my allergies in and of itself, but they are prone to mold and I am pretty allergic to mold. I once stayed somewhere and my allergies we going really bad and it took us a while to realize it was a very old A/C unit that hadn't been kept up that well that was causing much of my problems.
Q:One of the things I find most awkward about sneezing repeatedly is how
people feel the need to say 'bless you'. I wish that courtesy did not
even exist, I wish sneezing was like coughing. When people bless me I
feel like I can't even say thank you in between sneezes and it's even
more awkward when they keep saying it after every few sneezes, and even
more awkward when they finally give up and I'm still sneezing! It just
makes me more embarrassed than I already am. Do you like people to
acknowledge your sneezes with a 'bless you'?
A: I hate the bless you thing so much! It just draws more attention to all my sneezing, and I end up feeling bad because most people just eventually give up blessing me in the middle of my fits. Whats worse is when they switch from blessing to things like 'wow are you ever gonna stop' or 'I blessed you enough, you can stop now' or 'I can't bless you that much', and other weird or annoying things.
I know I have posted about this before, but answering the last question reminds me of all the crazy things people say to me. Some makes me feel really embarrassed, some upset me, some make me feel mad. Some people are actually pretty nice and helpful but sometimes they are the total opposite, either on accident or on purpose. Some of the worst stuff I have heard it people telling me: I am doing it just to get attention; my allergies ruin my looks; and even a few times people have gotten upset that they were trying to have a conversation with me when my allergies were really bad and I wasn't answering them.
Ok, I didn't want to leave off on a depressing note! So, I'll say my allergies are being a bit better because of the season, and in a few days I will have a few days off :)
As usual, please read and share and ask me more questions and feel free to contact me to chat if you want to! Happy TG!
Monday, November 25, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Been a bit Q+A
Sorry everyone for such a long time between posts. I have been busy and having many problems with my allergies. I do have a few questions now to answer, so here we go:
Q:You have mentioned a couple times that your sneezes are weak. Have you tried to do more forceful sneezes so that the fits are shorter?
A: I haven't been able to figure out any way to make my sneezes be more forceful. I think its just how I sneeze, and there isn't much I can do to change it.
Q:Also, when you are in a situation where sneezing would disrupt a class or movie or something, do you ever stifle your sneezes?
A: For the longest time I hadn't been able to stifle sneezes at all. I recently have been able to, but what happens is a stifle makes me immediately need to sneeze again, so I can keep stifling only for a short time, then I'm sneezing. Also, stifling tends to make me have to sneeze more, and tends to bother my sinuses. When my allergies start to disrupt a class or movie, I'll usually leave and go to a bathroom or something.
I was glad to see in my last post, a few people commented that they read my blog. Thanks! I'm just surprised at how many of them are anonymous. I always imagined dozens of people would want to read my blog, so I guess I was a bit disappointed when I started this and it seemed like only one or 2 people were reading.
I still have problems thinking of topics to write about, so please keep the questions coming. I haven't been on-line as much lately, but still please feel free to drop me and e-mail or a message if you want, and even if I am not around, I will be sure to reply when I can.
Q:You have mentioned a couple times that your sneezes are weak. Have you tried to do more forceful sneezes so that the fits are shorter?
A: I haven't been able to figure out any way to make my sneezes be more forceful. I think its just how I sneeze, and there isn't much I can do to change it.
Q:Also, when you are in a situation where sneezing would disrupt a class or movie or something, do you ever stifle your sneezes?
A: For the longest time I hadn't been able to stifle sneezes at all. I recently have been able to, but what happens is a stifle makes me immediately need to sneeze again, so I can keep stifling only for a short time, then I'm sneezing. Also, stifling tends to make me have to sneeze more, and tends to bother my sinuses. When my allergies start to disrupt a class or movie, I'll usually leave and go to a bathroom or something.
I was glad to see in my last post, a few people commented that they read my blog. Thanks! I'm just surprised at how many of them are anonymous. I always imagined dozens of people would want to read my blog, so I guess I was a bit disappointed when I started this and it seemed like only one or 2 people were reading.
I still have problems thinking of topics to write about, so please keep the questions coming. I haven't been on-line as much lately, but still please feel free to drop me and e-mail or a message if you want, and even if I am not around, I will be sure to reply when I can.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Not much to post/dream bits
Its been so long since I posted. I don't know if many people read this anymore since I haven't been getting many comments or questions lately.
Ragweed has been starting up around here and I am severely allergic to it, so its making me pretty miserable
I recently had 2 bits of dreams that had to do with my allergies.
In one dream, people were trying to figure something out that was very important. I figured it out but every time I tried to tell anyone I would start having a huge allergy attack and I was unable to communicate. Once I would give up, the attack would stop, only to start up again if I tried telling someone what I knew.
In another, during part of a dream I was in a house and I was sneezing non-stop, and when I would go outside the sneezing would stop but my nose would start running/gushing like crazy. If I went back in, the running would stop and the sneezing would start again.
That is all I have for today. Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to comment or drop me a line.
Ragweed has been starting up around here and I am severely allergic to it, so its making me pretty miserable
I recently had 2 bits of dreams that had to do with my allergies.
In one dream, people were trying to figure something out that was very important. I figured it out but every time I tried to tell anyone I would start having a huge allergy attack and I was unable to communicate. Once I would give up, the attack would stop, only to start up again if I tried telling someone what I knew.
In another, during part of a dream I was in a house and I was sneezing non-stop, and when I would go outside the sneezing would stop but my nose would start running/gushing like crazy. If I went back in, the running would stop and the sneezing would start again.
That is all I have for today. Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to comment or drop me a line.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Quick Q+A again
I am happy I keep getting questions because I want to keep making posts, but its hard for me to think of what to write!
Q: Do you have a favorite product or trick that gives you any relief?
A: I can't really think of anything that helps like that. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know, I'd love to find something! The product I use a ton of is the basic Kleenex tissues. Benadryl works for me, but I don't use it much because it knocks me out so bad, I am all groggy the next day, and I am afraid of my body getting used to it so I only use it when my allergies have been keeping me from being able to sleep for a while.
Q: Do you have a guilty pleasure that causes you allergies but you still indulge in once and a while and just deal with the consequences? (i.e. I know someone who has a not terribly but still real allergy to chocolate who will have a small piece every so often even though she'll end up itchy and uncomfortable for while after).
A: Yes, that would be playing with cats. I have always loved cats, and I miss being able to have any. Every once in a while I'll go to my friend's house and play with her cat for a short time. Yea, I really suffer for it afterwards!
Please keep asking questions and giving me feedback. :)
Q: Do you have a favorite product or trick that gives you any relief?
A: I can't really think of anything that helps like that. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know, I'd love to find something! The product I use a ton of is the basic Kleenex tissues. Benadryl works for me, but I don't use it much because it knocks me out so bad, I am all groggy the next day, and I am afraid of my body getting used to it so I only use it when my allergies have been keeping me from being able to sleep for a while.
Q: Do you have a guilty pleasure that causes you allergies but you still indulge in once and a while and just deal with the consequences? (i.e. I know someone who has a not terribly but still real allergy to chocolate who will have a small piece every so often even though she'll end up itchy and uncomfortable for while after).
A: Yes, that would be playing with cats. I have always loved cats, and I miss being able to have any. Every once in a while I'll go to my friend's house and play with her cat for a short time. Yea, I really suffer for it afterwards!
Please keep asking questions and giving me feedback. :)
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Eating and drinking with allergies and Q+A
Someone was asking me about difficulties with eating when my allergies are bad so I though I would mention a quick bit about it.
Eating can be difficult when my allergies are bad. I'm too congested to breathe through my nose so I have to keep opening my mouth to breathe. I have also had a number of times where a sneezing fit started when I had a mouthful of food. I end up sneezing out the food :( Luckily that has only happened when I was alone or with my family. I learned to take really small bites. makes it easier for breathing and for avoiding sneezing fits during chewing. Avoiding sneezing or dripping all over food takes a bit of effort too.
Drinking is a bit easier by just taking small sips often. I will tend to have a good amount of water throughout the day just by sipping little bits often.
When my allergies are bad, I am often not hungry anyway so I stick with mostly water. Soup is sometimes good too.
Two for Q+A:
Q:You're learning about others who have awful full-time allergies. What are some questions you would ask them, to learn how they are managing to cope?
A: I never though much about that. I can give general answers at least. I would ask what exactly they are allergic to, what symptoms do they get, what things work for them with avoiding what they are allergic to, and if they found anything that works for them with dealing with symptoms and other issues.
Q:You say that your allergies cause you problems with your sleeping patterns. How do you deal with that? Are you able to catnap and get enough sleep that way or do you find that you are always tired during allergy season?
A: I am often tired during allergy season, from lack of sleep and from the allergies wearing me out. I will sometimes just doze off randomly if I am sitting around, and that helps a bit. During allergy season, I will often try to take naps and see if I can sleep. Many times I will doze off randomly and get wakened by a sneezing fit.
Thanks or reading everyone! Keep questions coming and feel free to say hi to me.
Eating can be difficult when my allergies are bad. I'm too congested to breathe through my nose so I have to keep opening my mouth to breathe. I have also had a number of times where a sneezing fit started when I had a mouthful of food. I end up sneezing out the food :( Luckily that has only happened when I was alone or with my family. I learned to take really small bites. makes it easier for breathing and for avoiding sneezing fits during chewing. Avoiding sneezing or dripping all over food takes a bit of effort too.
Drinking is a bit easier by just taking small sips often. I will tend to have a good amount of water throughout the day just by sipping little bits often.
When my allergies are bad, I am often not hungry anyway so I stick with mostly water. Soup is sometimes good too.
Two for Q+A:
Q:You're learning about others who have awful full-time allergies. What are some questions you would ask them, to learn how they are managing to cope?
A: I never though much about that. I can give general answers at least. I would ask what exactly they are allergic to, what symptoms do they get, what things work for them with avoiding what they are allergic to, and if they found anything that works for them with dealing with symptoms and other issues.
Q:You say that your allergies cause you problems with your sleeping patterns. How do you deal with that? Are you able to catnap and get enough sleep that way or do you find that you are always tired during allergy season?
A: I am often tired during allergy season, from lack of sleep and from the allergies wearing me out. I will sometimes just doze off randomly if I am sitting around, and that helps a bit. During allergy season, I will often try to take naps and see if I can sleep. Many times I will doze off randomly and get wakened by a sneezing fit.
Thanks or reading everyone! Keep questions coming and feel free to say hi to me.
Never buy cheap Q-tips!
I am sorry I haven't posted in a while, so I will even have 2 posts today! This one is the explanation of why I haven't posted in a while
Since I am usually unable to blow my nose, I try to clean out the front of my nostrils a bit so I am not constantly dripping all over the place. If I stick a tissue up there it makes me sneeze like crazy so I use a q-tip just in the front area of my nostrils to gently get as much as I can. Now this last time we got q-tips we were trying to be cheap so we bought dollar-store q-tips instead of the real ones. When I used one, the cotton tip slipped off and I couldn't get it out of my nostril. Allison also tried but it got more stuck, and of course it was irritating my nose like crazy and got kinda messy. We ended up having to go to the hospital to get it taken out, and when they were taking it out they told me some small blood vessels were broken and they wanted to fix them (and that explained all the nosebleeds I had been getting recently).
The problem was they wanted to do some tests, and then that ended up creating days of problems. With all the problems doing the tests and the weird results that show up for me, they all wanted everyone to come and see me, doctors, residents, med students, etc. I always hate that, and there was always new people coming in, asking me all the same stuff as the others, looking in my nose, seeing me all allergic, etc. Most of them weren't very nice either. They also didn't believe me when I told them things and then after all kinds of tests and stuff, they tell me what I told them before like it was their discovery! And of course people wanted to do surgeries, and one doctor swore up and down I had a huge infection. After a few days, he finally realized I didn't have one.
From all that, at least they fixed the blood vessels. I haven't had any more nosebleeds at least. I also found out I have more things I am allergic to than I thought: wood pulp, saw dust, some things used in making some fabrics and rugs, and all kinds of food. The food thing is weird. I have known for a long time I am allergic to dairy because it gives me asthma attacks. They also told me I am allergic to most fruits, nuts, wheat, some veggies and I think a few kinds of beans. That is weird to me because I have never noticed any allergic reactions to any foods other than dairy. One research doctor that saw me asked me to be in 2 studies, one testing out a drug, but I declined that because I usually don't have good reactions, and I don't want to be the first to test one. The other has to do with testing nasal secretions that I might do, since it pays a bit of $.
Ok, well that is my crazy adventure from last week...ugh! My nose is still sore (and maybe swollen a bit) from all the exams! I am going to make a regular post soon today to make up for the missing time and because I might be busy trying to catch up on things this week.
Since I am usually unable to blow my nose, I try to clean out the front of my nostrils a bit so I am not constantly dripping all over the place. If I stick a tissue up there it makes me sneeze like crazy so I use a q-tip just in the front area of my nostrils to gently get as much as I can. Now this last time we got q-tips we were trying to be cheap so we bought dollar-store q-tips instead of the real ones. When I used one, the cotton tip slipped off and I couldn't get it out of my nostril. Allison also tried but it got more stuck, and of course it was irritating my nose like crazy and got kinda messy. We ended up having to go to the hospital to get it taken out, and when they were taking it out they told me some small blood vessels were broken and they wanted to fix them (and that explained all the nosebleeds I had been getting recently).
The problem was they wanted to do some tests, and then that ended up creating days of problems. With all the problems doing the tests and the weird results that show up for me, they all wanted everyone to come and see me, doctors, residents, med students, etc. I always hate that, and there was always new people coming in, asking me all the same stuff as the others, looking in my nose, seeing me all allergic, etc. Most of them weren't very nice either. They also didn't believe me when I told them things and then after all kinds of tests and stuff, they tell me what I told them before like it was their discovery! And of course people wanted to do surgeries, and one doctor swore up and down I had a huge infection. After a few days, he finally realized I didn't have one.
From all that, at least they fixed the blood vessels. I haven't had any more nosebleeds at least. I also found out I have more things I am allergic to than I thought: wood pulp, saw dust, some things used in making some fabrics and rugs, and all kinds of food. The food thing is weird. I have known for a long time I am allergic to dairy because it gives me asthma attacks. They also told me I am allergic to most fruits, nuts, wheat, some veggies and I think a few kinds of beans. That is weird to me because I have never noticed any allergic reactions to any foods other than dairy. One research doctor that saw me asked me to be in 2 studies, one testing out a drug, but I declined that because I usually don't have good reactions, and I don't want to be the first to test one. The other has to do with testing nasal secretions that I might do, since it pays a bit of $.
Ok, well that is my crazy adventure from last week...ugh! My nose is still sore (and maybe swollen a bit) from all the exams! I am going to make a regular post soon today to make up for the missing time and because I might be busy trying to catch up on things this week.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Too long without posting
I feel so bad that its been over a month since my last post. Sorry everyone! I have been so busy trying to get work done, and being wiped out from my allergies that every time I go to blog I think 'ugh, I can't do this now, maybe tomorrow'. Today I am making it happen though!
I can't think of too much I can bring up right now, because of the above, so right to a few Q+A that have been sitting around:
Q:Do you find that when you are very congested because of your allergies, like when one has a cold you lose your sense of taste? I know it must be really difficult to eat and drink when you are having sneezing fits and are really congested, but even when you can, can you taste food or is it a bit like a cold when it's just sustenance?
A: I have nasal congestion most of the time, so I often don't really have a sense of smell, and that of course impacts my ability to taste. I usually don't taste too much when I eat food when I am congested like that. And yes, with lots of sneezing and congestion, it is hard to eat and drink. I will tend to mainly sip water often when I am like that.
Q:How are things going for you? The pollen counts are at severe here where I am and I've DEFINITELY noticed. I can only imagine you're not doing too great <3 Hope you are getting SOME relief anyway!
A: (ok, maybe not really a question that needs answering here, but I need something to write about!). Yea, its been pretty bad for me so far, and not much relief. The most annoying part is that the more I am exposed to pollen (or anything else I am allergic to), the more sensitive my nose gets and the more I react to things.
Q:You mentioned at worst you sneezed a "few thousand" times a day??? I mean, assuming 16 hours of being awake, 2000 sneezes means an average of over 2 sneezes a minute, all day long??? How are these spaced out? I mean, how many sneezes in a "long fit", and how long does that take?
A: Yes, its pretty crazy isn't it? I almost always sneeze in long fits, almost never less than around 10, and not usually more than around 30, although there have been a few times where I just couldn't stop sneezing for a long time, gets really exhausting and kinda freaky. I never really broke down the timing of it all, but lets say an average of a 20 sneeze fit, and it takes maybe a minute or less usually? My sneezes often come very quickly after each other, although occasionally there are gaps and time for the sneezes to come.
I hope I answered all the questions well. Please keep them coming because I am having a hard time thinking about what to write. I am going to keep making the effort to post about weekly. Feel free to comment or contact me directly!
I can't think of too much I can bring up right now, because of the above, so right to a few Q+A that have been sitting around:
Q:Do you find that when you are very congested because of your allergies, like when one has a cold you lose your sense of taste? I know it must be really difficult to eat and drink when you are having sneezing fits and are really congested, but even when you can, can you taste food or is it a bit like a cold when it's just sustenance?
A: I have nasal congestion most of the time, so I often don't really have a sense of smell, and that of course impacts my ability to taste. I usually don't taste too much when I eat food when I am congested like that. And yes, with lots of sneezing and congestion, it is hard to eat and drink. I will tend to mainly sip water often when I am like that.
Q:How are things going for you? The pollen counts are at severe here where I am and I've DEFINITELY noticed. I can only imagine you're not doing too great <3 Hope you are getting SOME relief anyway!
A: (ok, maybe not really a question that needs answering here, but I need something to write about!). Yea, its been pretty bad for me so far, and not much relief. The most annoying part is that the more I am exposed to pollen (or anything else I am allergic to), the more sensitive my nose gets and the more I react to things.
Q:You mentioned at worst you sneezed a "few thousand" times a day??? I mean, assuming 16 hours of being awake, 2000 sneezes means an average of over 2 sneezes a minute, all day long??? How are these spaced out? I mean, how many sneezes in a "long fit", and how long does that take?
A: Yes, its pretty crazy isn't it? I almost always sneeze in long fits, almost never less than around 10, and not usually more than around 30, although there have been a few times where I just couldn't stop sneezing for a long time, gets really exhausting and kinda freaky. I never really broke down the timing of it all, but lets say an average of a 20 sneeze fit, and it takes maybe a minute or less usually? My sneezes often come very quickly after each other, although occasionally there are gaps and time for the sneezes to come.
I hope I answered all the questions well. Please keep them coming because I am having a hard time thinking about what to write. I am going to keep making the effort to post about weekly. Feel free to comment or contact me directly!
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