Allergy season

[Mustardman]

I'm curious how many other folks out there deal with allergies. I actually had to take a hiatus from outdoor activities in my late teenage years, because my allergies became so bad that no meds could come close to helping, and my eyes would get so swollen that I literally couldn't see. Luckily, as I have aged, they have calmed down a bit, and better medications have come on the market, that make them reasonably manageable.

Still, there are weekends where a certain plant is in bloom or something, and no amount of meds will do me any good, and I've ended up canceling a few planned outings because my allergies were just plain nasty.


On top of that, I always have to carry an epi-pen with me, because of a severe allergy to hornet stings.


How many of you deal with allergies, and how much does it affect your time in the woods?

[bigbrad73]

i do. I have had bad allergies all my life. When the pollen is out bad I have to stay at home.

[Ewker]

I still go out and do things. My eyes look like I have been on a week long drunk though

[Hawk-eye]

Take some over the counter meds and go to the woods anyway ... interesting thing ... I have less allergy issues in the woods than I do around the house or work ... hmmmm

[lori]

I've been on a long quest for things that help allergies... Claritan doesn't work, nor do most antihistamines. I am doing a trial run of Zyrtec to see if it helps.

The thing that works very reliably for me has been Sudafed (not the neutered version, for some reason the PE works very different chemically for me and only results in medicine head) with a couple of tylenol if I'm getting a sinus headache. Decongestants keep me sane. I find that one Sudafed per 24 hour period is enough.

[Mustardman]

Over the counter meds are completely worthless to me. I literally became immune to Claritin from taking it so often when it was still prescription. I can pop many times the recommended dose of Benadryl and it barely phases me. I was on Benadryl before I was old enough to swallow pills - taking it in liquid form from a spoon.

Allegra works pretty decently for me, but again the recommended dosage isn't enough. I generally take two 180mg tablets a day, sometimes three.

[HamMike]

This past Sunday was the worst for me so far this season. I couldn't go outside for 30 seconds without a flareup. I take Krogers version of Zyrtec 24hr everyday and supplement with liquid Benedryl. When I went hiking/camping the Thursday before that Sunday I inadvertantly left my med bottle in the truck and missed my dose Friday. I think that may be why I had such a bad day on Sunday. I start takin a 24 pill mid to late April and don't stop until mid August. Yeah allergies are a royal pain in the butt!

[oldgringo]

I suffered terribly as a kid, and later, as a young adult. Then, inexplicably, about 15 years ago, it all went away. Only rarely am I affected. Ditto poison ivy...I have to do something really stupid to have any significant problem with PI.

I'd still rather be 20, again.

[millergear]

... interesting thing ... I have less allergy issues in the woods than I do around the house or work ... hmmmm

Me to! Even as ground dweller sleeping under a tarp on the leaves, no issues

[TinaLouise]

for about the past 8 years I've had to take allegra once a day plus flonase and prescription eye drops (patanol). And I still wanted to dig my eyeballs out because they itched so much.

I just pack my meds and go camping anyways figuring that I'd rather be out in the woods than shut up inside.

TinaLouise