Allergy problems in mid-atlantic region.

May 19, 2008 8:56 PM

Is anybody else in the mid-Atlantic, specifically Pittsburgh, area getting massacred by allergies right now?

I've always had some allergy problems, but nothing like what I've been going through lately. I'm having a really hard time breathing, for about 2 weeks now, and I feel terrible all day long. I've always had a touch of asthma but it usually only cropped up when I had a cold or went around farm animals and was always easily cured with one puff of albuterol. Now, on my doctor's advice, I am taking a double dose of loratadine (staggered by 12 hours), advair, and albuterol as needed and still having problems. I'm pretty sure it's allergies since it gets much worse when I go outside and seems to improve in air conditioned situations. What's puzzling to me is that I'm not having as many nasal problems as I would expect for how bad the chest congestion is. I've been tracking the pollen/mold counts through the AAAAI Web site and I'm beginning to see a pattern that might indicate a mold problem but tree pollen has been really high in this area as well, so I can't be sure yet.

What I'd like to know is if anybody else has been having more problems than usual. I haven't tracked the counts before so I don't know if these counts are unusual.

posted by Raichle to health & fitness (17 comments total)

I usually don't have a problem with allergies, but thus far I've already had a sinus infection that had to be toppled with antibiotics and desloratadine (to quell the secondary symptoms). Yes, the allergies are awful in this region this year.
posted by fujiko at 9:06 PM on May 19, 2008

I live in Northeast Ohio and my allergies, especially in the last seven days, have been horrific. I wake up every morning congested and am sneezing most of the day, despite taking previously sufficient allergy meds. It doesn't matter if I'm inside or outside, or if I'm at work, in the car or at home.

I haven't had a sinus infection, yet.
posted by vkxmai at 9:13 PM on May 19, 2008

It isn't just you. It's bad all over the U.S. Tree pollen counts have been near record this year.

In addition to the meds you're already using, you may wish to speak with your ENT about a steroid nasal spray such as Nasonex.
posted by netbros at 9:18 PM on May 19, 2008

I don't live in Pittsburgh, nor do I get allergies, BUT:
I live an hour south and my girlfriend is allergic to everything that flowers or contains chlorophyll. She was recently told that because of the early heat and vast moistness that everything released its nastiness at once this year. The grasses and flowers and trees are all dumping their everythings together.
posted by TomMelee at 9:23 PM on May 19, 2008

I appreciate the recommendation, but I doubt Nasonex will help since it's almost exclusively a lung issue. Using a neti pot has truly done wonders for my nasal allergies. I only wish I could rinse my lungs out :)
posted by Raichle at 9:25 PM on May 19, 2008

netbros: that article is from April 2007 :)
posted by Raichle at 9:30 PM on May 19, 2008

So it is. That'll teach me to look at datelines. Anecdotally then, the pollen has been very severe in the southeast this year.
posted by netbros at 9:45 PM on May 19, 2008

It's not just the US. It's terrible in the UK as well, and my lungs have been very congested. I'm using my salbutamol sulphate inhaler 4x a day, which helps keep it at bay somewhat. You might do well with a steroid inhaler for prevention.
posted by happyturtle at 12:09 AM on May 20, 2008

I live in San Francisco, and everyone's allergies this year are absolutely brutal. I have a friend who went to their doctor with serious allergy symptoms and his doctor said that even people who normally didn't exhibit allergy symptoms where coming down with allergies this year.

On the worst days (dry and windy) I have been taking a double dose of Loratadine (in 10-12 hour increments) as well as washing out my sinuses with salt water (it's awesome and totally prevents allergy induced sinus infections).
posted by The Light Fantastic at 12:28 AM on May 20, 2008

oh..upon re-reading your question, I see you have lung issues with allergies. Have you tried breathing through a clean washcloth? It sounds stupid, but when I was a kid with killer allergies (lived on a farm and was allergic to EVERYTHING), I would often find my lungs itching and filling full of phlegm. I could alleviate this by taking a very clean washcloth (not washed in any type of highly perfumed detergent or dried with a dryer sheet) and soaking it with cool water - I would lie on my bed and breath through the washcloth until my lungs "relaxed." I think it helped alleviate the chronic irritation in my lungs, as well as hydrating my bronchial tubes. I still use it from time to time, even though my allergies are for the most part gone.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 12:34 AM on May 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Where I live in Maryland the tree pollen has been horrible for the last week. My silver car is generally greenish silver every morning when I head out for work.
posted by imjustsaying at 2:29 AM on May 20, 2008

This year my allergies have been rougher on my body than ever before. Normally I bouce back quite well, but this year my allergies have been wearing me down.
posted by niccolo at 5:23 AM on May 20, 2008

My girlfriend here in central Ohio has terrible allergies this year.
posted by zennoshinjou at 6:01 AM on May 20, 2008

New England's in the same mess. I usually get a bit of post nasal drip, max. Now it's full on, and with the added bonus of vertigo! Others I've spoken with around here are in the same boat.

I called the people behind one of the AAAI reporting centers and asked about the season a month ago. She said a lot was higher than normal but the big surprise was Elm pollen, which was supposed to be declining due to Dutch Elm disease killing off all the trees. Guess they're making a stand. The other factor she mentioned was things are shifting. Areas with lots of cold weather trees are shifting to warmer climate trees that people are more sensitive too.
posted by jwells at 6:47 AM on May 20, 2008

I live in central Indiana, and I've noticed my allergies acting up a bit over the past week or two. Not severely, but enough that I notice.

Even though my response is minor, it's still significant because I normally don't have seasonal allergies in the spring at all. Mine normally act up only in the fall. This is the first time I remember that I've had any problems at all in May.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:31 AM on May 20, 2008

Southwestern Ohio resident here. I'm DYING this year. I can't recommend Advair enough right now. I usually have one puff daily along with my Loratadine and NasaCort (and injections once per week) but I've been bumped up to two puffs a day per doctors orders. It's really helping with the asthma. My son has seasonal allergies and asthma and he gets Advair in the fall and spring. It makes a world of difference.
posted by cooker girl at 9:22 AM on May 20, 2008

Yep. I live in Sewickley; both my wife and son have had a horrendous time with allergies this spring.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:21 PM on May 20, 2008