Frustratingly, my allergy issues are continuing, despite my attempts to minimize histamine triggers. I'm glad that our area has a very good resource to help track environmental irritants -- most cities probably have some such resource, but i seem to recall that the one i accessed in Salt Lake City wasn't nearly as good as St. Louis'....
Last night after i turned out my reading-lamp, i got up again and visited the "medicine cabinet" one last time, taking an additional dose of my anti-inflammatory systemic enzymes and even a squirt of nasal decongestant to prophylactically combat the irritation of my sinus passages. This morning i woke with gummy eyes, and the tender throat that confirms the drainage issues that were irritating my stomach yesterday. During allergy season, "it's always something." :-P The DOH website says the mold levels are still "moderate" but that ragweed- and grass-pollens have moved into "high."
I'm going to have to be even more of a purist with my diet today, and probably use the neti-pot more, too. Nothing gets rid of internal pollutants (of nasal passages) better! More tea-tree-oil-laden steam as the gentlest form of "sterilizing" the sinuses. Perhaps the addition of zinc lozenges for the throat. NO WINE (i had a little syrah with my steak last night) -- but i reserve the option of some Campari for the sake of my stomach. The mushrooms waiting in the fridge will have to wait a little longer, and "real" cheese is out of the question. GOK what i'll make for supper -- white meat poultry with a cream sauce of some sort would probably be the least burdensome, and carrots Vichy...?
At least the weather forecast is for dry, very warm weather. That won't inhibit the pollen, but the mold situation should get better!
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ReplyDeleteHistamines in the diet, the usual suspects: nut, berries, sea foods, grains, eggs, dairy product, wine, beer, fruits, spices, tomatoes and manufactured edible products (addictives and chemicals). Even in trace amounts, but you know that.
ReplyDeleteI hope you figure out what your kryptonite is. I wish you good luck with the search.
thanks, Fred! unfortunately, there are a lot of little irritants that add up, for me. i'm sure glad i don't have acute ones that cause actual anaphylaxis!
DeleteI also recommend to examine fragrant things(cleaners, creams, lotions, air fresheners, candles, perfumes) that may influence your allergy. Air-fresheners inserted into electric outlets are particularly evil for an asthmatic, for example. May be you have changed something about your routine? It could be not an obvious thing from the first sight.
ReplyDeleteRecently I discovered that fresh figs were not good for me. It is not very surprising considering that their milky juice causes dermatitis for many people.
we just bought a particularly good air filter for the bedroom and a new vacuum cleaner -- that ought to help! i was noticing that every time the dog scratched i was sneezing and getting clogged -- no more lying outside in the grass for him till pollen-time is over! (that should reduce his itchiness as well)
DeleteSorry you're feeling 'under the weather' no pun intended if indeed the weather is affecting how you are feeling, drift of pollen, seeds etc.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the mix in creams, lotions etc are changed without our knowledge which can then bring a reaction we do not expect.
Whatever it is hope it clears soonest ......
All the best Jan
Thanks, Jan! The filter helped a lot, and i minimize cremes and lotions at the best of times -- i havent replaced anything recently. :-) we've had unusual weather this summer, or thepollen would have been bad a month ago....
DeleteI know finding a compromise could be hard, but dogs and allergies are a bad combination.
ReplyDelete:-) the dog stays, of course, but he's elderly.... When he's gone we won't get another for awhile.
DeleteI know, I had to part with a dog because of allergies getting too strong, but it was not a totally bad situation for him. Me and my first husband were living for several years together with his parents and young brother(it is very common in Russia), and the dog in question was actually a family dog, even though he was bought for my husband as a present initially. When we traded one big apartment on two smaller ones, dog had to be parted with some family members anyway. I missed him a lot.
DeleteI just wanted to tell that you can probably lock your dog out of your bedroom or something like that.
Even I have had some sinus pressure, and I almost never get allergies anymore.
ReplyDeletesomething definitely set me off bigtime, this year. it's fading away at last.... yesterday my secondhand books came -- by Dr. Joneja, who i gather is an authority on histamine-related distress and food allergy -- and i look forward to learning more soon!
DeleteWe all in my family have allergies, and sometimes it really takes big effort to figure out what is setting somebody off. The culprit is not always on a surface.
ReplyDeletethat's for sure! being observant, though, of one's body's reactions after meals helps.
DeleteI have hay fever which is sensitised by cheese, milk, cream.
ReplyDeleteI found that eating beef mince, especially with pasta sauce, a food to which I am sensitive in other ways, cancels out my hay fever and dries my sinuses for a few days. I guess I'll never know why, but it is my go-to hack.
However I get HF a lot less often now, eating less cheese, taking probiotics and vit D, and drinking "raw" well water.
sometimes when i feel a little malaise, i have to wonder if i've actually picked up a NASTY bug, and my current healthy diet is keeping me from being really sick.... well, my now-concluding issue started when i had a whole platter of preserved meat at a place we'd never been before. i wonder if one of their dishes was contaminated with something.
DeleteNow that I have my hay fever under pretty good control, I find that what break-outs I do have are usually the first sign of an infection. Pertussis last Xmas started exactly like an unexpected and unstoppable case of hay fever.
Deletethat makes sense -- infection is a stressor, and stressors set off histaminic reactions....
DeleteAlso, body rises histamine as a response to any infection. Most people with allergies have a flare of their asthma/eczema/RA/whatever after having a flue for that reason. People even died of Spanish flu at the beginning of 20-th century because it induced uniquely strong immune response which produced a lang edema as the result.
DeleteTess I've meant to thank you for posting on this, caused me to check into it and I'm still reeling from all the information. suffice to say I've discovered histamines are at least part of my digestive issues and I may not have discovered it without your blogging about your own search. again, thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI do have to say though that this having to eat fresh protein and no leftovers is a PITA and I am not willing to go the vegetarian extremes some have. ah well, just have to do some planning!
:-D i'm so glad i've been helpful! yes, it's hard to know what's the BEST route to take, but at least this knowledge gives us tools to work with....
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