Allergy Season

Blake McCarthy · 03-25-2010, 02:18 PM

The pollen season is in full force here in Texas and it hit me like a truck this week. I tried some of the remedies found here in the archive (apple cider vinegar, raw honey), but I saw no improvement and made my way over to see an ENT doctor today. He told me that the mucus from my allergies was a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which has led to a sinus infection. He prescribed me an antibiotic, a kenalog shot and a nasal steroid (flonase). I try to stay away from antibiotics, etc., but I think I just want to get this cleared up as quickly as possible.

Anyway, I have a few questions for the gurus here. Other than a course of probiotics after I finish the antibiotics, is there anything I should do to help get me back to normal? My doctor suggested I start getting allergy shots. I don't have any experience with these, but wouldn't they leave me in a state of constant inflammation? I'm just tired of being stuffed up.

P.S. I have already cut out gluten, sugar, etc. from my diet. I eat paleo with the exception of milk, which I still drink as it's a cheap source of protein and fat.

William McAlpine · 03-25-2010, 07:58 PM

I have often read about links between milk and mucus production. This study seems to refute those claims. There are a few other studies that counter the hypothesis. But, I have heard anecdotally that cutting out milk helps with mucus production. Maybe you could try it for 2-3 weeks?

Craig Brown · 03-26-2010, 08:10 AM

I use a Neti pot. Works wonders with just salt water. Takes a week or two to get used to, then it's actually pleasant. You can get ceramic pots (which to me are more pleasant) for $10-15 at natural food stores or Amazon.

James Bailey · 03-29-2010, 05:36 AM

I used to have terrible hay fever until about 2 years ago, I used a combination of this and high doses (5 grams daily) of vitamin C to kick it out. It sometimes flares up and the same thing knocks it out in a day or two. Also take some B complex and zinc.

Good luck with it, such a bitch...

Steven Low · 03-29-2010, 06:19 AM

Clean up the diet... gluten free may help. Same with vit D. Fish oil. Up your anti-inflammation basically

Blake McCarthy · 03-30-2010, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I think the doc was right about the infection. I finished the round of antibiotics over the weekend and feel much better. I'm still taking zyrtex and flonase in the mornings, but no more benadryl at night as it makes me feel very groggy in the mornings.

Steven, I have already cut gluten out of my diet and take 15 grams of fish oil, 5000 iu vitamin D and a greens supplement every day. I've added a tsp of raw honey a day as I have read it can work as basically a natural allergy shot.

I'm still not 100% mucus free, but I'm substantially better than I was last week so relatively I feel great. I would really like to get rid of allergies completely as I feel the congestion does hold me back sometimes in my conditioning (I think I get gassed a little quicker than I would if I could breathe clearly).

Brandon Oto · 03-30-2010, 11:21 AM

Zyrtec D is excellent. Pseudoephedrine is magical stuff.

Chris Snyder · 03-30-2010, 02:28 PM

Neti Pot or Sinurinse will remove a lot of the remaining mucus. I deal with sinus infection year round, getting ~6-10 a year, and the sinus rinse has helped a lot in preventing and treating. You are lucky that you know what is causing yours, no one can figure out what is happening with me. I am only allergic to Mountain cedar and that comes to Dallas in the winter only.

My ENTs (yes, multiple, I have been to 4 and have had surgery once) are split over whether the sinurinse works better than the neti, but I personally use both. If the mucus is high up in my sinuses, I will use the Sinurinse. If it is lower, I will use the neti. The trick with the neti is that you can't just pour in one nostril and out the other. You must pour in one nostril, close the other, and snort the water in your nose and out your mouth.

It sounds awful and disgusting and takes some practice, but it works great, especially when you are dealing with a lot of drainage. The fist time you do it with an infection, you will be grossed out by the amount of green muscus you are spitting out.

Also, if you are using the Neilmed packets, get the hypertonic packets or double up the normal packets per 8oz.

Good luck, sinus problems suck.

Darryl Shaw · 04-01-2010, 06:21 AM

According to this article seaweed may improve symptoms of seasonal allergies - link. I haven't found any studies supporting this claim but seaweed is incredibly nutritious so it won't do any harm to try some and see if it helps.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...spice&dbid=135

Edit: I spoke too soon, there are studies supporting the claim -

Anti-allergic effects of ethanol extracts from brown seaweeds.

Antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities of the seaweed Sargassum fulvellum and Sargassum thunbergii in mice.

Effects of the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida on erythematous inflammation assessed using digital photo analysis.