Author Topic: I Am Alergyman (Read 516 times)

LePaul · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2007, 05:42:10 PM »

Eskimo, I had that happen last year

After never having allergies, I developed em.

Get yourself tested so you can narrow down what's ailing ya and take the right med.

For me, it was grass. I mow the lawn every week, do some landscaping...and couldnt figure out what made my ears fill up. I'd feel woosey and spacey for days. Sudafed would dry me out but once I mowed again, another 5 days of ickiness.

For me, Alavert is the cure.

I've been taking one daily (the dissolve in your mouth variety) and thus far, no issues what so ever this year.

eagl · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2007, 06:10:59 PM »

You need a Grossan nasal irrigator from these guys:

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=150424

I have the Grossan Hydro-Pulse system and it works very well for allergies. Get the basic system and it comes with a decent amount of the solution powder so you can decide if you want to make your own solution (basically salt and baking soda) or if you like their custom powder better.

At least one other pilot here at Sheppard AFB uses this thing religiously and for one guy with really bad sinus problems, it's pretty much the only thing that lets him keep flying.

LePaul · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2007, 06:36:25 PM »

I forgot to add: Get a good air purifier.

I bought a HEPA one from Sears last summer for about $79. You replace the charcoal layer every 4 months, the HEPA one yearly.

Made a big difference for me. I leave it running 24/7

Sandman · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2007, 06:42:06 PM »

Hmmm... there are other non-medical solutions. Might help, might not... but it probably can't hurt.

eagl · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2007, 06:52:45 PM »

LePaul and eskimo,

I have a better idea for an air filter that I've been using for a while now. Get a $10 20" square box fan from wal-mart or some other store, and tape a high quality 20"x20" air conditioner air filter to the intake side of it. I like the 3M "Filtrete" brand ones because they have several different kinds all rated to filter out various size particles, but there are others that work ok. Just read the label to see what level of filtration it's rated for (particle size). The best filters ought to cost no more than about $16 each (less if bought on sale or in bulk), and even though this setup won't qualify as true "hepa" due to a small amount of air that leaks through and around the fan blade tips, the setup costs 1/10th as much as a good true hepa air filter, moves/filters a lot more air through the filter, and is much quieter.

I wasn't sure how effective the box fan and filter setup would be until I set one up in the same room as a true HEPA filter and ran them both on low speed for a month. The box fan was nearly silent, but the hepa filter was very loud even on the lowest setting. After just one month, the box fan filter was very very dirty indicating it had pulled a ton of stuff out of the air, while the true hepa filter was still fairly clean.

They're so cheap, you can put one of these in every room you routinely use. You'll notice less dust on the furniture too. Very cheap, quieter than almost every true HEPA filter on the market, and still very effective at removing particulates and allergens from the air.

Yea it looks a little bit ghetto but who cares? If it bugs you that much, put it behind something.

Vulcan · « **Reply #20 on:** June 01, 2007, 06:53:15 PM »

and this helps me (believe it or not):

eagl · « **Reply #21 on:** June 01, 2007, 07:01:15 PM »

For what it's worth, I also take allegra and use Flonase. Claritin doesn't do anything for me but allegra seems to work pretty well. It's not a miracle drug but it does keep my eyes from itching all the time and so far I've survived a spring in Texas without losing a single day of flying due to sinus problems.

The flonase helps some people more than others. It's a corticosteriod that is supposed to reduce inflammation in the sinuses. It helps me just enough that I keep using it, but another instructor pilot I know here at Sheppard swears by it.

Even if you don't get the nasal irrigator, saline nasal irrigation of any sort should help a lot. Do it once or twice a day for the max effect. If you make your own solution, expect it to sting a bit until you find out how much salt and baking soda to put into the water, and make darn sure you use body-temp (slightly warm) water otherwise you'll get a nice headache.

The downside to allegra of course is it's cost... I don't pay for the stuff myself but I was told that street price for the 24-hr allegra is about $5/pill... OUCH! That's why many health care insurance policies don't cover allegra because too many people were getting prescriptions for it and then turning around and selling it again. The military had such a problem with this (prescription fraud and high medication costs) that it takes a special waiver to get allegra through TRICARE, and even then they strongly discourage it's use unless it's the only effective treatment option.

Estes · « **Reply #22 on:** June 01, 2007, 07:05:26 PM »

Flonase is the only thing that helps mine.

Booz · « **Reply #23 on:** June 01, 2007, 11:10:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by cav58d
... I am noticing excramental relief each month.

I'd rather have allergies

Excel1 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 02, 2007, 06:57:28 AM »

A corticosteroid like Prednisone can be worth a try if the allergies are real bad and the over the counter and milder prescription only allergy meds arnt giving releif. The only problems with Prednisone is the potential for side effects and it's not a drug that can be used long term without issues. But it works well on severe allergies amoung other things.

Halo · « **Reply #25 on:** June 02, 2007, 10:03:13 AM »

Eagl, your box fan and filter idea sounds ingenious.

In the Northern Virginia spring, it is standard procedure to find your car covered in golden pollen many mornings. Although easy to dust off, it's surprising how gritty pollen feels -- not at all like the talcum powder feel you might expect.