Pollen assault in South Florida

Wow I haven't had this kind of allergy attack in over 20 years. At first I thought it was the flu because it came on so sudden, no fever arrived but everything else did, achy body, clogged sinuses, laryngitis, feeling like death warmed over. After 2 weeks I finally could almost function again and then it hit again! I'm on my 16th day of feeling like h*ll.

I went to weather.com and looked at the pollen maps and sure enough my area has everything going on at once: tree pollen, mold spores and grasses. It has been a very warm winter so nothing died and everything is in bloom at the same time.

My husband got the same attack about a week after mine. Claritin is my salvation for me but didn't help him at all so we tried Zyrtec, no improvement. He tried Allegra next and bingo, cleared him up. I then tried Allegra and it did nothing for me. Weird isn't it?

What's new in the pollen allergy medicines? Anything in an Rx that would make my life less miserable?

thanks Sherry

I have been keeping indoors as much as possible with doors/windows closed. I also cranked up the free-standing humidifier purchased a couple years ago because it has been soooo dry (31% humidity) and that has helped a lot too. Thank God for Claritin D. And thanks for letting me know nothing new is available that is better.

I'll have to look into the hepa filter. We get our HVAC system checked up once a year and they are coming in a week. Is the filter something we can do or best done by a professional? How much $$ are we talking? (No furnace in Florida i guess it's a heat pump for AC and heat.

This morning I feel much better but the pollen map says tomorrow and Friday are in the red range (highest).

Thanks for the Hepa/Lowes advice. My DH has looked there last year and couldn't find the size needed. He was so nice yesterday and spent hours talking on the telephone and looking online for a replacement filter. Finally the HVAC people who maintain (and originally installed) our unit called back with good news. They can put in a MERV 11 filter. Not a HEPA because apparently a lot of metal work would have to be done to retrofit a HEPA but now we know what a MERV is and are happy with that as a solution.

It isn't the indoor air that has been my problem but since I can't do anything about the outdoor allergens at least I can clean up the indoor air as much as possible. Last night I started vacuuming the return air grilles which were filthy (gives an idea about what's in the air huh?) and today I am washing them.

Feeling much better today, yesterday was awful. Talked to some local friends and they know many who have the same thing I do but some of them are calling it a virus (but I think that it is not, know in my case it is not a virus).

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Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 1/21/2012 6:21:18 AM (GMT-7)

I've never seen/heard of those nose filters. Do you have a link? I tried using a damp bandana but that's useless.
My condition is way better, under control with Claritin D but husbands is worse. He's now moved to Allegra D, fingers crossed. One of my friends has been on prednisone hers was so bad.