When I was 2 years old I played in the tall grass one sunny afternoon with my cousins. When my Mom saw me return she almost had an heart attack. I was covered from top to toe in horrible hives. I didn’t understand the fuss she was making about it but that’s how I found out I was allergic, not only to pollen but also to dust mites. I struggled during my childhood in between being closed up in a room with a towel under my nose or zoned out on the coach from side effects of my medications. When I started injection therapy at the age of 18 a new world opened to me. One in which I could actually go outside on a nice day-even if it was only for 30 minutes.

I have been promised that my allergies would lessen with puberty. Which was true: I became allergic to more things. I added molds and pet dander to my list. I was promised they would change with pregnancy and childbirth. They did, I developed food allergies. So you can imagine I’m not looking forward to menopause. What else is there to get allergic to? I do not want to find out. But time creeps by and it will be inevitable.

I’m one of those highly sensitive people, I have been on injection therapy for 20 years now and I am maxed out on my allergy medication year round. Which means I’m still locked up in my room on some high pollen and windy days. But I cope. I go around my day as usual even when I feel like crap. But I really get frustrated by all these people who start whining at the first sniffle, or itch. Please get yourself some medication and a boatload less of self-pity. Think about the smiling person in the cubicle next to you. She may be strange as she appears to be happy to be inside on a nice day, or elated when it rains. But she really would like to be more like you and enjoy the beautiful weather, a dog and a nice meal without a hassle.

Allergies have completely changed my life. I could wear eye shadow, mascara etc up until I was 25. Slowly, I have become allergic to most cosmetic products, most recently face cream and foundation. I can still wear blush and powder, but am scared for the day when I can’t wear those products either. My mom is exactly the same. I’m 36 and am worried that I’m going to be living in a bubble by the time I’m 40!!!!

I had an allergic reaction to milk when I was an infant. So I rarely drink milk or consume dairy products. This has been the case since about 1952.

In 1972 I decided to find out what I was allergic to and had the tests. Well I reacted to everything they tested me for except horse hair and kapoc. When I saw the allergist I was told I had nasal polyps, started injections, and went to ENT specialist to have the polyps removed. They were back six weeks later. I have had so many sinus surgeries over the years because of the polyps. Then the polyps turned into an inverted papilloma. Three surgeries later I am tumor free but lost some tear ducts and had a hole drilled in my head. I also rarely have headaches anymore.

The allergy shots never worked for me. I ended up removing anything with milk in it from my diet and things greatly improved. If I start eating a lot of cheese again then I am in trouble.

I am now 56 and suffer from itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. I am on blood pressure medication so I don’t take allergy medication. I rely on a nasal spray for relief of the runny nose and occaisionally use eye drops for the itchy eyes. I sneeze regardless of what I do.

I try to stay inside on windy days and avoid dairy products. I have learned to live with the sneezing and I always make sure I have tissue.

I’m 33 years old. I’ve had allergies all my life. Every year it seems to get worse. The only thing that I found beneficial is Xolair and I got a septo-plasty (widened my nasal passages). I get a Xolair shot once a month and I can honestly say i feel 40-50% better. I’m less congested & my eyes don’t itch as much (especially in the morning when allergies are high and around animals). Xolair treats asthma & allergies. I recommend going to your allergist and get blood tested for Xolair. It won’t cure your allergies but it will make a big difference in your life.

I never had allergies until my early thirties. Then, I became allergic to ragweed in the springtime, which now, in my late-thirties, seems to get worse every year. I take over-the-counter meds which, at least, allows me to get my sleep uninterrupted. I hope these allergic reactions disappear as abruptly as they came.

Maria and Gillian, the drug companies are doing the same thing that they do to with people who believe they have ADD: get you addicted. Have you considered that these allergy drugs are actually *worsening* your body’s natural reaction to allergens? Please, pick up a copy of Dr. Weil’s 8 Weeks to Optimum Health on eBay (very cheap) or wherever.
Kind Regards,
Leafgreen

I had several food allergies as a small child that seemed to disappear in my late childhood and my teen years. However, when I was in my late 20s, they all came back again. They weren’t as bad as they had been in childhood, but they were back!

My entire family is very allergic. We have seasonal, pet, and food allergies. My mother and sister had asthma in their youth, and my grandmother had terrible eczema. My poor toddler son inherited ALL of it. He has SEVERAL severe food allergies. He gets hives from various grasses and pollen exposure. I just hope he has that period of relief in his late childhood and teen years like I had. I was also thrilled that for over a year after the birth of my son I had greatly diminished allergies myself. It is obvious to me that big physical, hormonal, and chemical changes in our systems change the way our bodies deal with allergies.

I have had allergies for as long as I can remember. In high school I was checking the pollen counts daily to see what I could do with sports and what I couldn’t. When I got pregnant, my allergies decided to hibernate and I felt great for the entire 9 months. However, after my son was born they came back.

I had to change jobs 2 times because my allergies were so bad I was missing more and more work. After landing a corporate job in a clean environment, I was able to relax at work. My home life was not so lucky- my son was now into little league and my days at the ball park were doing a number on me and my body. I always felt worn down and tired. After several useless attempts at OTC meds, I finally got referred to a specialist. Two skins test later and a messed up sinus surgery has lead me to learning that I am allergic to everything possible (including some meds). The surgery did help a little and so far this year I have only had two days that I needed meds. And even though we have found out what I am allergic to there is no meds available right now to help relieve me so I still have to watch the pollen count and take OTC. I’m hoping that the problems leave sooner than later so I can enjoy my life more and not have to worry about what my body will do if I go outside and play with my kids or help my husband with yard work or take our dogs for a walk (who I am allergic to only a little bit).

I’m also a hyper sensitive person. When growing up I was allergic to many foods including oranges and believe it or not chocolate. I remember going to grade school with red bumps and inflamed skin all over my arms. I stood up in front of my class in fourth grade and told them I had allergies. The medication (which was some white paste cream) didn’t work that well. Years later, I found out I was allergic to many other foods I kept eating as a child….including milk.
I’m now in my 40’s and a few years ago my allergies (to every tree, grass, bush, dust mites etc.) came back severely. I stopped wearing makeup since I couldn’t breath and my eyes watered. It’s been hell every since, I stopped taking an hour each morning to get ready and my self esteem as taken a nose dive. My current trouble is a rash underneath my arms which I can’t get rid of even with medicine. It comes and goes. I do count my blessings, when I have hours where I can breath and my eyes don’t water…which isn’t too often.

I have had allergies for many years. Seasonal spring, fall, & winter. When weather changes I sometimes can’t even be myself because of the sinus pain. In June I usually get the ichy eyes, sneezing, coughing, etc….. I am 53 years old now and still suffer with very bad sinus head pain. I started using the Neti Pot, (a saline solution used in your nasal passage once a day and it releives some pressure. You can use it more than once a day too. It beats taking medications that make me feel drowsy or hyper. It works pretty good for now and I have been using it for about 2 months now. We will see if helps me in June.

dear Val,

There might be a genetic component involved in this. I never had allergies in childhood, but as I got older, I grew more intollerant to wheat products and pollen. My mother has allergies. By the way: I come from a tropical country from South America, where allergies are only during the monsoon rainy seasons.

WIth allergies there is a first mild response and usually at the second and third response, the IgA’s and IgE’s are more aggressive. So I am wondering what kind of allergens are playing a role.