realexplodingcat | (no subject)

FYI, I'm not dead yet. I don't want to go on the cart.

I like to tie up loose ends. I realized it has been about a year since

jericho_the_dog joined our family and around this time last year I was probably still publicly freaking out about my allergies. I am no longer freaking out about allergies, although I continue to be irritated.

My asthma seems to be well under control, considering I have used less than one Albuterol inhaler this year. The asthma calmed down last winter, awoke with a start in the spring for a couple weeks, then settled down again to continue hibernating throughout most of the summer. I still take Singular everyday.

My lone chronic affliction is the sensation of various amounts of cement filling my nose at any given time, although that seems to have improved after realizing I should not be sleeping on a down pillow. However, it continues to be annoying enough that my allergist recommended I snort two shots of rhinocort a day, which I have not been doing due to the cost of that medication. Although I do intend to fill that prescription for the month of September, because our 3 week vacation will be spent almost entirely in the great outdoors and will begin with a stop to visit the doggy-in-laws.

I'm pretty sure I'm still allergic to dogs, but I seem to have acquired a tolerance for Jericho. At least, just enough of a tolerance that he doesn't bother me everyday, but not quite enough so that my allergy bucket is not already filled with some dog. Consequently, I still react to other allergens quicker than I would have prior to the dog.

I'm still considering allergy shots, but I keep putting it off due to the cost. I figure if I can develop the tolerance to Jericho, I ought to be able to do it for other allergens, hopefully enough to get off Singular. I prefer to get off all three (I take Claritin, too), but Singular is the #1 on my hit list. If I can get off medication, the shots will be cheaper in the long run.

Threaded | Flat

I can't tell you how much the shots helped me. If I recall correctly, and this was a long time ago, they were covered under my insurance. Mind you, that was my dad's insurance and it was soopermarvy. Alas, my new insurance is not so soopermarvy and I think I may have to stop taking my meds for financial reasons. Wheee!

Anyway, I'm glad that you're doing okay, but yeah, I know how irritating allergies are. ::hugs:: Good luck.

AND I WILL LICK YOUR SNOUT!

Disclaimer: I am self-aware that I am evangelizing about a sinus-related remedy to a complete stranger (although I did feel bonded after that pot likker treatise of yours).

In a similar boat regarding nasal blockage, feather-pillow addiction, healthcare cost reamage -- plus the burning agony that rhinocort caused me -- I resorted to a neti pot.

It's a yoga-sort of thing, so I was willing to have a go. The premise is that you take a tea-pot-like contraption, mix up some membrane-friendly salt water, and flush things out. Regularly. The first few times are sort of uncomfortable, and I admit to being more than trepidatious.

And now? I'm addicted. Seriously. At the mere hint of a sniffle, I'm off to the W.C. to see what green goo I can get gone.

Since taking up the neti, I have abandoned the Rhinocort, kept the feather pillow, and come upon three "olde tyme" recipies for a similar treatmentin family recipie books and notebooks and whatnot from the early 20th century. In with mustard plasters and onion poultices and whatnot are directions for mixing up a cup of water and a half teaspoon salt into a saucer and "sniffing it" for a cold. I'm not up for trying that, but I tell you in all anonymous honesty that I love my neti pot.