allergy apocalypse

[kaysixteen]

Due to the  extremely abnormally warm and dry winter we had here in Southern New England, which was very pleasant, we are now getting slammed, have been for the better part of six weeks by now, with intense tree pollen, the likes of which I  cannot remember ever experiencing here (I usually get only minor symptoms in the spring tree pollen days and much worse effects in Sept, when the weed pollen appears.   I keep Clairitin on hand year round but often go weeks without having to take any, but now, it is proving to be nigh onto worthless.   I happened to visit my primary doc last monday and he recommended Flonase nasal spray, which is a steroid.   I finally broke down and bought a bottle today, but have not yet used it because I need to visit my opthalmologist tomorrow and she may decide I need to get a shot of Avastin (which is apparently not a steroid, but a monoclonal antibody), and I have also been using another steroid, Triamcinolone, as a topical cream on the skin condition I have had for years on my legs, and I want to check tomorrow with the ophthalmologist and a pharmacist, before taking the nasal spray plunge (as it happens, I have not taken a nasal spray I believe since high school).   Thoughts?

[AvidReader]

I'm the furthest thing imaginable from a medical doctor, but a pediatrician parent of some of my (K-12) students, years ago, recommended Flonase when I had a persistent respiratory infection, and said she kept a bottle on hand and gave herself a squirt (well, two) before work if she was feeling stuffy in allergy season. So anecdotal evidence supports Flonase, but I am not a medical professional, and you should absolutely check with your opthamologist/pharmacist.

AR.

[onehappyunicorn]

I found nasal irrigation helped me when the season was particularly bad. It takes a little getting used to, and make sure you are using purified water, but it really helped.

[EdnaMode]

Obviously, I'm not that kind of doctor, and don't know about your eye conditions, but was told by my retina specialist not to use any sort of steroid spray or injection unless it was a matter of life and death because it can make my particular retina condition worse. I did get permission from him to use a topical steroid cream for a week or so when I had really bad case of poison ivy.

[sinenomine]

I'm also in southern New England and am slammed by allergies. I started using a ClearUP device a couple years ago and it's been a huge help, in conjunction with my non-steroidal allergy meds.

[spork]

Saline irrigation with neti pot. Cheap, effective, especially if done before bedtime.