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Old 07-15-2008, 11:37 PM   #1  
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Default Allergies and dieting/exercise

Has anyone else been hammered with allergies. I got them a little last year but this year is the WORST. I've been passed out, drained, immobilized for days at a time. I've tried various over the counter stuff then I think I od'd doing that, reacted to the medicine as I'm not used to any at all.

I'm just sad, I was pushing in my new 3 month BFL challenge. Yes I'll be the first to admit that I go in spurts and have all sorts of ideas and obsessions, my chattering on this site is proof of this. But I MEANT IT, I really did. I really wanted this, three months. I love weight training and the program called for 40 min of intense weights, I loved the muscle I was seeing in a short time.

Now I've lost two weeks, restarted my journal again but I'm leaving on another business trip so that'll mess it up, always does even with my best of intentions. I don't know what's going on, my mom informed me it's genetics that I have a long line of relatives who had horrible allergies. I never had them before, oh maybe some itchy eyes and stuff in the spring, but THIS! Why on earth at 40 would I come down with these insane allergy attacks? I did read on the internet stress contributes and yes there's been more then my share of stress the past 3-4 years (babies, separation, death of father, you name it...).

So all the more reason to concentrate on eating healthy and perhaps MORE important to figure out how to stress LESS. Stress is a killer. It's the cause of most health issues doctors say. Perhaps it contributed to my allergies. I need to be nicer to my body and self. And whatever it is, figure out these dang allergies. Does anyone have ideas or have allergies too?
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Old 07-16-2008, 01:47 AM   #2  
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I am also struggling with allergies..The allergy medications made me drowsy the whole day and i could not concentrate on exercise or dieting..I visited Doctor several times and every time they changed the allergy medication but in vain..Finally i was fortunate enought to get a good Allergy specialist..Still I am on medication but it does not affect my daily activities..I have started my exercising routine again
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Old 07-16-2008, 07:29 AM   #3  
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I have allergies and have had them all my life. They have been better in some parts of the country than in others. I don't know where you live, horsey, but for me, the Northeast/New England was the worst. My allergies aren't so bad in Florida.

People do tend to acquire new allergies during life. I never used to be allergic to cats--and now I am, and dogs, too. (But, I have a cat.) Also, house dust!

I read that keeping the humidity lower helps with the house dust allergy--another reason I like air conditioning.

All I can say is, try to find an antihistamine that doesn't make you drowsy, and keep going anyway. Try to avoid foods with simple carbs--I've found sugar makes symptoms worse. Exercise helps with allergies, interestingly--at least temporarily.

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Old 07-16-2008, 07:58 AM   #4  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayEll View Post
Try to avoid foods with simple carbs--I've found sugar makes symptoms worse.
Jay
Jay, I'd never thought about this. Do you know if it's just you or if it's "normal" to have simple carbs exacerbate allergy symptoms? My allergies are the worst they've ever been this year and I'm miserable since I can't take anything due to pregnancy. A benadryl every once in a while is all I can take and it knocks me out for a good 8 hours. If cutting out sugar would help, I'd definitely give it a shot.

I'm also slightly allergic to one of our dogs. What was a slight allergy has become completely nuts this year with my immune system down... poor dog. I can't even pet her much without going into itchy eye/sneezing fits.
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Old 07-16-2008, 08:57 AM   #5  
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Same issues here. Worst allergies ever! The only thing I could do was sleep as I was constantly exhausted. Though, I found my gym had cleaner air so I always felt better when I was there. Tried various prescription pills and found something that works.

I read that vitamin B shots were good for allergy sufferers.
mensjournal.com/healthFitness/0604/allergies_b12.html

And most pregnant women are deficient in vitamin b, so shots are recommended. See your dr about it.

I was going to try it, but the meds I'm on now are doing the trick.

Best of luck!
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Old 07-16-2008, 08:58 AM   #6  
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Menopause also kicks allergies into high gear. My symptoms are greatly reduced on a low GI diet. I agree with the "simple carbs"theory. I rarely use my Zyrtec now.
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Old 07-16-2008, 09:23 AM   #7  
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Evidently some people notice reduced symptoms if they stay with low glycemic index foods. But I don't think any scientific studies have been done--perhaps another member does know of some. A person can't be allergic TO sugar--that's not it. But I have noticed that my symptoms are worse if I eat too much simple carbs (i.e. high glycemic index foods).

Gale02, I am this way with certain cats. I have to wash my hands immediately after petting them. Dogs can trigger me, too.

I've noticed that once my allergies get going, say, to tree pollen or grass, I'm even more allergic to other things that usually don't bother me so much.

Jay
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Old 07-16-2008, 09:46 AM   #8  
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I did get a kitten recently for my little boy, it does seem the allergies have gotten worse this summer so perhaps the little critter has something to do wtih it! I live near a field, the wind blows and the neighbor said the pollen collects in the weeds out there. When I lived in town I didn't get allergies like this, I moved into the area near the country.

My diet has been good, I eat very little sugar anymore, ok except I still like some beer and wine here and there which is high glycemic I'm sure. Here I am eating better then ever but suffering allergies that are making me feel worse then ever.

I"m about to go on a business trip, requiring me to go through lots of towns doing sales/etc. Last year about early Aug I did this and wound up with a sinus infection and had to take antibiotics. It was the worst pain in my life. I figure it was windy while I traveled, I was breathing weeds, hay, etc from all over three states! At least a friend says most of this ends in Aug is that right?

I wonder about this getting older crap too. I"m 40 now. I'm moodier at that time of the month and on the Today show they were discussing perimenopause and saying that 4-5 years before your body is changing. It does seem that my moods are worse then ever, I never had pms really before, not like THIS. So maybe hormones have something to do with this.

Perhaps we need to get rid of the cute little kitty cat. Or I could wait until the summer/fall allergies are over and see if the monster is causing this. I was never allergic to cats before. My boy would be so sad.

I just want my energy back... I want to do m BFL program and really push it. But lying on a couch feeling no energy isn't going to put me in BFL shape. Awwwww. Poor me.
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Old 07-16-2008, 11:54 AM   #9  
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Another question for you to think about. How long have you lived in the country and are there crops being grown in the field nearby? If so, does the farmer use pesticides and herbicides all summer like they do here? Those make my symptoms worse.

Also, do any doctors do desensitization injections anymore? I have heard of places giving drops that you put under your tongue to desensitize you to your offending allergens. I had the injections while in college about 25 years ago and they did work. My allergy symptoms are much less than they were before the shots and I'm allergic to grass, trees, dust, molds, practically anything green and growing! I use no meds because of the side effects, but feel ok most of the time (I used to take a lot of benadryl in college for the symptoms).

You'd have to go to a specialist and get tested to find out what you are allergic to, which may be a good idea anyway, especially if you're concerned about the kitty.

There are a lot of us who know exactly what you're going through. Stress, hormonal changes I'm sure add to the symptoms. My mom has sugar issues which make her allergy symptoms worse and my dad is actually allergic to all alcoholic beverages (even the smells of beer in a bar make his sinuses and throat swell up so much he can't lay down or he'll quits breathing-I've said it was God's only way to get him to quit the drinking!)

I hope you get some relief-we use the A/C all the time in the summer to keep pollens out and never, ever hang laundry out to dry. Higher energy bill, but lower medical bills. Best wishes!
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Old 07-16-2008, 05:21 PM   #10  
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I didn't know dr's could test for allergies like if it's the cute little kitty and who knows what else. My mom is saying my grandmother was allergic to everything and she grew up with this, thus I grew up in a dust free, non carpett, etc home. It does seem that since I moved out here, more in the country, with lots of fields, that allergies are worse. A friend said that it was likely the cottonwood trees that set this off over the weekend, as I spent the day at the lake with my boy. Maybe that was it last Aug when I developed some insane sinus infection. I wasn't even thinking about allergies really, I just thought I was sick at an odd time of year. There was no pesty kitty here at the time either, just me traveling through various towns for business, breathing all the junk in the air from all sorts of areas. Guess it's since I've traveled multiple states for business in a week period that this has all happened too. Not in the winter, only the spring/summer/fall. Gee I'd look insane wearing a face mask dropping into business offices on these trips!

I googled this and learned too much. That I'm to stay indoors, leave the a/c on - heck today I held my breath going in and out of the convenience store I was so terrified of the junk blowing in the air. Vacuum a lot. Wash hair before bed every night if I've been outdoors as pollen can be in the hair, then on the pillow, then you breathe it. Dust often. Take off clothes in garage, etc before dragging junk into the house. Eat 1 tsp of honey grown in my local area. Don't eat carrots, sunflower seeds and other things that are herb related, guess that includes my St. John's Wort. Take this med, not that one, this one causes you to pass out (seems everyone but ME know NOT to take 2 pills of Benedryl and try to work during the day!). One dr tells someone this, the other that and once someone figures out the right drug then a year later they are desensitized to it.

This isn't looking good. So I THOUGHT, I'll get super healthy, have been working on that the past two years, work out, exercise, eat clean foods, cut the junk, etc. I'm not perfect but here I am for the first time in my adult life really TRYING and I get allergies. I'm thinking though it goes back to stress and too much of it in my life. My business, personal life, etc.... somehow I need to manage stress and my moods better.
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Old 07-16-2008, 05:33 PM   #11  
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Ok, ok, ok, instead of WHINING I'll take Jay's advice and keep moving, that's what my mom says too. Sitting around moping isn't going to help is it? I actually was "proactive" today, took my little four year old boy to the mall, and walked as fast as I bloody well could around him while he played in the play area. People LOOKED at me and that's just fine, wait until next time when I add to my neat little program and add walking lunges, tricep dips, jumping jacks, crunches on the benches, etc! I HAD (formerly when I COULD go outside) an exercise routine I'd do at parks that I enjoyed so now it'll be modified to indoors until whatever it is in the air that's making me scratch, sneeze and be miserable goes away. Certainly it WILL go away, today I saw that cottonwood stuff blowing in the wind - it'll blow somewhere, land and will be very busy for a time growing new trees you'd think.

I'm trying to NOT WHINE and complain, be more positive, be mindful, blah, blah, blah... So THIS is what life handed me the last year, I'll learn what I can to get around it during allergy season, sounds like many have dealt with this for life, and others have IT much worse then me. I'm supposed to be grateful for every single day I'm alive and breathing - a song in church on Sunday ironically was about how God created everything that "breathes" and how amazing it is. Heck I"m still BREATHING, it's amazing, life.

So plan b. Continue BFL program. Do the cardio inside and only inside. If there's little outside breathing and I snort stuff up my nose before even going outside I'll muster up the energy to do my 40 min weight routine, BECAUSE I was seeing progress (and wouldn't anyone on BFL, lifting 20-25 lbs progressively until you can't walk?). I like progress. I am determined. I keep letting things get in my way then quit my "spurts" and it's "ok" if ONE DAY or TWO DAYS I need rest, or allergies or something gets in the way. It's NOT ok to give up. Admit defeat. I'm a former athlete, trying to become somewhat of one again here at 40... athletes don't just decide one day to sit on the couch and whine do they? Look at Lance Armstrong with cancer for goodness sake.

Excuse my reverse whining here...
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