I don’t know if it’s the muggy terrible weather, the allergies, or what, but I have a distinct urge to just topple forward and flop my head onto the desk. For some reason, it feels like it would make me feel better. I am all groggy and not quite dizzy but slightly off. And I’m pretty sure there is sinus pressure. Took Zyrtec. Drank a cup of hot tea. Helped a tiny bit but still want to faceplant. This happens too often now. I think Texas allergies might have finally gotten me. I meant to mention it to our doctor during a recent physical, but I was excited because my blood pressure was 100/60 and my Hemoglobin a1c is one decimal from normal range.
I just want to unfog. We have a dynamic fun scene to write, all dramatic with snarling dogs and I am all wet noodle. Yesterday I just gave up and didn’t work in the evening.
I broke down and ordered a new set of knitting needles from KnitPicks for Mother’s Day. I haven’t found anything better than their interchangeable needles. They do, eventually break, but they’re very light and I like knitting with them. Chloe Neil and I might be working on the same pattern. We should do a knit and bitch tour, where we just sit around, knit, and complain about our publisher.
It appears that the house guest we are babysitting may be staying with us. Not sure exactly how all of this will work out, but as of now we are not sure her owner wants her back. We’ll see where it all ends up.
Right now you could probably drop a meteorite in the front yard and I’d look at it, yawn, and say, “That’s a hell of a thing.” And then I’ll just lay on my desk. Mmmm, desk, comfy.
Okay, I am going to go and get more tea and force the brain to work. Snarling dogs, harrowing escapes, decisive orders… All that. But first, more tea.
I know how you feel even in the Boston area have you added pseudopod to you allergy meds –
I like added lemon water with a splash of vanilla to help me replace the liquids that come from my allergies
Hope you feel better
I can’t wait for the books coming out
I am sorry to hear that one of my favorite authors is under the water.
I use a ‘neti pot’ daily. actually it is the squeeze bottle form (i bought at my local pharmacy because I could not breathe but Walmart has at a much cheaper price) and I either make my own saline packets or I buy from walmart. I also use distilled water even though my well water tests ‘good’. [I got into habit of using distilled water when I lived in mega- metropolis/ Charlotte, NC ]. During my allergy seasons I use 1 capful of hydrogen peroxide in saline mixture to combat sinus infections. I have to be very careful because hydrogen peroxide made for oral use so lead levels are minimal used this way dries out sinus cavities. Also I drink more hot tea [black or green or something without chamomile in it (because I am allergic to chamomile) ] with lemon juice and 1 tsp of local ‘organic’ honey. The honey I get from local beekeeper and it does help with the incessant throat tickle/ cough etc….
I have been tested so I know what my inhalation allergies are. [Dad’s (great) Aunt Pearl and Mother’s (great) Aunt Pearl were the same person but they did not know until after they were married and doing the going around to visit all the ‘older’ generations which made for some interesting genetics.] I have found that few antihistamines work for me and my sibs.
Regarding house guest– if you are not already using hepa filter or 3m microfilter in your central ac then you might need to. I did not have problem with cat dander allergy until my third inside feline who happened to be a maine coon. My first feline was DSH and my second was psychotic (evil as in he would ask to be petted and then he bit hard to draw blood, maintenance people could never resist petting him [he would also open cage doors and he would get maine coon, whom no one ever saw as he was extremely shy, to open bedroom door] and then I would get a call at work about bitten maintenance person… but he never bit me so he lived with me from around 9 years until he crossed the rainbow bridge at 17 because I could not successfully medicate him) Siamese mix. My maine coon had no problem getting wet because he was always crawling in shower with me (although he hated bubble baths he would jump in tub to make sure I was okay and he loved to flush toilet so he could watch water swirl– yes I learned to keep bathroom door closed as he would spend hours and hours flushing toilet while I was at work— and toilet papering house with the puppy’s help at age 17 until he crossed the rainbow bridge at 18.5). I can not tell you their kitten hoods as they were all good sam rescues as is the dog who loves cats because she was raised with cats. Allergy wise I can handle one DSH cat and one smooth coated dog inside but more overwhelms my system.
Personally I have found “auricular acupuncture” helps me. [my chiropractor does auricular therapy in addition to regular acupuncture]. I tease her that she sets my ear lobes on fire every month after she ease/ removes the knots in my neck and upper back muscles where I store all my negative emotions with regular chiropractor stuff. When I ask she includes sinus/ allergy points in my monthly auricular therapy. On those days I know to go straight home because within 15 minutes my nose is dripping like a faucet and in 30 minutes my inner ears itch from sinus drainage. Monthly auricular therapy experiment for weight loss was unsuccessful for me. But I personally need monthly maintenance or I become quite witchy but spelled with a B according to my coworkers and I suspect they are correct from reading my journal entries.
I hope you are better soon as the pup who is presently sacked out under the cold air vent is looking forward to hearing more stories from you two. According to amazon we are still preordered for White Hot and Wildfire and counting the days down. *sigh sigh* Thank you for all the snippets and I love the POVs from Gordon.
For the past two days, I haven’t been able to get warm,,, and then I realized it’s four in the afternoon and I’ve not had a single cuppa,,, I’m sick, it sneaked up on me when I wasn’t looking.
I hate being sick.
Knitting needles make it all better. I have 3 of their sets…. 🙂
We’re with you in the sinus pain/allergy poo. I keep thinking if I drill a hole in my cheekbone that will release the pressure. But when I say this out loud people look at me funny.
Doctors actually used to drill holes into the sinus cavities (either through the nose or in very severe cases through the mouth) to relieve pressure in chronic sinusitis cases. Not a pretty sight and as I understand it nowadays they manage to achieve the same effect with lasers.
I used to be sniffling all year round with one thing or another – since I started using a Neti pot (not that brand, but the same function), it’s almost completely gone! I can’t recommend nose douches enough – please try one! (yes, you look kinda stupid while doing it, yes it feels weird the first few times, yes you get kinda addicted to the feeling of empty sinuses and being able to breathe freely)
My best friend’s daughter just finished Chiropractic school.. There is a manipulation that can be done to ease pressure in the sinuses by via the Eustachian tube. The problem is finding one that will actually do it. And hope you don’t have a strong gag reflex…
I think neti pots do a wonderful job rinsing out the nose & sinuses. I do like a shot of whiskey/bourbon/rum in tea/coffee, then inhale the steam ASAP. I feel like it really fries all those nasty bugs in there, but after reading the scene where Kate fights off her well-meaning pack while “visiting” Hugh when they try to dose her wounds in whiskey, maybe it’s not such a good idea…..
How long have you been taking zyrtec? Because that is exactly how I felt on it! Maybe try allegra or go old school and try chlorpheniramine maleate (which I and my pulmonologist swear by). Hope something helps.
Dear Ilona-
I’m in the military and I have to move all the time. Allergies finally hit me here in D.C.– heat wave/pollen bloom after an unusually cold/wet Spring– and I started taking Zyrtec in addition to Flonase (nasal steroid). Wow it did a number on me– couldn’t figure out why I was falling asleep and so groggy during the day in spite of extra coffee, normally I am pretty energetic. Finally it dawned on me that the change to my routine was taking Zyrtec– I stopped– and my energy levels have returned to normal.
Please consider (if you haven’t already) trying another “non-drowsy” allergy medicine, Clartin or Allegra might work better for you.
Please consider (if not taking already) Flonase, it’s great for sinus congestion AND helps with watery eyes as well, but it takes about 2 weeks to take full effect so be patient.
I have heard great things about taking nettles as a more naturopathic solution: advocated actually by Dr. Andrew Weil.
Good luck. Take care. Sorry you’re struggling. Nap?
Flonase is great for sinus allergies. Living n the DC area is a definite indicator that you willm suffer for allergies. The weather is so moody that it makes dealing with pollen a nightmare.
Look! Kitty!
When the sinus pressure starts, my remedy is clove tea: I heat up water (usually in microwave) with a couple shakes of ground clove, then use any flavor of tea. I found I have to heat the clove with the water for best results. It works so well that I have a small container of ground clove to take on trips. If the sinus problems are more part of a cold, I put oil of oregano on a cotton swab and swab inside my nostrils before getting in a hot steamy shower. It burns a bit, but makes a difference. Oil of oregano is my drug store — works on sores, sinus, etc.
Hope you find something that helps. I sure know how you are feeling. Feel better!
Feeling you with the Austin allergies! I just re-read Gordon’s most recent Rogan POV and that made my day a little less painful, though 🙂 Feel better soon.
Suggestion: Try different tips of allergy pills and you may want to check out some sinnex. We are your North Okie cousins ( transplant from CA 6yrs ago). I had almost no allergies in CA, but moving here I have unfortunately found a bunch! I find many work and others do not. In addition, also have come to realize my sinuses are sensitive to air pressure changes.
Which makes you feel …well terrible.
Also make sure you don’t get drozy med. I.e. Bendril. I couldn’t figure out why I was so tired being sleepy for a week until I didn’t feel the need to take the Bendril. That made me realize…’Oh, that’s why I was sleepy’
Sorry you feel so blah, I’m have mixed feelings. I love the warm weather but the allergies are kicking my butt.
I would suggest Claritin D, the decongestant works better and the D is Sudafed, a stimulate that should keep you up. A cold rice bag is refreshing too. I like my humidifier better than nose spray. (I don’t have time for that 2-3 times a day) Feel better soon Ilona. Thanks, Gordon for the 2nd Mad POV.
Congrats on your A1C achievement. That’s hard to do. Does that mean you’re at 5.7 or 5.8? I’m still trying for 6.0.
You’re amazing, as well as gifted.
5.7. 🙂 It was 5.9 two years ago.
That’s really great. Great on ya!
I feel like a walrus getting out of bed every morning, so I guess it’s time for me to take advantage of fruits and vegee season to lose this poundage. Le sigh…
P.S. 10 more days!!
Kudos! I am joyous when I hit 5.9 – may I ask what your regime is? I had bariatric surgery eighteen months ago and have been med-free for twenty (pre-surgery weight loss result).
I hate it when I’m like that. Usually it means I need to drink more water. I will pray both our brains decide to work bc I’m feeling blah this morning and I’ve got all the crap to do today before my kids birthday party tomorrow.
Your mileage may vary, but if I take (at adult dosing) the children’s 12 hour zyrtec, allegra, or claritin in the morning to cover the day, then either take a 2nd 12 hour ‘non-sedating’ antihistimine at noon or take a benedryl about 6pm, that pretty well covers my allergies without knocking me out as much as does taking the 24 hour versions. The key seems to be the 6 to 8 hour period in the night with no antihistamine in me. Getting outside in the sunlight for walking, etc for about twenty minutes exercise within the first two hours after taking the antihistamine helps too. For some reason, doing the exercise inside doesn’t work as well. One pseudophed or other ‘upper’ decongestant per day, taken at the same time as the first antihistamine, can also help counteract the antihistamine without setting you up for sinus infection. (Somebody else noticed this, too.) I’m still getting used to the nasal inhaled steroids but they don’t hurt. Good luck. That off, bleah, feeling is horrible even when it doesn’t turn into full time sleepiness. Staring at the wall and realizing you’ve gotten nothing done is horrible, too. ugh.
And, yeah, don’t forget about chlor trimeton.
Hello, I hope your feeling better we have allergy suffers here too. If you have chronic allergies I would talk to your doctor about allergy shots it made a big difference in my son, even if you don’t do them finding out what your allergic too can be a big help. Also if you are taking an over the counter med ask your Dr. if you can take extra on bad days, my kids can boost their 24 hour med with a four med. Another thing if you take 24 hour medicine And it makes you sleepy, take it before going to bed and take it at the same time each night.
Good Luck
I had allergies for the first time this year and it was bad. I took non drowsy claritin but I took it before bed, because even non drowsy medication of that kind knocks me out. A friend of mine had great luck with taking grape seed extract and after 3 days allergies got better. I was also recommended flonase, it apparently takes 3 days to kick in. Allergies blow! Take care of yourself!
I have run into a lot of people with sinus problems, including me. Mine has been going on too long and includes nose bleeds. Oh well, time for the doctor….
I hope you get better soon. Tea sounds like a wonderful remedy to me and I believe it cures many ills.
Your house guest is a beautiful and loving-looking cat. I don’t know why the owner would not come back for her. I would take her and I am a “dog person.”
Feel better!
I take an herb to help with mucus production and sinus pressure and eye drops to get that grit out. All the allergy mess don’t really do much for me. The herb is pe min kan wan and has been a lifesaver since moving to the pnw. Eye drops are over the counter allergy itch drops. I have used the neti pot but you hav to get angles just right.
Get a prescription get levocetirizine dihydrochloride (3rd gen cetirizine)
or Neoclarityn which is the new gen of clarityn.
Both work. I prefer Levocetirizine. please do try them for hay fever.
If you are gonna take drugs take the best out there. 😀
they are both a one a day tablet, but as with all antihistamine you have to take it for a few days and you will feel the effect.
It could be due to environmental causes.
When the weather gets warmer, things in your surroundings off-gas more (release chemicals in gas form into the air) particularly petroleum based products such as plastics). Indoor environments are considered unhealthy for this reason (plus germs). If you use scented products (room fresheners, candles, perfume, in your laundry, cleaners, etc), they too add to toxic environment.
I personally have experienced anxiety, irritability, migraines, sinus headaches, eye, ear & throat issues, and digestive issues from fragrance chemicals.
Consider a good air purifier – ones that can handle VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). They can be very expensive. On a budget, you can try the following:
Get a 20X20 box fan, about $15 – $35.
Put a $20 Honeywell FPR-10 20x20x1 inch air filter on the intake side, so when you have the fan turned on, the air pressure sucks the pointy side of the “air flow” filter indicator into the back of the fan.
If you want to add a super-duper HEPA charcoal filter, you can buy those in the big box hardware stores too, about $10-$15.
Stick that between the air filter and the fan. You now have something almost as good as a $800 HEPA air purifier for less than $100.00″
Thank you for this idea. I will have to try it. (And rinse out nasal passages every hour or so– thank you all for the reminder.)
Tincture of spring nettles is what worked for me. You can harvest your own, or buy them from naturopathic practitioners. Seems like something Kate would know about…
Might be the Zyrtec is part of the problem; Hubby & I tried it years ago and, that being the only thing different, left us both seriously drowsy, unable to be coherent in thoughts & actions, and if it hadn’t been the weekend, neither of us would have been able to leave the house for work. Yet my youngest sister loves this allergy med, morns that it wasn’t released at prescription strength. Husband doesn’t find relief with the Claritin (I use the generic), but occasionally has an off reaction to his Benadryl (which again, takes me to nap-land). .I use 1/2 doses of 2 different nasal sprays as well as the Claritin pill and Essential Fatty Acids, i.e. fish & krill type oil supplements, for the ear wax and itching.
May need to check out other allergy meds, like Regional or homeopathics, that won’t leave you wrecked.
Hopefully you’re feeling better. In a positive bit of news, Audible has actually managed to post the pre-orders for BOTH of the upcoming Hidden Legacy novels!
Oh, and like Debbie B., Zyrtec makes me a zombie. I have to take it at night before bed because if I take it during the day I can’t function. I’ve been doing prescription Flonase to stave off the worst of the allergies so far this year in a no doubt fruitless attempt to avoid the dreaded Zyrtec fug.
I got nuthin’. It has all been said above! I just felt the need to chime in and wish you wellness. Enjoy your tea.
But there is some good news: I just pre-ordered both White Hot and Wildfire on Audible. I can hardly wait.
Hope you feel more chipper (chippier?) soon.
Sorry you are feeling so bad. My allergies are driving me crazy, but not to the extent of yours. I hope you keep the kitty. I hope you give the kitty a good home. It doesn’t sound too good for the cat if the owner is giving off vibes they don’t want their pet back. Poor kitty.
in other news, “river of teeth” is out today. I preordered it after you posted about it (here: https://ilona-andrews.com/deadly-hippos/ ). so, yay, new book!
Are you sure you are not allergic to your house guest?
Nose some of these remanes you my heard of, if is mugy out you may need divice to take the water out of the air, air conditioner regulates the polen in the air, also eating honey that is made in your area should help your amune sittome with your allergies
Xyzal (pronounced zy-zal) is the second-generation of allergy medications that are over the counter now. My brother-in-law was given one by my mom and his allergies (which is to every animal with fur and the great outdoors) were non-existent for several days. They come in single 5 mg packs sold over the counter now. I haven’t tried one personally because I don’t have allergies, but from seeing them work on him I am now a believer.