Anyone using an allergy mask?
#1
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Anyone using an allergy mask?
After riding my 8-mile round-trip commute a couple of days this week, I am barely functional today, even after an Allegra, Flonase, Zaditor, and Sudafed, each attacking different symptoms. The air is thick with pollen, and aerobic exercise pulls so much of this into my lungs and sinuses. Yuck.
I have seen masks for sale that are supposedly designed for outdoor exercise just like this, but does anyone here have any real world experience and recommendations? I have some disposable N95 masks left over from last year's wildfire season, so I'll give those a try next week, but I'm a little worried about air flow and my glasses fogging up at stoplights. Thoughts? TIA
I have seen masks for sale that are supposedly designed for outdoor exercise just like this, but does anyone here have any real world experience and recommendations? I have some disposable N95 masks left over from last year's wildfire season, so I'll give those a try next week, but I'm a little worried about air flow and my glasses fogging up at stoplights. Thoughts? TIA
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Super helpful, thx
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My thought is to just stay exposed to the seasonal pollens and allergens in my area. Hopefully, I become conditioned to the naturally occurring air borne irritants around me and will have a reduced histamine response. This is my operating theory with poison ivy as well, although sometimes I still rash up a bit.
Some people swear by consuming local honeys in season as the bees are building their honey from the pollens around them.
Some people swear by consuming local honeys in season as the bees are building their honey from the pollens around them.
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Ever use a neti pot? I've avoided a few (though not all) possible sinus infections by getting the gunk washed out. One theory behind the neti pot is that it can help wash out the gunk that accumulates in your nostrils and sinuses, which can supposedly help with pollution and pollens.
The dust mask might help. There are also cycling-specific pollution masks available (primarily from UK/EU/Asian retailers). I've seen them used by bicycle commuters in polluted areas, such as London.
The dust mask might help. There are also cycling-specific pollution masks available (primarily from UK/EU/Asian retailers). I've seen them used by bicycle commuters in polluted areas, such as London.
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Ever use a neti pot? I've avoided a few (though not all) possible sinus infections by getting the gunk washed out. One theory behind the neti pot is that it can help wash out the gunk that accumulates in your nostrils and sinuses, which can supposedly help with pollution and pollens.
The dust mask might help. There are also cycling-specific pollution masks available (primarily from UK/EU/Asian retailers). I've seen them used by bicycle commuters in polluted areas, such as London.
The dust mask might help. There are also cycling-specific pollution masks available (primarily from UK/EU/Asian retailers). I've seen them used by bicycle commuters in polluted areas, such as London.
https://www.amazon.com/MoHo-Activate.../dp/B07CNHDK61
Last edited by noobinsf; 04-29-19 at 10:48 AM.
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After stopping Clartin, when I had bad allergies, I began taking Benadryl only at night when I went to bed. It helped me sleep, and I had fewer symptoms during the day. Now I rarely need it.
Good luck.
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After two days of riding (my commute isn't intense, but I push myself, so I end up breathing very heavily), I can say that the mask made a huge difference in my "recovery" today. Last week, I rode Wed/Thurs, and I was a mess on Fri. This week, it's been windy on top of the high pollen count, and after riding Mon/Tues, I only have mild symptoms today, even without all of the meds I took last Friday. I'm sold on the mask.
My glasses fogged up at stoplights a bit, and I had to adjust the mask some during the ride, but it's a small price to pay for being functional and foregoing all of those meds.
My glasses fogged up at stoplights a bit, and I had to adjust the mask some during the ride, but it's a small price to pay for being functional and foregoing all of those meds.
Last edited by noobinsf; 02-26-20 at 10:00 AM.
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For the last year I have been drinking Yerba Mate tea instead of coffee. For some people, including me, it has some anti-hystamine effectiveness, as well as anti-inflamatory effectiveness. You can google it and read my account here:
Less Morning Stiffness, Fewer Sinus Problems: Unexpected Benefits of Yerba Mate...
As usual, Your Mileage May Vary...
Less Morning Stiffness, Fewer Sinus Problems: Unexpected Benefits of Yerba Mate...
As usual, Your Mileage May Vary...
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I've had horrible allergies my entire life, and I've tried chemical and homeopathic remedies with mixed results for each. The point of this exercise with the mask was to test avoidance of allergens, and it was honestly a watershed for me. I was concerned that I'd have to limit cycling in the gorgeous California spring, but now the anxiety is gone.
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noobinsf -
Moving from California (no allergies) to Texas ( holy sinus torture) I have tried ever over the counter pill that exists. My allergies just laugh at me especially when I have to cut the lawn. I for that I use a mask with two filters that are used for painting cars.
Went to the ear nose specialist and started getting shots weekly at a clinic almost an hour away one way. Nothing except feeding his bank account.
I complained about it to a retired friend who owes horses and used to make runs to the Mexican border for his prescription fill ups.
Long story short he told me about an steroid injection he uses called
CELESTONE SOLUSPA
(betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate) Injectable Suspension, USP. It will last 6 months before his allergies kick up again.
He brought me an injection pack and I put it on. It was pure heaven. Worked in less than 4 hours and it lasted 8 months. Ask Doc about the shot, he stated if iIgave that shot to my patients I wouldn't make any money so i choose to not provide it.
So just a suggestion you will need to go to a local border town or find a way to get injection shipped to you. doubt a US doctor will write up a script.
lastly use at your own risk and hope it helps you.
Cheers
https://www.rxlist.com/celestone-sol...tm#description
Moving from California (no allergies) to Texas ( holy sinus torture) I have tried ever over the counter pill that exists. My allergies just laugh at me especially when I have to cut the lawn. I for that I use a mask with two filters that are used for painting cars.
Went to the ear nose specialist and started getting shots weekly at a clinic almost an hour away one way. Nothing except feeding his bank account.
I complained about it to a retired friend who owes horses and used to make runs to the Mexican border for his prescription fill ups.
Long story short he told me about an steroid injection he uses called
CELESTONE SOLUSPA
(betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate) Injectable Suspension, USP. It will last 6 months before his allergies kick up again.
He brought me an injection pack and I put it on. It was pure heaven. Worked in less than 4 hours and it lasted 8 months. Ask Doc about the shot, he stated if iIgave that shot to my patients I wouldn't make any money so i choose to not provide it.
So just a suggestion you will need to go to a local border town or find a way to get injection shipped to you. doubt a US doctor will write up a script.
lastly use at your own risk and hope it helps you.
Cheers
https://www.rxlist.com/celestone-sol...tm#description
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This mask is similar to what I use to do yard work. Alot cheaper than the one from the paint shop.
https://m.harborfreight.com/P95-Main...rge-67727.html
https://m.harborfreight.com/P95-Main...rge-67727.html
#14
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Local unfiltered honey. 1 teaspoon per day.
This was prescribed by my daughter's pediatrician years ago to build up tolerances for local pollen.
I've been doing this myself for several years, but I put it in my morning coffee instead of using sugar.
While it won't make you immune to everything, it helps tremendously and is cheaper in price and easier on your body than taking OTC or prescription meds.
But, the humidity and weather changes here in Texas still mess with your sinuses something fierce on some days. For that, I use Afrin Severe Congestion pump mist nose spray.
This was prescribed by my daughter's pediatrician years ago to build up tolerances for local pollen.
I've been doing this myself for several years, but I put it in my morning coffee instead of using sugar.
While it won't make you immune to everything, it helps tremendously and is cheaper in price and easier on your body than taking OTC or prescription meds.
But, the humidity and weather changes here in Texas still mess with your sinuses something fierce on some days. For that, I use Afrin Severe Congestion pump mist nose spray.
#15
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noobinsf -
Moving from California (no allergies) to Texas ( holy sinus torture) I have tried ever over the counter pill that exists. My allergies just laugh at me especially when I have to cut the lawn. I for that I use a mask with two filters that are used for painting cars.
Went to the ear nose specialist and started getting shots weekly at a clinic almost an hour away one way. Nothing except feeding his bank account.
I complained about it to a retired friend who owes horses and used to make runs to the Mexican border for his prescription fill ups.
Long story short he told me about an steroid injection he uses called
CELESTONE SOLUSPA
(betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate) Injectable Suspension, USP. It will last 6 months before his allergies kick up again.
He brought me an injection pack and I put it on. It was pure heaven. Worked in less than 4 hours and it lasted 8 months. Ask Doc about the shot, he stated if iIgave that shot to my patients I wouldn't make any money so i choose to not provide it.
So just a suggestion you will need to go to a local border town or find a way to get injection shipped to you. doubt a US doctor will write up a script.
lastly use at your own risk and hope it helps you.
Cheers
https://www.rxlist.com/celestone-sol...tm#description
Moving from California (no allergies) to Texas ( holy sinus torture) I have tried ever over the counter pill that exists. My allergies just laugh at me especially when I have to cut the lawn. I for that I use a mask with two filters that are used for painting cars.
Went to the ear nose specialist and started getting shots weekly at a clinic almost an hour away one way. Nothing except feeding his bank account.
I complained about it to a retired friend who owes horses and used to make runs to the Mexican border for his prescription fill ups.
Long story short he told me about an steroid injection he uses called
CELESTONE SOLUSPA
(betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate) Injectable Suspension, USP. It will last 6 months before his allergies kick up again.
He brought me an injection pack and I put it on. It was pure heaven. Worked in less than 4 hours and it lasted 8 months. Ask Doc about the shot, he stated if iIgave that shot to my patients I wouldn't make any money so i choose to not provide it.
So just a suggestion you will need to go to a local border town or find a way to get injection shipped to you. doubt a US doctor will write up a script.
lastly use at your own risk and hope it helps you.
Cheers
https://www.rxlist.com/celestone-sol...tm#description
#16
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After two days of riding (my commute isn't intense, but I push myself, so I end up breathing very heavily), I can say that the mask made a huge difference in my "recovery" today. Last week, I rode Wed/Thurs, and I was a mess on Fri. This week, it's been windy on top of the high pollen count, and after riding Mon/Tues, I only have mild symptoms today, even without all of the meds I took last Friday. I'm sold on the mask.
My glasses fogged up at stoplights a bit, and I had to adjust the mask some during the ride, but it's a small price to pay for being functional and forgoing all of those meds.
My glasses fogged up at stoplights a bit, and I had to adjust the mask some during the ride, but it's a small price to pay for being functional and forgoing all of those meds.
PNZ is having some nice dry days and my eyes are all itchy. Flonase is the one I normally use and has some relief but is kind of bad right now as I type this.
Also do my NeilMed nasal wash that helps at night.
Interested on your mask - which kind of mask do you use for commute, I want to try too because if I am bad with few days of sun, this will be very bad going forward .....
#17
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Apologies for digging this out from last year, but allergy is here for me.
PNZ is having some nice dry days and my eyes are all itchy. Flonase is the one I normally use and has some relief but is kind of bad right now as I type this.
Also do my NeilMed nasal wash that helps at night.
Interested on your mask - which kind of mask do you use for commute, I want to try too because if I am bad with few days of sun, this will be very bad going forward .....
PNZ is having some nice dry days and my eyes are all itchy. Flonase is the one I normally use and has some relief but is kind of bad right now as I type this.
Also do my NeilMed nasal wash that helps at night.
Interested on your mask - which kind of mask do you use for commute, I want to try too because if I am bad with few days of sun, this will be very bad going forward .....
https://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Pol...231818&sr=8-13
I’ve been really happy with the results, night and day difference.
#18
Senior Member
Shoot, it looks like the mask I have linked in post #6 above is no longer available. Here is what looks like a similar mask:
https://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Pol...231818&sr=8-13
I’ve been really happy with the results, night and day difference.
https://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Pol...231818&sr=8-13
I’ve been really happy with the results, night and day difference.
#19
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On those windy days where it looks like someone emptied chalkboard erasers on my car, this mask works great, and there is no recovery period. If I ride without the mask, it takes me the full next day to recover, even with my normal antihistamine regimen.
Likes For noobinsf:
#20
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Just looked the weather com for pollen report around here.
It is none until Tuesday, low yesterday and today. Yesterday didn't ride because I have to go dentist.
It is none until Tuesday, low yesterday and today. Yesterday didn't ride because I have to go dentist.
#21
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My thought is to just stay exposed to the seasonal pollens and allergens in my area. Hopefully, I become conditioned to the naturally occurring air borne irritants around me and will have a reduced histamine response. This is my operating theory with poison ivy as well, although sometimes I still rash up a bit.
Some people swear by consuming local honeys in season as the bees are building their honey from the pollens around them.
Some people swear by consuming local honeys in season as the bees are building their honey from the pollens around them.
I have a teaspoon in each cup of coffee when I'm at home. Or in tea. I could do it straight, but I consume at least 6 x 8oz. cups of coffee at my house each week.
I learned it from my kid's pediatrician years ago. While it took a full pollen season to take effect, I hardly ever have a runny nose or eyes from pollen related allergies anymore.
Let's see, a bottle of local unfiltered honey might cost me $10.00 and last one month. While expensive for honey, it's much cheaper than medicines and my head doesn't feel doped up.
Edit to add: Clearly I couldn't see that I already posted in this thread.
Last edited by FiftySix; 02-22-20 at 11:49 AM.
#22
Senior Member
I do it all year long and have been doing so for at least 4 or 5 years. It should be local (as possible) unfiltered (raw) honey to have the proper effect.
I have a teaspoon in each cup of coffee when I'm at home. Or in tea. I could do it straight, but I consume at least 6 x 8oz. cups of coffee at my house each week.
I learned it from my kid's pediatrician years ago. While it took a full pollen season to take effect, I hardly ever have a runny nose or eyes from pollen related allergies anymore.
Let's see, a bottle of local unfiltered honey might cost me $10.00 and last one month. While expensive for honey, it's much cheaper than medicines and my head doesn't feel doped up.
I have a teaspoon in each cup of coffee when I'm at home. Or in tea. I could do it straight, but I consume at least 6 x 8oz. cups of coffee at my house each week.
I learned it from my kid's pediatrician years ago. While it took a full pollen season to take effect, I hardly ever have a runny nose or eyes from pollen related allergies anymore.
Let's see, a bottle of local unfiltered honey might cost me $10.00 and last one month. While expensive for honey, it's much cheaper than medicines and my head doesn't feel doped up.
The allergy this year is hitting me very bad..... and just couple dry days after pretty much raining whole Feb.
#23
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Those kill-joys over at American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology weigh in on the efficacy of consuming local honey: There is no scientific proof that eating local honey will improve seasonal allergies. One study, published in 2002 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, showed no difference among allergy sufferers who ate local honey, commercially processed honey, or a honey-flavored placebo. link
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hmmm reminds me of a mid-June ride 6/13/18 CCRT solo. picked a good weather weekday. wound up being windy forcing lots of pollen & other plant matter down into my throat & eyes. I was hacking for pretty much the whole 45 mile ride! I remember the green pollen along the trail swirling in the wind & piling up in some areas almost like snow
#25
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Those kill-joys over at American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology weigh in on the efficacy of consuming local honey: There is no scientific proof that eating local honey will improve seasonal allergies. One study, published in 2002 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, showed no difference among allergy sufferers who ate local honey, commercially processed honey, or a honey-flavored placebo. link
Those people should get outside away from the lab more often and give nature a shot.