Allergy sufferers unite!

We have a bunch of allergy sufferers in this house!

I have terrible tree and grass pollen allergies as determined by allergy testing a few years into living here in Redwoods country (I've had bad springtime hayfever in most cities in which I've lived, including Richmond and Sacramento, but it's the worst here in Humboldt, and lasts longer). Usually in about March, I start to get the runny nose, which progresses to a dry cough and severe ocular and eyelid itching along with profound fatigue and a brain-foggy feeling (which hit hard this past weekend in what I call "pollen-palooza!").

My allergy regimen (which I also recommend to patients) includes
- neti pot sinus rinses ideally twice per day
- Flonase or Nasocort inhaled corticosteroid nasal spray
- oral cetirizine (we use Allertec over-the-counter from Costco)
- prescription oral montelukast (Singulair)
- olopatadine antihistamine eye drops (Patanol, which was formerly by prescription, although I understand it may be over-the-counter now)
- pollen goggles when outside/walking the dog
(I would love to do my showering at night to ensure that no hair-pollen gets on my pillow, but find that it doesn't work so well with my preferred exercise schedule)

When I was first given the allergy testing results, I was offered allergy desensitization therapy, but I wasn't able to commit to traveling to Eureka weekly for weeks-months-years on end due to my work schedule. I've continued to consider the idea, every time my eyeballs and eyelids get as itchy as they are now!  Last year, my friend and colleague Val stuck a couple of acupuncture needles in my face and ear to see if it would help (it did not really, but I was desperate!).  Last year, I suffered late into the summer (July or so), although every year I hope that allergy season will be more short-lived, as I can barely tolerate being outside for any length of time, especially with dry/windy weather.

I guess "sheltering in place" makes it easier to stay in and at home and in some sense, as there are no outdoor events, barbeques, etc., to suffer through, I should deal better this year;  however, the kids still really like and need to go outside to the yard or on walks or bike rides, so I just take the hit.

Pepper also has developed severe skin allergies in the last few years, to where she gets very itchy, scaly paws, legs, and face, and does a lot of licking.

We've tried various treatments for her, including changing up her dog food, adding fish oil capsules to breakfast and dinner, applying opical antifungal and anti-inflammatory ointments, topical coconut oil, oatmeal and other medicated shampoos (including Chlorhexidine/antifungal preps, as well as Phytosphingosine 0.1% seborrhea shampoo), and bathing her up to every other day.  A few months ago, we started not-inexpensive immunosuppressive treatments via the vet, first with the injectable Cytopoint (lokivetmab) every 4- 8 weeks, which initially seemed to help (but relief didn't last) and now with oral Apoquel (oclacitinib) tablets, which she will spit out sneakily.

We had an allergy panel drawn on Pepper a couple of weeks ago, and she is extremely allergic to oat pollen, willow, and acacia pollen, among other tree and grass pollen, dust mites, and various fungi. Along with frequent vacuuming (which we're doing with our robotic Neato mostly), we have now ordered a supply of tailored immunotherapy drops to administer over the next year or so to, with hope, desensitize her to these environmental allergens and improve her quality of life (who wants to live in a a cone??).

Iver seems to have some environmental allergies (probably mostly dust) in addition to the oral peanut allergy (although we haven't challenged it recently), but it's well managed with periodic antihistamines (and has never needed an Epipen).  Kelvin seems to be mildly affected by tree pollen this time of year, but copes well with oral meds alone.

Wish us allergy sufferers here some luck! (I realized we don't have many pictures of our pup, overshadowed as she is by our children, and our friend Serena just lost her dog, so we made a point to take some, not just because we suffer together).