Due to a heart condition I'm supposed to stay away from all antihistamines and Singulair will be expensive under my insurance. I've got the neti-pot to help clean my sinuses but it's not doing much. Anybody got any other recommendations?

10/20/2011 12:37:42 PM

Eat honey local to your area

10/20/2011 12:41:49 PM

Just make sure the honey is cold processed and not heat processed. The heat breaks down the stuff that's supposed to help your immune system. You can also add bee pollen to smoothies and what not to help. The bee guy at the farmers market sells it or at least used to. It's been awhile since I've had to pick any up.

Also an FYI Singulair should be going generic next year so yay for that

10/20/2011 1:32:58 PM

allergy shots

10/20/2011 2:19:42 PM

I don't know enough to say whether it is an antihistamine or not, but Flonase (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluticasone_propionate) is very effective for me. Singular, Allegra, etc. do nothing at all for me.

10/20/2011 2:43:13 PM

Flonase is a corticosteroid. I checked in my Davis drug guide for a contraindication for cardiac conditions, but didn't see any. I'd think you'd want to stick with nasal corticosteroids and not systemic, because these can potentially affect your CV system.

Either way, ask your primary health care provider.

On the natural side, you could try the honey and homeopathic allergenic medicines to expose your immune system and become more immune.

10/20/2011 5:07:34 PM

Did some googling today and found a drink that helps congestion: Tomato juice, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, and celery salt heated up in the microwave.

I've only had a little bit of it and I already feel a lot better. The drink actually tastes pretty good too.

10/20/2011 8:17:00 PM

ENTs are *huge* advocates of using a netipot. If the netipot isn't doing enough for you, get the squeeze bottle. I prefer the positive pressure to clear out my sinuses if they're congested. Also, just using the netipot can help rinse allergens out of your nasal passages.

10/20/2011 8:31:32 PM

Oh I'm definitely going to keep using it. I guess I didn't realize how bad my allergies were because this is all new to me. My main problem now is bermuda grass but I worked on a golf course for 3 summers in college and never had any issues.

10/20/2011 8:36:16 PM

Allergies can develop and worsen over time and with repeat exposures, so it's not really all that surprising. Seasonal allergies suck ass.

10/20/2011 9:35:30 PM

HTFU!

10/20/2011 10:19:54 PM

^ 5 bet it would taste even better with vodka

10/20/2011 10:27:53 PM

For four years while I lived in japan and for 9 months after I came back and did not have health insurance I bought singulair from a foreign pharmacy.

http://inhousepharmacy.biz/p-268-montair-10mg-montekulast.aspx

No prescription, they ship to america and my meds have never gotten confiscated at the border.

Highly recommended.

10/21/2011 8:05:53 AM