Freediving & Post Nasal Drip

[Cliff Etzel]

Since spring has sprung here in the PacNW, the pollen counts have more or less gone thru the roof for the last month (We've had record temps near 90F last week).

The proverbial post-nasal drip has set in and I find myself having to clear my throat quite a bit now and it actually is becoming quite annoying - especially when doing in-water freedive training.

I'm not a big fan of taking OTC antihistamines due to their inducing drowsiness and other side effects. I neti my sinuses daily and it has helped some, but not sure what else to try.

Any suggestions???

[trux]

Try the homeopathic Apis Mellifica. I know that many experts are quite skeptical about homeopathy since there is no physical reason it should work, and so I was always too, but somehow it works pretty well. Not sure if it is just the placebo effect, but it does not really mater to me - Apis Mellifica works for me in case of allergies very well, and so it does for several other family members and friends.

[Cliff Etzel]

I just did a quick look-see on what this does - it seems strange that from all the things it is said to help with, that the type of allergic reaction I am experiencing isn't listed - what has it done for you in particular?? Does it actually relieve the symptoms of post-nasal drip???

[trux]

I use it for allergies from pollen, dust, and some animals. The symptoms I have are especially: strong nasal drip and eyes irritation. As I wrote, there are a few other persons I know to have similar problems, and Apis Mellifica works for them fine too. I usually take 5 granules of the "9" grade in case of a crisis, or in case I expect problems (i.e. having a cat on knees). Sometimes, when it is strong, I get another 5 granules in half an hour or an hour. I suffered quite a lot by alergies since a long time, but since the time I started to "cure" it in this way, I am barely aware of my alergies.

[Cliff Etzel]

It sounds like this might be the ticket for me then... Thanks for the input - I'm out the door to pick some up..

[jimqpublic]

Cliff,

I've suffered from allergies to various pollens & unknown irritants for most of the last 30 years- starting when I was around ten. It was just a fact of life for me to sniffle, sneeze, etc. every summer. I learned that when I moved to a new area I wouldn't be bothered for about two seasons, then it would kick in.

I tried everything- Dristan, OTC antihistimines, sudafed, etc. I tried going vegan one year to see if it was allergies to meat/milk. Nothing worked.

Then I started using Flonase spray. It helped a lot, but wasn't a complete cure. The doctor suggested I add Zyrtec daily. That started to help. Over a few month period my symptoms got better and better before disappearing completely. I dropped the Flonase but continued with Zyrtec. As the summer allergy season dropped off I stopped using Zyrtec and had some symptoms over the winter. The next spring I started taking Zyrtec again and had my most allergy free summer ever. I kept taking it through the fall.

Then I ran out and didn't have the same physician anymore. Out of laziness I didn't get a new prescription. The next spring came and went. No allergies. Summer. No allergies. That was a couple years ago and I'm still allergy free.

Maybe it's a fluke, but I haven't moved or changed my job or diet. I think that by taking Zyrtec everyday for a year straight it somehow reset my body's histimine reaction. I do still get histimines if I'm working in a lot of dust and pollen, but not in everyday life or even doing yardwork or hiking.

Give it a try. I found Zyrtec to be slightly sedating. I would take it at night as part of my bedtime ritual. If I stopped taking it I would have a little trouble sleeping for one or two nights. If I took it in the morning I would get slightly drowsy in the afternoon.

I've also tried Claritin and found it somewhat less effective and a slight stimulant.

Jim

[Cliff Etzel]

hey Jim.. that might be a nother way to go if the homeopathic doesn't work - My area of the U.S. is considered the grass seed capital of the world - The Willamette Valley - really bad grass and tree pollens.

[x_yeti]

Hi

Interesting discussion. I suffer from Post-nasal drip too and as many chronic sufferers do, I've developed a polyp in my nose. As a consequence one of my nostrils is partially blocked. I haven't bothered having it removed because it is costly and the chances of it growing back are good. So here is a question for you guys: Would permanently breathing in 3/4 of the air that I should be taking in help or hinder my freediving?

Cheers!

[DeepThought]

Lorathadine (spelling?) is an OTC antihistamine that helped me and seemed to have no/much less side effects than other antihistamines. For me it is crucial to start taking antihistamines on the first sign of rising allergy (after years I've learned to spot it in advance). Taken later it is much less effective.
During the last 2-3 years my allergies have almost disapeared. Not sure what caused that.