# Let's talk about allergies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850 "2010-04-12T15:53:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/21 "2010-04-14T15:53:22Z")
Poor kid! Apparently even the dogs are suffering. A neighbor in my building had just come from walking her dog when I was in the elevator going up last night. Poor dog was sneezing away, too, and even has to wear a sweater to keep from scratching herself too much. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/22 "2010-04-14T16:17:44Z")
I have year-round allergies (not enough to show up on official testing, but the ENT and his PA say I’m totally symptomatic) to dust, mold, etc. I live in the Chicago area (born and raised here) but didn’t develop allergies until I was in my 40s. I take Allegra and use prescription eye drops year-round, but yesterday went to the PA and got Prednisone for 4 days because an ice pick was being driven into my sinuses, I can’t sleep, have dark circles under my eyes and my eyeballs are red and inflammed. Took the first dose this morning and already feel better. ---
**Author:** ![QuarkChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c5a1d2/32.png) [@QuarkChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuarkChild)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/23 "2010-04-15T00:57:50Z")
I misread the thread title as “Let’s talk about integrals,” and got all excited. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/24 "2010-04-15T03:00:10Z")
I lived in Indiana for my first 23 years. I’m apparently allergic to cool-season grasses (bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass) and hardwoods. May through September there could be brutal. I moved to SE Georgia in "84 and my allergies are much less severe here. Right now, all the cars are yellow from pine pollen, which leads to lots of allergy allegations from the natives. Doesn’t bother me a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Pigs\_in\_Space](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@Pigs\_in\_Space](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pigs_in_Space)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/25 "2010-04-15T03:13:39Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I keep seeing stories about how bad allergies are in the US this year. I may be jinxing myself, but I’m not feeling it at ALL - and I used to get really, really terrible allergies when I lived in California, where I grew up. But since I moved to the Midwest, they’ve eased up considerably. How long ago did you move? My understanding is that your body has to get a sample of the allergen, then develop a sensitivity to it, which could take a year or two. And, yes, an El Nino year in Northern California sucks. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/26 "2010-04-15T03:55:20Z")
Yeeeaahh, I think I spoke too soon earlier. These past few days have been allergy city here. Allergy attacks in the middle of the night really, really suck. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/27 "2010-04-15T04:00:59Z")
> [@Pigs\_in\_Space](#): > > How long ago did you move? My understanding is that your body has to get a sample of the allergen, then develop a sensitivity to it, which could take a year or two. > > And, yes, an El Nino year in Northern California sucks. It’s been more than a couple years, but I keep moving around, which might through my body off. I lived in Ann Arbor for a year, then Chicago for three years, then I lived in Bulgaria for two years and now it’s been two years since I’ve been back in Ann Arbor. I also have a cat now. I feel like ten years ago having a cat would have been unthinkable (BIG time allergies) but now…nothing. Well, except being the victim of surprise attacks while I’m sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/28 "2010-04-15T11:38:03Z")
It hasn’t been any worse for me this year than in years past - but mine are usually pretty bad anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850/29 "2010-04-15T16:55:11Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > … > I have an idea that I’ve heard somewhere that allergens you grew up affect you worse than those you encounter later in life. Do you think this is what’s going on? I suppose it’s possible that I’ve outgrown allergies, as well. I wouldn’t say that’s reliable… I grew up in a cat-free household and now I’ve got horrible cat allergies… but there might be some truth that a complete climate change may expose you to different-enough allergens, that your body doesn’t recognize as enemies. I spent a summer in California once, and had a terrific summer asthma-wise despite the lousy air quality - I was indoors a lot which I’m sure helped, but I also think that the fact that the allergens were unfamiliar to my immune system helped. The rest of my life, I’ve lived on the Eastern Seaboard at various points, so the allergens are largely the same, just in different ratios. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-allergies/535850.md?page=1)