Just moved up to Michigan, to the western ass-end of the state right by the shores of Lake Michigan. Late evening around twilight and/or even a couple hours later, instead of my usual “one-two aaaaand we’re done here,” little sneeze pair, my sinuses go psycho and I sneeze … and then sneeze over and over, loud & hard (hello ab workout!) and then my nose runs like a firehose until I actually get a bit dehydrated, and then - with as little perceptible external stimuli as whatever started the whole drama - my sinuses dry back up and behave normally. It’s a little bit like a cat falling off something and acting nonchalant … “What? Nothing happened, nothing to see here.”
Is there a way to see what allergens tend to emerge at what time, in what location? I know many plants have specific times for their pollen release, so I was hoping to narrow it down if possible.
I’m in Chicago, and I’m getting my every-spring reactions, too. This time of year, as I understand it, it’s mostly tree pollen that’s out there in this part of the country. Or, as a friend of mine says about this period of time, “the slutty trees are brazenly having sex right out in the open.”
Some weather forecasts have pollen counts which I use to get a broad idea of what’s out there, but they aren’t specific to exactly where I live of course. If you want to know which one specifically is affecting you there are skin tests that can tell you so at least you know. Your PCP can probably refer you to an Allergist in your area, assuming there is one. (I lived in California for 55 years and never had allergies. I then moved to Montana and started getting them every spring. There is some pollen up here I didn’t have in California and my body is reacting to it.) Take an allergy pill in the afternoon and you should be good for the evening.
I think part of your issue is that your body isn’t used to the new pollen you are being exposed to. The first couple of years after I moved to Houston, springs killed me. Its gotten much better, sometimes I can go 3 or 4 days without taking an allergy pill.
