Environmental/seasonal allergies or something else?

[JillChristina]

I have a doctors appointment for my dd tomorrow for what I *think* could be environmental/seasonal allergies. I'm pretty much expecting to be blown off tomorrow or told, "Give her this benedryl, dimetapp, etc." But some of her symptoms are strange and if they are a result of allergies, these medicines probably won't make them better. She's had a clear runny nose for a couple of weeks now but the symptoms that concern me are a general spaceiness (long stare), difficulty concentrating, excessive tiredness (but won't/isn't sleeping more), more cranky than usual, dark circles under eyes. We live in western WA State and the weeds and trees are going crazy right about now. What I'd really like to know is: do any of you have children with allergy symptoms like these? Or have you had symptoms like these? If so, what have you used to treat/manage the symptoms? I'm just concerned if the doc suggests benedryl, etc. that it's going to make her spaceiness even worse. DD is still as smart as ever but has acquired this unfocused stare and just seems a little out of it. It's breaking my heart to see her like this.

Dh and I were discussing her behavior over the past few weeks and remembered that when she was about 9 or 10 months old, she went through a period of being extra cranky, not sleeping/napping well, dark circles under the eyes, etc. It just so happens that happend at the same time of year as now. She also had a period last summer where she was acting strange (just not herself) that I thought could be related to this also.

Any ideas, similar experiences, suggestions would be MORE than welcome. I just want my little girl back.

Thanks,
Jill

[mamaberd]

It does sound like a pollen allergy. I would be inclined to "do nothing" to see if it goes away when the trees stop flowering. Since a good diagnosis of the allergen is priceless. Are the grass pollens out yet?

You could keep her inside and try to keep the pollens out of your house with a filtering system.

I hope she gets better soon!

My DH has pollen allergies and he has the blank stare for about a month every year- and it gets really blank when he takes antihistimines to reduce the swelling.