[NoMariposa]

I have been tested, many years ago, to find that I am allergic, severly allergic to Ragweed and Grass. When I say sever, I mean instant respiratory weakness, as in asthma with the itchy throat, top of mouth, ears and EYES just about to kill me plus the nose that just runs constantly.
Well, I'm 4 months pregnant and so far the Grass alone season didn't affect me! Yippi! I usually start with the inhaler for grass. Last July I had an asthma attack at the park which was very scary b/c I didn't have my inhaler with me, didn't think I needed it that bad.
I usually end up taking Clartin b/c I'm either nursing or pregnant... It does not work well for me at all, but takes my discomfort from a 10 to a 5, so it's better than nothing, plus if I do nothing I get a sinus infection which requires antibiotics (so it's a catch 22). Last year by this time I was on Zyrtec, man that was good stuff. I took it for 1 month only, b/c I have found every time I change meds, I get good results, but then my body just gets use to it and it never works again quite as well. And since I was nursing a toddler I felt more comfortable taking the Zyrtec, I took it 1X while nursing my ds2 as an infant -- it knocked him out for th entire day!!! My OB at the time said it was safe for pregnant and nursing women with my history of sever allergy.
Well, my dh just came in, opened all the windows and turned on the house fan which sucks outside air, inside fast -- I'm freakin out b/c Ragweed and Grass are very high today. I told him so, but since Grass hasn't affected me, I thought well give it a shot. So far my skin is starting to itch and my ear, could just be the fear of getting sicker as the day progresses with the windows open.
Is it possible to have a sever allergy like mine disappear during pregnancy? It would be great if we could have the windows open due to our last electric bill.

 

[JaneS]

I know this has to do with how the immune system changes during pregnancy and I'm interested in learning more the mechanics of this.

I think there has been some discussion before in the Vax forum with respect to how it changes ... ? I'll take a look and maybe others who are also interested can do the same.

 

[Wolfmeis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMariposa Is it possible to have a sever allergy like mine disappear during pregnancy? It would be great if we could have the windows open due to our last electric bill.

Absolutely. It's almost miraculous how fast your pregnancy hormones can do that for you. Unfortunately for some people, it swings the other way, but IME my pregnancies have rid me of a number of allergies.

Oddly enough I also developed an egg allergy during my second pregnancy, which I kept until delivering my third child. I thought I was *crazy* until MotherWhimsey? Wendy? told me how common this phenomenon is.

 

[wendy1221]

I developed my egg allergy during my 2nd pregnancy as well.

I think it was I who told you that it's common., Lory. THe hormones of pregnancy can make your allergies worse, better, or stay the same. My seasonal allergies have gotten worse each time. I also developed an allergy to cats during my 2nd pregnancy and we had to get rid of our kitty.

The good news is, if they're better now, they're likely to stay better... At least until your next pregnancy, and then it's Russian roulette again.

 

[Wolfmeis]

Woot! I am so done I can't even tell you!

 

[NoMariposa]

Well, I got seasonal allergies after my 1st pregnancy...
I was told it was the valley we lived in, it made everyone sick.
So I've suffered through 2 more pregnancies and 2 long nursing sessions trying herbal remedies, vitamin supplements, anything to avoid meds, the 2nd pregnancy I needed antibiotics, the 3rd I just took the meds... I even considered health nut stuff like aloe juice or Noni Juice, I couldn't get it down.
Man, if I'm cured, I'm not having any more kids!!!

We slept with the windows open and my nose is not running!!! I've sneezed a few times, but that is so mild compared to what I usually go through. My eyes are fine as well. I'm being positively optimistic that I can live a normal fall with the windows open! I loved fresh air before allergies.

Funny, my mother became allergic to the garbage they 'beef up' beef with in the early 70s during her pregnancy with me. Then the same reactions happened when she had to go on hormone therapy for a serious female problem (to prevent cancer of the uterine lining which was not shedding properly). So, I summized she was allergic to the hormones they put in the beef where we lived overseas, she never would eat it.

Wolfmeis -- I have a Douglas!!! I think it is such a nice name, I'm glad to see it on the come back. My Douglas is 4, he's Douglas Aaron.

 

[Wolfmeis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMariposa Man, if I'm cured, I'm not having any more kids!!! We slept with the windows open and my nose is not running!!! I've sneezed a few times, but that is so mild compared to what I usually go through. My eyes are fine as well. I'm being positively optimistic that I can live a normal fall with the windows open! I loved fresh air before allergies. ........... Wolfmeis -- I have a Douglas!!! I think it is such a nice name, I'm glad to see it on the come back. My Douglas is 4, he's Douglas Aaron.

I hear your joy! It's LIBERATING isn't it? I hope this sustains for you. We were going for 4 but we decided that three was more than fine!

Douglas is a family name on my dh's side. It drove dh nuts before he was born, but now he's been sucked into calling him Dougie too. The face.. he's a Dougie right now!

 

[NoMariposa]

Actually our Douglas should have been Dennis (as he fits the story). My mother unfortunately called him Douglas the Terror for a while.
We call him Douglas, sometimes I call him Doug. My dd calls him 'my Douglas', they are 23 mo apart.
If you have high speed internet, you can see a picture here... Go to the bottom for the best!

My Kids

 

[Wolfmeis]

Three words:

B

O

Y!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome!

 

[NoMariposa]

I was mistaken. I may not have had a grass thing this year, but I've got the beginnings of allergy symptoms now.

:

Runny nose, burning nose, burning & watering eyes and itchy ears... It isn't horrible YET.

Oh, the windows are shut, the a/c is on w a super duper allergen filter (special order). And we only had those windows open 1 day and 1 night last weekend.

Well, I can't say that I'm not surprised, but I am a little disappointed. I was hoping for a miracle. Now I must decide if I'm going to take Zyrtec and feel all better or take Claritin and feel only a little better -- cause the Rhinocort and Patanol are going to take a few days to kick in. Big decision being that I'm pregnant...

 

[Wolfmeis]

Sorry about that! I was so hoping you'd have some good fortune there....

 

[usolyfan]

I experienced wonderful relief from both animal and pollen allergies during my pregnancy. For the first time in my life I was actually able to hold a rabbit with out swelling. It was wonderful! However it was very short lived. A month or so after we brought dd home I went to pet the rabbit and my allergies flared. It was sure nice while it lasted.