Category: allergies

A hopeful week

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It was the week that was.

We are working our way out of the sick bay, and I actually got the girls out for a little while today and enjoyed the weather.I took them out and enjoyed the flowers and trees coming into bloom.

The flip side of that is that the pollen is knocking me for a loop, and that really hasn’t happened for a while.I am used to the fact that you have to pay a price for nature’s beauty, but I can’t help but wonder if the harshness of the winter has something to do with this onslaught of pollen.More than likely, I am just pulling out of the GI bug with a pollen chaser.

I am hoping that this week goes better than this past week.The shot I took of the dogwood blossoms made me feel optimistic.Here’s hoping you have a good week too!

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Stormy weather

It must be spring.

Noses are itchy, eyes are watering, and all of a sudden, someone yells,”TORNADO”.

It is a beautiful time of the year. I get to weed out the garden, put some caladium bulbs in and work on the other seeds. I actually have feet that are sandal worthy.I am fortunate in that I have weeded out a ton of older spring clothes and thus, my wardrobe choices are limited for now, but that’s ok.

I have the sandals out and the last Thursday, had the girls out at the bay and came back with a wet sock and a wet sneaker.The key here is being bay friendly for everyone, both Momma and girls.

We are looking forward to the peace and quiet on Mondays through Thursdays, as the shoobies come down and it gets a little more noisy.That’s ok, though.

We live here!

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Nothing left to give.

The antithesis of a holiday weekend is the day after.

The day after ham, sweet potatoes, carrots, string beans, deviled eggs, cole slaw, and so on and so on…Even though I managed to crack 10,000 steps today and I just feel like a Mack truck ran over me. I made 15,618 steps and why legs are fine.My head is feeling the weekend. I proudly can announce I had no alcohol,due to medication I am taking,and yet, I am afraid I am going to collapse in the Jim column of ” its gotta be the pollen”.My head is exploding.

We have this week to kick back a little before we gear up for upcoming events. In two weekends, we go up to the big city and celebrate the 50th anniversary of my cousin and her husband.Two weeks after we have company coming down here.

The season is gearing up..no excuses..gotta get ready.

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Fighting the hack…

Gentle reader, if you go back to a prior post in the month, you’ll remember me talking about hay fever.

Well, in its’ life cycle in my body, we’ve gone through the point where I sound like I smoke a pack of Camels a day.In short, I’m hacking my lungs out with post nasal drip.Thanks, pollen!

It’s rough when you have to flush water to thin mucous in your system. Sure, you can do it during the day but who wants to be up all night?I am so glad that modern technology came up with Mucinex.In the old days, I’d have enough cough syrup in me and every time I’d take it,boy, I’d get bad heartburn.

I love autumn: honestly, I do.The lungs, however, are waiting for the first frost.

goldenrod – Google Search

Hack-hack….

I have started hacking away all of a sudden.

It starts as soon as I leave the house in the morning.

I saw what it was this morning…

RAG WEED.

Talk about your warm and fuzzy childhood moments.As soon as I realized what it was, I heard my Mom talking to me.

” Whenever it was time to go back to school, you always came down with a ” cold”. Finally I took you to the doctor who said to me you had hay fever.”

Jeez, Mom, that would explain the amount of handkerchiefs you sent me to school with, tucked away in my uniform blouse sleeve.Thanks, Mom. I always wondered about that.

I thought of something I recently saw posted on Facebook. It went something to the effect of your Mother never leaves you.

What a comforting thought.Miss you every day,Mom.

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Sick Bay

Had to book a 6:30 am with the vet for our Zusher.

She was scratching her elbows so badly that they were actually bleeding and scaring me, to a point.
We couldn’t have her back on steroids because she is on arthritis medicine that is actually working,
so we are going to boost up the trans-fats in her diet to get some moisture in her.

The good news is her ticker is hale and hearty-words to warm any dog ma’s heart.

Happy Monday!

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Happy Labor Day

Unfortunately, with Zush not feeling too well and now I am a little under the weather,well…

We are going to recoup back at home for two days, maybe schedule a vet visit, and come back on Wednesday. Zush is ok as long as she is in cooler air or air-conditioning, but I am hacking, running nose, watery eyes, so I think a little medical stay might be the ticket. Somehow, being down here with both girls and guys sawing at 7am, well…you can deduce the rest.

Happy labor day: we’ll check in with you along the way!

2:30AM, and do I miss my pillow..

I am up because I have been fighting itchiness…mosquito bites,dry skin, too much acid in my system, ala strawberries and
blueberries…you name it.

To try to fall back to sleep,well, I have to be up in three hours anyhow.
There is no help from Jim, who crashes and burns around 1 AM-I am asleep, he gets to bed and ta-dah! I am awake.
With the itchiness, I have tried taking a Benadryl, but usually it leaves me groggy through lunchtime. I actually did
pretty well and went about 4 weeks without coffee, but once the tired feeling is with me, the vicious coffee circle
returns.

**In the meanwhile, I was typing this on my HP laptop, only to have it die for the battery…like I need this at
this hour of the morning.I would use my Mac, except I left the power cord down at Undisclosed, which really sucks**

I have managed to put my lunch together for the day since I am already up, and both Zush and Kasia are
looking at me as if I was going to take them out. I had to tell them to go sleep like their Dad, and I would
take them out later.

Well, I am going in search of hydrocortisone creme and maybe, just maybe, I’ll cross paths with my pillow
again…I hope!

the girls

Bad air quality days

Waking up this morning, I was greeted by the weather station informing me of the warning for a
bad air quality day.

I wonder how much of this is done due to holes in the ozone layer, industrial pollution and the
like.I remember as a kid we never heard warnings like this. The worst you had to deal with then was
high humidity.As you are going through your day, and you get to be in my age group(+50),you
sound a little wheezy.

I really can’t escape the bad air days in center city-after all, you work in an office building where the air has poor circulation.

I think Mother Nature tries to get our attention: I shudder to think of how much more that we
have to experience.

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Too good to last

So we had the heat wave and it broke for a few days.

The heat was long enough that Zush and I became wedded to the air conditioner.We were happy-Zush and I.Alas, it has caught up to me.

I woke up this morning suffering from air-condition-itis.Sore throat, post nasal drip, that little nagging cough…I knew my life was made more comfortable by the air, but there is always a price to pay, at least for me.

Whenever someone asks about sinuses, I would always say I suffer from Philadelphian sinuses in summer and winter, and allergies in spring in fall.

Most of the summer went by without a hitch. The bill has been presented now and I see an ENT visit in the near future.
**sigh**

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Friday five

This is a Friday five with a twist: we are, unfortunately, stuck in the city this weekend due to Jim’s nephew getting married. Forgive me, dear reader, if I sound a little caged in.

The furgiirls are resting in the air conditioning. Tomorrow we will go to the wedding, come back to get them out, then go to the reception … I shudder to think what’ll happens if it rains.

I am working the 9-5 shift today. I am thankful to still be employed, even if the drama is a little excessive as it is most of the time.

There is no God** tongue in cheek**- my husband is down to 160 lbs. due to our move.**green with envy**. Amazing how stress handles certain folks in certain ways.

I hate heat. I feel like my Zush girl with her heavy coat. The rain can’t happen often enough to cool things off .

On the flip side, I get to take the train in and stop at Reading Terminal market. Almost makes working a Friday ok.

Have a good weekend!

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Weather or not..

I have always considered myself a big city resident,
albeit in a smaller area of it; that is, I didn’t
live downtown.

As a resident of this city I have been cursed,since 17,
with crappy sinuses.It was always sinus colds in
winter and summer, with a chaser of allergies in
spring and fall.

As I look up out the window, I see a front that is
trying to approach.I didn’t have to look up to do
that-the sinus headache told me so.

What a gift….lol

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And we wait….

We just want to accomplish something.

Patience , when warrented, can be my strong suite, but there comes a point, you know? It’s the waiting for the next step to be announced …

The fact that all the overtime in work isn’t helping mentally, either , on the stress. The girls look at me when I come and are so happy to see me~ they thought I left them.

Oh well, another tortuous day- hope yours is better.

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Friday five

I have never been as thankful for spring as I have been this year.Is it me or did it seem like a long winter?

With spring comes allergies: sorry I am stuck going through them, but the little blooming pops of color are well worth it.

I am thankful for the fresh dog bones I am able snag for the girls. I know when we head out for Undisclosed, it keeps them happy!

As much as I get annoyed with weathermen, I am much in their debt: when I get a good forecast, it makes me want to slide walking shoes on and go.

I am stealing a few minutes on a neighbor’s open porch, enjoying the breeze~ here’s hoping you can do the same!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Uh-huh

We are on the road, after tip-toeing through some rainy travel , especially on the Schuykill expressway.

It is difficult when seasons change, and although things get pretty, well, not everyone believes in dealing with their allergies…

Here’s hoping you have a good weekend!

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How hot is it?

I am home with the girls today, trying not to let my allergies get the best of me.

The girls and I are under the fans and we have the air on. It hasn’t stopped me from non-stop sweating. This is rough, as I am an October girl; that is, I live for 60 degree weather.We go out for walks, but they are quick, as it seems to take awhile for us to rebound from the heat.

Come on, autumn!

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Rest

Despite prior years of dermatologist visits, I had no choice but to work on my tan. I, thanks to SEPTA, waited for a bus to go make a doctor’s appointment. While I waited a good 45 minutes, the sun was playing peek-a-boo and I felt that all was missing was baby oil!**joking**

Went to the doctor, and got some of my medicine adjusted. Jim and I go to the same physician, so part of the issue is how to get rid of our hacking that we are doing.

Rest is on the agenda. We are going to step away and relax and revel in the Undisclosed.

Sometimes, you just need it!

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Tired

It was a little difficult, but I am fortunate enough to have this to complain about…I am beat.

We left Undisclosed location at 9pm, and even then got in shore traffic. I know: I am lucky to have the Undisclosed to come up from. As I get a wee bit older, crawling into bed at11:30 means it’s rough getting up in the morning! A double cup of coffee today was of little help. I think pollen and allergies had something to do with it, but when you have to take medicine ,well, it’s what you have to do.

Hopefully an early night tonight will help me play catch up.** fingers crossed**

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Another day,another MD

So here I am waiting for my ENT doctor to summon me back.

The hack that I have shared with one of my BFF ‘s Juls will hopefully be dissected and allergy medication will be updated. If I am lucky, he’ll clean the ears out well enough that I’ll hear everything in court. It is funny, but I put a lot of these visits off last year because of my new knees. Now I am glad I have them so I can play catch- up with all these appointments.

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Ugh

Here we are-Memorial Day night.

I am sick like a pup, still,sad looking with a runny left eye,stuffy nose and sore throat. Am taking my vitamin C, forcing fluids, and trying not to give Shingleman credit when he claims air conditioning caused this…..

Hopefully the week will go upward , and this cold/allergies will take a hike!

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Summer too soon

So this weekend, Memorial Day weekend, finds the weather in summertime. Because my friend Juls was down at Undisclosed Location, we have had the air- conditioner on. Add allergies and pollen sinus drip and you have…. A SORE THROAT!

So with the mugginess and sitting in a/c, I find it ironic that I am sitting here sipping hot tea. I guess I’ll be drinking ice water in December.!

** sigh**

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Cooling off

Thanks to environmental factors, spring has been non-existent this year, which has been something par for the course.Add insult to injury, both here and at Undisclosed, both streets are torn up thanks to water main work.

This translates into the taste of dirt mixing with heavy pollen in my mouth and nose every time I go out with the girls. I know: really attractive, right? Pollen and allergies are working overtime, so if you didn’t sound like you were coughing your lungs out, well, you do now!

Recently it got a little cooler, and Mother Nature treated to some pretty floral sights. Thanks, Old Girl… Appreciate it!

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Thanks

A friend of mine was talking to me briefly today about my blog.His comments had me thinking about you,my reader.

I thank all of you, friends and strangers alike, who take the time to read this. What started as therapy for me while caregiving for Mom, I write now for the therapy and the pleasure of it. From Shingleman, allergies, caregiving and other daily thoughts, I would hope you enjoy reading this as I enjoy writing it. I would hope you keep reading: I promise to keep working on it on sunny and stormy days ahead, and for now, sending out warmest wishes to you, from the Wissahickon valley.

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Meanwhile,back at the ranch..

When you left yours truly, I was down at the “Undisclosed Location”, enjoying a slight break from the pollen. Sea air has always been my friend.

Now I’m back in the city and it, quite frankly, sucks. I never realized how much other environmental factors get to my sinuses, i.e., diesel exhaust, stuff coming out from piers by the Walt Whitman bridge, general car exhaust PLUS pollen. Hacking was never my strong suit, and it continues to pull me down. Hell, I often tell people that I am imitating Ingrid Bergman in “Bells of Saint Mary’s” as a nun with tuberculosis. I just get tired of hacking.

I know that media sources will come out and say that due to lack of snow this winter, or some other reason why the pollen will be outrageous.The only people who will be picking up the slack from the people who used to money when they would make spring coats and hats for girls will be the drug companies that make Allegra-D, Claritin, Benadryl and the like.

Ah, for a good rainstorm to clear the air..oh, wait a second…then it’ll rain too much and we’ll have issues with mold….

**sigh**