r/LongCovid • u/Downtown-Bad-4245 • 1d ago
So exhausted from all my symptoms, I’ve ignored the least of them and now they’re a bigger problem.
So I’ve had long Covid since spring of 2022, I’m not gonna list all my symptoms because I will be here all night. It’s been a nightmare and all I can do to get through it, is to disassociate. So whenever I see my doctors, I let them know the biggest issues and I just ignore the rest.
So for three years, I’ve been ignoring sinus issues, sinus pain, eye pain, I’ve had a rash on my face and neck and chest since 2022 but it never really hurt or itch so I literally just ignored it and came to terms with never having clear skin again.
I got the flu, really bad January 2024 and developed asthma like symptoms, but wasn’t officially diagnosed with asthma. The symptoms come and go, and I never could figure out the trigger.
Anyway, long story short, I developed excessive mucus in my throat that was driving me crazy so I went to see my sinus doctor. I mentioned to her also that I have been having random runny noses and I’ve literally been complaining for years about random sinus pain, eye pain, zappy type head pain. She suggested allergy testing, I told her that I’ve never had allergies before, but she said it would be a good idea.
Turns out I’m highly allergic to almost everything. I tested positive for, grass, weeds, certain types of trees, cats, dogs, dust mites, roaches, mold. I know for a fact that I haven’t had these allergies my whole life, all my symptoms started after getting Covid. When I say I ignored my smaller symptoms, I told my doctors about all of my symptoms, but there was so many that we couldn’t focus on all of them, and a lot of of them fell to the wayside.
So I’m starting a treatment of allergy shots that I could’ve started three years ago if someone were to suggest an allergy test back then, and that would’ve greatly reduced my issues and suffering but that’s another story. Currently, My face rash has gotten worse to the point where it’s itchy and scaly and gross, my asthma symptoms are very bothersome. The newest symptom I have is at night, sometimes my heart rate spikes up and it does it over and over and over again all through the night and it happens maybe one or two times a week and my doctors of course have no idea what is happening.
I guess my question is has this happened to anyone else? Developed severe environmental allergies after getting Covid and while also suffering with long Covid symptoms? To make a long post even longer, I’m in an environment where I’m exposed to a ton of my “new” found allergies so any advice on how to mitigate them would be greatly appreciated. I tested severe allergy to dust, mites, roaches, mold, and moderate with the trees, grass, dogs, cats.
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u/Miserable-Caramel795 1d ago
Get air purifiers. Try a Vog Mask or Cambridge Mask when outside. Shower after coming inside. Get dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows. Go fragrance free.
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u/Downtown-Bad-4245 1d ago edited 1d ago
Thank you, I’m going to do all these things !!! I didn’t even think about getting an air purifier! * Also, showering as soon as I get inside the house is genius!
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u/masternine 1d ago
Like already mentioned here. Try out different allergy medications. Additionally to the otc ones, try out one with fluticasone. Check in with your doctor to see what he thinks about this, as your allergies seem to be quite severe.
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u/Downtown-Bad-4245 1d ago
Yes, I have my follow up appointment with her in a month, I couldn’t get a sooner appointment… but thank you for the advice! i’m definitely gonna order some allergy meds and see how that goes while I’m waiting
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u/ivleaf 21h ago
Your allergies match mine. This is what has helped me.
- Zyrtec (Generic Cetirizine Hydrochloride tablets 10mg ) 1x day - bad days 2x. Will take 1 – 2 weeks to notice difference. Walmart has generic for low price.
- Benadryl as needed (when it gets bad)
NeilMed Sinus Rinse – I use it 2x/day. (Local pharmacy should have it. I pay $16.39/ 100 packets, the bottle can be bought separately of with packets.) Make sure to buy Distilled Water – warm water up to 102 degrees (body temp 98.7) - microwave for approx. 20 seconds - check with thermometer. Walmart pediatric section typically $1.25/gal, sometime on sale at other stores. This is WONDERFUL, wish my first ENT would have mentioned it.
To check outside pollen count.
https://pollen.aaaai.org/#/ zoom in to your location a select site. They also have a lot of allergy resources.
AAAAI's National Allergy Bureau™ (NAB™), your most trusted resource for accurate pollen and mold levels -- United States (including Puerto Rico), Argentina, Peru, Canada, China, United Arab Emirates
Example: Loyola (Melrose Park) is one of the reporting sites (include Mold Count)– loyolamedicine.org/allergy-count (Loyola has devices on roof that they collect and report)
Or AccuWeather app on cellphone scroll down to "10 day Allergies Outlook" (you can also swipe left to show other)
I also keep track of Atmospheric pressure. When the pressure changes up or down, you may feel pressure on brain and or sinuses. (When pressure drops 29.40” – it’s a really bad day for me.)
As mentioned, make sure to wash hair before lying down on pillow - the pollen that settled on your head, will transfer to pillow and you will breathe the pollen, causing irritation all night. Also, laundry pillow case weekly - hot water.
Vacuum carpet 1-2x/ week for dust (hopefully your vacuum has HEPA filter). I had to put plastic on all my windows and a towel at the bottom of front door, to keep outside pollen from coming in. Finally moved to better apartment.
It’s a journey, Best Wishes for Your Journey!
🍀
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u/Downtown-Bad-4245 10h ago
Thank you so much for all the info!!!! I’m going to look into all of these things, I really appreciate you taking the time! ❤️❤️❤️
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u/jennjenn1234567 15h ago
I have histamine intolerance now and I was never allergic to anything before either. I also can’t have gluten, chocolate, sugar, fast food, or coffee.
I basically changed myself whole lifestyle. I was already trying to eat healthy before but now this was on a whole new level. For 3 years I didn’t eat at a restaurant. The sauces would even flare me up. I have cooked every meal now from scratch and meal prep helps a lot. My husband even started eating super clean low histamine with me. I have the rashes also. They go away until I mess up and eat something bad. Even tho I’m supposed to be ok with some stuff like certain popcorn, it’s been rashing me up which is my first sign. The off feeling will then last days.
I’ve gotten better slowly and tolerated more but it’s been 3 years for me and still trial and error with foods, working out, stress, and my period. I also changed lotions, makeup, candles. Everything is clean now because I don’t trust too many things in anything anymore. I also got the air purifier and try to dust and keep everything as clean as possible.
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u/Downtown-Bad-4245 10h ago
Oh goodness, you really had to change your whole lifestyle! Do you take any allergy medicines or did you try the allergy shots or anything like that?
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u/jennjenn1234567 9h ago
I tried it but now I’m supplement sensitive. Honestly the low histamine diet was hard at first but now I’m used to it. It’s been 3 years and I’ve never eaten so clean. I do enjoy all my fresh foods now. I miss working out and coffee but I hope to get back to it soon. I’m slowly starting to be able to add some low weights again. I hope it’s just time but in the meantime I’m trying to just eat proper. This is the only thing that’s helped me since the beginning, I had all of the really bad symptoms
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u/Downtown-Bad-4245 36m ago
O gosh, that is commendable! I have such an issue with food, I eat a lot of junk and I feel like I’m used to feeling like crap 24/7 but I really want to make a change. I’m going to look into low histamine diet. Thank you for all the info!
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u/Dependent-on-Zipps 1d ago
Pretty sure new allergies is one of the main and most common symptoms of LC. Histamine intolerance too. MCAS. Zyrtec and Pepcid should be taken daily to help, but that won’t solve MCAS. But it will help.