Allergies this year in Europe, oh my!

The tree pollen is bad about 30 miles south west of London, too.

My sympathies. It's particularly pungent in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, too. My dark colored car has a sheen of yellow coating....and we haven't hit grass seed season yet.

Your regimen is solid. The only thing you might try is a swapping to a different allergy med like cetirizine hydrochloride (brand name Zyrtec). I do a switcheroo about every 4 months to offer my system a different strategy. I also found OTC ketotifen fumarate (brand name Alaway) eye drops to be quite effective. Taking the nondrowsy antihistamine at night can help also.

Lyn C, thanks, well I guess I won't be taking any trip to London soon... CYN , Will try to figure out what ketotifen fumarate (brand name Alaway) eye drops might be here in Sweden, so far I've tried 3 different types and can attest that nothing helps much after 5PM, when my eyes become red and blurry! My sincere sympathy to those of you who have suffered for years this way, gosh. And after awhile on the non-drowsy Desloratadine I will check to see if there's another alternative, thanks!

Sandancisco, I've had a bad allergy year here at home! When I got home from Valencia and started sneezing again, I realized that I had had a break from it in Spain. It's maybe not quite as bad at home as when I left, but I've started taking my allergy meds again.

I should follow your advice and change out of my garden clothes when I come back inside!

Thanks for the reminder. I didn’t know I was allergic to plane trees until visiting France in 2023 end of May/first part of June. It was while we were still skittish about Covid which had people looking at me sideways. The RS guide teased me about buying a bulk pack of tissue packs, but he and I both went through them by the end of the tour. He also was having a horrible time with allergies. I had forgotten about this until your post and trip is similar time of year coming up, so I need to stock up.

Well, don’t come down to Paris! It’s bad right now with tree pollen. A few years ago I decided I’m allergic to Horse Chestnut trees which are out in force right now.

I agree with all your steps. I was watching that Dr Rubin on FB reels who also recommends wearing sun glasses if you don’t wear regular glasses.

I tried a new strategy today which helped me get thru the afternoon. I did not take my 2nd generation allergy pill this morning as I was headed to Notre Dame for a tour so figured I’d be inside until lunch. I left off my Eucerin sunscreen to which I am mildly allergic (itchy eyes) and just used La Roche Posay tinted sunscreen. I then donned a terrible looking hiking hat when I headed to a park for a sandwich lunch which I hoped would keep the pollen off my head. Took my allergy pill as soon as I got to the park.

Lasted well the rest of the day but went back inside (Louvre) after lunch.

So far I’m wearing my skin away as I’m doing 2 showers or a rinse and a shower every day.

So yes, bring allergy meds, allergy eyedrops (I use Pataday), possibly a hiking hat and kleenex packets, lol!!

Ugh this sounds pretty miserable! Sending sympathy vibes your direction!

I do feel for you Sandancisco it's not fun. Allergy is my superpower (wish it was something more fun like flying or invisibility) so I've done just about all the things. I thought of two more coping mechanisms: 1) change your pillowcase every couple of days, even if you shower it's impossible to get rid of 100% of the nasties; and 2) consider a nasal inhaler like fluticasone propionate (Flonase). The latter can take a few days to be effective (and double check that it isn't reactive to your other inhaler). Hopefully this shall pass quickly for you!

Thanks everyone for all the sympathy, and it sounds like many of you have the same issues.

CWsocial - Dang I would love to fly to Valencia just to escape except I doubt I have the energy to even walk outside.

Patty, I forgot to mention copious amounts of tissues, sounds like a fun trip otherwise!

Pam, I've taken beautiful ‘Paris in the springtime’ off my list, dang it. Thanks for the suggestion of a hat & it sounds like you're coping well with your own allergies. OMG, an afternoon at the Louvre sounds delightful!!

Thanks, TTM, gosh did you miss all this on your recent adventures??

CL - Your 'superpower' hahaha. Great idea to change pillowcases every few days, we're running a washing load now. I forgot to mention I have 'Claritin' allergy covers on all our pillows.

Wash your hair at night. Change pillow cases every day.
Consider using hankies instead of tissues? I wash mine out every evening and they are dry in the morning. Started doing this a few years ago, and it is kinder to my nose than paper tissues.
Pollen is bad here in Germany right now too. Perhaps wear a mask to block some of it?

Thanks Ms Jo. Good idea to change pillowcases each day. And I hadn't thought of wearing a mask so looked it up - Wearing a mask significantly reduces sneezing, nasal discharge, and congestion. Studies show that the rate of severe nasal complaints can drop from over 90% to roughly 56% with mask use. Masks can indirectly reduce itchy and watery eyes by preventing the "nasal-ocular reflex," where nasal irritation triggers eye symptoms.

I've spent time this spring in the California desert, France, New York City and Ohio. I've gotten different, strong allergy responses in all of them. Kleenex are a critical resource for me at the moment. But sneezy as I've been, I still find decongestants and antihistamines too unpleasant to use regularly.

For my allergy against early bloom trees it plays a significant role how the change from winter to spring is happening. This year we had winter with low temps, snow and ice, and it turned within days into spring which was like a well conducted start of all early trees. Therefore this year it was not so easy but in other years with less significant changing weather my allergy is less attacked by so many pollen at the same time.

I feel for you. I started seeing an allergist 15 years ago when I moved from NYC to the Bay Area.
I have a plan in place for spring and start taking zyrtec and using flonase spray in mid-February. Comes April/May when it gets worst for me, I am allowed Claritin in morning and Zyrtec at night. I only double for a few weeks. I’ve had to take other prescribed meds but I am out now, thank goodness.

I have Allergy Plus (app) by Pollen.com on my phone and I do monitor my triggers (grass is my Kryptonite which peaks in late April/May).

Nasal saline spray throughout day is also good. But sometimes hard to find small sizes under 3 fl oz for travel.
I usually don’t get eye issues except last year was bad. Pataday drops worked well for me.

Also change pillowcase every few days and wash hair every night.

I always bring allergy meds abroad even if not traveling during their spring time. I also carry a rescue inhaler Albuterol (I’ve needed it for heavy polluted areas like Manila, Beijing, and during north bay wildfires).

Today the wind is blowing, I looked it up on AI, allergens skyrocket with the wind, so I'm staying indoors. Dang it!

Thanks Mark, I wondered about the lack of allergies last April in Mainz & Heidelberg, I was absolutely fine. The difference in the timing of spring might explain it. Waiting to book a doctor's appointment tomorrow, thinking it might be time to be tested for specific allergies.

Joy, I feel for you, luckily my allergies aren't that bad in the Bay Area. Excellent idea to always bring along allergy meds. Whenever I land in HK, my eyes immediately start watering & my chest is constricted from the pollution.

People are generally allergic to the vast amount of medications and potions they take for the “allergies”. That’s how the drug businesses make their cash.

I haven’t read through all the messages but can offer up a suggestion for itchy eyes. Years ago I remember my opthamologist mention that using a washcloth for a cold wet compress on your eyes will help. Tried it a few times then and recall it being effective. Now I use private label pataday and that’s been effective for me.

Hey thanks Rocket, I will try the cold compress. The pharmacist said I could try what they call 'Eye Water' OTC to flush out my eyes. Now the wind is blowing, sigh. Dr. Google says allergens can increase up to 50% in 'strong winds'.

My husband has been struggling as well here in northern Germany. I don't generally have allergies, but it's been so bad this year that even I have had the beginnings of itchy eye once or twice.