Hay Fever Poll

[SoyBoy]

Just curious.

[eatmeat4good]

Just curious.

I had really bad hay fever symptoms before I was gluten free. That would have been a severe. Now, I haven't had a bit of problems this Spring, while everyone around me is complaining of how bad the allergies are this year. I don't know if I'm going to get hit later with it, but for now I would have to say I have NO symptoms. Shocking!

Only 6 months gluten free so I don't know for sure about the rest of the Spring and Summer.

[ravenwoodglass]

I checked 'I do not have' for the present time. Before I was diagnosed I would have checked 'severe'. I saw most of my allergies resolve after I went gluten free. My allergist had checked for 99 and I was positive for everything except beech trees. He said that my system was in 'hyperdrive' due to the celiac. Within less than a year all my allergies resolved except for cats, dogs, and yew tree pollen. The ones I have left are so mild that I hardly notice them. Unless I trim my yews when they are flowering and am standing right inside the bush. Can't say that would be the case for all.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I had really bad seasonal allergies and also got a lot of sinus infections prior to going gluten free. So far this spring I have have very mild symptoms. So mild I wake up in the morning, blow my nose twice and that's about all the congestion I have for the rest of the day (we have been keeping the windows open most nights because it has been in the 70s here lately). I am also allergic to dust and I have found my dust allergies are not near as bad since going gluten free. I used to have to wear a mask and gloves when dusting and vacuuming. I would vacuum one room and then try not to go in that room for at least four hours (I read that's how long it takes for the dust to settle after you vaccum). Now I don't have as near as bad reaction to dust.

[Nor-TX]

Up until this year I have never had a problem. This year at 61 years old I am on two nose sprays and eyedrops. The doctor thinks that the combination of the bad season and my Remicade decreasing my immune system has made it difficult for me. My ears hurt but there is no infection and I have had a headache for a couple of months. My eyes are dry and sleepy feeling... Even the medicines aren't really helping very much.

[jerseyangel]

I voted moderate--they are actually between moderate and severe.

[SoyBoy]

Interesting feedback. Thank you everyone for your responses. I have found that my seasonal allergies and reactions to food on my bad list go hand in hand.

2010 was my best year for seasonal allergies. I wasn't certain if it was just a mild season, or if my diet change had a positive impact. I am hopeful for 2011 now.

Thanks again.

[Peeb]

I voted "do not have".

I would have voted "severe" before I got off the gluten.

Amazing.

[Kquad]

Glad I found this thread. I had very bad allergies every spring, I went gluten free April 1st after my blood test and my allergies are now very mild. My Gastro MD was not thrilled since he did a biopsy 12 days later. It was negative. I am not sure if 12 days can really heal damage, but the owner of the local gluten free bakery told me it could. Oh well, my blood test was positive, my allergies are nearly gone and I have gone through 6 weeks of terrible gluten withdrawal and I feel much better. I am not going back on gluten to find out.

[sherrylynn]

I have very severe allergies as well as asthma and have 3 meds for asthma. sybicort, spiriva and a rescue inhaler. I have only been gluten free for 4 days today will be my 5th day. I hope I am like the rest of you and going gluten free helps.

This is a very interesting poll.

[jenngolightly]

I used to have moderate hay fever, but after going gluten-free and corn-free they've significantly decreased.

[gailc]

I had no allergies in San Francisco. I moved away then 3 years later I had very severe allergies in spring and summer until I moved again 200 miles away and they went away.

After 3 years there the allergies came back.

I moved again and had allergies after a few years. Then they mysteriously went away. Then they came back in the WINTER. Then those went away.

I cannot tell the difference between an allergy attack and a cold, and the doctors never could either. I go by how I feel.

I had a 3 week binge of allergies this February, after years of none, never quite felt sick this time--so allergies. They went away when it started raining, major clue. It was just after that (end of March) I went gluten free until the challenge.

Now one week gluten free(again) and only time will tell. Could be years to feel very confident.

gail

[gailc]

I forgot to say, my allergies would turn into raging sinus infections, colds, pleuresy, bronchitis(usually) and you name it.

gail

[lcarter]

I have gone from sever to moderate while on the gluten + dairy free diet. Also, I am off 2 full time asthma meds which I took daily. However, I still have to take a daily antihistamine to keep it mild.

[Kate79]

I've got a pretty bad mold allergy, so mine's worse in the fall. I don't like traditional antihistamines, but I've had really good luck with some herbal remedies: freeze dried nettles (a natural antihistamine) and querecetin. Both available at Whole Foods and gluten free. They don't work quite as well as benedryl or something like that - but they also don't make me feel like I'm about to fall asleep all the time.