Head congestion before jumping

[Muenkel 0]

My spring allergies have been driving me nuts this year. Last weekend when I jumped, I had very mild head congestion. Since then the congestion has really been in my ears, but it is decreasing.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to clear the congestion. I have tried sudafed with only minor results. Obviously, the allergens are still in the air.
Anything I can take without an antihistimine in the morning before skydiving that will decrease the congestion?

Like I said, it is mild and I can breathe through my nose. The congestion is mostly in the sinus cavities and the ear canals.

Thanks,
Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[mnischalke 0]

Watch that stuff. I was talking to Brian Germain on Friday and he blew out his sinuses. Bad stuff.

I have a lot of problems with allergies, but not when I take Allegra D. It doesn't mess with my head either. Good stuff--just hard to get insurance to pay for now that claritin is over the counter.

mike

Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

[Muenkel 0]

I just noticed that this same topic is being addressed in the Safety and Training forum.

Is Allegra D prescription only?

Like I said, the congestion is pretty minor. I just want to get it all cleared out for this weekend.

Thanks,
Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Allegra D is prescription only, but the decongestant in Allegra D is just Sudafed anyway.

A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

[mnischalke 0]

The D doesn't have much to do tho, because the active ingredient in Allegra blocks the allergen in the first place. I usually don't take many during the week, but I begin to spool up my Allegra intake on thursday night.

mike

Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

[tigra 0]

You can get Claritin over the counter now, and its "non drowsy." Personally, I think Allegra is better, though. What works best for me is Flonase- that's a nasal inhaler. If I'm using that regularly, I have no allergy symptoms at all.

I used to really suffer certain times of the year, and the over the counter stuff for the most part did not work, or made so dopey I couldn't function. So now, in the spring or early summer, I just make a doctors appointment and get the good drugs! Ragweed season is just around the corner, you know!

[fudd 0]

Rinse nose with salt water. Ask in a farmacy. Could be enough, or you might have to use clarityn, allerga etc as already mentioned.

Salt water has no side effectes whatsoever. Natrual and very very cheap. (Remember, salt without iodyne!)

There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

[Muenkel 0]

Are you talking about a saline spray?

I don't like to stay on the "over the counter stuff" because it can raise your blood pressure. But I like the idea of starting either Thursday eve or Friday morning.

Edit to add: I do know that it is safe to use saline spray as often as you wish.

Thanks,
Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[oldnewbie 0]

I have the same problem (maybe). There is allegra, and allegra D. Some people have sleeping problems with allegra D, or the 2 pills a day allegra. They also have one a day allegra (no sleeping problems). Prescription only. There is claritin (many different kinds) which some people think works better, and some think it isn't as good as allegra. Claritin can be bought over the counter, however if you have prescription coverage, there is a claritin (maybe a different name) that you can get. The floanase is also very very good, Prescription only. Since i'm trying to make a short story long, i'll continue!!!lol I went to the ear/nose/throat specialist for this problem. He said to take the medication all the time, that way your sinuses etc won't become inflamed. He said to take allegra for a couple of months, then switch to claritin etc in conjuntion with the flanase. He also told me that this will NOT hurt my ears permanate if i skydive. Since January i have been doing this, and everything was fine until i quit taking the allegra (i ran out and was too lazy to get another script for more) and my allergies are so bad right now that my ears and sinus are killing me. I guess i should have taken his advice and stuck with it!!

[Muenkel 0]

Great advice. Thanks.

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[allicat 0]

Claritin works well for me. But it is expensive now that it's OTC.

[tigra 0]

Just another advantage of the prescription stuff (as long as you have decent insurance.)