Allergic Rhinitis: Delay of Treatment Can Be Dangerous

Living with Allergy and Immune Disorders: Information on These Serious Conditions by Manda Spring is an informational article I wish I had read long ago. If I had known more about the serious condition of allergic rhinitis, I could have had the illness under control and the last few years of my life would have been more enjoyable.

For years I had been suffering from constant sinus pain and pressure and wasn't sure what was causing my problems. At first, it never occurred to me that I might have allergies as I didn't remember anyone in my family having them. I only noticed that over-the-counter medicines stopped working over time and my health began to decline very rapidly.

I have been suffering with, what was to me, an unknown illness. It wasn't until earlier this year my doctor confirmed that I had allergies. At one point I had lost over fifty pounds because my stomach was so upset and I was just so tired I didn't feel like eating. Then as my symptoms of stuffiness, headache, sinus pain and pressure, fatigue, indigestion, and a general hard time breathing increased, I stayed in bed more. The weight I lost once I gained back from lack of exercise. Sometimes I felt like I was dying when doctor's visit after doctor's visit didn't seem to help. But after taking medicines such as Accolate, Zyrtec, Nasacort, and using a nebulizer to help my breathing I was doing somewhat better. Still, I often felt so sick I wasn't sure if I could eat or if I would survive the day.

On a good day, I decided to clean the apartment when I noticed there was black mold growing in the closets and in every room of the apartment. I told my doctor about this and she told us to move as soon as possible. She told me that if I have a problem with dust then I would also have a problem with mold. My doctor hit me hard with the above allergy medicines to get me through until the day my husband and I were able to move.

Until that day, I suffered with nauseating headaches, sore, scratchy throats, and sinus pain and pressure. There would be days I would sleep through, unable to stay awake, regardless of drinking coffee. I just couldn't operate normally.

In September my husband and I found a clean, upstairs apartment with no mold problems and my breathing increased greatly. My mood has changed and I have been able to work more effectively on my business. Generally, I am feeling better but there I still suffer from sinus problems. Able to stay awake more, I went to WebMD and researched allergic rhinitis. I had at least one question I need an answer to and that was, "How did I end up with asthma if all my problems started out with my sinuses?" I found my answer.

Allergic rhinitis sufferers deal with a lot of congestion and it when it loosens, it drains down the back of their throat and into their stomachs and/or bronchial tubes. Asthma results when the allergens in the sinus fluid drip into the bronchial tubes and the bronchioles react to the allergens. The same goes for stomach upset when the stomach reacts to the allergens in the sinus fluid that has been swallowed. So aside from the headache, sinus pain, pressure, and lightheadedness, those with allergic rhinitis, if gone untreated, can develop stomach upset and asthma that can be potentially be life-threatening.

The anxiety that arises from being so ill as well as from having trouble breathing can be hard for a person to deal with alone. Be sure to check in on someone frequently if they are dealing with severe allergic rhinitis as the effects of being so ill and emotional state of anxiety can produce, can cause the sufferer to be mentally and emotionally unstable. Since I waited so long for treatment of my allergies and my body was on overload trying to fight them off, the doctors in the ER diagnosed me with being stressed out, with depressions and anxiety. I ended up in the hospital's Mental Ward twice because my symptoms were similar to feeling depressed and anxious. Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medicines sure didn't help when my real problems were severe allergies and asthma.

If you know of anyone with not only allergic rhinitis but any allergy symptoms, encourage them to get tested for allergies. Their body can only fight an allergen for so long before it begins to wear out. Early treatment is the best if you want to avoid prolonged suffering and it may just save your life.