Monday, May 6, 2013

Whining

I have been away for awhile, but I am doing OK.





















These past two weeks have been the prettiest of the year.  All the flowering trees bloomed, the azaleas were magnificent, and every tree came alive.  Unfortunately, they clogged up my sinuses and my head feels like it has blown up 10 fold.  My eyes are beyond itchy and red and my headaches can bring me to my knees (OK, I do exaggerate). Basically, everything above my shoulders has had a reaction to this lovely spring. 

Some years are worse than others, and this one seems to be a doozy.  Now I can help myself by staying indoors, but how can I do that after a long winter and with the call of the garden singing to me.  It is something many of us put up with because the things we love are more important to us than our comfort.  I am also very allergic to cats, yet I have two that are indoors and two more who are our (unofficially) adopted outdoor feline friends.  Yes, I am my worst enemy when it comes to my health, but I can't give up what makes me smile and gives me joy.  

I am sorry that I have not been keeping up as I usually do with my blogging friends.  It has been difficult for me to read lately as my eyes hurt and are very strained. I am using eye drops but so far they haven't made a difference. I also have bouts of vertigo caused by something going on with my hearing and I am one dizzy dame.  I keep putting off going to a doctor as I think I will be better tomorrow, and some days that is true.  Besides, he will only tell me what I know and give me advice that I will ignore. He will punish me by sending me a big bill.  Insurance is not what it used to be. 

It is going to rain this week which will be good for my newly planted gardens and will be good for me as the pollen will decrease. I see a reprieve coming.



 

48 comments:

  1. The pollen is getting to me as well....the pharmacist suggested Aerious and I tried it this afternoon...so far so good. Hope things start to look up for you soon.

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  2. I couldn't pin down a reason for the malaise until I started noticing any parked car covered with a sheen of pollen, near a tree or far away.

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  3. So sorry that the pollen has such an impact on you. The beauty of the photo gives a gentle ambience.

    It's so tough to feel the call of the great outdoors and be sniffling at the same time. It will get better.

    The main thing, my human friend, is that you look after you! :)

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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  4. I do hope you get a little reprieve with the rain....allergies are the pits!

    xo

    Jo

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    1. I have allergies most of the year, but this spring is truly, as you said, Jo, the pits.

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  5. Yes, I hope the rain eases things. Like you I have cats and am often in the garden in spite of allergies.

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  6. I was a professional gardener for over 30 years and, in view of allergies and asthma, often questioned my sanity but never my dedication. In short, I understand.

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    1. We keep the pharmaceutical companies in business, Geo. We just might get us out of the recession this year.

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  7. I have a son who has allergies....and IT STINKS!!!!
    I have been away from blogging for a bit too....sometimes I just need a break for no reason, sometimes I have a reason.
    welcome back. and I hope it rains!!

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    1. Hurricane Swartz predicted the rain and I am counting on his forecast, Annmarie. As you know, he has been wrong at times.

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  8. I think you merit a visit to an allergy clinic. They will test you for just about every allergy, and give you what's needed for your particular problems. At least that's the theory!

    Stinking hot here yesterday; rain today. Perfect for growing.

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    1. I have been a frequent visitor there other years, but right now I seem to have so many other appointments on my plate, I am putting it off.

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  9. Everyone needs a pity party once in awhile. Hope you feel better soon.

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  10. I'm very fortunate in that I don't have allergies or suffer from hay fever, but I do feel sorry for those that do, it sounds like you've had a miserable time.
    I hope you feel better soon.

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    Replies
    1. Lucky you, Wean. So many of us suffer this every spring and fall.

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  11. I'm sorry you are feeling so poorly. Here in the UK there is at the moment a very high pollen count because as a result of such lingering cold weather and a few warm days everything is blooming and coming into leaf at the same time. Hope you feel better soon ...

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    1. That is what has happened here. It was a long winter and spring popped out quickly and all at once.

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  12. I thought I 'felt' you missing - glad you are back. sandie

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  13. We have been having heavy allergens this spring. Lots of sneezing and lots of tissues. My head salutes your head as a fellow comrade in misery.

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    1. I think it has to do with the quick spring we had here on the east coast. My heavy head salutes yours also, Susan.

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  14. Georgia is usually the WORST for springtime pollen, but at least we've had a lot of rain this year to keep things more under control. Last year, I got to wheezing so badly when I was working in the yard, the doctor had to put me on a nebulizer. This year, not too bad.

    I'm sorry to hear about the vertigo. I went through that last year... or the year before. Dreadful. I still don't know what caused it, but its onset coincided with a disconcerting ringing in my ears. The vertigo went away, but my ears continue to serenade me around the clock. The one cool thing about that to me is the pitch of the noise in my ears is at the same frequency as my hearing loss. Maybe I'm weird (okay, I KNOW I'm weird) but I think that's really interesting. I hope your vertigo goes away on its own, too. By golly, if we're gonna lose balance walking across a room, we'd darned sure better get that way by drinking a glass of wine first.

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    1. My ears are singing the same song, Susan. It seems that my radio ears are always on but I have gotten so used to it that sometimes I don't notice it.

      It is raining out today and I am hoping that with it, the pollen will wash away.

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  15. So sorry you're feeling rough Arleen - I think a trip to the doctor would be a good idea too. Hope things improve soon.

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    1. Even though it has caused allergy misery to so many, it is a beautiful spring here, Molly. We are having some rain now and everything outside looks so clean and new. You have to take the good with the bad.

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  16. Touch wood, I've never suffered from Hay Fever, but I can imagine it must be so frustrating and so debilitating. Good to have you back. :)

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  17. My mother finds that when her allergies act up, she tends to get dizzy - the doctor said she gets a buildup of fluid in the ear canal (just like there is fluid in the nose, except it can run out, in that case :)) If you can get the watery runny-ness under control with Aerius or a similar over-the-counter med, the fluid may subside and the dizziness go away. I hope things get better soon.

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  18. I'm really, really sorry you are feeling down. As far as whining is concerned I say better out than in. And who says its whining, I like to call it an assessment of function impact events. Take care and pray for rain.

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  19. Oooooh. I am so sorry to hear this! Allergies are not fun. My wife is also allergic to cats, too. So we have had dogs.

    The only thing to which I'm allergic is hard work. Since I've retired, I've not had any problems, even when I went back to work for a few month a year ago.

    I hope you are soon feeling better!

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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  20. First let me compliment you on your blog site. Quite lovely, and I love the little message at the top about the elevator.

    "Besides, he will only tell me what I know and give me advice that I will ignore. He will punish me by sending me a big bill. Insurance is not what it used to be." I cracked up when I read that. Maybe because I could relate. LOL

    So glad to meet you.

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  21. For heaven's sake go to the doctor! Dizzy and sneezy and itchy are no fun (and sound like a gang of mean dwarves). I always get allergies, too, despite the fact that very little grows in Egypt. I hope you feel better! :-)

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  22. Dear Arleen, I so hope that a reprieve has come for you. I'm commenting on Saturday and you posted on Monday so perhaps in the interim the rain has helped diminish the pollen. Having headaches and dizziness is bad enough with having scratchy eyes. The important thing is that you take the time you need to recuperate without worrying about posting or reading blogs. We're all here. Most of us are in and out at various times of the year. And now it's your turn!!! Peace.

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  23. Sorry to hear of your troubles; I too have hay fever but not as bad as you. I take medication. Still, my nose just runs and runs.

    Why is nothing in this life ever easy and trouble-free?

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  24. Yes, you have the right attitude, to rise above your health and focus on what you enjoy.

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  25. I'm sorry that you're not feeling well. The allergies are bad enough without having the vertigo on top of it. Take care of yourself Arleen!

    Julie

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  26. Depression or itchy eyes? Itchy eyes for sure. One of the side effects of getting older is you develop allergies you never had before. Thanks for stopping by The Medicare Mom. I like positives. I always try to ask the kids how many they got right on tests rather than how many they missed.

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  27. Just popping by to see how you are feeling. I was looking for an email but hopefully you are able to check your comments. Sue

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  28. Hi,

    The azaleas are just so lovely. By the way, please do get well. I am always excited to read your posts, so pls pls, do update us sooner. I hope you could post some exciting photos of your garden this spring.

    Hugs, Christian

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  29. I have a feeling that the two posts above are phishing. I may be wrong but they don't seem 'right' somehow.
    Anyway, my two daughters suffer from hay fever in spring and summer and they each get an injection from their doctor which is very effective. By the way, speaking of doctors; although we complain about it a lot, in the UK the NHS (National Health Service) means that anyone can go to a doctor or to hospital free of charge. Of course we pay a percentage of our income but health-care is unlimited.
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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  30. Even though I commented previously, I came back to thank you for your comments and thoughtfulness your project.

    I hope you have gotten help for the vertigo problems and had your eye problem examined.

    Your new header--awesome. Your black cat towers over the smaller cat (is that one a garden ornament? or is it a real kitten?).

    Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Susan

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    1. Thank you, Susan; you always make me feel good.

      Yes, that is a lawn ornament in front of our semi-adopted outside cat, Kit. She was the kitten that got away last year when her mother brought her and her siblings up to our deck. I bought her a house and she now lives on our patio. I love her, but she loves the great outdoors.

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