Since we have our own business, we don't have health insurance. I also hate the doctor. That said, we've been trying 'natural remedies' and stuff. I've been sneezing for months - and finally gave in to the idea that I might have developed allergies. So, long story short (okay, well I'll try anyway), I decided to try bee pollen (capsules). Mind you, I have never been stung before, and have no idea if I'm allergic or not -- but I figure, nobody in my family is, my dad used to kill them with his hand Anyone think I should be worried? It's been a few hours...wouldn't it have already 'hit me' - I know people get stung and immediately need treatment if they're allergic...I'd think it'd be the same with a pill.

How stupid am I?

Helen thinks it's probably the leaves I kicked around and breathed in. I'm just not used to being allergic to ANYthing.

Any thoughts? Anyone wanna beat me with a broomstick?

Mary Mary...
I doubt if it's the bee pollen.
Bee pollen is good for you.

I'm severely allergic to bees, and I use to take bee pollen everyday to try to build up a little immunity to bee stings.

Cindy Faye

well, my take on it is this. i wouldn't worry about it right now if you aren't having major problems. but... i wouldn't take it again unless it is under controled conditions... like no leaf raking?

seriously, be careful, i'd stick to fish oil capsules, that's what i use, that and green tea capsules.

Whatcha take fish oil fer, Jiff? I've always been a garlic-pill-popper/pusher but that's about it. I was takin a walk on the wild side by trying this bee pollen thing

I'm just tired of sneezing and being all stuffed up like I've got the worst headcold for months on end now. My brother had hay fever and my mother said it used to flare up on him in the fall so I figured may be that's what this is -- or this Illinois air I need the smell of the subways/sewers/exhaust back!

basicly the same as garlic, general health and cholesterol lowering. of course it is on a "when i remember" basis

Mary Mary...I didn't have any allergies until I was in my late 20's...then it was symptoms like you describe...and never went away. I thought I had the world's record for having a cold...but it was allergies.
I took the bee pollen in teeny tiny amounts...and not for very long. I got bored with it. :rolleyes:

From quackwatch.org...

I'm really gonna make an effort to keep this health nut stuff up. It's so much cheaper than the doctor...assuming I don't end up having anaphylactic shock Think I'm good though...cough seems to have settled down...it musta been the leaves :rolleyes:

sounds like me - I've been talking about this 'headcold' with just about anyone that will listen (or pretend, even!)

I'm blaming Illinois for this one - I never had allergies in NY! :p

And, not for nuthin, but royal jelly sounds like it belongs in a thread in area 51....

you have to check out my post there...

I just did - TOO FUNNY!

deleted....changed my mind...

Hiya Mary!

ewwwwwwwwwwwwe - never, YUCK!!!

Hope you feel better soon!

Hiya Lynne!

Aww c'mon - wouldn't take you too long to get into the city and bottle up some of that yummy air and send it down my way!

Good grief - if the COPAY for flonase was $50, imagine what it cost without insurance?

Yeah...I never said I was the brightest bulb....good thing I'm so cute!

Seems like everything is hunky-dorey now with the breathing thing (glad too, cause I kinda like breathing!) Just bad timing for the ole lungs to get all funktified - I'll be more careful next time - Promise!

When my father was given a prescription for it in Florida a few years ago the pharmacist told him it would be $73 - and that's on medicare!
He said NO THANKS!!!

Next time I'm in the city (?) I'll do just that!

That's absolutely insane!

Rockin! Can you make sure it's from the west side? At least 8th avenue or further west...preferably between 35th and 45th st where it's good and ripe?

That's why I don't like to go to the doctor...I have no insurance.

I have 4 prescriptions laying on the table right now that have been there for over a month and haven't been filled...because I don't have insurance.

It's pretty scarey sometimes.

MARY! You are NOT an idiot! Not by any stretch of the imagination!!

By the way, LOTS of people who experience "fall allergies" are actually allergic to the mold that is produced on the leaves and tree bark at this time of year. Which is why certain people suffer in some areas of the country in the autumn but not in other areas... as it depends on the foliage and the mold produced.

Thinking of you, kid; hope you are completely better soon!




Merme

oh, Cindy Mindy Moo... are these drugs necessary to your pains and conditions?!?
Do you/can you get generic brands at a lower cost?
I hate to see you suffer more because you can't get what you need...
maybe give up a bottle of Beam in trade for meds?!?

Ummm. I wasn't even thinking about THAT...(the ONE time I wasn't!)

Thanks, Merme -- I've been suspecting it could be the leaves because it seems like it started right when they started changing color....so what do I do but go and rake a bunch of em up today eh? I'm so bright.

we posted at the same time, Mary -
how do you feel about Midori Coladas?

Midori Coladas? If it's anything like a Pina of the same last name, me like!

It is!!! Except that it has Midori liquor instead of Rum -
very tasty like a honeydew colada -
no pain with those at all!!! -
I don't drink much at all, but that's one I'll never turn down!

Question for ya? Here in Canada our dr's visits are paid for but I have no personal coverage for medication so that comes directly out of pocket. I was wondering when you say that you have no health insurance, does that mean no prescription coverage or that you even have to pay the doctor yourself also?

Tamara, "no insurance" means that you must pay for doctors, hospitals, therapies, medications, equipment, tests and lab work, dental and eye care entirely yourself.

Merme

I got my allergies in my mid-20's, too. They corresponded almost EXACTLY to the time that we moved to California. When I went home to Indiana this summer to visit, it was like a week and a half of heaven- NO allergies!

$73 bucks on Medicare for nasal spray?!?!? You GOTTA be kidding!

unfortunately, she's not. it's $153 for allegra if your insurance doesn't cover it... (mine doesn)

Jiffy, have you tried Drixoral? Helen has horrible allergies - tried every over the counter thing we could find and nothing worked. Went to the doc for some allegra - but knowing we didn't have insurance, he told her to try that first. Works wonders for her and only costs about $5 for a box of 24, I think. Might be worth a look-see

Hhhhmmmm...but I think that statement was made BEFORE you went out and raked a bunch of LEAVES!!!! We might want to re-consider....

This is true...and whaddya think I just got done doing again?

Weird thing is, that I'm okay when I'm out there doing it...it's when I come in I get all clogged up. I'm starting to wonder if it's not the animals I'm allergic to now

Or Helen....

Yeah, she tried suggesting that, too, but I told her she wasn't getting away that easy

Way to go Der Wiener Woman!!!!!!!!

I just read up on anaphylaxis yesterday and a first reaction may not occur for hours or even days - until long after you have forgotten what you ate or took. The second and subsequent reactions will be much quicker sometimes within 2-3 minutes. If you have severe food or bug allergies you should carry an Epi-pen no matter what the cost - it could save your life - also call 911 immediately, they can treat you before you get to the hospital. Nobody dies from overeacting to an allergy but aprox 1/3 of all deaths are due to not reacting quickly enough.

Flonase has been linked to cataracts so it's no great loss if you don't fill the scrip. Often times a move to a new environment will trigger allergies, even a year later. Your body had built up immunity to the allergens where you used to be an now it's under assault. This isn't the best medication in the world but you can get a bottle of 100 tabs of 10 mg Loratadine (the main ingredient in Zyrtec) at Costco for about $6. It doesn't work as well as the real thing but is a whole lot cheaper than the least expensive place, canadapharmacy.com (my friend when we are without insurance)Costco is also an inexpensive place to fill prescriptions.

If you suspect any kind of bee, fish or nut allergy you have to be careful of natural products because many of them contain fillers or main ingredients that you could be allergic to. I had my first very mild anaphylactic reaction at 50 and it's not something you every forget.

man that was a long and wordy response

Oh that's perfectly okay Bev...it is full of great info!

yes it is, and we appreciate it!

Wow...thanks for that, Bev...a lot of great info there. I'm glad I posted this for that someone who is allergic and doesn't know it - may be they'll think twice before trying something, even natural. Better to be safe than sorry!

I'm going to check out canadapharmacy. I've gotten the loratadine for Helen, which didn't work for her, but didn't try it for myself - I'll give it a shot and hopefully that'll help. If only I hadn't let my sams club membership expire! May be they have it at wally world too, I'll check. Thanks!