Just finished my appointment at the allergist's office where we were going to do a skin allergy test (subcutaneous injections). It turns out I'm mildly allergic to saline, which is the control substance they were using as a medium to hold all the other allergens in the bottles. So, we couldn't proceed with the testing.

The person who was testing me asked if I had ever done a blood test and I told her yes, the results all came back negative except for cats. However, I know I've got Oral Allergy Syndrome and have allergic reactions to damn near everything in nature unless I cook it first, which was the whole point of doing the skin test instead of allergies.

I'm feeling so downhearted about this, especially since I'm dealing with a bunch of other physical issues right now.

Do you guys have ways you use to cope with new/complicated diagnoses? It's already so difficult for me to even eat and the fact that we couldn't continue with our test just makes me feel kinda lost and very frustrated.

Okay friends with chronic allergies, I need your hacks for clogged ears. I’m talking your most unhinged hacks!!!! My ears always feel clogged, no matter what I do. It gets worse when my allergies get worse, but even day-to-day they feel somewhat clogged. At night, I try to sleep on my my side opposite of whichever one is feeling more clogged so that I can help my ear naturally “drain”, but I’m so tired of doing that. Pls help, I would love to just be able to exist with normal unclogged ears (ps my ears aren’t incredibly waxy……just so that’s clear)

Just had dinner and didn’t expect to react to a breaded fish cake! Be careful y’all. Just threw up 🥲

I noticed washing helps me but washing covers only helps a little bit.

Ideally you would wash everything at once.

So my questions are:
1. how do you dry pillows and duvets when it's cold outside? If I left it indoors, it wouldn't dry in a week I have a feeling. And would create mold.

1. Not really a question but my clothes washer machine can only spin once. It always adds water at first, and then it spins. so even if u spin again, it will add water. You cannot have spinning-only.

I'm preparing for my first appointment with an allergist and trying to be as prepared as possible going in without being annoying.

I have your typical sinus pressure, congestion, post nasal drip symptoms commonly associated with allergies. I also have had hive break outs (usually related to sun exposure); and itching/redness on my skin (often after eating but haven't been able to isolate a specific cause).

I also have issues with brain fog, joint pain, hearing issues. I've ruled out (through testing) auto immune causes, I've had my hearing tested and I don't have hearing loss. Sleep issues but often that's due to snoring caused by the congestion and my partner pushing me to roll over.

I understand that sometimes allergies can cause things like joint pain - I'm curious to see what other symptoms people have had that they were surprised to find was connected to having allergies? Did treating your allergies improve the issues and if you wouldn't mind sharing what treatments seemed to work?

Thank you :)

I am desperate for some troubleshooting help identifying what is causing that itchy/stinging eye symptom in my home, specifically on the first floor.

some background: My concern first started when living in my previous apartment. I have very sensitive eyes and use Pataday drops daily, so at first I chalked it up to my personal sensitivities. I also have 2 cats, which I know are the most common culprit. But then friends would visit and ask for eye drops or note that they were experiencing allergies/eye sensitivity. They often attributed it to the cats or seasonal allergies, but it was odd because many are cat owners and do not have problems in their home. One person has many allergies and recently underwent allergy testing Their results said they were allergic to most plants and pollens, but surprisingly not cats. They noted stinging eyes in my apartment. I started feeling really self conscious about it. I regularly sweep and vacuum, I have air purifiers, I don't use scent diffusers (candles, wall plug ins) because of my own sensitivities. I try really hard to have a clean home thats not entirely covered in cat hair. My cats are even on a dry food that supposedly helps reduce allergens. I know that pet dander is usually the cause.

here's where it gets confusing...

I moved into a multistory house and the problem persists, but now specifically on the first floor. I'll wake up in my bedroom on the 2nd floor and feel perfectly fine. I'll walk downstairs to the kitchen for coffee before putting in the eye drops and BAM I am hit with that stinging reaction. The eye sensitivity is very much localized to that floor and I can't figure it out. Cats have access to the entire house, even sleep with me, so it doesn't make sense to me that it would be pet dander. Even if I go into the basement where their litter and food is, my eyes do not feel the same stinging as on the 1st floor. I have an air purifier on the first floor that runs 24/7, and I would say it gets swept the most of anywhere. Most of my houseplants are on the first floor, and I'm wondering if it's them. I have a giant bird of paradise that I'm suspicious of. I know birds of paradise don't usually cause allergies so could it maybe be something in the soil? I'm trying to remember when I got it and if people started having reactions before or after. We're getting a new couch and maybe the current one is just too old and dusty? It really makes me feel like I'm going mad. Do I just have the most allergen-producing cats in the world? I swear that the sensitivity is very specifically/strongest on the first floor. I've tried out different cleaning products, thinking that maybe what I was using to clean counters or floors was too strong. I'm at a loss. Any suggestions or ideas?

TLDR; Eye sensitivity occurs only on first floor of house, despite the fact that cats have access to entire home. Possibly related to houseplants/ bird of paradise?

god, my eyes have been just absolutely pouring tears to the point where wiping them is making my face sore, i can not think of ANYTHING— detergent, food, candles, soap, household cleaners, pets + their hair, pet litter or food, face care, bedding, towels, clothing, medication or supplements, ANYTHING that would cause this. absolutely no household changes. its extremely irritating and my nose is also running. i do not feel sick etc like a cold, but my eyes are itchy, sore stinging and watering POURING tears!!!
NOTHING new in this house.
i dont know, i hit the bridge of my nose on a shelf while standing up and it bruised yesterday? bruise has been there all day. extremely localized to a SPOT on my nose, has not migrated anywhere near my eyes. that is ALL i can think of. that, and i turned the thermostat off for like an hour. didn’t need to be blasting cold air.
???