r/Eugene 9d ago

How are your allergies since you moved here? Moving

For those of you who have relocated to Eugene from a different state, did y’all have allergies before you moved? And how does it compare to your allergies now? Where did you move from? I’m assuming it’s generally not gotten better lol but if you had to describe how much worse it is here, I’d be interested to know.

34 Upvotes

44

u/Gennelater 9d ago

They’re awful. No exaggeration, I’ve never had them as bad as the five years I’ve lived here. My face explodes in snot and I burn through all of my Covid tests before realizing it’s allergies. I’ve lived in Seattle, the Bay Area, and New England. I consider it the main downside to living here. 

3

u/Constant_Ad1999 8d ago

If you or anyone reading this is able to, ask your doctor if you can get prescribed Fluticasone. It is the best thing ever for allergies. Great being used along with Loratadine for me personally. 10x better than the regular nasal spray you get at the pharmacy. It's a corticosteroid though so you have to get it prescribed. It works very well, very fast.

0

u/bksi 8d ago

It's over the counter now and cheep too.

2

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Of the places you listed, which was the least awful for your allergies?

6

u/LavinaCrimson 8d ago

I'd say Utah and California I had no allergies whatsoever. Only here

4

u/Gennelater 9d ago

Probably New England. Connecticut specifically 

18

u/darkchocoIate 9d ago

Came from Austin. Overall they’re actually better here, I feel less like I’m at death’s door. Winter is more tolerable, as cedar fever is no effing joke. 

Flipside, I do have the sniffles what feels like constantly, but it’s more superficial and in my sinuses. Just more of a nuisance here but less of the more morbid feeling  congestion in my lungs and outright burning my throat and eyes. 

5

u/meathead67 9d ago

There are things I miss about Austin...cedar fever is not one of them.

7

u/darkchocoIate 9d ago

Absolute misery. Just when you think you’re getting a break. Every bit as bad as grass pollen in Eugene, but in the winter. 

7

u/Visual-Fig-4763 8d ago

Also from Austin and still have allergies, but nowhere near as bad. It’s mostly just sniffles when mold is high or it gets smokey out. Nothing like cedar fever when I could barely function for months every year because my eyes and lungs were on fire and I felt like I was hit by a truck.

1

u/darkchocoIate 8d ago

It’s on another level. And allergy shots do nothing. Remedies that claim they work do nothing. The ash juniper pollen is invasive as hell. The only time I felt halfway normal is when I took Zyrtec D with pseudoephedrine in it, and that had its own side effects. 

Austin mold was serious too, less damp but supposedly it multiplied and spread best when it was dry out. 

2

u/Affectionate-Goat218 7d ago

That's what I take but it's not helping anymore. Trees are what's happening this winter.

1

u/darkchocoIate 7d ago

That’s another way to go. An easier option here than in Texas. 

1

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

I would’ve never imagined Austin being potentially worse, do a lot of the people who live there complain of death’s door allergies as well?

5

u/darkchocoIate 9d ago

Yes. It sucks, so bad. It’s year round and intense. Plus the mold, if it’s wet it grows, if it’s dry the mold spores spread easily so you’re screwed either way. 

This is the allergy calendar for reference. No real breaks. https://www.kxan.com/weather/allergy-forecast-austin-texas/

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

That’s awful??? I’m glad you’re free of cedar, damn

2

u/darkchocoIate 8d ago

Thanks! Eugene hasn’t been perfect but I’ve definitely felt better in the last year than the nine spent in Texas. 

14

u/guitargod0316 9d ago

When I first moved here they were so bad I considered moving away. I’ve since been on a steady diet of Zyrtec with a constant air purifier running in my house. Been here 8 years and they still aren’t great but getting better

12

u/LavinaCrimson 9d ago

Southern California girl here, no allergies for the 36 years I lived there, then moved to southern Utah for 9 years, no allergies there either, then to here Springfield Eugene area and noticed about a year into living here my eyes were affected then I noticed more and more symptoms as the years have gone by. First very mild and just once and awhile. Now 10 years later full blown allergies every day! Doesn't matter what season it is. It's year round for me! Ugh 😩

12

u/Cammysi 9d ago

A long time ago, I moved here from Eastern Oregon. right after graduating high school. I had severe allergies growing up. I was allergic to everything. My allergies miraculously cleared up when I moved to the Willamette Valley. Turns out sagebrush was a trigger to all my allergies. Now I can smush my face in cat's fur & not have an itching, sneezing, breathing attack. It's wonderful!

4

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

I’m so happy people like you exist and can live here happily without that burden. It’s such a pretty place, I wish I could enjoy it more.

11

u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC 8d ago edited 8d ago

I've lived all over the country, and my allergies here are near zero. In eastern North Carolina, they were so bad I was hospitalized every spring. The eastern white pine absolutely dumps pollen, and it messes me up bad.

It's allergy/person specific. For whatever reason, the white pine triggers me, but Oregon trees and grass don't.

4

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

Oh yeah, it’s definitely specific to the person. I guess, Eugene is a place where I’ve seen a significant amount of the population struggle with allergies, whereas in other regions it seemed like the majority of people didn’t struggle with them. I’m glad you’re not going to the ER every spring now, that’s gotta feel great

1

u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC 8d ago

For sure, ty! I really do empathize with those who get it bad.

Eugene complains about the heat in the summer and the rain in the winter. We complain about everything. I'm guilty. Allergies suck.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

We’re extremely good at whining here, I think it’s part of the culture.

9

u/sillygreenfaery 9d ago

This is the absolute worst part of the Pacific Northwest to have pollen allergies. The springtime is murder I can't go out on the days it floats through the air like snow. It is beautiful but I am soooo allergic. I've been here since 2005. Grew up in Alabama where pollen is just as bad, but lived all over California and Nevada and there was no problem there

1

u/2shoe1path 9d ago

Besides some sniffles there’s not really anything bad here either. But my wife on the other hand!

6

u/kem_13 9d ago

I moved here from Portland in 2013, so not even that far away. I’ve always had allergies, but nothing compared to how they are here. I ended up with allergy-induced asthma and have needed both steroid and rescue inhalers, plus have had to change allergy meds and add on eyedrops and Flonase, which I rarely had to use before. I also was on Singulair (a prescription medication) for asthma, which I think kind of was supposed to help with the allergies but I’m not sure if it actually did or if it just helped the asthma. If you have a Costco membership, I get the Kirkland brand of Flonase for a pretty good price and started with Kirkland Aller-Fex (Fexofenadine / Allegra), but now do a generic Xyzal that I get from Amazon for pretty cheap. I moved back to Portland in 2019 and they improved a bit, now I moved back down here about a month ago and they are worse again. The first time I saw a doctor down here, I remember her telling me that there’s a reason they called Eugene the “Death Valley” way back in the day. Some people have heard this phrase, many people have not or think it’s confused with being called the “Valley of Sickness” so no idea if it’s actually true or not, but I could definitely see it being true. But get yourself a good air purifier, stay on top of removing allergens in your home (i.e. dusting, vacuuming, wiping condensation off windows, etc.) and it’ll help a bit. Also depending on how bad they are and what you are actually allergic to, shower and/or change clothes when you get home and don’t wear outside shoes in the house. Masks help quite a bit too when the pollen gets really bad.

6

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Ohhh you’re like me. I was just in Portland for a decade and moved back in July, and it’s significantly worse here which seems ridiculous?? I was born here but my DNA seems to despise this town. Thank you for all the tips!

The valley of sickness story is interesting actually, here is a story I found a few years back abt it.

4

u/eug_fan 9d ago

I also grew up here, moved away, and moved back a few years ago. Never had allergies when I lived here before but now have grass allergies with a vengeance. Grastek Rx seems to tamp it down quite a bit.

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

Can I ask where you moved to?

2

u/eug_fan 8d ago

All over! Nor Cal, Portland, and Massachusetts. No allergies in any of those places.

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u/kem_13 8d ago

Yeah, super ridiculous!! I was not expecting that big of a difference at all. Of course hearing that from my doctor I didn’t even think to question it, so thanks for sharing that article, it was a great and informative read! I think I’m gonna start sharing the authors short and sweet version of events and / or this article whenever I hear someone telling the incorrect version.

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u/ethiothienine 7d ago

Same here, I’ve heard this story since I was born, and only thought to question it last year when my friend from the UK asked about allergies here. He always would call me out if something smelled like bs lol, so i fact checked myself first and felt that the author of that article did some good research into local history. Urban legends are really interesting in how widespread they can become and then stay that way. All of that to say, I’m glad you liked it too!!

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u/kassmodius 9d ago

they’re horrible, i now have to get allergy shots twice weekly, and i’m on a steroid inhaler bc my allergies here gave me asthma 💀

1

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

can I ask where you’re from? When spring comes I can barely breathe even on all the drugs

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u/kassmodius 8d ago

i’m from the socal high desert area, i’ve had a grass allergy for my whole life but in the eug it’s worse bc we’re right next to Linn County. Oregon Allergy Associates does testing, if you have OHP and are diagnosed w asthma, allergy shots are 100% covered!

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

I just got OHP, this is great news for me holy shit

4

u/mrtlmrtl 9d ago

Generally allergic to air with grass allergies. ::grass seed capital of the world a county up:: Doing immunotherapy has helped a lot. From Maryland (worse there), and have lived in Alaska, Virginia, Florida, Texas, and South Carolina. Florida was gloriously allergy-free.

1

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Maryland was worse???

2

u/mrtlmrtl 9d ago

It’s been a while since I lived there. I lifeguarded for many years before I discovered allergy medications and “faucity nose” was a thing with so much time outside.

Alaska got pretty bad, too. (Birch is worse than grass seed.) If unprepared (regularly on Zyrtek), I have cross reactant symptoms, like throat swelling from eating an apple.

OTOH, my first day in Eugene I had to go to the ER for steroids because my face swelled so much I was unrecognizable.

1

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Birch is what I’m the most allergic to, can’t have apples at all. Really glad to know that so I can avoid going to Alaska lol Florida being allergy free is wild, I wouldn’t have expected that

4

u/mrtlmrtl 8d ago

Totally depends on what sets you off. I imagine it’s not good for mold allergies there.

4

u/Boof_ur_Bacon 9d ago

I was raised here, never had allergies. Spent 2yrs working over in klamath falls in my mid 20's. Once I returned I suddenly have horrible allergies and have been dealing with it since.

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u/ethiothienine 9d ago

How many years have you been back from Klamath Falls?

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u/Boof_ur_Bacon 8d ago

That would have been about 2008.

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u/Mshox8 9d ago

Moved from Austin, too. I’d rely on Zyrtec and Claritin to get me through the day. I haven’t had to use either since moving here.

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u/Cuddlebone87 9d ago

So grew up in Virginia. But my whole family had bad seasonal allergies... Except me. Even my twin had it bad. But I just never got bothered.... I moved to Oregon... Now I call my mom to apologize for not understanding

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u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Damn, I lived in Virginia for a year as a kid and my allergies disappeared there. Have you visited Virginia since moving? Do the symptoms chill when you go back there?

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u/Cuddlebone87 8d ago

I've gone back to Virginia once in the 12+ years since moving to Oregon. Allergies were fine in Virginia but I forgot how thick the humid air feels to walk in lol

4

u/Loras- 9d ago

Get a good air purifier. It is worth its weight in gold. I like the winix brand but anything will help reduce symptoms.

Spring coupled with wildfire season has been killing me.

Ended up buying two one for the living room and one for the bedroom.

I go through filters every 6 months or so.

Check out Costco for good deals and look at reviews.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

This is great advice, thank you!!

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u/SweetPotatoDragon 9d ago

Mine are fine but my housemate is suffering lol. They have to take an allergy pill just about every morning

3

u/ChrisInBliss 9d ago

I'm originally from Northern California and my allergies are about the same. I pretty much traded my tree allergies with grass allergies 🤡

3

u/frog_rat 9d ago edited 9d ago

Mine have become debilitating to the point that I'm trying to move somewhere that allows me to breathe and function. I also experience my ears swelling shut, issues with balance, chronic asthma attacks, chronic rhinitis, sleep deprivation, and depression/anxiety. I've seen specialists. Regular over the counter allergy meds do not work for me. I have to take Montelukast and I still have some symptoms just not as debilitating as before. I have asthma and allergies. I primarily react to particulate pollution (for me its the smoke) which is bad in Willamette Valley. I would not have moved here if I had known about the consistent particulate pollution. Also, I came from California. I didn't really have any issues until all of the extreme prolonged years of wildfires. That's when I noticed things started to go downhill and have worsened since I moved up here.

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u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Where are you thinking of moving too? This is really similar to what I experience. It’s so sad to go from the depths of winter where the sun goes away and once it starts coming back, I can’t breathe outside lol

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u/frog_rat 9d ago

Honestly, I'm not sure where exactly because I would also need to be able to move somewhere that I can work and support myself. But being on the coast or living at higher elevations where you have less stagnant air and lower pollutant concentration is best. It is going to take a lot of planning. And also I'm really sorry that you are experiencing this too. I don't think many people realize how debilitating allergies and asthma can be. I hope we both figure it out.

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u/ethiothienine 9d ago

This is where I’m at too, I want to get allergy tested again (I can’t find the records from when I was 7) and then find regions where the pollens I’m the most allergic to are relatively low. Best of luck to you too, this shit sucks.

3

u/hew14375 8d ago

Allergies were debilitating in season. After over-the-counter stuff didn’t work I saw an allergist and began immunotherapy. The shots cleared up the allergies and after a few years I no longer needed them.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

When did you start getting the shots? Was there a long waitlist for them? I’m so glad they worked for you.

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u/hew14375 6d ago

I apologize for my delayed response. I started shots during peak allergy season (May-Jun) 1995 and took them for four years. The shots worked almost immediately. After several years I restarted shots for another 3-4 year series and I am again allergy free. It has been pretty amazing actually. I was in my 40s when I first had an allergies reaction.

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u/vanhaanen 8d ago

Eugene is Track Town and Allergy Town lol. Grew up in and this was before Allegra etc. I cannot express the pure misery I experienced from May to July.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

Did Allegra make a noticeable difference for you? I moved back here in July, was born here, and I feel like I’m preparing for war and it’s not even spring yet.

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u/vanhaanen 8d ago

Most of the modern drugs work. And yes Allegra basically made grass season tolerable

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u/Birdsonme 8d ago

I’ve lived all over the country and never had seasonal allergies, ever, until I lived here for a few years. Now, during grass and tree blooming seasons, I’m a daily allergy medication person. It’s AWFUL. I hope when I someday leave this place my allergies stay here, but maybe they’re just a part of me now?

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

This is what I’m trying to figure out too lol, am I cursed anywhere in this nation or will I find a haven that lets me breathe once the sun comes back from the depths of winter. I know I need to see a specialist but idk how knowledgeable they’d be about pollen levels in other places too.

2

u/bksi 8d ago

Allergies get worse the older you get. The more you're triggered, the more you're trigger-able.

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

oh no 😭

3

u/myimpendinganeurysm 8d ago

It depends on what you're allergic to! My most extreme allergy is to ragweed pollen, which doesn't grow in the valley, so my allergies are much less severe here than nearly anywhere else in the nation. YMMV.

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u/a-pouch-of-possums 9d ago

Same as before. Guess I’m lucky.

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u/ethiothienine 9d ago

jealous of that and even more jealous of your pouch of possums

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u/Lopsided-Example3779 9d ago

Moved here from Boise, ID. The Russian olive in the foothills usually triggered my allergies pretty badly back home but it was bearable for the most part. Allergy season in Eugene is a whole other monster lol. I’ve been here for 4 years now and I dread allergy season. I also feel like I wake up stuffy here almost everyday, all year round.

2

u/savagelionwolf 9d ago

Not good, never know when my allergies are gonna kick in.

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u/Purple_Penguin73 9d ago

I’m from western New York. Growing up I’d feel like I was hit by a bus from August to October: red eyes, puffy face, sneezing and runny nose. Basically felt like I had a head cold for three straight months. Since moving to Eugene, my symptoms don’t get as severe (mild runny nose and sneezing) but I deal with it from about April til October now.

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u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Wtf was blooming from August to October??

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u/Purple_Penguin73 9d ago

Ragweed. I’ve noticed the pollen levels for ragweed in Eugene aren’t nearly as high as they were in Buffalo. But now I have tree and grass issues that I didn’t before which is why my symptoms start sooner now.

ETA: Trees then grass and lastly weeds are the order for allergies. Depending on where you are in the country is when the season starts but the order is the same, some areas also overlap more than others.

1

u/ethiothienine 9d ago

Ohhh, that’s really helpful to know, thank you! I’m glad your allergies here are more mild.

2

u/AltruisticFlounder33 8d ago

Moved from Georgia and they’re 10x better here. But I am more allergic to their pine and ragweed that put me in the hospital yearly with bronchitis. I feel like I can breathe here.

2

u/firephly 8d ago edited 7d ago

something about the brutal cold MN winters made me constantly sniffly and sneezy (the dry air irritated my sinuses), it's better now

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u/WillJongIll 8d ago

One more voice in the crowd: brutal.

2

u/RiceAndMilkBoi 8d ago

Originally from California - no allergies. Moved to Portland - no allergies. After 3 years of being in Eugene they started and every year it gets worse. I've now been here 8 years and now my eyes dry out so bad I have to keep eye drops around or I can't see. 🤷🏽

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

The difference between Portland and Eugene is wild to me, it’s not even that far away. That’s where I was for the last 10 years. I was born in Eugene, but I didn’t realize how much better Portland was for my allergies until this summer. I’m sorry it’s just getting worse though, that sucks

2

u/Chardonne 8d ago

I’ve never had many allergies myself, but my son did when he was young—wheat, soy, corn, pollen, dust, grass, maybe some others, I forget. I took him to Dr. Keim at Tracy & Keim Chiropractic because he did muscle testing for allergies. Then he asked (after he’d identified a bunch) if I’d like them cured. What? I didn’t even know that was possible. It was pretty woo-woo—some talking and tapping his spine—but the allergies vanished. I was only allergic to mosquito bites, so I asked to have those cured, and I no longer swell up like a golf ball from each bite.

I can’t swear it would work for anyone else, but it felt like a miracle to me. My kid went from not being able to hear (he’d get fluid buildup in his ears) or eat anything to just a normal childhood. I am still grateful!

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

What did they use to tap his spine? Like, externally?

1

u/Chardonne 8d ago

Externally. He just used his hand! I cannot explain why it worked. But I can’t argue with the results. Kid is 30 now and still allergy-free.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

That’s cool af, I’m so glad he felt better and got to have a normal childhood

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u/_Taylor___ 8d ago

Shit terrible. Yet here I am. It took a few years for them to develop. Moved from Nor Cal and has never had allergies. Now I get pollen in the spring and summer. Then mold and God knows what else in the autumn and winter. I take zyrtec, Flonase and still sneeze, itchy watery eyes. I feel like I've actually developed more allergies, like cats and such too.

2

u/daricedesigns 8d ago

We moved here from Chicago, I live in Springfield never had any allergies except for cottonwood now I have grass and tree and take Allegra almost all yr round

2

u/tedshreddon 8d ago

They’re bad but manageable. My first year I didn’t realize what I was coming into and I got slammed with the grass pollen. Now it’s not so bad as I do nasal steroids and eye drops to relieve itchiness. On bad days, I’ll take a antihistamine that’s only about three months out of the year at most.

2

u/Shot-Abroad2718 8d ago

Born and raised in WA until 2009 when we moved to Junction City. My allergies were so bad I needed Flonase and Sudafed every single year. These last few years I’m good with a Claritin. My partner (lived in IL until 2016) gets them so bad she’s considered allergy shots. I don’t know anyone who’s moved or visited here and didn’t need to pick up something.

2

u/Crispy_Biscuit 8d ago

Try having some local raw honey! I had some awful allergies when I first moved to the valley, But I Heard somewhere if you have local honey, it can really help you adjust to the pollen. I bought some at the farmers market and a week later my allergies were pretty much gone. Give it a try!

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u/ashplo 8d ago

im from boise idaho, never had allergies of any kind a day in my life. ive been in oregon for 5 years, specifically eugene for 2. in the past year or two ive developed allergies so bad i take benadryl like its candy every damn day 🫠. also have tissues in every single space i spend any time in. i think its definitely this area in particular because i dont remember struggling like this at all for the three years i lived in southern oregon. its hell!! 😭

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

have you seen the hat man

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

That’s a lot of Benadryl

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u/ashplo 8d ago

thankfully no lmao it doesnt make me sleepy or loopy at all, and im only taking it once MAYBE twice a day. so maybe not like candy bc im in no way overdosing but it is like a daily vitamin atp

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

I had to ask. Always been curious about him. It’s wild that you don’t have any of the sedating effects though, I’ve never heard of that happening. I remember going to Boise and the air just felt nice there.

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u/ashplo 8d ago

im curious about him too, i feel like he’s gotta be juking me. the boise air is nice but last time i visited for like a week it wasnt enough to cure my eugene allergies and i was still miserable lol

2

u/Tevatanlines 8d ago

While I personally have zero allergies, others in my household were hit by a truck when it came to allergies when we moved here. I’m talking eyes so puffy during peak grass-pollen that they almost swelled shut. We keep bottles of Zyrtec and benedryl by the front door for guests. It was never like this where we grew up (Utah.)

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u/Rune_nic 8d ago

Great. Way better than where I was born.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

Where did you come from?? And do you know what it was that you were allergic to where you were born? I’m glad it’s better now

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u/Rune_nic 8d ago

South Texas. Any time I go back its nonstop sneezing from the time I get in to the time I leave.

I had an allergy test done as a kid and I was allergic to a lot of what they tested for, unsure exactly what all of it was though. 😅

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

same issue, i was so young when they tested. all i remember is birch bc it swelled up bad lol
this thread has given me a completely new perspective on texas, i had no idea that it was bad there.

2

u/pizzatoucher 8d ago

SO BAD. Moved here from Colorado, grew up in the Midwest. I thought I had allergies as a child, like I'd get my little seasonal hay fever and was prone to sinus infections when the seasons changed.

In my adult life in CO, nada. No allergies whatsoever. Sometimes my nose would get a lil dry/cracked.

Moved here 3 years ago and unless I am standing on the beach at the coast, I have not taken a non-sniffly breath since moving here. Omfg it's like the innards of my face just swelled shut and then started pouring snot down my throat. My eyes, watery. My throat, I'm probably clearing it as you read this.

(and nothing works)

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

you have a way with words. never change.

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u/bksi 8d ago edited 8d ago

Different. Moved from Austin, had 9 month mold allergies along with 3 month "cedar fever." Nothing helped (no allergy shots or nasal spray). Only relief were the really cold months. I could breathe but had headaches almost 24/7.

Now it's allergies year 'round, not quite as severe except during Grass-Seed-Capital-of-the-World-pollen-season. Still get headaches but the nasal spray helps most of the time; stuffy all the time. There is so much plant matter here and the wildfires and woodsmoke do not help.

Edited to add, best place I lived with no allergies was Santa Fe, NM.

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

So many people are from Austin and y’all truly sound like war veterans with your trees, it’s wild that almost nothing works to cut it. I’m glad it’s more manageable here with the drugs.

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u/poisonApple6782 8d ago

I never knew I had allergies until I moved here

2

u/Ordinary_Reference_8 8d ago

My #1 allergen is grass little did I know this is the grass capital! Each year my reaction has decreased and after 6 years I don’t have many issues outside of needing an allergy pill for a month or two during grass season. I used to take an allergy pill daily where I lived previously so this is actually much better.

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u/cedar212 8d ago

I might be wrong but it's the pollen capital of the USA. BUT I'll take it.

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

I’m really curious about this one, bc when I initially looked for sources about “worst places for pollen”, a lot of other states were listed but no Oregon in sight. For grass, it makes sense, given The Industry, but the trees seem mean as well. I was born here and always thought it was the pollen capital based on traveling, but now I’m not so sure 😭

2

u/AdSilver3605 8d ago

I moved from the Midwest to Portland and then to here and honestly my allergies are the best here of anywhere. Minimal ragweed, the same amount of hazelnut pollen as the part of Portland I lived in (Hazelwood). Whatever pollutant in Portland bugs me isn't here. We don't have the varieties of stinging insects I am allergic to.

1

u/ethiothienine 8d ago

can i ask what part of the midwest?

1

u/AdSilver3605 8d ago

The places in Ohio and Chicago area.

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u/ethiothienine 7d ago

I hadn’t seen much of Illinois mentioned, that’s really helpful to know, thank you!

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u/Shadowstar65 8d ago

I moved from Florence 8 years ago and I always thought people were lying about their allergies. Nope. They hit me like a brick. I do my best to avoid being outside and run the air purifier 24/7

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u/Bicycle_the_Earth 7d ago

Moved from Seattle area January 2020. Never had allergies before moving here and now I get debilitating allergy symptoms every spring/early summer. It has gotten worse, if anything.

1

u/ethiothienine 7d ago

I love how easy it is to breathe in Seattle 😭

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u/CleanCubexo 8d ago

Our wonderful wilamette valley has some of the highest pollen counts in the nation from what I’ve heard. My allergies are way worse than they were in cali, but you get used to it

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u/ethiothienine 8d ago

I’m still getting used to it and I was born here. I’m weak. I’ve been trying to find good sources about regional pollen levels/season, bc I’ve always heard the same thing but I don’t see Eugene on the lists that I’ve found. I’ve seen some news articles but nothing that’s tracked duration of severity over years, as opposed to a recent report that was notable.

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u/MrsSherm 8d ago

My allergies living in Western WA were like 2/10. Eugene is 100/10.

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u/Accomplished_Way6723 8d ago

Mine have disappeared!

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u/NovelInjury3909 8d ago

I had some intermittent, slightly annoying Springtime allergies when I lived in California. Now, when the grass pollen kicks off, even with a mask on I’m sniffling and sneezing for weeks! Idk how anybody can stand the fluff floating around lol

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u/Affectionate-Goat218 7d ago

The natives called the Willamette the Valley of Sickness for this reason. A ton of flowering stuff as well as major grass seed companies like Scott's grow in the Willamette. All that pollen blows down the valley and we're at the end. My daughter hasn't been able to go outside for months. This winter is worse than the spring for me.

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u/ethiothienine 7d ago

Do you know what’s blooming in the winter that’s bad for you? This is the only winter where I’ve had allergies in my human lifetime. Also, there’s actually a chance that they may not have called it that! I’ve heard that story since i was born, but thought to fact check myself before sharing the story with a British friend bc he was ruthless if i was wrong lol, and it turns out it may be local legend/urban myth.

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u/Affectionate-Goat218 6d ago

Thank you, I stand corrected and informed! I was working from the viewpoint of the valley's topography and how it was possible for pollens and particulate matter to just blow South for ages and how the addition of agriculture made thing worse. I've had many here repeat this misnomer, some lifelong Eugenians at that, and I agree with the author that this version is an glaring omission about the negative impact on the native Kalapuya. Thanks for saying.

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u/ethiothienine 6d ago

You’re 100% right about the topography, it really does just blow in and then sits on top of us like a cloud 😭

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u/Plenty_Kangaroo3797 6d ago

I just moved here from San Diego. I have been really suffering since the season changed from summer to fall. Trouble breathing and any cold turning into pneumonia. I already would take a daily allergy pill and nasal steroid spray. Now I do those, along with emergency inhaler, montelueke (spelling), and double dose of long-term steroids inhaler (wixela). I am able to breath now, but really concerned that I might have to move.

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u/User013579 5d ago

Awful! Practically all year.

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u/Bassnerdarrow 5d ago

Over the years I have developed a regiment of allergy treatment that works. For me its grass allergies and its usually the eyes.

I invest in the allergy eye drops Pataday - Think about buying this now rather than March when the shelves go empty.

Then I usually rotate two different types of allergy meds, but I never stick with the same kind because they seem to lose effectiveness when I stick with the same type.

I then use a basic wet saline spray for my nose (not the medicated) just regular saline.

It works.