FWIW, I have had severe congestion and sneezing every morning for weeks, and my wife, who hasn't suffered allergic reactions to pollen except one time when she was a child, is now experiencing a deep chest congestion cough with no other symptoms.

She just changed jobs so it may be a reaction to a new environment...

But pollen used to not bother me at all until maybe 10 years ago, and it's just become worse since then. I suspect my wife and I are not the only allergy newbies.

Dang, SnM, feel for you and D. That deep chest wheeze is the worst of the worst. The cough is bad, the sore throat miserable, but that wheeze makes me feel like I'm about to give birth to an alien who'll burst through my ribcage any second.

I went to the extreme of having two huge pine trees cut down Sunday because I figured breathing all that yellow pollen through my open bedroom window was making me sick. On Tuesday, the ENT tells me they don't test for pine, which gets a bum rap because t's so pollen-laden, but relatively non-allergenic. Makes me feel terrible that I had those trees murdered. I still think I'm allergic to it.

My allergies seem about the same this year. I get a scratchy throat, watery eyes and runny nose every time I go out. Zyrtec helps - and Flonase REALLY helps with sinus congestion. Without it I wake up every morning super early because I can't breathe.

Allergies are definitely worse for me this spring. Have the chest congestion. Considered wearing a mask on my walks.

Allergies are horrendous this year. They started kicking my butt about two weeks ago, and it hasn't let up.

I love throwing my windows open this time of year, but I closed them, trying to keep out some of the offending pollen. All my tried and true allergy fighters aren't working for me, either, but my home-remedies have been keeping most of the congestion/sneezing/coughing at bay, thankfully.

I had a sore throat and cough several weeks ago. I thought I was getting better but now have awful sinus drainage and am coughing productively. How nice. I also never had allergies but after 30 years in Knoxville...

Several years ago I was awful sick for 3 months and the MD said it was allergies which was new to me. I then went to an allergist and started on medications. I now take Singulair (actually Montelukast, the generic) all year round. In March I add generic Zyrtec and generic Flonase. So far, knock on wood, I am not bad. If I spend much time outside I do get a persistent dry cough. I don't leave windows open at night any longer as much as I enjoyed that. Sorry you are so sick Betty.

I feel for you, Betty. I had vertigo from allergies several years ago. Not fun. Hope you get better and avoid vertigo.

Although I do endeavor to ingest locally produced honey regularly and bee pollen sporadically, I suspect my apparent immunity to pollen is genetic in nature. I generally have to see the green/yellow coating on cars and patio furniture to even think about it.

A friend recommended this for my severe seasonal allergies and I was skeptical, but it really works for me. It's a natural herbal remedy, safe for children and adults.

(link...)

don't recall this ever happening before