Spring (a.k.a. allergy season) 2014 in Cape Town

[konfab]

I get bad (as in mouth-breathing) for the first few weeks of spring, then I slowly adapt. The thing that helps me the most is a run on the beach.

 

[StrontiumDog]

I get bad (as in mouth-breathing) for the first few weeks of spring, then I slowly adapt. The thing that helps me the most is a run on the beach.

I don't think you're adapting so much as the pollen count reduces...

 

[StrontiumDog]

This site is cool, looks like they do weekly sampling. Because it rained this morning, at some point during the night I could actually breathe OK. Bring on the rain please

http://www.pollensa.co.za/
Very high grass and fungal spore levels

During the past sampling week, rain occurred, providing ideal conditions for the proliferation of fungal spores. The warm, moist atmosphere favoured increases in fungal growth and Alternaria levels were very high (>200 spores/ cubic metre. Grass counts were high at both sites on days without rain. Rust spores increased. Tree pollen levels declined at both sites and weed pollen levels were consistently low.

High Grass pollen Counts

Grass pollen levels are now high at both sites on days without rain. The mean count is lower (moderate) at the Observatory site, but during the past sampling week grasses reached counts of up to 177 grains/cubic metre air. Tree pollen levels are decreasing, but pine, gum, olive cypress, Rhus (Karreeboom) and plane pollen grains are still present in low quantities. Weed pollen fungal spores are low. Spikes for Alternaria and Cladosporium were recorded after rain.

Grass Levels

Grasses are now pollinating in full force and grass pollen levels were consistently high in Table View. Intermittent rain washes pollen grains from the air, so this should afford hay fever sufferers some relief. Tree pollen is abating, but occasional moderate counts are still being recorded for olive, pine, oak, plane and gum trees. Weed pollen levels are low. High counts for Alternaria, an allergenic fungal spore were recorded at the Observatory (inland) site.

Grass pollen levels

The grass season is in full swing and moderate to high counts are being seen at both sites on days without rain. The tree season is waning but low levels of cypress, oak, olive, plane, pine and gum are still present in the atmosphere. Weed pollen levels are low. The total fungal spore level has decreased, but high levels are being measured for Alternaria, an allergenic fungal spore.

Tree and grass seasons overlap

The tree pollen season is waning, but moderate levels for plane, pine, cypress and gum were recorded during this sampling period. Grass pollen levels were higher on days without rain and weed pollen levels were consistently low. The fungal spore loads are heavier and Alternaria and Cladosporium levels increased during this sampling period.

Spring rain in the Cape helps allergy sufferers

The recent rain in Cape Town has scrubbed airborne pollen and fungal spores from the atmosphere, but it must be noted that as soon as the sun has dried pollinating grasses and trees, the pollen count will increase rapidly. Fungal spore levels will also increase following rain as many fungi prefer warm, moist conditions.

Oak, plane pollen counts in Cape Town

Oak and plane trees are now pollinating in earnest and pollen counts are moderate to high in inland areas. Other tree pollen in the atmosphere includes cypress, gum, olive, pine and willow. Grass pollen levels are low, bu approaching the significant threshold. Weed levels are low, but weed pollen (Fat hen, daisy) is evident at the coastal site. Fungal spore levels increase sharply after rain as ascospore levels rise on sunny days.

This website is currently being altered. Please be patient while this is being carried out. Spring pollination is under way as the trees move into their annual pollination cycle. Flowering trees include:- cypress, pine, olive, fig, mulberry, gum and poplar.

Cape Town Aerospora

The low temperatures and heavy rains that have fallen during this sampling period have depressed both the pollen and fungal spore levels. Early spring pollen taxa (cypress, olive and pine) that was appearing in the atmosphere has disappeared. Similarly, fungal spore levels have declined in response to temperatures that have fallen below their optimum range.

Snow on Cape mountains

The prolonged cold weather has depressed all pollen and fungal spore levels at both sites, with the exception of ascospores at Table View and Moraceae at the same site. It is clear that tree pollen is set to increase as soon as temperatures rise.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Damn, I should have gotten the cortisone shot beginning of October. Would have saved myself a lot of grief! I see the data varies though, in 2012 October was the only bad month. In 2010, Oct, Nov and Dec were moderately bad.

http://www.pollensa.co.za/index.php/pollen-sampling-data/

 

[StrontiumDog]

Do I carry on taking the fexofast daily after the cortisone injection?

 

[Grant]

I am living on a diet of Allergex here in Joburg.

only thing that works for me is celestamine, which i believe is cortisone based.
although 2 tabs 4 hrs apart is all it takes.
seems a little toxic tho.

Indications:
Treatment of difficult cases of respiratory, dermatologic and ocular allergies, as well as ocular inflammatory disorders, where adjunctive systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated.

Mechanism of Action:
Celestamine is a combination of the corticosteroid betamethasone (synthetic derivative of prednisolone) and the antihistamine dexchlorpheniramine maleate with anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Didn't take any fexofast the past 24 hours. I could breathe find with just the odd sneeze or so. A tonne of mucous production though So quite a lot of congestion in my chest from that

 

[padjakkels]

I have asthma, and the doctor prescribed flonase (nose spray) for me that i use every morning. No hayfever, no sinus, nothing.

Last month i forgot to go renew it, went for about 3 days without it, thought i was going to die from sneezing and hayfewer.

Nexomist (nose spray) does the same to prevent everything.

 

[Picard]

I use Otrovin.

Went through about 8 bottles already. I go to a new pharmacy every time to NOT being cautioned that this spray is destroying my tolerance for pharmaceuticals.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Since getting the cortisone shot, I've not taken any Fexofast except for the one evening when I went out (as a preventative measure). Not sneezing at all, nor do I have itchy eyes. What does continue to be a problem is that I am a mucous machine The mucous is just oozing out of me, it's ridiculous . Not sure what to do now It's very disruptive, at work especially.

 

[Picard]

Since getting the cortisone shot, I've not taken any Fexofast except for the one evening when I went out (as a preventative measure). Not sneezing at all, nor do I have itchy eyes. What does continue to be a problem is that I am a mucous machine The mucous is just oozing out of me, it's ridiculous . Not sure what to do now It's very disruptive, at work especially.

So you have a wet nose like a strontium dog.

 

[StrontiumDog]

So you have a wet nose like a strontium dog.

At times yes. Today was the first day I didn't have to blow my nose at work, a miracle if you ask me Everyday though I end up with a sinus headache, come evening time .

 

[StrontiumDog]

Right, so as of Thursday, when I run or do anything jarring to my body I get pain in my left lower molar.
TL;DR: Teeth grinding while I sleep is aggravating the nerves connected to my already irritated sinuses. Self diagnosis based on the below:

http://www.justanswer.com/dental/0vlyd-dont-tooth-pain-except-when-walk-run.html
Expert: Mark Bornfeld, DDS replied 7 years ago.
DearCustomer

Your description indicating that movement or vibration of the head provokes tooth pain actually is more suggestive of a sinus infection than a dental infection. If you have had sinus infections in the past, or have had either a recent respiratory allergy or upper respiratory infection, this would be further evidence of sinus infection.

In distinction, dental infections usually manifest with pain when some kind of stimulus, such as exposure of the teeth to biting pressure or hot or cold foods provokes tooth pain. What can sometimes confuse the issue is that sinus pain can sometimes be provoked by biting pressure, since the roots of the upper molar teeth are often situated near or in the sinus. Confusing sinus and dental pain is quite common, since they are often perceived as coming from the same location; upper teeth and sinuses share a common sensory nerve pathway.

If your pain is not provoked by either biting pressure or hot/cold foods, it is therefore more likely due to sinus infection. If the symptoms don't resolve within a few days or get particularly severe, you're probably better off visiting your medical doctor rather than your dentist. In the meantime, you might consider using over the counter products such as pain or sinus medications (e.g., acetaminophen, decongestant) for symptomatic relief. If no improvement seems to be forthcoming, then you should visit your doctor.

Hope this helps...

 

[StrontiumDog]

Started with the odd sneeze this past weekend. More sneezing yesterday and itchy eyes. Cortisone shot seems to have pretty much worn off now. So it lasted like a grand total of 11 days At least the excessive mucous reduced as the shot started to wear off.

 

[phoneJunky]

I am on sinus medication my whole stay in Cape Town, but in Joburg I don't even have a medicine cabinet. But I thought the pollen count is higher up here? What are people really allergic to in Cape Town and the rest of the Western Cape?

 

[Grant]

Since getting the cortisone shot, I've not taken any Fexofast except for the one evening when I went out (as a preventative measure). Not sneezing at all, nor do I have itchy eyes. What does continue to be a problem is that I am a mucous machine The mucous is just oozing out of me, it's ridiculous . Not sure what to do now It's very disruptive, at work especially.

maybe find out about trying a few celestamine tabs. (post #26)

with the season change i usually get a snotty nose,sneeze like a lunatic (ie snot factory) & my eyes itch & water like crazy.
celestamine starts drying everything up within 30 mins or so of the 1st tablet, often dont need a second tab.


i have never needed to use them continually long term, just on an "as needed" basis.
a box of 30 lasts me 2yrs +

 

[StrontiumDog]

Thanks grantza. Today is a good day with the overcast weather. No sneezing or mucous production; just some post nasal drip irritation.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Thread necro, anyone else in Cape Town suffering this past weekend? Right now I have a massive sinus headache building up, something set off my allergies today big time :/

 

[Datura]

I mowed the lawn yesterday afternoon and am suffering terribly since last night. Sneezing constantly and my nose won't stop running. I have never suffered from this before. Man it's horrible

 

[Beachless]

Not in cape town but the cold weather\rain really stuffed up my sinuses the last week or so. Hopefully the rainy season is here now though so it can start getting better.