Tis The Season for the ‘Itis

I just completed a 1700+ mile drive cross country. Most of the trip was beautiful – fall foliage in bloom – and the harvest was still underway.

The first 1200 miles were quite uneventful and relaxing. Then I stopped home briefly before going on to Oklahoma.

The next morning, I noticed a fullness in my neck, some dryness in my eyes but didn’t think anything of it. This went on to be much more than that.

The coughing and sneezing, runny nose, soreness in my otic canals (ears) and

throat, pain when attempting to sing and now very dry lips were all signals. Was I coming down with something? Yes…a reaction to the ‘stuff’ in the air – stuff that was kicked up by the harvest machinery.

You see in Pennyslyvania, we have been having rain. But Nebraska apparently didn’t get any, even with the hurricaines systems coming through. So, all that ‘stuff’ got stirred up because the ground was dry, and I was breathing it in.

What kind of stuff? How about dirt, dust, pollen, molds, dander, agribusiness chemicals and sewage! How does one combat all of that?

If I would have recognized it early, maybe the benadryl I took would have helped (I don’t have allergies per se). But now that I was in a full blown attack, the antihistamines could only STOP further reactions. However what has been released has to run their course.

I suffered from rhinitis, otitis, pharangitis, conjunctivitis and just staved off sinusitis.

So before you travel into areas that have high agricultural allergans/pollutans, consider taking a prophylactic dosage of antihistamines to help prevent or minimize acute reactions to the airborne particulate matter. Consider using a rebreather if you have a significant history of allergies or respiratory conditions. Also a negative ion generating air purifier is an excellent idea for enclosed areas.

I’m feeling much better today. However I gladly would have ‘passed’ on the refresher course. Just one ounce of preparation could have prevented the pain of the past few days.

I stand reminded.

cheryl

aka Dr. J

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