Allergies....URGH!!!

We have all had been having issues with allergies the past few weeks. However, poor Lilly has had it the worst. She takes singular pretty much year round anyway. However during this time of year they get really bad. We went to the doctor a few weeks ago because she was coughing so much at night. We added nasal spray (which she has had before) and an inhaler before bed (which she has had before). Plus, Zyrtec as well. These changes helped the cough and she seemed to be doing better. She also had some RX eye drops from before that I had been given her as needed. However, we ran out of those while the Hanavers were visiting.

This was what her eye looked like one evening after playing outside (while the Hanavers were here). I got something OTC and it seemed to be helping, but then this week after Lance's game her eye was terrible.

This was when we got home....

This was after her shower. It was actually both eyes (which is sometimes is). I decided it was time to go back and get the RX drops as they seem to help more. When she woke up the next morning it was still puffy, but it wasn't itching.

 

We went to the doctor and we spent a lot of time talking (we actually saw the NP, last time it was the doctor so we discussed the changes we made and all that). She said she would call in the drops and then started to examine her. She commented on her tonsils being large (they always ask if she snores) and said they weren't red, but large.

Then she listened to her and said she was going to give her a breathing treatment. This isn't the first time she has had to get one, but I hadn't mentioned her cough because I thougth it was part of the virus she was still getting over. Anyway, after the treatment we talked some more and she change her inhaler to a twice daily instead a before bed as needed. The difference is one is preventative and the other is more of a treatment. She felt like because her allergies are so severe and we have been down this road before (with needed the breathing treatments) that it was something to consider. The doctor and I had discussed it some at the previous appointment, but decided to go with the other for the time being. We are doing a two week trial.

Basically we should have little to no coughing and she should not need the other inhaler and should sleep through the night without coughing. This puts her on a total of 5 medicines daily (although the drops are as needed, but I give them to her if I know shes going to be outside a lot). I have very mixed feelings about this, but based on the discusssion I have had with the doctor/NP the allergist would do the same and getting testing/taking shots for environmental allergies isn't necessarily worth it. She may grow out of them and end up allergic to something different. So for the time being this is what we are trying (only on day 3) and she seems to be doing better. Fingerscrossed that this brings her some comfort and she can enjoy this wonderful spring weather we are finally having!!!