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04-13-2008, 11:43 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 823
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Allergies and altitude - Help please!
Hi, I recognize this question is a little offbeat but my 40 hours are done and I'd like to take the 9A for a long trip. The problem is allergies and the Tucson spring. I refuse to fly while taking antihistamines which dull your senses.
Does anyone have any information about the affects of pollen and such once you're at 8500 feet or higher? In other words, will the allergy get worse or better once we're at altitude?
I'd love to take a trip but I'm NOT about to break my new toy.
Thanks.
Barry
Tucson
Last edited by MrNomad : 04-13-2008 at 11:43 AM.
Reason: spelling
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04-13-2008, 12:26 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 1,207
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Allergies
My experience has been the clear air at altitude clears my head. BUT, if you have any sinus pressure from your allergies, stay out of the air. Altitude will make you feel like your head is going to explode. (Don't ask me how I know.) 
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04-13-2008, 12:37 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Phoenix, Az
Posts: 920
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I took a flying job in Kansas back in the 70's and found I had an allergy to something that was growing in the local area. Driving into town my eyes were watering so bad I could hardly drive the car. But when I was flying, I had absolutely no symptoms above about a 1000 feet. When I landed, it would start again. Lasted all summer.
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04-13-2008, 12:40 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 99
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This freakin' wind in Tucson today doesn't help the allergy situation any but, I suspect that the farther you get from the source of the pollen, dust, mold etc that triggers your allergies the lower the concenration of those allergens and the less severe your hayfever will be. I.e. since the pollen etc originate near the surface the higher you go the less of it you will encounter. Just a guess.
That said, my experience has been that the real problem is the congestion that goes along with the allergies making a trip to higher altitudes uncomfortable or even painful. My goal generally is to relieve the congestion; not the allergy. So, I don't take anti-histamines (like Benadryl which is also used as an over the counter sleeping aid  ). I take a decongestant like Sudafed which is non-drowsy.
- YMMV.
- Be careful taking these things if you have high blood pressure.
- I'd also suggest trying it on the ground a few times before you go flying with it.
- This post should not be construed as medical advice. When in doubt check with your doctor.
__________________
Jim McChesney
Tucson, AZ
-7A Finishing Kit
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04-13-2008, 12:52 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Mesa Arizona
Posts: 608
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I live not too far from Tucson and can appreciate the misery. I fly for a living and use Allegra D and it does the job for me, with no side effects. It is on the FAA approved list.
I find that flying improves my allergy symptom.
Also, a wise old AME once told me to always carry one of those decongestant nasal sprays in my flight bag, not to use regularly, but to have just in case you get a sinus block while flying and your head starts to cave in on descent. It has saved my bacon a couple of times.
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Myron Nelson
Mesa, AZ
RV-10 N24EV
KITPLANES Contributing Editor
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04-13-2008, 01:18 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrNomad
but my 40 hours are done and I'd like to take the 9A for a long trip.
Thanks. Barry
Tucson
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So, I guess I am the only one to notice you have achieved freedom
I agree with the decongestant not antihistamine comments, FWIW.
Enjoy your new found freedom.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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04-13-2008, 01:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Estacada, OR
Posts: 787
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Claritin, Allegra and Singulair are all non-drowsy inducing.
Any with the suffix "D" also have Sudafed which is a stimulant and may also dry out your system. For me, Sudafed does no good and has adverse side effects.
Problem with meds may be that once you get to altitude your nasal passages may get too dry.
You can wear a pollen mask for an hour or 2 before flying. May look funny, but it filters out the allergens & lets your head clear. Then when you get to altitude, you will be above the junk and are good until you land again. We have lots of pollen in western Oregon & I have seen several people wearing a pollen mask while mowing grass.
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Richard Scott
RV-9A Fuselage
1941 Interstate Cadet
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04-13-2008, 01:37 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 1,849
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woxofswa
I live not too far from Tucson and can appreciate the misery. I fly for a living and use Allegra D and it does the job for me, with no side effects. It is on the FAA approved list.
I find that flying improves my allergy symptom.
Also, a wise old AME once told me to always carry one of those decongestant nasal sprays in my flight bag, not to use regularly, but to have just in case you get a sinus block while flying and your head starts to cave in on descent. It has saved my bacon a couple of times.
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I use Allegra-D also. I couldn't survive the Savannah Pollen Fest without it.
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Todd
N110TD
RV-10 Vesta V8 LS2/BMA EFIS/One formerly flying at 3J1 Hobbs stopped at 150 hours
Savannah, GA and Ridgeland, SC
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04-13-2008, 01:57 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MI
Posts: 59
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Astelin is not FAA approved,if you are a member of AOPA there is a tool to search all the drugs to find out what is approved and what is not,
I just go get shots every week 
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RV-8
flying
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04-13-2008, 02:55 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dallas, TX (ADS)
Posts: 2,180
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Air is drier at altitude - this will affect you if you have sinus / allergy problems. Sudafed helps.
In general, you won't have the same pollen / allergan / dust problems you do at the surface - the air is cleaner, but by no means "clean" unless you're somewhere off the Washington coast. The NW corner of Washington is where we get the cleanest air in the US - that's why we sample there to get nice backgrounds.
TODR
__________________
Doug "The Other Doug Reeves" Reeves
CTSW N621CT - SOLD but not forgotten
Home Bases LBX, BZN
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