Tree pollen and other spring dust-allergens
 

The spring is always tough do to allergy issues. he tree pollen has been bad lately . I get that irritate throat and if not careful can even get a throat infection because it gets so raw and susceptible do to the allergic reaction.

I fear cutting the lawn as I know the next day or two I'll be miserable.

This happens every year! I used to just use antihistamines and Psuedofed but now the psuedofed is out since it can trigger the A Fib and I find without the decongestant part the antihistamines don't work half as well.

This will go on for a month or more now. Sometimes through July. What a curse just when the nice weather moves in.

It just keeps getting worse and worse, year after year.
It's almost like nature is scheming (almost "evolving") to lengthen the pollen season and produce more potent allergic reaction from humans.
Now we need to take MULTIPLE medications to deal with the allergies which then causes a wide array of side effects, which causes us to have to take MORE medications......Where will it all end?????

I used to wear an N95 mask when mowing the lawn. Pretty much the only way I could take care of it and not hate life for the two days following. Now I don't have a lawn so less to worry about there.

I've been considering wearing a HEPA type mask but in the hot sun/hot temps with the mask on I am worried it will be very uncomfortable.

Flew into Logan today up from Philadelphia and I could see the pollen swirls in the ocean and harbor. Crazy to see from the air.
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The N95 masks are lighter, but certainly not nearly as effective. It'll be uncomfortable for the hour or two that you're mowing the lawn but at least you won't be completely miserable for the two days following.

all ya need is an Old T-shirt wrapped around your face
the short sleaves make the knot
which gives you Two layers of filtration then twist the bottom and tuck it
into your shirt... years of finish work, sanding sheet rock on ceilings
and walls and i tried all the different ones and always went back to a T-shirt
as they are the most comfortable to wear and do a good enough job.

Honey helps throats and as i said in the "other" pollen thread Bee pollen
called BEE BREAD by bee keepers having every single vitamin and mineral is a good way to desensitize you to air blown pollen

Mike, try a dust mask that has the exit valve thingy and 2 rubber band straps.
they are not as hot on you , it's the only kind I wear now, can't work without them. They are a bit pricey but well worth it. If you don't wear a mask, you will get the irritated throat mowing the lawn. It doesn't have to be a HEPA filter mask.

have you tried taking Zyrtec? it works pretty well for me

would wetting the tee shirt help it filter/catch more pollen?

(only time a wet tee shirt wasn't part of a good night!)

:)
the only place it would help is where breathing occurred as it would help
take up some of the space between fibers but on the flip side it would make it tougher to breath..

i usually save my oldest most softest T-shirts for this task...the ones that have seen 50-100 washes and have shrunk to small anyways.

the smaller hospital style masks have fastly improved in design and quality so i would recommend using them backed up by a T-shirt
to cover the edges of those cheap masks.... which i think work good but are not perfect

it makes a big difference however if you have a full beard or are clean shaven as to what feels the best on your face.


it looks like we are nearing the END of the major pollen bloom .........at least in my neck of the woods.

Wishing I read Raven's post before trimming the shrubs today. I was amazed at the amount of pollen billowing from those bushes.

This sounds convoluted but really - it only adds 10 mins to the job - max.
If you are using a bagging mower: Wash the bag with a power washer, or strong hose before starting.
Wet the outside of bag slightly before mowing.
Cut the grass just before it is completely dry in the morning. Not wet enough to clog, not dry enough to expel a lot of particulates. 10:00 a.m. or so.
Start in the middle cut toward the edges, but don't cut the last outer edge.
(Much more pollen collects along the tar and concrete edges.)
Position yourself up wind and dump the bag onto a blanket, don't shake it into a can with a liner or a brown bag.
If you don't composite or dump in the woods, dampen the clippings before bagging.
Dampen the outside of the bag again, and cut the outer strip in one pass, in such a way that you are upwind as much as possible.
Get up wind, hold your breath, close your eyes, turn your head away, and dump that last bag.
Change your clothes and take a shower.

good strategy....Joe

and i'll add... for some reason the slightly wetter grass seems to cut better
than if it was completely dry i've found.
It always pays to cut just before a rain.

I don't know what's different about this year but my allergies are barely bothering me.Trust me I'm not complaining but usually this time of year I'm completely miserable.

That's really interesting BassWipe... truly
i always love a mystery...

i have needed to flush out my eyes more often

I usually have to do the sinus flush 2-3 times a day.I've been working on the same gallon of distilled water since the beginning of May.

Don't forget on odd numbered days or before a waxing crescent when you hear crickets to rub a little neats foot oil on the starter cable.
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I've been doing the sinus wash when things get really bad. I'm hoping this rain washes away some of the pollen out in the air.

Btw, with the sinus wash, make sure to use purified water. Although the chance is extremely small, there's still a chance of getting an amoeba to the brain.