Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Getting My Blog Back On

Forgive me for not having blogged in so long. Out of nowhere, I have come down with allergies, so I sneezed my head off for about a week and a half, then started to feel better. Today, I'm back to tell you what I learned during my stuffy nosedness...

Kleenex is not the only tissue in town.
For my entire life, I have only used Kleenex brand tissues. I'm not really sure why, but I've never had a reason to look elsewhere for my tissue needs. Until these allergies hit. Yes, dear readers, I have learned how badly tissue can truly rip up one's nose. My nose started peeling after only one day of sniffling and sneezing. Redness, soreness, chapping, chafing, flaking, even mild scabbing. For the first time in my life, I felt what it might be like to be Michael Jackson-- I practically needed tape to keep my nose on my face. After going through a whole box of Kleenex, I asked my husband to get me the kind that has lotion in it, in hopes it would feel better on my nose. He came home with Puffs Plus. My nose took to it, and immediately felt better. At last, it didn't sting to wipe my nose. Yay!

Sometimes It Takes a Foot Product
My nose was obviously in very bad shape, and very uncomfortable in its dryness. I tried all sorts of creams and salves to restore some moisture and get rid of the dry skin that was flaking off by the minute, but NOTHING helped. Finally, I put some real thought into it, and realized I needed something that would exfoliate (without scrubbing-- ouch) AND moisturize well. It dawned on me that I had just the thing-- Kerasal Foot Exfoliating Moisturizer. Now, I knew full well that this heavy-duty stuff has petrolatum in it, which I don't like to put on my face, but I was out of options, and I knew that the 5% Salicylic Acid in it would probably exfoliate better than anything else I would find. Well, presto-change-o. It not only helped-- it FIXED MY NOSE IMMEDIATELY! Poof-- dry flakes were gone. Dryness, done. My nose was returned to normal. So if your nose ever needs it, get yourself to the foot care aisle of the drugstore and find relief.

What Works For My Husband MIGHT Work For Me
For the first week of my Allergy Hell, no medicine worked. I tried several-- Alavert, Tylenol Allergy, Sudafed, Zyrtec, but nothing helped stop the sneezing at all. Finally, on the eighth day, when I was at my very worst (on a Sunday, of course), I asked my husband to go to CVS and "please find me something to try." And the most remarkable words came out of his mouth! He said, "well, Claritin has always worked best for me." I couldn't believe it! Here, I had been at the mercy of my nose and everything related to it for seven miserable days and nights, totally new to the whole World Of Allergies, when, all the while, he actually had some experience with allergies, and had an idea of something that might even help me with mine! The words "NOW you tell me..." were said, in some tone or another, I am sure. But off he went, and came back with the most wonderful drug ever-- Claritin-D Allergy & Congestion. It changed EVERYTHING, and I've been taking it every day since. So THANK YOU, dear, sweet husband, for sharing that kernel of wisdom with me... even if it was eight days into it, it was appreciated. (Alas, men will be boys...)

So those are my lessons learned. Hope it may be helpful to anyone needing some cold/allergy-related relief. My next blog will surely be more interesting...

Until then,
Kimmy

4 comments:

S said...

I had a cold for about 12 days, got well for 3 days and then relapsed. I really wish I had bought Puffs instead of the harsh Kleenex. Glad to know the Claritin is working for you!

Anonymous said...

I have to say that puffs was my brand of choice when I had allergies, loved them-Fanny

Allie said...

so here's another use for my if not favorite damn close to favorite multi-takser. when the allergies/cold/whatever is really bad - use the unscented/no dye/no nothing baby wipes for a kleenex.

no tearing up of the noseular area.
and will take eye makeup off in a pinch - and will clean makeup brushes as you go along - and will wipe off the counter top - and - and - and.

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