Allergy? Or something else

Life Health & Fitness
#1

We’ll I’ve been in Taiwan for about a week now and since I got here I’ve been getting really red and itchy eyes. Sometimes it will only be only one eye or the other and some times it’s in both. But it always almost happens at night and only some times during the day. I think it might also be because I have a fan on in my room at night blowing into my face because it’s so very hot even at night. That makes me a sad panda.

In any case, I’ve also been developing a sinus/nose infection. It feels infected in my nostrils and near my throat. I’ve also developed a runny/stuffy nose and some sneezyness.

I’m thinking about getting some OTC allergy medication. Any recommendations?

Do you think I should go see a doctor for this? Are doctors fee really high without insurance here?

Thanks for any help you can give me. :notworthy:

#2

Sounds pretty normal to me! I think most of us got sick as dogs during out first few months here. I know I did. Had all sorts of weird sinus, ear infections, stomach bugs. It’s your body adapting to a new, and pretty harsh, environment. There is more air pollution here and more people…

Seeing a dr. here should be about 500NT if you don’t have a health care card but they will give you a WHACK load of medicine. You can always just go into the pharmacy (not watson’s or cosmed) and the pharmacist can also give you something.

#3

A fan (or air-con) blowing on you at night isn’t good. Turn it away so that it still circulates the air, or switch it off completely. Else I am not surprised that you get a sinus/nose infection and it’s probably the reason you get itchy eyes (too dry), too, though it could also be caused by polution.

However it’s probably a good idea to see a ENT doc, too.

#4

101 signs that you’ve been in Taiwan too long . . . :laughing:

Alternatively, you ate ice cream in an airconditioned room while menstruating again, didn’t you!

HG

#5

many of us long term visitors/residents get sinusitis from the pollution, but not so commonly in summer. i have been getting worse and worse each winter, when there is a haze pall lying over the island for three months or so. mostly industrial pollution from China, so it smells great.

you may have an actual allergy to some kind of plant pollen or summat, instead.

in both cases a non-sedating antihistamine will help, try Clarityne or Clarinase. if they make you too sleepy, investigate the use of a steroid spray intended for asthma in kids: Becotide, Serotide, Atravent, etc. some of these may require a visit to a doc for a ticket, but you’d be surprised what you can get OTC. (as a professional, i was not just surprised but ASTOUNDED when i got here).

try and find a genuine ENT specialist operating from their own clinic rather than a general physician for nose problems… they are generally less likely to send you away with a quick look and a bag of the wrong drugs. you don’t need a referral letter from a ‘lower’ doctor to go to a specialist here…

another helpful tip is the nose wash, or neti in Indian terms. use a teapot or special squeeze bottle and saline, not water. again your ENT doc will assist you here.

Don’t sleep with the fan pointing at your face: it will wreak havoc with your eyes and may be the actual problem, by drying your mucus in your nose, your nose then reacts by making more fluid mucus, which all builds up in there, and can then be the problem in and of itself or simply help to make a nice environment for hungry bacteria to have a party. point it at your feet or whatever.

#6

101 signs that you’ve been in Taiwan too long . . . :laughing:

Alternatively, you ate ice cream in an airconditioned room while menstruating again, didn’t you!

HG[/quote]

:roflmao:

This seriously has to be filed under the “classic post” section. TOO FUNNY!! But it will be a few years yet til the OP knows just what you’re talking about and can appreciate that comment.

HA HA HA!!!

#7

101 signs that you’ve been in Taiwan too long . . . :laughing:

Alternatively, you ate ice cream in an airconditioned room while menstruating again, didn’t you!

HG[/quote]

:roflmao:

This seriously has to be filed under the “classic post” section. TOO FUNNY!! But it will be a few years yet til the OP knows just what you’re talking about and can appreciate that comment.

HA HA HA!!![/quote]
So enlighten me.

#8

101 signs that you’ve been in Taiwan too long . . . :laughing:

Alternatively, you ate ice cream in an airconditioned room while menstruating again, didn’t you!

HG[/quote]

:roflmao:

This seriously has to be filed under the “classic post” section. TOO FUNNY!! But it will be a few years yet til the OP knows just what you’re talking about and can appreciate that comment.

HA HA HA!!![/quote]
So enlighten me.[/quote]

cire1184 is the OP (original poster) na?

#9

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll try the fan thing tonite but I’m from Los Angeles and it’s a lot drier then here and I do have the fan pointed at me at night during the summer also but I do not get these kind of eye problems over there. And the eyes aren’t dry as more itchy and red and watery.

#10

Oh, ok.

(But I still want to know :wink: )

#11

did u wear contace lens ? i used to get"red eyes" like scary monster for a whole week becoz of the wind and heat .
also, if u feel itchy on your face, u might be also pay some attention to the water. i am not sure whether it is popular or not, but my fact gets red and itchy when the water contain a bit more cleansing chemicals…
last but not the least, i don’t think it is a wise idea to go to buy drugs by urself.(drugstore sucks sometimes, coz they want nothing except selling more drugs) if this kinda situation lasts a bit longer and u can’t figure it out on your own. it’s better to visit a doctor. don’t be too late when u begin to regret.

#12

[quote=“Baiely Rae”]did u wear contace lens ? i used to get"red eyes" like scary monster for a whole week becoz of the wind and heat .
also, if u feel itchy on your face, u might be also pay some attention to the water. I am not sure whether it is popular or not, but my fact gets red and itchy when the water contain a bit more cleansing chemicals…
last but not the least, I don’t think it is a wise idea to go to buy drugs by urself.(drugstore sucks sometimes, because they want nothing except selling more drugs) if this kinda situation lasts a bit longer and u can’t figure it out on your own. it’s better to visit a doctor. don’t be too late when u begin to regret.[/quote]

Nope, no contact lenses. It has gotten a bit better when I adjusted the fan. I also got some eye drops from my aunt. She says they are like Clear Eyes.