I never in my life had allergies.  Never until 2014 in Dickinson, North Dakota.  At first, I did not mind very much that my eyes became red.  A day later, I did not like it when my eyes began to water and my nose began to run.  Soon after this, I had difficulty seeing because my eyes became so swollen.

I did not know what to do, or how to treat this because I had never had allergies before.  The only thing that I knew to do was to take some Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) tablets.  The Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) probably stopped my nose from running, and it may have lessened the watering of my eyes, but it made my eyes extremely sensitive to light.  I had to wear special oversized sunglasses over top of regular sunglasses, and even then the sunlight hurt my eyes.  I looked up the side effects of Benadryl, and sometimes sensitivity to light was listed, but I doubt that most people had as much difficulty with light as I experienced.

My first allergic reaction in 2014 went away after about four days.  I just assumed my allergic reaction was caused by plant and tree pollen.  I had about two severe allergic reactions in 2014, three in 2015, and three in 2016.  Besides the severe allergic reactions being painful and embarrassing, I had great difficulty driving during the day because the sunlight was blinding to me, even wearing two pairs of sunglasses.  I was most of all worried that I might lose my job if anyone found out how much difficulty I was having with my eyesight.

I spent about eight to ten hours reading everything  I could to find out what was wrong with me, why my eyes were so affected, did anyone else experience this, what remedies and medications were there.  I learned a little bit more about allergens, immune reactions, and histamines, but not much more about remedies and medications.

In 2016 I tried Claritin (Loratadine), and it did not help very much.  In 2016 I tried Allegra (Fexofenadine) and it worked better than Benadryl, and it did not make my eyes as sensitive to light.  I had a very severe allergic reaction in early 2017, and I resorted to taking three Allegra (Fexofenadine) in a day, when you are only supposed to take one.  Taking more than one Allegra appeared to help me, but this might be the type of medication that can cause physical damage by taking more than directed.

Even taking more Allegra than prescribed did not completely make my allergy symptoms go away.  My eyes continued to be swollen and watery.  I was worried that I would lose my job if I had no way to stop my severe allergy attacks.

I saw a television advertisement for Flonase Sensimist, that claimed this medication blocked six types of allergens, whereas other allergy medications only block one allergen.  I went to a grocery store and bought a spray bottle of Flonase Sensimist for $15.  I read the medication instructions inside my truck, and then I inhaled two sprays of Flonase Sensimist into each nostril.  Within a matter of seconds I felt better.  Within a few minutes I felt much better.  I couldn’t believe it, my eyes no longer itched and watered.

I was very grateful that I had found a medication that worked immediately and completely.  I was in disbelief that this cure was so easy.  I felt a little foolish that I had not tried a nasal inhaler before, back in 2014, 2015, and 2016, but I didn’t know.  I had asked other people what they did for allergies, and I had read all about allergies, and there was no clear answer or solution.

I hope that anyone who has severe allergies in North Dakota will try Flonase Sensimist nasal spray and not have to go through what I went through.