I moved from Redlands,Ca. to Destin, Florida (panhandle) 5 years ago. I was fine for the first couple of years but in the past three have been simply miserable. Comes and goes all year leading me to believe its a mold or spore thing. Claritin D and Rhinocort are only a thin veiled shield against whatever is getting me. I’ll go home to Michigan and in a day or two feel awesome. The burning eyes, stomach pains, complete lethargy, depression, and just plain meanness are gone and return with a vengeance within a day of getting back home to Florida. It’s so bad I am leaving Florida (sold our house and will be moving north in a month or so).
I’m a very fit 37 year old male with literally no other health problems – this has been so depressing battling an unseen enemy for so long.
Can’t wait to get out of here – if you have slight allergies – never move to Florida they will rage on high. — R.C.B., Florida
[Originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on March 10, 2004]
Thanks for sharing your experiences! Many have benefitted from the information about climate that readers share.
[Originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on March 10, 2004]
[Comment from Kim by way of AllergyNurse. Originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on May 18, 2004]
I lived in Arkansas until the age of 21. I took allergy shots for 4 years. I moved to Florida and have no allergies (excluding the skin rash), for 20 years. Florida has been wonderful for me. — Kim, Florida
[Comment from Lynette by way of AllergyNurse originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on May 18, 2004]
I live in Central Florida, where it is summer most of the year. I am allergic to mold, all grasses and most tree’s. These allergies, plus the extreme humidity pose a serious problem for my asthma….So in my opinion, Florida is not a place to escape for allergy relief. –Lynette, Florida
Thanks to all who continue to write. I’m especially impressed by the variety of responses I’ve been getting about Florida. Seems like allergy sufferers consider Florida either great or terrible for their allergies.
That goes to show that just because someone else finds relief in a certain climate or area doesn’t necessarily mean that climate or area will do the same for you. Visit the area during each season. Research pollen counts, humidity and mold levels, and any other environmental factors that affect your allergies.
[Originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on May 18, 2004]
Hi,
I moved to Florida almost 7 years ago…I am a Massachusetts native, and lived in Tennessee for a year before moving here.
My allergies have worsened greatly since arriving here..my asthma, which I thought was just a childhood thing, returned with a vengeance! I too am moving, probably to New Hampshire or Vermont…yes, there is no place free of asthma and allergies, but at least I didn’t suffer as I do now, living in Florida. It’s nice to see that others have the same problem I have, it’s not in my mind!…I don’t know why Florida is considered a place with low allergy/asthma symptoms….maybe people aren’t getting treatment for it…Everyone I talk to complains about suffering from allergies, maybe they’re just handling it with over the counter remedies…can’t wait to move!!
I have not had alleries in my life, and now am suffering every moment. Florida seemed great for five years after moving from Medford Ma, them bang! sick all the time! months of recovery and thousands of dollars in drugs and medicine just to get back to mostly fine, but I am now on all these drugs, got to get the ”” out of here before I stop breathing all together! If you have allergies, live elsewhere, Florida is no place for em.
I moved from chicago to west palm beach florida
Everyday i live here my allergies get worse cant breath,cramps,acid indegestion.If i go to chicago or atlanta or california it goes away in 2 days.I cant wait to sell my house and never come here again John
I moved from New Jersey to Florida years ago, and my allergies are getting progressively worse. They are debilitating. Yes, some people get relief here, because not everyone is allergic to the same things. Palm Pollen (sabel and cabbage palm)which grow like weeds here(literaly by the billions in some counties)is very different from what they have in other parts of the country. These trees grow out of control in the woods and wet areas in parts of Florida. Visit Central to south Florida between November and April when pollen is high to get a good dose.
I have lived in Florida for years, and every year when the yellow flowers come down from the trees, I get sore throat and stuffy head. I have been tested and told I have no allergies to Florida weeds.
How could this not show up in a test?
My life has improved one hundred percent since I moved to Florida five years ago. But the allergies are destroying my enjoyment. I have to move. I’ve been taking shots for over a year, a little improvement, but still taking plenty of medication and recently developed asthma. I’m a senior and moving is a major chore for me….but I can’t see any other choice. So sad. (That could be my allergies talking, I never know and it is allergy season…again!
we moved to central fl. 8 years ago. after about 2 years i have been progressively worse with returning asthma which hasnt bothered me since i was a teenager. its almost neverending now and i cant breathe through my nose most of the year. my two kids are exposed to this and are already having bad symptoms at the ages of 2 and 3. i wish i knew somehow that this could happen, its life altering and very hard to deal with. dont move here from up north.
I live in Michigan and have many allergies, and went to Florida two years in a row during Feb., and both times ended up very ill, and with pneumonia. My Dr. said due to Red Tide in Fort Myers
I have been coming to Florida 3 times a year for the last 5 years. April, December and July. My wife has kept a journal of my healh and every time I have been here my allergies are horrible. My head is stuffed up, my thoat is sore, my eyes water, etc. The other comments ave helped confirm that Florida is a problem for my allergies. I will look for a new place to vacation in Arizona. If anyone know a good place, let me know! We live yer round in New Hampshire and my allergies are minimal.
Florida is great – if you live in SOUTH Florida and near the coast (within 10 miles). Orlando and central Florida is HOT and HUMID and really bad for asthma and pollen. If you live in South Florida (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, West Palm, Ft Meyers) it is great! Low humidity, virtually no pollen or mold. It’s the ocean air that makes the difference and gettin away from the large land area of Central Florida where the humidity is. People in South Florida always wonder why the state has such a bad rap on humidity, etc, until they go to DisneyWorld and see just how bad it is in Orlando. Both my wife and I are from Virgina and had both taken shots and pills. Even after all the treatments, spring in Virginia was like a slow death. We have lived in Palm Beach for 5 years and nothing, except a couple weeks of LIGHT sniffles in late January/early February (palm tree pollen). But it is nothing major and niether of us use any meds to treat it. We just run the A/C during the day (it’s usually 80 degrees here) and the central air fan at night to keep the air moving thru the filters, and we sleep perfectly. One day a week we open the windows to refresh the air. This lets in some pollen, but like I said, it bothers us so little, it doesn’t matter. we spend most evening on the patio anyway – eating dinner, playing with our dogs, relaxing with a glass of wine.
Move to SOUTH Florida – you won’t regret it – EVER!
I spent most of my life in Minnesota where my allergies were horrible. I could not open my eyes without them watering like crazy. I moved to Fairfax VA where I never felt better, my allergies were non existant and I loved it. I moved to Charlotte where I felt like my chest was going to collapse everyday and my childhood asthma wa back. I have lived in Texas for about 7 months where I feel fine but I am looking at moving to the Tampa area and I am nervous to read all of these posting. My allergies are related to certain trees liek cotton wood, and northern trees. Is Florida not the right move for me. The last thing I want is to move and be ill everyday
I live in Fairfax, VA and only have mild allergy symptoms in the Spring and Fall (tiredness, some nasal congestion), for brief periods. I’ve visited Destin, FL twice and both times I’ve been run down with a sore throat, sinuses and even body aches and lethargy. Within 1-2 days of leaving Destin, I feel better. I don’t recall having these symptoms when visiting Miami or even the Ft. Myers area. Not sure what it is about the panhandle area of FL.
I was born in South Florida, never really had any allergy problems. Moved to N. Carolina and that’s when it started, slightly.I have been home now in Palm Beach, FL for 5 years now and oh my!! I can not breath!! My family is all in Florida and this is my birth state but oh my oh my! I am constantly stuffed up, runny nose, sneezing, pressure, no smell, no taste and just CAN NOT BREATH. I wake up with a sore throat. After reading one of the comments posted about the palms and the time of year they bloom, it is all making more sense. I am having the skin test done soon. If there is any treatment or medication someone can recommend, please do. I can not move, this is not an option
I’ve lived my whole life in Florida, never had any allergy problems ever; even been tested, nothing. I moved to southern California (the desert) and my skin is out of control. Always itchy, sometimes little red bump like rashes on chest/arms/various places. Am I allergic to something, perhaps a combination of allergies and dry weather? I mean I am a humid weather kinda guy so I’m just guessing at this point. I intend to go to a dermatologist soon, just wanted to research it a little first.
I moved to Tallahassee, Florida in 2006 for college from NJ and had no allergy problems up to that point. The first year I began getting migraines and allergies when visiting for a week in June. The second year they came back mostly through congestion and awful migraines. I was hoping it would pass but upon returning this week (May) from visiting my home in NJ, I realized that summer allergies and Migraines are something I will have to live with as long as I am here. I find they are worst between may and November. ( I guess I should be happy I get 5 whole months off) There are not any over the counter medications that help. (Ironically, constantly drinking Icee’s does though) Well this has certainly helped make my decision easier as to where to work after college. I am glad to hear there are others suffering like me. I feel less sick knowing I am not alone.
Comment for Christie – I moved here a year ago August and have had debilitating migraines too. I have found the combo on Excedrin Migraine and Benedryl Max Sinus and Allergy headache help. I’m looking for a natural/herbal remedy and when I find it, I’ll post it.
Spring Allergies in Tampa, FL are horrendous, and they last 4-5 months (Feb-May). Here you can open the windows on selected days (after a cold front passes) from Nov. through March; however, already starting on late Jan., and through April, you’ll get the pollen in, so it’s a bad idea, i.e., cannot enjoy the nice weather!
moved to sarasota area 5 years ago and have not had a day go by that i dont have a headache, stuffy nose, inflamed membranes, sinus pain, ears clogged, eyes scratchy, lethargic…….miserable. i can only assume its florida.
Holy Cow!!! I moved from west Texas to Tampa 5 yrs ago not knowing what allergies are. Well believe me now i know for sure. Never sneezed or had a runny nose or coughed living in Texas. Now I wake up in the middle of the night with a sneezing fit my eyes feel like they are blowing out of my head and i feel short of breath for the first time of my life.. I had to start on an inhaler to stop the wheezing and i still feel like I cant catch my breath!!misery I’m moving back to Texas even though i make great money here its not worth it..