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..
I’ve lived in Tallahassee, FL for 31 years and never suffered of allergies. However, my husband, who has been here 17 years has had allergies which are getting worse. Two of my children are pretty much miserable about half of the year – irritated eyes to the point the vision is diminished and stuffy noses. Another one has migraines, which occur about half of the year – just noticing that they seem to be cyclical – maybe seasonal. It had not occured to me that the migraines might be caused by allergies, but now that it has been brought to my attention, that just might be what has been causing them as there seems to be no other possible reason for the migraines. Thanks to all who mentioned allergies cause migraines.
I have lived in Florida now for 18 years…and I am ready for a major move away from this allergy-ridden area of SW Florida( oak tree forsaken country) !! I am highly allergic to the oak trees.. mold, dust mites,and most everything else I guess!! I am to the point of giving up everything and moving out of the state…i feel miserable on a daily basis with no relief in sight even taking, Zyrtec, Flonase, Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl…you name it…i feel I could never hold down a job during these 3-4 months with my nose dripping,unable to breathe ..have used inhalers in the past, it is just so frustrating…i feel it has affected me mentally,emotionally, physically,unable to concentrate ,typing is not an easy task,slows you down to almost a halt all the way around…after having lived in different areas of the state this area has been the worst..i feel like I have been stripped many years of my life besides becoming a mental washout day to day! my mental sharpness has declined and I am exhausted…i have not had the shots and not sure they will help…nothing works quick enough or is long lasting..i have blurred vision, tired,lethargy and just want to crash and sleep these months away !!! why come to this so called beautiful sunny state …to suffer!!! no fun when being outside is impossible…!!! groggy in Florida!!!
I’ve lived in northern Florida since 1980 from PA. Then to Tampa area in 1999. I got pleurisy, sinusitis, allergies, bronchitis twice.
Allergens are terrible here.
You get trouble breathing/short of breath, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headache, congestion, phlegm, itchy dry eyes, dry throat, tired, lethargic, etc…
I’ve been to doctors/allergists. I’ve tried the Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, Sudafed, Atarax, allergy shots made me so sick, nasal sprays that works temporarily then made it worse. It was so bad recently went to hospital and they gave me Benadryl by I.V.
Florida is terrible if you have allergies or asthma.
We are now looking at moving to somewhere that has less allergens.
I read on internet Tampa is #3 worst places to live if you have allergies.
Beautiful sunshine I will miss being sick I will not.
Hi Corina,
Worst places for allergies or asthma change rank from year to year and season to season, depending on many variables. Different groups may also use different criteria to calculate rank. I’ve just posted to the top of the blog about the AAFA Allergy Capitals list for 2011. AAFA is considered one of the most reliable sources. Tampa is ranked 86th in AAFA’s most recent report, and 73rd in their Fall allergy report, better than average for most major cities.
This does not mean you will not have problems in Tampa, or any other area, just because it is rqnked better for allergies/asthma by one source or number 3 in another source. There are many individual variables. See my latest post to Allergy Climates:
http://climates.allergynursing.com/?p=721
I live in Southern CA where I developed horrible grass allergies. I’m sick 7 months out of the year. If you have grass allergies, this is not the place to be. I go back east and I clear up 80% or more.
I have lived in s.w. florida on and off since 1969,until about 2 years ago i never once suffered from allergies. All of a sudden i cant sleep because my nose is constantly plugged and i have sleep apnea,this is a bad situation because i cant use my cpap machine. I have noticed we have had rainy,windy,winters the last 2 years and no rain in the early summer to knock down all the pollen.I also noticed last winter i had an inch of pine pollen on my swimming pool water line tile,this has never happened before and it coincides with the sudden allergies. Anyway,nothing over the counter has helped including zicam,benadrill,sudafed,allavert and zyrtec. Not shure where to go from here.
Hello, I live in Venice Florida and my allergies are so bad that I had to quit my job. I am having a hard time breathing, my head is foggy, my eyes burn and weep, constant nasal drainage, dry throat, and dizziness-sometimes feel as if I will pass out!! I don’t want to move but nothing helps. I also can not take most medications to help due to tacky heart rate when I do.
Claritin is like taking a placebo. 
I wonder if I move back to Missouri if things would improve?? Any suggestions?
Allergies are a funny thing. I’m in the military so I’ve gotten to experience different areas of the country and how they affect my allergies. In West Virginia and Virginia, never had even a hint of allergies although they run in my family. My first experience was when I attended training in Rhode Island in the spring. Whoaaa Nelly, it was horrendous, dripping nose, very sore throat, watery eyes, the whole 9. Then in Iraq I developed an awful post-nasal drip and attributed it to the dust. Upon arriving in South Florida (Miami), I thought allergies would be the least of my problems, but they have gotten really awful, in particular my post nasal drip, which occasionally increases to the point I barely feel like eating and always feel nautious. I have used neti-pot, etc, and it doesnt seem to help. I have been on Allegra and Flonase for a year, but it barely makes a dent. I’m off to the Sinus and Allergy Center in Hollywood, let’s hope it helps. I’m glad I found this thread, I was beginning to think allergies in South Florida was only my imagination! Can’t wait for some relief, because I really love living here!
A native NY’er and former NE’er, I have been in Florida (Pensacola, in the panhandle) for the past 24 years with occasionally moves back to the Northeast and West Palm Beach. Every summer from June to September, I get incredibly sick as well, possibly due to the grass, weed, and molds. When I was in West Palm, it seemed to be year round mainly due to the ‘things are always in bloom’ season. In north Florida, at least we get some break in the winter from everything, maybe 4-5 months, but I’m seriously considering a move back to colder climates. The stuffiness, inability to breathe, trying to blow my nose and nothing comes out is driving me completely crazy. It seems that since the Hurricane Season of 2004 (Charlie, Francis, Ivan, Jeanne), Dennis in 2005 and who could forget Katrina, which hit parts of Florida, so much “crap” came through that allergies are out of control! If you’re thinking of moving to Florida and have any health issues, I’d reconsider. The sun and beaches are beautiful, but not for the price you have to pay in medical expenses!!! Good luck to everyone with similar problems. I truly feel your pain(s)!!!
I recently moved to New Smyrna Beach on
East coast of Florida- and have had migraines and feel awful. I just started a couple of weeks ago. I’m not sure if it matters where you live- because when I lived in Western NY I had terrible spring allergies and Virginia Beach is horrendous for allergies- year long ( lived there the past 8 yrs) I have friends who take an allergy pill every day who live in VA Beach. It’s funny to me the people who can just pick up and move out of Florida- must be retired- we moved here because of my husband’s job and as you know those are rare to come by nowadays! Guess I will just have to suffer!
Vicki, I can relate to you 100%. I moved here (Fort Myers, FL) a year ago and was fine up until 3 months ago. It started with a sore throat, and nasal drainage. Then the dizziness started thanks to fluid accumulating in middle ear. It gets so bad that I also feel like I’ll passing out sometimes. Oh and the fogginess I feel every day is just horrible! It is depressing and debilitating…. nothing helps.
I thought it would be better by now as its almost December but it just gets worse.
Thinking about moving away too but that is costly and I am worried it won’t improve.
I do agree though…. anyone thinking about moving here who has allergies should think twice.
i moved here from ohio 10yrs ago @the age of 27. never had allergies til I moved to fl. having never had allergies,i thought I was getting a cold each october. ha ha. when the cold medicine was not helping I decided to try allergy medicine. wow, it worked. now it seems ive got march allergies also. ugh. im moving back to ohio. not just per allergies. should have listened to my dr, fl is a nice place to visit, but not to live. lesson learned. listen to your dr.