I grew up in NE Ohio and had hay fever every Fall.
I moved to Daytona Beach, Florida for college and never had any allergies, except for 2 bouts of exercise-induced asthma.
Nine years later I moved to Savannah, Georgia and never had a problem at all.
Next I took a job in Michigan and have never been so miserable in my life. I lived around several lakes and unless the ground was frozen outside I was completely miserable with severe hay fever. Claritin-D helped but while I was pregnant I could not take it and I wasn’t sure what was worse for the fetus; sneezing convulsively 5 million times a day or taking a pill.
Now we have moved back to NE Ohio, and while the allergies are less severe, I now have allergies through the winter as well. They hit me every evening and I rub my eyes raw. I still take Claritin D but it isn’t that effective. I am going to an allergist next week to see what I am allergic to.
We are planning a move back to Florida next year. I hope that I can escape my severe allergies there as I did before. — C.D.T., Ohio
[Originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on April 13, 2004]
Another thing to consider is that during this season of your life your allergies may have worsened or improved no matter where you live. Allergy response is not always what is anticipated, and sometimes may seem to have no bearing on climate at all!