Travelled 50 states, allergic in Oklahoma - move to MO?
Over the past 51 years I have traveled through all 50 states and lived in 16 of them. Most of my years have been in the Hawaiian Islands, Florida, California and now Oklahoma. I have NEVER been alergic to anything in my life, with the exception of Oklahoma, since my husband and I moved here 2 years ago. I AM MISERABLE! The doctor has me on 7 different meds and told me, “Move to Missouri!” After reading updates on the message board about MO, I’m sceptical… — Tamara, Oklahoma
i live in hawaii and grew up in arkansas. i’m currently miserable for a week in kansas. when i’m in this area ark, ok. mo, ks, i feel terrible during late spring and early fall. i think it is due to weed or grass. the first freeze makes everything tolerable. i’ve never felt better as i’ve felt in hawaii. i’m allergy free. i tried different medications, but they can actually make you feel worse. my advice is to get away from those areas for a few weeks in the spring and the fall if you can.
Comment by ken — September 13, 2007 @ 11:36 am
How long have you lived in hawaii? I would expect there to be a high pollen/mold count there? I am in illinois and having serious asthma and have been told to leave here. I am desparately trying to figure out where to go and how to get there.
Comment by nancy — October 8, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I grew up in Denver, born with asthma, and allergies. Pollen, molds, and pollution get me. My daughter also who has allergies, and asthma, and born in Denver we have lived in WI, GA, FL, CO, and now MO. I felt great in Clearwater, FL coastal breeze and clean air even though lots of pollen and molds the air was always moving. Tampa another story. MO is just as bad. MO is considered the worst state to live in with Allergies. Good luck
Comment by Lyn — November 15, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
Hi guys. I live in MO. It is really bad for my son’s allergies. What many people don’t understand about MO, is that it is practically a jungle in the spring/summer, the foliage is dense and extremely varied (therefore making it near impossible to identify which specific thing is causing you a reaction, even with allergy tests). It also gets extremely humid. And then being in the center of the continent, you obviously don’t get even a hint of ocean air to blow anything out.
Now all these things are why I love MO (the abundance and variety of plant life), our family has lived here for forever, but it wrecks havoc on my poor son. I would not recommend this state for anyone suffering with allergies, and in fact I know a few people who have moved to the SW from here just for that reason, who claim MO is about the worst place they can possibly be. Of course in the frost and winter it gets better if you want to live here then, but then you have to put up with those brutal midwest winters. So you can’t win for losing!
I have heard Hawaii is good for allergies. And truthfully to help my son’s health I am looking into it. But after reading some of these posts I’m confused….some people say “stay away” - due to the flowers especially - some of you say it’s great. For those of you who say it’s great, what island and what part of that island do you live on? Knowing HI, I know there are so many different islands and then so many different micro climates on each island, I’m sure that makes a difference.
Or…I’m mulling over a theory in my head lately because it seems such a paradox that such a flowery state like HI would be good for some allergy sufferers. Does it have to do with the fact that most of them are not necessarily “seedy” type of flowers (maybe bulbs, or like ferns?), and are the big leaf tropical plants less likely to induce reactions? It just seems like the smaller the seed and leaf (which is what everything in MO is, in order to survive our droughts), the worse the allergy potential. And in a tropical place like HI it’s all large leafed plants. Anyway, I may be way off in that thinking.
Comment by Lori — April 16, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Generally authorities have said that flowering plants are not thought to cause allergic reactions. At least most of those here in the states. I would think tropical plants would be the same, but you may want to ask a local allergist. See:
Valentine flowers: Romance or misery?
Comment by AllergyNurse — April 16, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
I just wonder if you can get skin tested for all allergic plants or mold etc,in the U.S. befor deciding where to relocate. My understanding is that it will take five years to know whether you will be allergic to the local allergen or not. Anybody know if any allergist will do that ? I will travel to any place for the testing.
Comment by fwu — April 29, 2008 @ 4:20 am