About Me

Hi! My name is Barbara. Thanks for visiting this site. I assume you or someone close to you is suffering with allergies, so maybe some of my story will sound familiar.

I had allergies for as long as I can remember, but the first encounter with allergies that stands out in my mind was as a six-year-old kid. I found out, through allergy testing, that I was allergic to my first pet, a grey cat named April. At first the allergies were tolerable, but I had frequent bouts of bronchitis. However, since then I have developed asthmatic allergies to all cats and dogs.

I took Theolair every day for countless years. Eventually, they discovered that this medication probably wasn’t the best solution, but it may have prevented any full-on asthma attacks. As a kid I was able to travel and visit friends’ houses, even if they had pets. But I always had the sniffles and was often blowing my nose. It became my signature.

However, the situation got much worse when I moved to New Mexico. After a couple of years in the desert, I developed a strong sensitivity to all my allergens and even to chemical irritants. Soon, I couldn’t travel much since I had chemical sensitivity to the harsh cleaners used in hotels and motels.

As an adult, I continued to face problems. Some of them bordered on discrimination. A while ago I changed jobs and my new office had new carpeting. I told them before I signed on to the position that I had allergies and couldn’t work in certain settings (namely, a place with new carpeting). They said they would do their best to accommodate me, but when I arrived at the job they introduced me to my office with—you guessed it—new carpeting. It took a week, and a doctor’s note, to find a place for me. But this is exactly the type of situation I was up against every time I wanted to make a life change, go on vacation, rent a car, visit friends…and the list goes on.

Sounds depressing, doesn’t it? I used to feel sorry for myself, too. But things have changed and now I can enjoy most things I thought I never could. There is a lot I had to learn about dealing with allergies. I still have some limitations but they haven’t stopped me.

Here’s the bright side of my story:

There is more to me than allergies. I have a very active lifestyle…I LIVE TO HIKE, AND HIKE TO LIVE!! I have lived in some of the most beautiful places in America. For many years I lived near the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico. I drove there almost every weekend to hike a couple of miles through the woods to swim in natural hot springs.

I moved to the California coast about a year ago, and I am still hiking in the mountains when I get the chance.

How do I do it with all my allergies? I make my health a priority. I have a good–and specific–diet and a healthy lifestyle. I have had to eliminate allergens from the places where I spend the most time, and where I have the most control.

I am also aware of my limitations. Understanding that I can’t spend hours in a place with new carpeting is one of the limitations I have to deal with. The general consensus about new carpeting is, by the way, that it is fairly toxic. So it’s no big loss!

However, I don’t want to avoid all of life’s situations, so I keep my house in a condition that supports my health; I have an air cleaner that eliminates unavoidable pollens and toxins; I have a health care regimen that supports a stable immune system; I follow a few simple steps that anyone can do to make their situation better. In fact, if your allergies are not as severe as mine, these “few simple steps” may be enough! You may not need to make any further changes.

Having been through so much, whenever somebody talks to me about their difficulties dealing with their allergies, I feel a need to do something for everybody dealing with allergies. We need to stick together. I feel like I know you, like you are family. I hope you find the information on this site useful. I would love to hear your experiences, tips, comments or criticisms. You can write to me at barbara@allergyreliefhelp.com.