Author Topic: Allergy (Read 577 times)

gerhard · « **on:** June 04, 2008, 09:12:40 AM »

This may sound a strange question, but I would like to know what is in stall for me: I suffer from terrible allergies living in Joburg. Combination of dust and pollen, it gets really bad in summer with hay fever. Would like to know from people in NZ if this is a problem there as well?

Thanks!

jafa77 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2008, 09:16:36 AM »

I am sure there is pollen here, but not dust.

Probably lots of air pollution in JHB too. NZ is much cleaner.

SA Going to NZ Advice Forum · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2008, 09:16:36 AM »

WendyH · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2008, 09:35:45 AM »

Have a read of the Allergy NZ website HERE
I'm sure it'll answer your questions.

leeannvh · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2008, 09:10:35 AM »

I didnt read up on allergies before I came over but was told that people that have never suffered with asthma suddenly developed it when they arrived here, especially kiddies.

All I can say is that I have used my asthma pump ONLY ONCE since I arrived here almost 3 months ago!!!
I was on constant allergy pills (Zyrtec) for the first 3 to 4 weeks now cant remember the last time that I took one.

Its now Spring and I should be sneezing and coughing, eyes swelling up, chest closing but hey....guess what??? NOTHING!! Havent had one allergy attack and I get out and hike so its not to say I sit indoors

Im in Whangarei so dont know if its different anywhere else

soniag · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2008, 01:12:15 PM »

I have a friend suffering from Asthma as well as one of her kiddies. When they moved to NZ it became much much better. I guess it depends on what your trigger is for your allergy.

I too suffer from Dust and pollen allergies, and when we lived in Cape Town it was also bad because of the air pollution.

I think for me a damper climate is going to do the trick as my nose constantly feels dry.

sandyb · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2008, 01:29:32 PM »

I'm hoping to get rid of all the kids meds once in NZ, am tired of the constant GP visits, taking cover when a sneeze approach, allergy meds, Zyrtec does not even help anymore, the air is way to poluted

Anyone who's kids got worse since in NZ?

Jannee · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2008, 04:59:42 PM »

Well, I hope I am better in NZ. I seem to suffer quite a bit from sinus and allergies in NZ.

SA Going to NZ Advice Forum · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2008, 04:59:42 PM »

Amber · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2008, 08:30:40 PM »

My son suffers from pollen allergies and it seems there is no difference here. He still has his tonsils so as soon as those sinus are blocked it gets into his throat - tonsilitis!
I also find the house here is much more dusty than our SA house.
Amber

leeannvh · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2008, 08:56:11 PM »

Tonsilectomy & adenoidectomy.....best thing you could do for your kiddie if theyre constantly sick ( but bad antibiotic sick), get tonsilitis etc.

Hacked both my kiddies out and they were waaaay better after that

Nolan · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2008, 10:32:57 PM »

I also suffered from hay fever big time in SA, especially in the morning. It dissappeared after we arrived, only to come back again with a vengeance - then I discovered that it was the washing powder that Mel had bought, we changed that and I am again hay-feverless

Happy Expat · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2008, 11:45:38 PM »

Having lived in 3 different countries now, hubby and I have found that we have reacted completely different in each country

In SA he was the only one to get anything, then in UK I got hayfever a bit and my daughter developed asthma. Now in NZ, I got my asthma back (had it as a child and thought I have out grown it) and hubby gets quite bad hayfever here. My daughter is fine

I have been told that there is a weed here that can cause asthma, but I can't remeber the name

We live on a farm and I know which area's to stay away from. Hubby got bad hayfever from the horses hay last year, but this year he's fine. He feeds them in the morning for me

I have also become very sensitive to different things on my skin. I can flare up in a rash or welts for almost any reason

I'm not sure you can predict anything until you are actually here $:-\$

soniag · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2008, 05:58:38 AM »

Well as long as I'm not allergic to cats or horses i'm happy..

SA Going to NZ Advice Forum · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2008, 05:58:38 AM »

Jannee · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2008, 07:10:27 AM »

Sorry... I meant to say that I suffer from a lot of sinus and nose allergies in South Africa. So I am hoping that I don't have all this nonsense in NZ.

Amber · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2008, 08:26:11 PM »

Quote from: leeannvh on September 22, 2008, 08:56:11 PM

Tonsilectomy & adenoidectomy.....best thing you could do for your kiddie if theyre constantly sick ( but bad antibiotic sick), get tonsilitis etc.

Hacked both my kiddies out and they were waaaay better after that

My other two kids had theirs out when they were young but unfortunately my youngest had a platelet disorder that put him at a dangerously high risk of bleeding and now he has to suffer!
I don't think they will pull his tonsils out here in a hurry.
Amber

Feather · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2008, 11:57:16 PM »

I agree with Happy, you can't predict any thing till you are actually here. I battled with hayfever in SA, just about all Spring and Summer. In Mosgiel it seemed as if the hayfever had improved, if not gone for good.... then in Dec we visited Wellington and wammm... I couldn't see, my eyes were streaming till I got flexonase and it cleared.... then in April last year we visited Happy at the farm and camped at the local Chch Top 10, I could hardly breath, nose running, eyes a bit burny.... Now I live in Chch so time will tell how I react to the pollen and dust here this year....

SA Going to NZ Advice Forum