Sunshine, wind, allergies, long bike rides
Photo by Seneca Flowers.
Ahhhh.
It’s finally a recovery week.
These last six weeks have really flown by. I have been focused on improving my fitness and, to be honest, trying not to go crazy being trapped inside my home. I think my dogs appreciate the extra attention. My boyfriend likes his space, so it’s been harder for him.
I’ve been trying to get out of the house a little more. Sundays have become my long ride day, where I’ll get out and explore for 3-4 hours. Sometimes, I tag along with Heidi, my new cycling friend (I am so happy about my new friend. It’s hard to make friends in Wyoming, even harder to meet cyclists, and even harder to meet cool female cyclists!)
And then other times I just go out and ride on my own. Last week I explored south of town and rode to the Terry Bison Ranch. It’s better than riding on the trainer, that’s for sure, even though it does feel like a strangely satisfying accomplishment doing a long Zwift route.
Springtime means allergies, though, and most of my Mondays are spent with sinus headaches, my everydays filled with bloody snot, itchy eyes and a gross, tired feeling. I’ve tried to be super forgiving to my body, but it’s hard. It’s hard when you just feel sick all the time because your immune system doesn’t like tree pollen.
Allergies are so misunderstood, though. Anytime I talk about them, I get the typical responses: “Why don’t you go see a doctor?” “Take some medicine?” “I have allergies, too” …
I get it. Most people have some sort of allergy. And for most people, they’re pretty manageable. Most people seem to think food allergies are the only kind of “serious” allergies (and sometimes, people don’t take those seriously, either). You eat the wrong food, your throat swells up, and you die. So people don’t go around saying, “Ah, you’re fine, just take a Claritin and you’ll be able to chow down on peanuts!”
Well, though I’m not really in danger of dying, per se, I am on immunotherapy (allergy shots), Singular (a prescription medicine typically prescribed for asthma patients but that treat allergies, as well), an antihistamine (Zyrtec), a nasal corticosteroid, allergy-reducing eye drops, and an anti-inflammatory (Advil) for really bad days. And I’m still miserable.
I don’t think people realize that environmental (pollen) allergies can get that bad. I don’t blame them. Marketing for drugs like Claritan and Flonase make it seem like everything is amazing when you take this little pill or sniff some of this medication up your nose. For most people, that is all it takes.
But life can be insanely miserable for me sometimes. And as much as I try to ignore it, some days I just want to hide inside and sleep. I can’t walk the dogs, and I can’t bike outside. It kills me, because I love nature, but I’m learning to accept it. Enjoy it on the days when things are good, and then accept it on the days when things are bad.
Maybe there’s a silver lining to it, I don’t know. I was extremely depressed a few years ago when my immune system bugged out and my allergies became insufferable, before I discovered treatment and immunotherapy. At least they are more manageable now. Life was dark back then.
But good things came of it. I quit drinking, and barely looked back. Haven’t touched a cigarette since, and haven’t even wanted to (though not drinking helps that). Very rarely will I go for fast food anymore. I decided to get healthy, and though my activities have changed over the years, I have consistently maintained a workout/training schedule!
So maybe, after all, it was my wake-up call to take better care of my body, and I am thankful for that, for sure. So even when the wind is blowing pollen into my sinuses at 40 miles per hour, I have a lot to be grateful for.