Allergies or a Cold?

I'm freaking out a little. I've been sneezing, sniffling, and congested for the last week. Today, I'm feeling especially tired. It's got to be allergies, right? My surgery is Monday and I CAN'T CATCH A COLD NOW!!!

I popped a Claritin, so we'll see if that does the trick. Keep your fingers crossed that it is allergies and doesn't ruin my surgery for Monday.

Anyone have any ideas on how to tell the difference between a cold or allergies?

Hi Ellie,

When mine is allergies, my eyes get very itchy, sometimes my face gets itchy, and the mucous seems to be thicker. But that's me. Everyone is different.

Sure hope it's just allergies!

I have had allergies my whole life. If you think it's allergies, I definitely recommend Zyrtec-D (available at your pharmacy counter thanks to the law changes). Works great, no sleepiness. Wish you the best with your surgery. Mine is Tuesday.

It's hard to tell the difference, sometimes. The mucous GENERALLY tends to be clear when it is allergies and greenish when a cold or infection. Usually don't run a fever with allergies. I went to the dr. with what turned out to be a virus the week before my surgery. The dr. said as long as I wasn't running a fever it shouldn't keep the surgery from going forward. Most of it was gone when I went in the day of op. except for some nasal drainage. I was given some sour tasting liquid in the "holding" room to help clear it out. It worked great.
As always, though, if you are concerned you need to talk to your doctor. Especially about meds that you take since some, like Motrin, should be stopped the week before. At least that is what my doctor told me.
I hope you are feeling better by surgery time.

It is allergies. I showed up to surgery Monday morning and told them that I was having nasal congestion and a mild sore throat. They weren't worried since my lungs were clear and I had no fever.

I can't stop sneezing now post-op and what PAIN there is when you sneeze! Yowza!