Staying Inside
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
United States
February 7, 2016 10:10am CST
The weather here is glorious. We had rain and cold weather last week, but for the next two weeks it will be summer here. The temperatures near the coast will range from the low 70’sF (21C) to the mid 80’s F (30C). The sky is clear, with a few pretty clouds passing by at times. The air quality shows green, which is usually great.
But the wind is coming from the east. This means that particles in the air will be blowing in from the desert. This is called the Santa Ana Winds (Devil Winds). People with allergies or asthma are suffering. I am allergic to one specific type of mold. It’s the one in the air now.
When this mold is present, everything runs or itches, unless it hurts. My eyes leak out the corners and the skin there becomes raw. My eyelids swell and hurt. My nose runs constantly. I use lots of Kleenex tissues, but at least I buy the ones with aloe vera in them. They are kinder on noses than other types.
I have a free standing whole room air filter in both my bedroom and my living room. It works great in the bedroom, but the living area is really too large for the one there to help much. The key to surviving without having an asthma episode is for me to stay inside with the windows and doors closed.
So that is what I will do for the next three days. Wednesday’s weather forecast is for the wind to shift. It will be coming from the west. I’m looking forward to that. Although I have a great view out my very large windows, I enjoy being outside. I have all of my household chores finished. Maybe I’ll work on my book until Wednesday, or perhaps I’ll organize everything for my taxes. Both are waiting to be completed. Perhaps the moldy air will give me the motivation to get to work.
Is there anything that forces you to stay inside for a few days?
13 people like this
13 responses
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Feb 16
i don't have any allergies or asthma. The only thing that keeps me inside is rain and frigid weather.
4 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
You are very lucky. Mine started when I was a kid and have progressively become worse as I have aged. Such a bummer. Good luck you never get one.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 When children have asthma, they often grow out of it. Good luck to them.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Feb 16
@ElizabethWallace I hope I never do. My 2 little great nieces have asthma breaks my heart.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
7 Feb 16
Yikes. That's 104F. I would stay inside then too. Or, if I wanted to go out, I would get into my air conditioned car from my air conditioned house and drive to the air conditioned mall, library or whatever.
2 people like this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
7 Feb 16
@ElizabethWallace Exactly. I think people who work outside (construction or road workers, for example) are advised not to be under such heat in days like that. They either take the day off or work very early morning or evening hours instead.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
7 Feb 16
@sishy7 I see people working in the heat here. It is awful. So sad, but they chose the professions knowing the climate.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
I saw lots of people walking in my neighborhood yesterday, but I was not one of them. Allergies are so annoying! 
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
8 Feb 16
@ElizabethWallace Yes, allergies are annoying and I cannot even take medications because I have a narrow angled glaucoma.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
@LadyDuck They don't often work well anyway. At least mine do not. They work fine when the wind does not blow, but if the wind comes from the east, I'm toast.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
8 Feb 16
So sorry that you have such severe allergies.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Small price to pay. Many people have worse problems. At least mine come and go, with going being what I prefer, of course.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
9 Feb 16
@ElizabethWallace Well, reading a good novel is always good! Three, even better! Feel better.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
10 Feb 16
@DianneN The wind shifted today, thank goodness. I am so looking forward to going outside to play. 
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I wish. I actually have read three books in the last few days. My eyes were too runny to do anything that felt like work. Reading novels didn't seem to be a problem. I didn't have to bend over, like I would if I was doing paperwork.
2 people like this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
8 Feb 16
Very hot weather - over 30 C or 90ish F makes me want to stay inside, but if I take it easy I can be outside when it is hot. Very bitter strong winter wind isn't very fun either. But luckily I have no health issues affected by weather.
Your allergy sounds so uncomfortable. Take care.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
9 Feb 16
It is uncomfortable, but at least my new asthma medication is very effective. Now, if I could find something for my sinuses and eyes.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
8 Feb 16
It has been windy in our place since yesterday, we call this northeast monsoon. It carries cold, dry air from the melting snows in Siberia, China and Japan. The cold temperature i like but not the wind it dries up skin and blows up dusts around so i prefer staying inside.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
@ElizabethWallace True! It makes many people sick.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
9 Feb 16
@salonga We all do best when the humidity is a happy medium.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Our dry air does that to our skin too. It also dries up the tissue in the sinus, which is painful. I use a saline spray, which helps some.
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
10 Feb 16
Work keeps me indoors no matter the weather as I can't see my screen in the sunshine, at this time of year it is lovely and warm outdoors and cold inside. We went for a walk yesterday evening and it was warm enough to have coffee outdoors. We have the Sahara dust even without wind storms and it coats the car and balconies in red dust.
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Oh, I did and will again today, but I am looking forward to tomorrow, since the wind looks like it will shift to onshore. Fingers crossed.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Feb 16
As a hay fever sufferer, I have to stay inside when the pollen count gets quite high in the May/June period. I sneeze and my eyes itch constantly.
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Feb 16
It has to be pouring, and I mean pouring, down rain in order for me to stay inside. Otherwise, I get outside and do things every day. I know I am fortunate that changes in the weather really do not affect me. I am glad you are able to get outside most of the time.
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Yikes. That's 104F. One reason I stopped living in valleys, they get this hot in the summer here.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 Feb 16
I have to stay inside for a week in the spring due to the heavy yellow pollen or I do exactly as you do. Its a hard life.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
8 Feb 16
I hope the smart science people are working on this. I was envious yesterday when I saw people taking walks in the gorgeous (but moldy) weather.
2 people like this
