Originally Posted by
Trippgal
given the time of year, and the fact the snow has been sitting on the ground for so long, it may very well be mold or spores that are releasing as the snow melts and the ground is exposed. I ended up miserable when I went to university every spring as the snow melted. The doctors saw it every spring and were used to people lining up at the clinics in town with with they affectionately nicknamed "snow mold" allergies. It was bad for people with reduced immune systems as it manifested as bronchitis, pneumonia, and a hospital stay.
I have a friend that is highly sensitive to the sizing in fabric and washes everything--and tries to stay away from those of us that don't. But I also just read that the "polar vortex" that hit our part of the country very hard this year is also causing a "pollen vortex"--not to mention the mold allergies. Our household has been hit hard--my 27 yr old son even spent a week in the hospital with respiratory problems--infection that kicked his allergies and asthma into high gear, big time. So it could be either or both for you.