Should I just get a note from my doctor

[Roe]

I think a note is a good idea.

And I have sinus issues too!  And I'm a mouth breather as well so I do understand about that tickle in your throat in cool/cold days. 

Just today, I had to stop by the store and I was going to rush in and out so I was in a hurry.  Once I got to the check-out counter, I stopped to catch my breath.  I could feel the dryness in my throat so I started to cough. Since I also have allergies, you could hear a tiny bit of congestion. 

I swear, everyone moved about a mile away from me!     (and of course, I do cough into my elbow or into my top so it wasn't loud but boy...people were scared!)

It was kinda good because I need to stay healthy for my son so if people want to move away from me, all the better!!!!!!!!   

[VorFemme]

I started a new job - allergy symptoms the entire time I worked in that building (until I moved to the NEW building - when I found that the old building was known to have "something" going on with the air ducts that caused a lot of allergies and some illnesses).

But everyone complained about my sinuses and assumed I was sick ALL THE TIME until they ran into me a year later in the new building.............even though I repeatedly mentioned allergies, allergy season, and took allergy meds as often as I could (thirty minute drive home - I took meds after I got to work and then after I got home to minimize issues while commuting).

[Suze]

I have a "senitivity" to smoke -- and they are burning leaves in my little corner of the world right now.

and I work with solder which gives off smoke. (and the fume collectors don't work very well - but it is better than nothing)

and when the weather gets cold my chest just tightens up....

I'm a mess right now.  and everybody thinks I am "sick"  Well people if I am sick now that means it is the longest bout of "sick" on record.

but I have found out that anything SOUR will cut my cough -- lemon warheads work great.

(although the day my sinuses cut loose - I did wash hands - A LOT - just to be safe)

[Tizzy]

As long as your principle is comfortable I don't think you need to do anything. It's probably a bad idea to validate paranoid and entitled parents.

If one of the kids asks or you have a coughing fit in class you could explicitedly say "sorry about that, my allergies are acting up." How old are you kids?

[pootbear]

This happened to me with a new blood pressure med "The Catapres Cough" (spelling?)  So I let my manager and co-workers know I wasn't contagious. Since you're around kids, I can see why a parent might have wanted to make sure you wer not contagious as we have had schools closing due to flu concerns. For the time being, perhaps just ask your principal if s/he like a doctor's note/eval for his/her records. Otherwise let it rest, the word will get around if it hasn't already. PB

[Dindrane]

I don't think you need to do anything more than what you're doing, except perhaps explain to students who ask you about it.

In my case, walking quickly outside often makes my nose run.  It's worse when it's cold.  I have a 15 minute walk from the bus stop to my office, so I always get to work all congested.  Blowing my nose once is usually enough to take care of it.

On top of that, I have awful allergies right now, so I've been sneezing a lot, and been more congested than usual.  Worse, it's the kind of congestion that never completely goes away.  I reassure my co-workers every few days that I'm really not sick, it's just allergies.

But, then again, two people in the office so far have come down with flu-like illnesses (even if it's just a bad cold, it's a nasty one that no one wants to get).  I think people do have slightly more than average cause for concern, but they still don't ask me about my sneezing - I bring it up to reassure them without any prompting.

[Suze]

I **Hate** this time of year

(dust from dead leaves - fields = sneezing fits)

so you never know who is "sick" and who just has allergies. (including for myself - am I sneezing cause it is fall - or am I sneezing cause it is a cold)