If you had had a cold on and off for at least three months would you go to the doctors

[foothesnoo]

Have had it for ages, thinking back almost since Easter, although not at the same level. Sometimes it's really bad, bunged up, nose blowing, sneezing a lot. Then it retreats to low level sniffle, sore throat, then comes back.

Sometimes my ears are blocked and eyes are gunky too.

I don't want to waste the docs time if it's 'just a virus' but can a virus last this long?

[handlemecarefully]

Jeez - yes I'd go to the doctor. You've been suffering for too long!

[WideWebWitch]

Yes I'd go but I'd also check:

You're eating well and healthily
You're getting enough sleep

because I think you can easily get generally run down so that colds hang on and on.

[fourlittlefeet]

definitely. what I thought was a cold ended up being rhinitis and a steriod spray ended months of misery within a week. go now!

[foothesnoo]

I do think i'm quite healthy most of the time. Am tired a lot of the time but I do have a commute and work f/t yada yada yada

[kingprawntikka]

Do you think it could be hayfever, it would fit with the timing ? If you haven't already ruled this out, you could try an anti-histamine and see if it helps.

[Sidge]

Sounds like it might be hayfever to me.

Try an antihistamine for a couple of weeks and see if that helps - if not then see your GP.

[foothesnoo]

Really, can you still get it at this time of year?

[Buda]

Def sounds like hay fever. It is really bad here in Budapest at the moment. And if it is not allergies to pollen it could be dust mites or something.

[fourlittlefeet]

yes, I think it sounds like an allergy too. may be pollution, hayfever is actually from a collection of allergens, most of which are tree pollens and not hay . If you don't want to go the antihistamine route, you could try the combination H tissue salts (homeopathic remedy) which works for me with grass pollens. as I said, I got a very low dose steroid spray from my doctor and the snotty nose, sore throat and grotty feelings went away. Its amazing how much it affects you; I couldn't really taste anything on and off for a couple of months which was awful.

[handlemecarefully]

"Can you still get it at this time of the year?"

Well I don't know if there are different types of hayfever, but I only suffer between end of May/June to end of July, so I was a little surprised to hear the hayfever suggestions.

[RubberDuck]

I used to get hayfever just for 2 weeks in March (treepollen) but last couple of years I've had it late Feb through to October time, so not impossible. I think the later months are due to various mould spores in the air, from memory, but could be wrong about that.