Hayfever this year. Worse than ever.

[WellTidy]

Never hayfever until I moved to London. Every year, it gets worse and worse. It started about two weeks ago and I know it will last into May.

My throat and mouth are incredibly itchy, eyes are itchy too (but less so) and very puffy. Sneezing and having to blow my nose lots, but this is no big deal compared to the bloody itchiness.

What can I take or do? Cetirizine and loratidine (sp?) which I buy over the counter do nothing at all. I’ve heard of eating honey from local bees every day for six months before symptoms start but obviously it is too late for that.

Beconase, or flixonase.

I was just thinking the same thing, I want to claw my eyes out first thing in the morning and last thing at night!

Avamys nasal spray is the only one that works for me but it might be prescription only. I agree, worse than ever at the moment, I never normally have itchy eyes but the past week or so, ouch!

I take 2 ceturizine daily, 1 early evening before the pollen drops and one in the morning. Beconase nasal spray twice daily - this takes a few days to kick in though.

I always wear sunglasses, even if it is overcast - they are wrap around ones to reduce the pollen getting to my eyes. If my eyes do go, I use whatever hay fever eye drops I can find.

If it gets really bad, a put Vaseline round my nostrils, if nothing else it stops them getting too sore from all the blowing

I will shut bedroom windows early evening too and try to avoid drying bed sheets on the line as I’ve read that can help.

I take anti histamines daily as I get it year round (have other allergies too) but the last few days I've felt awful. Went to pharmacy and they gave me a nasal spray which has helped a little, so I don't think you have to get these on prescription.

Thank you. I’ve ordered the beconase spray on amazon and I should receive it on Wednesday.

I’ve stopped drying bedding on the outdoor clothes line too. I will try the Vaseline on the nostrils thing as it can’t hurt. I grew up rurally and had no hayfever or allergies at all. I find it incredible that I’m so affected by it when I’m living in a city.

Beconase generally works for me but I do sometimes have to take a tablet as well ok really high pollen days.

You have to take it for a few days before it properly kicks in so stick with it if it doesn’t appear to help straight away.

I don’t always get hayfever but this year has been awful. Only 2 days so far, but I’m taking cetirizine twice a day, once before bed (otherwise I’m awake at 4ish sneezing) and then late morning. Couple of days have been really bad. Not my usual symptoms though. Usually I have it in my throat and ears. This time I’m sneezing and coughing with tight chest and a wheeze.

Mine has just started. I’m on fexofenadine which helps. (You’ll need a GP though!)

@WellTidy I grew up rurally too and didn’t have hay fever until I moved to London. I have been told though (by the lady who showed DD’s class around Kew Gardens) that it’s caused by tree pollen from Plane trees and that London has the highest amount of plane trees in the UK.

Opticrom eye drops were recommended by my GP. They are a godsend. Perhaps your GP would also prescribe a stronger antihistamine over the phone. If not, get it next year.

Opticrom eye drops are brilliant. For some bizarre reason I don’t get hay fever every year but when I do my eyes look as if they are huge itchy water blisters.
Benydryl 3 a day tablets are good for me, the drug in some of the others just has no effect but my grandson is round the other way
My husbands is dreadful this year

Opticrom are now available over the counter

I’ve found it really bad this year. Try the Benadryl tablets that last 8 hours. Acrivastine. They work incredibly well for me, they kick in quickly and don’t cause any drowsiness.

I’ve been massively struggling. This was last night. Slightly better tonight. It’s unbearable.

Also on fexofenidine as prescribed by GP. Absolute game changer. Last summer one evening I walked through a park with freshly cut grass and only ended up with a slightly runny nose. Unmedicated I couldn't even think about that.

Fexofenadine doesn’t make a dent in it for me unfortunately.

EasterDisaster have you tried montelukast? I think it's mainly for asthma but I've used it when my hayfever peaks in August and I get wheezy.

@ursuslemonade no I haven’t tried that. Last year is the first time I’ve suffered with hayfever. Luckily it doesn’t make me wheezy but my eyes are horrendous! This was my eyes last year.

I take fexofenadine all year round at well above the max dosage for another condition. Such a pain it doesn’t help me with this.

I presume you've tried cetirizine, loratidine...
I've just bought opticrom for my eyes as the itching started.

I’ve just bought everything listed on this thread that I can buy over the counter. Thank you. They’re all arriving at different times over the next week, so hopefully I will be able to work out which is having an effect!

That is very interesting about the plane trees *Esther. Does your last until mid May or so and then go? Ds 12yo also has hay fever and his starts at round then. I will be getting him something to take in advance.

Have you tried red light therapy (allergy reliever is the proper term)? They are prongs you put in your nostrils a couple of times a day for a few minutes.

We've also found that it's much worse than normal this year! No advice other than use balsam tissues and Vaseline to save your nose. And use nasal spray, eye drops and tablets to attack from three different points.

I need to start using steroid nasal spray before the season starts so I start it around mid march. I am definitely massively allergic to the plane trees, I used to work near Green Park and couldn't walk through it all when it was pollen season.