Is anyone else's hay fever absolutely excruciating this year?

[QuimReaper]

I've suffered with hay fever since I was ten, but the last couple of years it has been fairly manageable - this is probably partly to do with the fact that a few years ago I developed chronic urticaria, which I control with very strong antihistamines morning and evening. I haven't actually really needed the evening dose much lately, but I've started taking it again because I keep waking up in the night wanting to claw the roof of my mouth off, and itching like crazy. I'm sneezing and itching all day and all night, I can't even imagine how badly I'd be suffering if I didn't have prescription strength antihistamines on my side.

Could it be something to do with the lockdown affecting the environment, I wonder?

Or is it just me?!

The reason I ask is that my husband hasn't been suffering at all His hay fever is a lot milder than mine, but he does suffer when the pollen count is high, which if it is to do with the environment being cleaner or whatever, would surely affect him too. I'm wondering if there's been some kind of pollen mutation which I'm being especially affected by.

Yes mine has been really bad this year too - it started a few weeks earlier than usual too, because of the warm weather I suppose.

I had been taking Zirtec (cetirizine) daily for a few weeks (normally I only need to take it on days with a particularly high pollen count) but I have stopped now, as I was getting side effects of nausea and dizziness.

A few days of rain has calmed it down a bit for now, so I’m happy about that!

Normally I’m in an air conditioned office during the week, so lockdown may having an effect in that sense.

Also, there’s a lot less air pollution around, that might make a difference too (my hay fever has always been worse in the countryside than in the city)

Mine has been awful! It doesn't help I live next to a woods and I can see the tree pollen falling off at times! It's mad!
Honestly last night I was almost convinced it must be covid because I was so chesty, snotty and achey.
I've ordered a relief band from amazon, might be worth a go as a lot of people I know have said they've really helped.

Mine is awful this year too, and started much earlier than usual in February. I just wish I could find an antihistamine that doesn’t make me drowsy!

Yes! I don't generally think of myself as a hayfever sufferer, so I don't know if it's becaus I'm more aware of it this year when it can't be a cold, I haven't seen anyone to catch one but I've had sore eyes, runny nose and a scratchy throat since lockdown started.

Worst year ever
Had a horrible time with the tree pollen and then when that eases the grass pollen has now got me
Not a good year to have a cough and itchy eyes

Everyone I know with even the slightest pollen allergy is suffering very badly this year.

Yes. I looked like I had been a round in a boxing ring last week- huge, puffy, streaming eyes.

I’m suffering more than usual because I’m furloughed, therefore I’m not spending 8 hours a day in an air-conditioned office breathing lovely filtered air. I’m taking Loratadine to control my symptoms, because it’s the only non-prescription antihistamine which doesn’t knock me out.

Plenty of people have bigger things to worry about than hay fever at the moment, so I can’t complain too much.

Yes, I've had it all day every day since February.

My son's is much worse this year

Yes! I've also been waking up through the night with an itchy throat/mouth. 3 hours I slept last night because of the itching and my nose kept constantly running. My tongue feels numb and sore an I can hardly smell or taste. My mum's just brought be some hayfever relief wipes and I'm taking one a day tablets but if I get worse I'm going to have to try get something prescribed.