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Original poster

I am in hell with hayfever

53 replies

Nasalhell · 09/06/2023 20:08

I assume it's hayfever but it could be that combined with a summer cold. It feels hellish...I can hardly see with streaming sore eyes, sinuses are clogged and painful, ears hurt, headache, cheekbones hurt, sore throat and so so tired.
It's miserable. It's a beautiful evening and I am shut away in my bedroom. I want to be outside enjoying it.
I get hayfever every year but this is abnormally severe. I was like this around four weeks ago for two weeks, thinking it was a bad cold at the time, which makes me wonder if it's a cold on top of hayfever again?
What on earth can I do to ease it? I am taking fexofenadine daily and ibuprofen. Not sure what else I can do.
Help please

OP posts:
KevinDeBrioche · 09/06/2023 20:08

Same. I can’t function at all.

lampformyfeet · 09/06/2023 20:10

You need cromoglycate eye drops. Game changer. They sting a bit but take all the itch away. Pharmacies sell them but I think supermarkets might too.

Iwantcakeeveryday · 09/06/2023 20:11

Oh I feel for you, I have just got over a nasty bout of it myself, lasted 2 weeks. I take allevia as recommended by my gp and if I get a headache I also take ibuprofen. I also do steam inhalations and nasal rinsing, which is probably the most helpful thing. Hope you feel better soon.

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Original poster
Nasalhell · 09/06/2023 20:11

I want to claw my face off

OP posts:
insatiableme · 09/06/2023 20:11

I have been the same made me absolutely miserable. I went too the pharmacy and the pharmacist prescribed eye drops and a nasal spray along side the antihistamines. Really helped.

BreehyHinnyBrinnyHoohyHah · 09/06/2023 20:13

You might also be ill. I tested positive for Covid yesterday and that's pretty much my list of symptoms.

Fucket · 09/06/2023 20:18

I’ve been on fexofenadine for years and I have always noticed that whenever I take ibuprofen it stops the antihistamine from working.

so perhaps avoid ibuprofen and see if that improves things for you?

AwakeButTired · 09/06/2023 20:21

Ideally the whole family would do the same… you need to keep pollen out of the house to give your body a break.

Shower before bed
Dry all clothes inside (especially bedding)
Outdoor clothes off at the front door - put into washing machine. Shower, then out on clean clothes
Sunglasses on at all times when outdoors
Vaseline in corners of eyes inside nose to trap pollen
Nasal rinse and eye wash in between medication
Rinse fringe (if you have one regularly
Put a sheet over your bed in the day and remove before sleeping
If windows are open in bedrooms, shut the curtains
Consider an air purifier that traps pollen
COLD drink for throat/ top of mouth to calm reactions

I also try eating onions and local honey, but don’t know how much this works.

Fexofenadine + Olopatadine work well for me, plus a nasal spray, but it helps to do other things.

It pains me to dry clothes indoors, but if they’re outside, then they're gathering pollen throughout the day.

The whole family needs to be onboard. I feel for you.

Cindy1802 · 09/06/2023 20:26

My husband got the hay-fever injection last weekend and swears that it's working already. You can't get it on the NHS as there are side affects so not for everyone, but he weighed up the benefits vs the risks and decided to get it privately. Kenalog I believe its called.

I'm also glad he did because he is miserable when he's suffering, and snores like a blooming train!!

DittoDaisy · 09/06/2023 20:30

I was literally wrote a thread saying the same thing. The fatigue is killing me this year! I have a sore throat, headache, clocked sinuses, but have feel asleep 4 times today when just trying to work!

tillyandmilly · 09/06/2023 20:33

My sister is suffering like she has never suffered before! Tablets not working!

Goldenphoenix · 09/06/2023 20:36

Kenalog injection privately. My husband was really ill each summer for about 8 weeks with Hayfever before he had the injection. He says the potential side effects are worth it for him because he was in such misery before. Second year of him having the injection and it's been a revelation for him (and me!)

sallydoodlecat · 09/06/2023 20:40

I've had it so badly for decades. This year I've tried a new spray called Benacort. I spray first thing and take a Treathay (fexofenadine) every morning as soon as I wake. And (touch wood) this year it's gone. I can't quite believe it. It's the first spring/summer where we've had a dog so I'm out walking in woods and fields and I'm still ok. I am still getting itchy eyes so will try the eye drops mentioned earlier. My usual drops aren't working. Hope it eases for you all. Hay fever is so debilitating and people don't realise how rotten it makes you feel.

INeedAnotherName · 09/06/2023 20:44

Try a nasal spray such as Beconase and an eye wipe if they are really bad as GP will suggest that first. Are you using OTC Fexofenadine or prescription as there are two different strengths. Are you taking one tablet in morning and one at night? Just because it says one a day on packet the instructions inside usually say one tablet in an 8 hour period.

Fexofenadine doesn't work for me unless I get the rash/blisters as well but Cetirizine seems to help my itchy eyes more but my DD swears by 3x Chlorphenamine as she can space the 3 tablets out every 6 hours to provide more constant relief. So...try different types.

ZillionDayStreak · 09/06/2023 20:54

Long cool shower. Closed windows. Freshly washed sheets that have been dried inside. Eye drops. Stronger antihistamine. Air purifier running all day in the room with windows and door closed.

Original poster
Nasalhell · 09/06/2023 21:18

It's prescription fexofenadine maximum strength. I have tried beconase and found it ineffective. I've been on nasacort nasal spray which is a steroid prescribed spray and that also has been ineffective.
I've just had my head over a bowl of steam inhaling, hoping that eases my sinuses a little.
Going to sign off as struggling to read and type but will come back to this tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions, and sorry to anyone also suffering.

OP posts:
dontchaknow · 09/06/2023 23:09

Acupuncture is supposed to help with hay fever. Worth a punt if you want to avoid drugs or if they're not working for you?

Mindovermatter247 · 09/06/2023 23:15

I was the same Sunday-Tuesday… on Monday my eyes were blurry and I’m surprised I made it though work with no mistakes. As I’m typing this now my eyes are streaming… hay fever is a different breed this year…🥺😭

Esmee1 · 10/06/2023 08:59

Also bad hayfever this year .. and my son is struggling too! I try and stay indoors as much as possible and we shower when we come home.

It helps but I would love to be able to sit in the garden without a blocked nose and streaming eyes / itcy throat!

AlisonDonut · 10/06/2023 09:05

Sudafed will dry up your sinuses. Make a world of a difference.

RhosynBach · 10/06/2023 09:08

I’ve had kenalog this year. I’ve still got hayfever but I think it’s milder than it would be without the steroid jab as over the counter tablets are keeping it at bay for the most part and it isn’t waking me up at night like it used to. I think pollen must be crazy crazy high at the moment though

TidyDancer · 10/06/2023 09:09

It does seem to be a really bad year for it doesn't it? I'm struggling with my eyes and breathing, it's not fun! Reasonably well controlled with tablets in my case but DP was struggling until he got the kenalog injection. DS pissed off that he's too young for it bless him. Really annoyingly it's not available on the NHS anymore, but DP went to a private doctor in Herts (bit of a drive because we're near the border with Beds!) and he was symptom free within a few days.

Bunnycat101 · 10/06/2023 09:11

I’m struggling this year- the last week has suddenly really hit me and I’m super tired. I didn’t know there was a vaccination so will have a look at that.

Blueuggboots · 10/06/2023 09:18

Have you tried an acupressure band? My partner does not believe any "woo" stuff but this has been a game changer for her....

Qu-Chi Hayfever Band - The Acupressure Arm Band amzn.eu/d/96zOX2D

Within 20 minutes of wearing it, her symptoms disappear, she now takes antihistamines about three times a year.

EmmaEmerald · 10/06/2023 09:20

I had this till I used over the counter Piriton - it's a different ingredient than the one you can just buy. Hope this helps someone!