Losing my mind with hayfever this year, anyone else?

[Embelline]

I look like I've been crying, DH can't stop sneezing and three year old DS is congested, snotty and has today developed a congested cough - his eczema is also flaring up. The usual antihistamines seem to be doing nothing this year - I've had to give DS Ventolin for the first time this year as well.

Just looking for solidarity really, misery loves company an' all that!

I paid for the vaccine. Best thing I did!

Oh god yes. Even with strong antihistamines my throat is sore, my eyes and nose are streaming, and I'm itching all over.

Without them my eyes and throat actually swell shut. I've never suffered as badly as I am this year.

@mrsneate what is the vaccine and how did you get it? How much is it?

How do you get the injection/ vaccine?

Ds1 had the injection through a beautician. It isn’t a vaccine, it’s just injected.

it helped and got him through exam period but even so his hay fever has been really bad this year. There was a period of about two weeks where he basically stayed in his room with the door shut

It's my eyes this year, they won't stop streaming. I came home the other day and had no make up on one eye! It's hurting the skin underneath my eye now too.

There is no vaccine for hay fever.

You can get a steroid injection to temporarily suppress your immune response - you can get that from your GP.

Or there is a sublingual (tablet) immunotherapy treatment, but it is not widely available due to cost and the risk of allergic reaction.

Thanks @TheYearOfSmallThings

What are people getting from beauticians that helps with hayfever? I've never been to a beautician in my life so don't know what is offered anyway!

I'm wondering if the previous poster's son means Kenalog, which isn't used by the NHS because it can leave you more vulnerable to other infections.

I believe some beauticians administer it, although they are not supposed to advertise it as a hay fever treatment.

Oh, it looks like the NHS is now doing no steroid injections for hay fever. Desensitisation is available in theory, but basically not in practice.

SUDAFED!

It dries all the sinuses up and lets you breathe again.

I take a higher dose of Fexofenadine, prescribed my my GP. I do find it works alot better. My allergies are even worse in Winter though and nothing really touches it then. Vividren eye drops are good too.

Yes the injection was kenalog. Worth the risks to get him through six weeks of a level exams

Absolutely killing me. Keeping me up most nights. I'm bfing so can't use any other antihistamines than the standard loratadine 🙄

I bought fexofenadine after seeing it recommended online and also a nurse recommended it at an appointment for another issue - if anything my symptoms.got worse! I've found nasal spray and benadryl are the only things which help, but benadryl makes me go to sleep!

I'm also underwhelmed by fexofenadine. (She types while sneezing again.)

I’m propped up again unable to sleep because I’m so blocked up. I don’t want to keep using nasal spray as they’re addictive and I find they can be counter productive - they’ve actually lengthened my blocked nose symptoms before and I had to wean myself off them.

I thought I actually had a virus or something for the last two weeks because I felt so bad with it and it’s only because it hasn’t gone away and has got worse whenever the pollen count really spiked that I realised it has to be hayfever

It's bad this year. Coughing up gunk. Wak up coughing. My usual preventor for asthma isn't cutting it . My GP prescribed "Betamethasone tablets: steroid for allergies and swelling - NHS" https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/betamethasone-tablets/

It might be worth trying.

The reason you cough is that the mucus in your nose drips down the back of your throat and slinks onto your lungs.

I don't own shares in SUDAFED but SUDAFED will dry up the mucus in your nose and stop the drip which stops the cough.

I don't know why nobody uses it, it should be standard if anti-histamines fail.

@AlisonDonut i appreciate what you’re saying but I tried the sudofed spray for a bit and the tablets and they improved it a little bit but not hugely, so in my view it’s not worth keeping up the nasal spray which is addictive, for a tiny bit of relief. It’s good that it works for some people though!

Sudafed tablets, not the spray. It is literally what they do.

As I said, tried the tablets, they didn't help but thanks for the suggestion. Been to the GP today and have something else on prescription now so hopefully that will help.

Ask your GP for montelukast. It’s mainly for asthma but will clear up hayfever practically overnight. It’s like a godsend for me although I don’t recommend taking long term.