Calling all hayfever sufferers…

[burntoutnurse]

Please tell me what works for you!

I’ve tried everything. All antihistamines over the counter. Currently naughtily taking two Alevia’s a day. I’ve got the nasal spray, and eye drops.

im taking local honey.
I’ve also tried

the wipes and Vaseline as a barrier.

I’ve heard some people sting themselves daily on nettles. I’m literally at the end of my tether about to try this…

im booked in for the kenelog injection next week.

but I am miserable, irritable and exhausted with it. I go on holiday next Thursday so need to feel better soon 😩

Sympathies. I'm having a tough year this year.

I had a (steroid) injection when I did my a levels. Not recommended for every year but it is an option.

I was reading about nettles this week! They said you don't have to be stung by them. You can make nettle tea or other recipes - but have to have it in March ie at the start of the season to help. Local honey makes me worse, not better.

Going to the sea is the only thing that really helps me, on bad years.

Best of luck.

I start my antihistamines in January. If I don’t my eyes are practically unusable from March onwards.

Nasal rinse (netipot with the supplied salt/bicarb mix) after being outside for a long time and before bed, max 3x a day.

Plus OTC Loratadine and occasional nasal spray.

This combination has reduced my symptoms to bearable levels. Promethazine, prescribed by an online pharmacy, was brilliant for the hayfever symptoms but sadly made me very drowsy, so had to stop taking it.

Desensitisation. Truly life changing, but not a quick option, I feel into the middle category (neither cured or no reaction)- it’s reduced my reaction and now my HF is manageable with medication.

I take Fexofenadine and Dymista nasal spray, I’m still looking for great eye drops - used to use Rapitil but it’s been discontinued (?)

I combine nasal spray and fexofenadine, but you're already doing that... I find the online advice unrealistic, e.g. close all the windows, don't go outside, shower and change your clothes every time you come in, as that's not really living. However, I do make sure I have the air recirculation on in my car, and wear sunglasses as much as possible and I think both of these things help very slightly. Hopefully your holiday will be somewhere without/with different allergens and you'll feel better?

DS was on fexofenadine, montelukast, eye drops and a nasal spray when his was bad.

That was combined with keeping his bedroom window closed, showering and hair wash as soon as he got home and not drying any of his laundry outdoors.

Unbelievably he’s not needed anything this year!

Nothing over the counter worked for DS - now has prescriptions for both AH and nasal spray and it's been a total game changer.

The only thing that works for me is Phenergen, but it makes me drowsy so I only take it at night. I had the hay fever jab last year but it didn't help at all. I feel your pain.

Speak to a GP. Stop trying to manage it on your own if v debilitating.

I've started fenofexideine on advice from the nurse practitioner. Plus becconase nasal spray and inhaler twice a day. I'm so used to rhinitis symptoms now I barely know any different!

Bought from online pharmacy:

Fexofenadine 180mg (1 per day)
Flixonase Nasal Spray (2 sprays per nostril)
Opticrom 2% Eye Drops (use as needed)

Since taking the above, I have had no hayfever whatsoever

Take the daily antihistamine all year round, don’t wait for spring and symptoms. Makes a big difference - I know that doesn’t help this season but don’t stop taking them when your symptoms stop. Hopefully next year will be better!

Fexofenadine nasal spray- it take about 2 weeks to be really effective
Allergy eye drops when needed

Also OTC antihistamine tablets on bad days

I take TreatHay and use Benacort nasal spray. First thing. For the last two years symptoms have been way better. Eyes still itch but not as bad. It's horrid.

I'm taking 240g Fexofenadine and I have told my GP I will take 360g if needed. I have read it can be prescribed upto 840g by a consultant

I start antihistamines about a month before hay-fever season starts, so they build up in my system first. Then during the worst of the season I use Dymista nasal spray which is the absolute best.

3 Fexofenadine per day (spaced out throughout the day), first one around 4am as that's when it starts.2-3 Benadryl per day. 2 Pirteze per day. 4-5 of those cheap hayfever tablets you get in Home Bargains. Eye drops several times per day, nasal spray throughout the day. Hayfever wipes, (the only thing that will stop my eyes itching), and Vaseline applied regularly.

Acupuncture is a game changer! I've had horrific hayfever in the past and had acupuncture for it a few years ago and not needed any drugs since. Apparently it wears off a bit so I'll need some top-up sessions maybe next year but then all good for another few years. Although not cheap, overall it's probably less than buying all the drugs for several months each year!

Fexofenadine, nasal spray and eye drops. Nurse told me that I (and teen DS) can double up on Fexofenadine on bad days (one in the morning, one in the evening) and also take one of the bog standard over the counter antihistamines that work differently (apparently) to Fexofenadine. Not heard to hay-fever wipes, so will look in to those. We've been told nasal rinsing is the best, but neither of us can bear the thought of trying.

See your GP and see what they suggest. Kenalog is not licensed for use for hayfever due to its health risks and side effects.

Too late for this year but taking antihistamines well before the pollen season is due to start can help. I’m not taking my own advice on this as I’ve forgotten to take them early this year!

I’ve had times where I’m using antihistamine, eye drops, nasal spray and Vaseline and still suffering. On those occasions, sitting/sleeping by an air purifier fan (I have Dyson ones) always works.

I thought neti pots worked like a charm. I also did some yogic breathing exercises that would help drain the sinuses.

I take Fexofenadine, but I have to take it first thing, before I eat anything for it to be most effective. But the absolute game changer for me is that I don't eat tomatoes from late April til Well into July. They contain histamine. Maybe you could look up a list of histamine containing foods and see if any of these are a trigger for you.

I had Kenalog January to March for 3 years. The last injection caused an anaphylactic shock, frightened the life out of me. However, hay fever is slightly better, although I may have grown out of it.

I have perennial rhinitis with a horrible tree pollen allergy.
I use a Sterimar spray twice a day, followed by a Sudafed type spray to clear my nose (there’s only a couple of brands contain the only thing that seems to work - xylometalozine hydrochloride - I know you’re not supposed to use them for more than a set period, but hey ho I’ve used them for years).
I have fexofenadine on prescription (now sold otc as Allevia, but the prescription pill is a higher dose. Have been taking this since I was a teenager).
And just to top up I take an otc Cetirizine or Loratadine every morning.
Plus prescribed eye drops.
it took a long to time to hit on this combo but it works.
I also have mild asthma and was prescribed Montelukast a couple of years ago. It does nothing for the asthma as it’s so well controlled, but within a couple of days my nose was unblocked and I had a sense of smell! So I take that too. Sounds a lot but I’m 64 and have no other ailments at all 🙄

PS also had many rounds of desensitising jabs as a child with zero effect. My asthma is caused by allergies (dogs and horses mainly) but these have reduced greatly with age. I learned to ride when I was 40.