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 😩

steroid nasal spray.
solves all my symptoms

That’s a good idea, I’d never thought of that for some reason 😂

Go with your own research gained from this thread and suggest some options to them. Insist on it. Get a different GP if possible.

I suffered unnecessarily for years because of unhelpful GPs who just prescribed me cetirizine (which barely works for me) or said there was nothing they could do, until I saw one who recommended fexefofadine which at that point was not widely used in the UK. It was such a game changer and I began to enjoy summers again.

Sympathies. My allergies are getting worse with age. Also have exercise-induced asthma, tinnitus, constant fatigue and very sensitive eyes, and ongoing sinus issues. I was referred to an ENT in January (via private health care) and recommend it if possible. He was very thorough - hearing test, camera up nose and down throat, cleared my ears out, did bloods (main allergy is dust mites but also pollen).

He prescribed a month of steroids to be taken nasally (Budenosode; amazing) and twice-daily saline rinses (I use Neilmed). It really helped. Now maintaining with Dymista nasal spray, the Neilmed rinses, and an air purifier, plus fexofenadine at night. Dymista needs a prescription; in the meantime I found Sterimar and Beconase did help a bit.

I do think allergies and hayfever are undertreated and brushed off. I still feel exhausted on hot days in the afternoon - sore eye and throat - and often have to have a nap. I have found it debilitating, which you would if you whole immune system is constantly responding to something. I am lucky to have private healthcare which helped get seen quickly. GPs often seem very dismissive of it.

Hope that helps.

Sympathies. It is just dreadful at this point in the year.

I love the days I commute to the city. A few lungfuls of pollution make me feel much better.

I find I swim a lot more at this time of year. The pool water seems to do a really good job of clearing the pollen from my eyes…it’s more effective than a shower for some reason.

Doesn’t help I’m menopausal and just starter hrt this week so mixture of the two I just feel bloody dreadful!

OTC steroid nasal spray for me too. Nothing else really effective

@keebo. I’m interested to know what the acupuncturist did and how many sessions you needed. I’ve found it very helpful for other stuff.

I had it along side other things both times. I think the hayfever involved a couple of needles either side in my wrists, those were lung points. 3 sessions was enough the second time round, I don't remember the first time, sorry. But normally I'd have horrific sneezing and unbelievably itchy eyes and nose, with acupuncture, literally nothing! Plus you get to lie still with no interruptions during the treatment which is pretty dreamy!

@burntoutnurse When you say nasal spray, do you mean anti-histamine spray? I use Sterimar salt spray to clear nostrils and sinuses of pollen. Also, shower and hair wash before bed to remove pollen etc so you don't spend the night sleeping in allergens. I also use anti histamine eye drops. I've been ok so far this year.

You poor thing, no help at the moment but I seem to have grown out of it, I used to get it so badly I could barely function. I still get itchy eyes occasionally but I use drops and that sorts it out. One of the benefits of aging. I'm presuming you already use Beconase ?

Yeah all antihistamine allergy stuff. Tablets, eye drops and nasal spray (octrivine I think it’s called) weekend has been completely ruined by it! Even though the weathers been crap!

@burntoutnurse Try the sinus wash, it's quick and easy. It was a game changer for my hay-fever.

Yeah the netipot rinses have made a big difference to me. Do them morning and night.

Also tried everything, now just take lots of piriton. Had a 3 year course of Kenalog, which got progressively stronger. Unfortunately I had an anaphylactic shock and almost died. I wasn't warned about side effects. I was 14 and alone at the GP surgery. I was given adrenaline and not warned what that would do either. Frightened the life out of me.