If your hayfever is bad right now..

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Hi

My DD’s hayfever is horrible at the moment. She has just started taking Fexofenadine but it doesn’t seem to be helping.

It always gets bad during June and then is horrendous by mid-June. I can’t remember when things start to improve for her though.

For anyone else whose hayfever is awful at the moment, when do things start to improve? I feel as though by August so it’s definitely not all summer.

I highly recommend she gets dymista nasal spray from the doctors on the top of the fexofenadine. Until I was prescribed this I was miserable with my hayfever, it isn't a cure all but it massively helps. Other nasal sprays will be recommended before this one because it's expensive but they aren't anywhere near as good.

My hayfever is awful right now. I know I'm allergic to grass pollen so it'll start to clear up when that dies down - it fluctuates every year depending on what the weather has been doing! Do you know what type of pollen she's allergic to? That might give you a rough guideline of when it may settle!

My hayfever is on-and-off all year round so I don't know much about specific summer triggers, but here are the things I do to help with mine when it gets bad! I had a four-month flare up earlier in the year which even fexofenadine couldn't touch, so I have some recent experience in the area 😅

1. Get your DD an allergy blood test if you can. Knowing the allergens that trigger her will be able to help if there are, say, any triggering plants in your garden or any foods you didn't realise might be making things worse. It can take a while to get the results, but it's well worth it.

2. Wear a face mask. I have a Respro allergy mask to wear when it gets really bad, but even a thin fabric mask can help block some of allergens from getting to her every time she breathes in.

3. Use a nasal spray. There are two kinds that work well for respiratory allergies; sprays that physically block the allergens from the nose, and medicated sprays as PP mentioned. Obviously it's best to consult with a doctor/pharmacist before using a medicated spray on top of the fexofenadine, but it's worth asking.

4. If she gets eye symptoms, sodium cromoglycate drops are a lifesaver! I get really watery eyes during a flare as well as allergic conjunctivitis, so these made a huge difference for me and could be really helpful if she suffers from those particular symptoms

5. These are expensive, so it's more of an "if you have one" suggestion, but an air purifier or dehumidifier in her room could reduce allergens and help to provide a getaway of sorts where her symptoms aren't as bad. I don't have one myself yet due to the cost, but I've heard a lot of good things about them and have seen several on Allergy UK's 'approved products' list.

I hope your DD feels better soon! Hayfever is really horrible, I hope she gets some relief.

Fexofenadine is shite! Most of the non drowsy antihistamines are rubbish. The only one that touches the sides is cetirizine hydrochloride. Piriton/Piriteze.
Hay-fever sufferer since I moved to Cornwall in 1981.

Cetirizine is the one that works best for me , I’ve only developed hayfever in the last year or so

I have to admit I've had good luck with loratadine and cetirizine, though everyone says fexofenadine is the best! I used chlorphenamine (Piriton) daily when I was younger and then promethazine (Phenergan) as an adult, but I decided to switch to a second-generation non-drowsy antihistamine after reading about the long-term side effects. That said, they do work well and if you're not going to be using them daily and all-year-round then I think I would deem it to be worth the risk on really bad days!

I tried fexofenadine with high hopes as a second generation antihistamine, I remember when it was prescription only. But it doesn't work for me at all. I only take something when it's very bad and some years I hardly need any. It's a risk I'm prepared to take so I can leave the house on bad days.

Not much use for now, but it helps to start taking daily antihistamine a month or so before the main allergen time as gives the body more time to help block the reaction better. If waiting till symptoms occur then are less effective.

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions.

We have previously tried cetirizine, loratadine and piriton. To be honest none of them seem to make much difference,

Re the air purifier, we have one and I think it does make a difference. We are away at the moment so maybe not having the air purifier is why it’s gone from bad to awful.

My hunch is that this is a grass pollen issue especially as it’s followed us from home to where we are visiting and a walk in the hills away from gardens yesterday seemed to worsen things.

The thought of DD having to deal with this on a yearly basis is not pleasant.

Where’s the best place to get away from grass pollen I wonder? Do people fair better by the sea!?

The hayfever jab is really good if she’s old enough for it! Assuming she is if she’s taking Fexofenidine

I take fexofenadine now as cetrizine did nothing but make me feel dizzy and nauseas. It does seem to work alongside nasal spray and eye drops.

When we went to Devon last year I really hoped being by the sea would help as people have told me the sea air blows all the pollen away, but it must be a myth as sadly it didn't work for me!

Maybe worth trying the GP, there's a stronger fexofenadine they can prescribe and another antihistamine if that doesn't work.
Original Piriton did work for me, but you have to get over the drowsy feeling, so possibly not good for a child. I was 18 when mine started. My trigger was white flowering tree
/shrub pollen.

I've found this good for my eyes. 100 x better than any other hayfever drops.
https://www.simplymedsonline.co.uk/allergy-and-otc-hay-fever/hycosan-dual-01-preservative-free-eye-drops-75ml.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20752102299&gclid=CjwKCAjw9NjRBhATEiwA_p2J8TTYRamJMrDiCzY_E1odBPuX6JEBkCw2zMutGZwFc9Hg-4XUX0J40BoCbqQQAvD_BwE

Piriton works but makes me feel dreadful.
Even taken at night I feel awful the next day.
Agree that it's no good taking any anti histamine as and when.
You need to start before the symptoms start and take regularly.

Have also found this soothing.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BlinkBetter-CicaRoller-Cooling-Roller-Eyelids/dp/B0G65HJ3SF/ref=asc_df_B0G65HJ3SF?mcid=6787c92e78e13ca781ab7f4f5aa62b6c&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=806072283341&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2306248594140167962&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045880&hvtargid=pla-2485601557137&psc=1&hvocijid=2306248594140167962-B0G65HJ3SF-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

None of the over counter ones work for DS. He has leverocetrazine prescribed at double the normal recommended dose which does the trick for him.

If it's Fexofenadine 120 mg you have tired ask the GP for Fexofenadine 180 mg to see if that helps.
Wearing sunglasses helps my DD a bit. It's rubbish.

DD was prescribed this when she went to dermatology for allergy testing, it's works really well.

DH had severe hay fever every year until he started eating kefir everyday. He makes his own because it has more good bacteria in it than the shop bought stuff, but basically he went on a bit of a health kick, part of that was sorting out his gut bacteria. We only noticed later on that his allergies had disappeared, so hay fever being a big one, but paper, dust and mould too.

You buy the grains to get started from Amazon/health shops. It eats the lactose in the milk i think. I believe there are also water grains too, but Google is your friend. I have no scientific evidence for this just that I have been with this man for 30 years of him suffering and now he doesn't, his life is so much better. He necks a small glass of it before bed every night.

Antihistamines should be started much earlier, beginning of March at the latest.

I would check with a pharmacist or someone, but it should be ok to take double of the fexofenadine. I’ve been doing that for a couple of years now for allergies/hayfever. I was told by a hospital consultant that it was ok to double it after I had a bit of an allergic reaction to something after a small op. This might be enough to help for a while. Take it as early in the day as possible and for future years start taking antihistamines before hayfever season (for her) starts.
Mine is still bad on the worst days, but then I just take something like loratadine or cetrizine later in the day as well. Obviously check with someone if your daughter is taking any other meds or has health conditions, but I definitely found taking two instead of one helped more.

I’ve had to go to the GP with mine it’s horrific. 180mg fenofexadine and he’s prescribed me ventolin as one of the new symptoms are tight chest and wheezing. Never had asthma in my 30 years.
until I had the prescription I could not keep on top of it

This is really interesting. DD and I do eat kefir most days but I’m going to try ensuring she has it every day.

I’ll look into making my own as well.