Is this hay fever.?? Really suffering, esp eyes - what can I do?

[weedsneedcutting]

I have had mild hay fever some years past, not every year and not severely.

For last couple of weeks I thought I had a cold. But then eyes started feeling itchy, and wondered if it was hay fever, though I don't usually get it. Then I took kids to park and my eyes were so itchy and uncomfortable they swelled up and I could hardly see, so I was then sure it was hay fever.

But then this weekend, my eyes have been so bad. I have abandoned my contact lenses. But still, my eyes have been so sore and itchy I've been involuntarily rubbing them every couple of minutes. I bought hay fever eye drops, but they hurt when I put them in and didn't seem to help at all, and I've taken an anti-histamine tablet last few days and I'm not sure I notice a big difference.

But my eyes have been so bad, esp of an evening, then friends say it can't be hay fever cos the eyes wouldn't be so bad at night and they are definitely worse at night. The only think that helps is pressing cold damp clothes to them.

I have had some discharge, but not gooey like with conjunctivitis, but really hard, spiky and sharp which is agony on may already swollen sore eye lids. It's woken me several times the past couple of nights with the itching and pain from sharp spikes.

Went to doctor today and she said she thinks it is allergy (hay fever), and prescribed some different drops, and said it's likely I might start getting stronger allergic reactions to loads of stuff.

Oh and my chest and throat (breathing not swallowing) feels tight.

So, does this sound like hay fever and apart from trying the different drops and cold cloths, can I do anything. Is the heightened allergic response true/likely?

Will I ever be able to wear my contacts again (wail)

as i have gotten older my hay fever has gotten worse. it's worse on a morning and on an early evening and is often my sinuses swelling up, itchy eyes and ears feel waxy as well as a runny nose. i take hay fever tablets (i get them from the chemist - none branded as it only costs £2.99 for 30 tablets) i have found some work better than others. i also use sudafed nasal spray when my sinuses swell up which reduces the swelling so i can breathe. i also find having a shower/bath on a night gets rid of the pollen and sometimes a little vaseline around the nostrils helps (Not very romantic though!). since suffering from hay fever since about the age of twenty i have now developed an allergy to dust - i always know when i need to polish! lol, as well as dog hairs (i have had a dog in my house all my life!!!! and never suffered until the last few years). My dog died recently and i have notice a huge difference to my allergies

This past couple of years I've developed full-on hay fever for the first time in my life (I'm 38). Last year I was pregnant so I couldn't take anything and it was hell and I couldn't wear my contacts for weeks. This year I've been taking Clarityn, but still suffering, so this morning I went to the doc and got a prescription for Beconase, which is a nasal spray that you can take in conjunction with anti-histamine. I'm hoping it will make a difference.

I feel your pain. It's really crap isn't it

I am really shocked that this is hay fever.
firstly, cos I'm so old! Secondly, hay fever always seems to be trivialised but I feel rotten.

I can't wear my contacts, yet hate going out in public in glasses. I genuinely feel ashamed and embarrassed, plus, then I can't wear sunglasses if I have my glasses on. And I can't get good prescription sunglasses to my prescription. It's a nightmare. And I read I am supposed to keep windows shut. SO when can you open them to get some fresh air in the house? I am proper gutted. And I feel like crap and my dh thinks I'm moaning about nothing. I think I'm also getting allergic to our cat then. Lucky she's not too affectionate ( ) My ears and back of my throat have been itching and tickley for weeks but I didn't realise.

Need a crash course in dos and don'ts. A beginners guide to hay fever.

Thanks for the shower at night tip. will try.