Hay fever, help!

[Amelia4991]

Me and my two children suffer with hay fever even though we are taking antihistamine from the GP.

Have tried the usual:
close the windows
using the fan
dehumidifier

Anything else I can try please let me hear it...

Vaseline up the nose.

Use opticrom eye drops.

My dd has allergies to pollen so takes cetirizine but tends to suffer worse with her skin (hives and eczema flare) she does sneeze and get itchy eyes but skin is the worse symptom. You all may not suffer with skin issues but our tips are : ensure especially bedding, pj's and towels are tumble dried rather than line drying out in pollens. Dry most clothing indoors where possible. Shower for relief as pollens stick to body and especially hair. Remember pets can be covered in pollen too and bring it in the home so keep them out of bedrooms. Ensure you have a good vacuum with hepa filter to pick up and trap pollens. My dd wears glasses anyway but they do recommend wearing sunglasses to keep it out of eyes. Dd used to be prescribed eye drops from doctor too when small.
Also replace your car pollen filters.
Definately showering and changing clothing after a long day out in pollens will be best bet, to remove it completely prior to bed time.

Experiment with antihistamines to see which suits you best, you can get some at bargain stores for pennies and different things suit different people, prescribed ones are not always better or stronger

Agree with Vaseline in the nostrils, regular showering and tumble-drying.

Fexofenadine is the best!
Ds and dh suffer horribly but it'd be unbearable if they was still on loratidine or cetirizine.

everyone in my house suffers with hayfever. really badly.
This helps:

• good quality Vitamin C every day
• Quercetin supplement (or see Patrick Holford's Aller-X supplement)
• completely avoid freshly cut grass
• on high pollen days keep away from parks, fields etc as much as you can
• on high pollen days shower and wash hair before bed
• don't dry anything outside

what are your symptoms?

• if sneezy, itchy : anti histamine (experiment to find the best one for you).
• if blocked nose: sinus rinse and steroid spray (from GP) anti histamines DO NOTHING for a blocked nose.
• if itchy eyes: anti histamine eye drops

HTH

Our symptoms are:

-Blocked nose
-Itchy nose
-Runny nose clear snot (TMI)
-Sneezing a lot

Then sometimes itchy and watery eyes

Thanks for all the feedback trying all the suggestions right away !

sounds like DD1
she has olopatadeine anti histamine eye drops from GP
Avamys fluticasone furoate spray from GP
but the sinus rinse gives her most relief - from chemist here

she only takes anti histamine (loratadine) as a precaution for days when she knows she will be exposed to a lot of pollen. they don't help relieve her symptoms once she has them, but it does help her not to react iykwim.

do you wake up with the symptoms?

if so you may have a dust mite allergy / over sensitive to any dust in hayfever season when your system is struggling.

buy new duvets & pillows
get an allergy mattress protector and pillow covers
vacuum as often as possible
get curtains, carpets cleaned

Yes wake up and sneezing like crazy!
Usually tens to stop by the afternoon and becomes less during the day.

I do hoover everyday, don't have carpets
Haven't cleaned the curtains in ages maybe should do that...

Also have recently bought all new duvet etc..

you should ask the doctor for an allergy test - doesn't sound like pollen to me which normally gets worse as the day goes on. Also the grass pollen levels are quite low at the moment.

It could be dust mite, or mould. But i'm only guessing and not an expert see if you can get tested.

Oh right thanks will do!

My dd has dustmite allergy aswell as the pollen one. She is still suffering from pollen atm. Sounds like your doing the right things whichever the cause. Definately agree with montenana get an allergy mattress protector and pillow covers. Mattresses could be the main problem, vacuum well with hepa filta prior to putting on cover, its important you have a suitable vacuum else you will pump everything back into the air. Yes to washing curtains and any other soft furnishings. If dc's are young you can freeze teddies in freezer bags to kill off dustmites. Its the dustmite feces which are responsible for the allergy symptoms so wash what you can (if not give a good bang out in garden) but freeze routinely to keep control. I used to store dd's teddies perminently in freezer bags untill wanted. Damp dust and ensure you wash bedding at 60 degrees to kill dustmites.
If dustmite allergy is the cause change to a leather sofa too. You can buy protective covers for (or replace) other cushions in the home as well. Hope you get some relief soon

Next year start taking the antihistamines 2-3 weeks before your allergy season starts. I would also suggest taking them at night to help avoid some side effects.

chloesmumtoo which vacuum do you have to vacuum the mattresses? I don't do that and think I probably should. thanks