Hay fever...talk to me

[yeahokright]

I come from a family with many allergies and one of my children has severe food allergies. I have never had any problems until I had children and have now developed hay fever. This year it's pretty awful and yesterday I was a mess. Blood shot eyes, huge puffy face, sneezing constantly etc. I take antihistamines (the one a day) nose spray and have now started using the eye drops. Unfortunately I live in a rural area. What else can I do? It's awful. Please tell me your hay fever secrets.

What anthistamine do you take? I swear by fexofenadine but you need to start before your hay fever is bad for it really to be effective.

I am fairly rural, I have kids, a dog and a big garden so I am outdoors a lot (and i mow the grass) and manage fine if I am organised.

I don't dry any washing outside in june/July and I keep my hair tied up, shower morning and night and brush my hair before bed to get any pollen out before it gets on my pillow. I change my towels daily and bedding more often as well.

Once it's bad it there isn't a lot you can do. But I do find a day at the coast (sea air) or the swimming pool really helps if it does get bad.

With the swimming pool, I don't know if it is because it's air conditioned or swimming underwater clears out all my airways, it doesn't clear it completely but it gives me a break for a few hours and a chance for the antihistamine to build up in my system.

Sorry you are suffering, you have my sympathy and .

Was going to say sinus wash outs, Fexofenadine and showering morning and as soon as come into the house at any time of the day.

We also never dry anything outside.

DS has asthma set off by his hayfever and I often find him slumped in the shower crying (he's 14 and 6'2").

The doctor says he needs to start taking his medication and eye drops and nasal spray from February each year to build everything up in his system. Doesn't help now but maybe for next year?

Thanks so much. You all have my sympathies too. I will definitely be starting the regime early next year. What's the brand name for that antihistamine?

One thing you really want to avoid is your sinuses swelling up because of repeated nose blowing, then you're into a hideous cycle of uncontrollable volumes of snot and sneezing! Avoiding blowing your nose as much as possible and interrupting the cycle are key - like a poster above I find swimming v effective, if not then a full face wash, hair brush and water up your nose instead. And keep on top of the nose spray, it takes at least a week I find to get to full effectiveness.

Can I gate crash and ask about what you take/took when or if you were pregnant?!
I was going to start a thread but you ladies seem knowledgeable and understanding of the struggles so I'll ask here first!
I'm.24 weeks and planning on calling doc as soon as they open as i just can't cope. NHS website does say that loratadine is ok but pharmacist wouldn't sell it to me so now I'm panicking! I had been taking it and was coping well. Sea water nose spray and eye drops aren't enough! I need drugs!

I think the problem with using antihistamines when pregnant or breastfeeding is that they haven't been tested. Most doctors will still prescribe them if you are really suffering. I'm still breastfeeding my toddler (although not a lot) and I was advised I could still take them. Speak to a sympathetic doctor. Best of luck!

I took steroid nose spray through all three of my pregnancies. Doctor said the amount that gets absorbed systemically is so minimal that it wasnt worth worrying about. The kids all seem fine, so far

I take an antihistamine, sudafed and a nasal spray. There is a new over the counter one I got at the weekend and it seems to be working now I'm on day 4. clarinaze it is called.

I also have tiger balm with me during the day to go on my temples to clear my nose, I have Vicks on my chest at night and a Vicks nasal stick about my person 24/7. And i mean 24/7, last Tuesday I woke up still clutching it in my fist. I usually keep it under the pillow at night.

Fexofenadine is prescription only so you'll need to see your dr to get it. I also have Budesonide Nasal Spray & eye drops.

Another thing you can do is eat local honey as it will contain pollen from where you live & over time should help to build up your tolerance levels but that's a long term thing.

During pregnancy I took loratidine, my nasal spray & eye drops all on prescription. My awful first midwife told be I couldn't take anything! But the dr said it was nonsense. It's all about risk - yes there are risks to taking meds during pregnancy or breastfeeding but the consequences to you as the mother have to be a factor too.

Oh my thank you so much for replies!
Pharmacist told me I couldn't have anything but paracetamol and I just stared at her! She has obviously never had hayfever! 😂😪
I have taken loratadine today and will try like one every other day and eye drops and get a new nasal spray. Doc wouldn't do me a telephone app and j couldn't get in today so will try again tomorrow!
Thanks again ladies, hope you're all coping ok

Hi my daughter has a 3 week old baby boy and she suffers hard from hay fever. The dr told her to take piriton but she is Brest feeding and the baby is now showing colic symptoms. Has anyone else found this. 🤓