Is it hayfever or something else?

[mooki]

My DH is in his 30s. About 4 years ago he started to get hayfever-y type sneezing symptoms in the summer. It's got steadily worse and now he seems to have a bunged up nose most of the time and on particularly bad days his eyes go puffy and start streaming too.

He takes flixonase up his nose as a preventative measure but isn't supposed to use it all the time (and it makes him lose his sense of smell/taste). On the bad days the actifed is the only thing that seems to make a difference but even that doesn't always help.

He's now started to cough too and it ends up with him getting quite panicky on nights when he can't breathe through his nose and feels like his throat is constricting.

At the GPs last week, he was prescribed a stronger anti-hystamine but given that this is now November and there's not much in the way of 'hay' about the place I'd really appreciate any advice on whether something else could be causing these reactions or if other people suffer at this time of year what helps ease the symptoms?

Hi mooki, my DH has hayfever too and during the summer he has the typical 'bunged up' nose, tickly throat and puffy/sore/watery eyes. Also during the winter when there isn't much 'hay' about he still suffers with the same symptoms. My DS (aged 5) has it too but he has been tested for allergies and is severely allergic to dustmites, therefore he has symptoms all year too. It is possible my DH has this allergy too, but he hasn't benn tested formally.

Does your DH have any psoriasis or eczema - there is a link between these skin disorders and asthma.

My DS takes inhalers and nasal sprays. What happens with hay fever/allergies isn't that your nose is bunged up, rather the airways are swollen up and inflammed - it feels stuffed. The sprays and steroid inhalers help to reduce the inflammation.

Your DH may need to be allergy tested (a simple blood test). He may need inhalers, but in the meantime you should maybe try using a humidifier (a steamer) at night. I have one for DS and it even has a 'boat' where I can put drops of Olbas Oil which provides minty steamy air and makes it easier to breathe. You can buy them in Argos for around £30. Sometimes the room can get very warm, so I tend to keep the door ajar and have a fan circulating the air. Or just put a few drops of Olbas Oil on hsi pillow at night.

Have you changed any of your laundry powders? Sometimes simple things like a new conditioner/shower gel/etc etc can be enough to trigger a reaction.

Thanks for replying divedaisy. DH doesn't have psoriasis or eczema but does get a kind of fungal infection on his skin occasionally (mmmmm).

He went back to the docs today because of the difficulty in breathing overnight and they gave him a venotlin inhaler.

I didn't realise you could test for dustmite allergy. We have got a olbas oil vaporiser which he uses sometimes but I will investigate a humidifier.

Is my terrible lack of houseproudness likely to cause more dustmites? Things have been a bit slack on the cleaning front since DD arrived...

Have you invested in special sheets and hoovers and things?

I've got "hay fever" most of the year - allergic rhinitus I think it's technically known as.
I get bad symptoms in our bedroom, so hoover and damp dust (dust first then hoover!) twice a week. Also vacuum matress when we change the sheets and wash piilows once a mointh.
I am astmatioc and am on seritide. I'd be on antio histamines too, but I'm BFing (hence crap typing!) so can only take occasional doses ogf piriton.

My DP is still taking antihistamines too. The sneezing is driving me mad.

He usually only gets like this with hayfever or cats but has asthma and recently developed ezcema too.

I will mention the dustmites thing to him - might encourage him to help me with the housework a bit more.

it does sound like allergic rhinitis. saline washes can help a lot (this is going to sound disgusting..

basically you fill a bowl with warm water and loads of salt & stir. He then takes it to a sink where he can bend into it. You then close one nostril with a finger and 'snort' up the water through the other until it comes into the mouth. Spit out the water and take a break. Do it another couple of times, then onto the other nostril. Bit gross but feels amazing and stops the swelling straight away for a bit. May work longer term on milder cases. I've been given steroids for my 'pregancy related' rhinitis. it is shite though as you can't taste or smell things properly and it feels like you have a perma cold.

RomanCandleQueen - ahha, another reason for me to get a Roomba then.

AuntieMaggie - yes, I do feel very sad that he feels so crap but the coughing and the night time snorkeling is hard work long term.

fourlittlefeet - thanks, I think he'll try anything when it gets bad, so we'll give it a go.

mooki - I was able to get matress protectors that are anti-dustmite and anti allergenic. Yes hoover the matress when you change your bedding. Also put your pillows into the freezer as it kills the dust mites. Get your duvet regularly cleaned - you can also get covers for them. And as for lack of houseproudness - dont worry I'm in the same boat as you! All you can do is what you can do!
yes you can get a test - it's not specific for dust mites. My ds got a blood test for allergies and his came up extrememly allergic to the blighters. We've 2 dogs and I thought he was allergic to them - but no - in fact he has a positive reaction to them!! I just asked GP for a allergy test. But I know what DHs are like when it comes to asking for blood to be taken!!
Google dust mite allergies and there are some good sites with loads of advice! The snoring's hard to cope with isn't it!

My goodness 4littlefeet - just reading about saline washes has made my eyes water and my nose tickle!!
And Mooki, a Roomba is my heart's one true desire. I've asked Father Christmas, but I fear the credit crunch may mean I have to put up with an ancient Hoover!

What's a Roomba??

Robot Hoover! Robot Hoover! Robot Hoover!
(gets all over-stimulated)

here

OOHHHHH! Never seen one of those before! How handy - God I need one of those!! Just think - programme him (or her) and leave all the doors open, go out to work/shopping/getting nails done etc and come home to a fabulously vacummed house!! Also the dogs would be entertained chasing it about the place!!!!

Is there a robot duster-er?
Bathroom cleaner??
Toy picker-upper (Oh that could be Roomba!!!)
An after-husband-tidy-upper??

Oh forgot - that called 'the Wife'!!!