Anyone up for a hayfever support thread?

[galen]

I never used to get hayfever till 4 years ago. Then that summer I just got it out of the blue. Really badly. Had it every summer since. The thing is till I had it i always used to think "hayfever - whats all the fuss about?" but boy do I know different now!
Today I have been so bad. My eyes tend to be the worst(although streaming itchy nose, tickly cough and sore throat arent much fun either!) Today my eyes are so bad ,they are all swollen, one even bleeding beneath the surface, streaming, stinging and iching so badly I want to tear themout
So far I have tried natural remedies, nasal spry, eye drops and cetirizine. This year I am now trying benadrylas I,m not BF for the firt time in 4 years!

Anyone else want to pop in for some support, tips of advice!

[stealthsquiggle]

The last couple of days have been particularly bad. I have taken tablets once every 12 hours instead of 24 (I know, I know, but I am big and fat and was told by the GP years ago that it would be OK) but what I hate is just feeling generally ill. I had a cold/cough/chest infection a few weeks ago, but because hayfever makes me feel so lousy it took me days to realise that I had something more.

My top tip for when you really can't take the runny nose any more (especially last thing at night) is to take Contac (intended for colds, but works a treat in drying up constantly dripping nose).

I suffered through my teens (especially at exam time) with no medication and am still not sure, even with hindsight, if that was because my mother objected to drugs in general or because antihistamines were not available/effective in the 80's?

[kylesmyloveheart]

if i could stop my ds 7 suffering then i would gladly take hs symptons. his eyes are so itchy and red. his nose running and sneezing constantly.

i have it but nowhere near as bad as him.

will take him back to the drs as the cetizirine is not working anymore.

when we come inside i could give him a bath to relieve him but that not even working now.

has just woke up and he is as bad as when he went to bed.

[kittycats]

Bad day for me too today, feel like ive got flu, just want to sleep.
Eyes so itchy, and my nose is running like mad.
Get itchy ears and throat, but today it feels like my throat and ears are all bunged up so painfull.

[traceybath]

Well i've quarantined myself today - apart from hanging washing out i have not been outside and it does seem a little more bearable.

Look utterly dreadful too though as can't put make up on and have to scrape hair back as get too itchy if its on my face - lovely.

[galen]

gosh lots of us suffering. I have now locked myself in my hot , airless ( but therefore hopefully pollen free) bedroom to try to recover from having to spend time in the garden with DC (not that I dont enjoy playing with dc ...but you know what I mean!) Have taken 2 benadryl so far today...it makes me feel fuzzy, but it was the only way I could get through the day.
Didnt get to shops today , but will try and get a different AH tomorrow to see if it helps...

[castille]

My ears itch like mad too! And runny nose.

But so far this year it hasn't been too bad, apart from the weekend we spent near a pine forest, which was horrendous.

Worst thing is not having windows open at night. DH complains like mad!

[stealthsquiggle]

kylesmyloveheart - take your DS back to the GP. Different antihistamines work for different people (the one my mother takes does nothing for me, and vice versa) - keep trying until you find the best one for him. Also they seem sometimes to 'stop' working and you need to change...

[sunfleurs]

Think it is a VERY bad year. I have never suffered like this before. Keep waking up during the night because my mouth and throat is so dry. Being congested and stressed out is also bringing on Migraines. Have one eye that streams constantly and actually have bleeding in the eye as another poster said. I never usually take anything, but tried Piriteze this year. Worked a couple of days but not consistent.

[pickyvic]

mines kicked in with a vengeance too...and im taking tablets, eyedrops and nasal spray and still bloody suffering...

[stealthsquiggle]

For occasional sufferers - anthistamines ramp up over time (3-4 days) so stick with it.

Top tip for getting a good night's sleep is to take your anti-histamines last thing at night. If I don't do this then I wake up with a raging sore throat and itchy eyes at about 4am. I also think that it works as a 'pre-emptive strike' - by the time eyes, nose and throat have got hysterical I think it takes a lot more to calm them down again IYSWIM.

[JudyBlume1019]

Hello all, really quick post, but I'm desperate to read this thread, but it won't be until later as have to make lunch and take dd1 to nursery.

I had hayfever really badly for the first time last year, and now I am bf an 11 wk old baby. In the last 5 years I have also developed an allergic reaction to insect bites and at the moment look like I have leg ulcers, they are so swollen and blistered!

I am absolutely desperate for ways of coping with hideous itchy eyes, and snotty nose whilst bf. Am using eye drops and beconase atm.

Hopefully see you later.

[Numberfour]

I used to be very dismissive of HF sufferers and now I am eating my words. I only started about 4 years ago too, and I have also had it really badly this weekend. And feel very grim tonight. My eyes seems to ache, too.

Also loratidine (sp sorry), nasal spray and eye drops. Oh my hat, it is awful.

Going to bed so I can close me eyes!! Even the movement of my eyes under the eyelids is painful.....

[Bainmarie]

I am also suffering, bfing so can't have any proper drugs. Usually have the eyedrops but they don't seem to be working as well as usual. The light thing sounds worth a try though.
Hoping that the dc don't develop it, are they more likely too if one/both parents have hayfever?

[Numberfour]

is it my imagination or is the hayfever better today? i took cetirizine instead of loratadine today and i was wondering if that is what made being awake more bearable??
also did the vaseline around the eyes and nose things - very attractive!!!!

[Ewe]

My hayfever has been worse this year than ever before - have had it all my life.

The worst thing I find is I get cold sores up my nose which make it so sore and uncomfortable to blow nose. Eyes run like taps and I wish I could just hibernate.

On new antihistamines as of yesterday - Telfast/fexofenadine so hoping these might made a bit of a difference.

[sniff]

[JudyBlume1019]

I've just bought the lloyds hayfever thingie. This web site is brilliant: www.allergyclinic.co.uk/hf.htm and Dr Morrow Brown who must be 200 years old, is still going strong and extremely helpful and well regarded in hayfever circles

[jsgirl]

Another sufferer here. Just worked out it's my 24th year of hayfever hell - and I didn't start until I was in my teens. Strangely, that makes me feel worse!

Haven't got anything helpful to post I'm afraid. Just needed to have a whinge.

My nose is either blocked or running. My throat is sooooo itchy. I've got a headache and my teeth hurt. In fact, my whole head just feels blocked. I'm very, very tired.

I've had an AH and nose spray today so don't know what I'd be like without them.

Feel bad for DS2 as he's hardly had any time outside today and he loves playing outside.

I'm hopeless at not feeling well, really, really whiny (in case you didn't spot that). It's proper role reversal in our house. DH just soldiers on when he doesn't feel well and I'm a complete drama queen!

Whinge over - feel a bit better!

[tigger32]

Hello, another sufferer here!

leningrad I'm interested that you are able to take medication whilst pregnant, I'm 19 weeks and have been suffering with a blocked nose, runny nose (depends on the day) sneezing and headaches all of which I have been told are down to hay fever and just get on with it!
I've had hf since I was a teenager but during my last pregnancies it seemed to stop so wasn't an issue.

Can anyone recommend anything that is safe in pregnancy please?

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

Two weeks sailing in the Greek Islands sorted mine out last year - I was completely clear for the rest of the summer.
Back with a vengeance now though.
I can't remember anything working in pregnancy I'm afraid - but Vaseline around (and up!) the nostrils staves it off for a bit.

[tigger32]

I'm willing to give anything a try, so will give vaseline a go! Thanks

[stealthsquiggle]

2 weeks sailing sounds good - can I get that on the NHS, do you think ?

Pregnant people - you have my deepest sympathy. I would recommend:

• the sticking-up-nose light thing - seems to work for a lot of people
• wrap-around sunglasses at all times when outside
• cold damp flannels over eyes when resting
• a car with a good pollen filter!

[jsgirl]

As DH works near a Lloyds Pharmacy, I asked him to get me one of those lights up your nostrils devices. Yesterday was so miserable for me I thought I might as well give this a go too. Used it twice yesterday, which gave both DH and DS1 the opportunity to have a good giggle as it makes your nose glow red a bit. I've used it once so far today. I've also had an AH and nose spray as usual. Feel much better today, although I'm not sure whether that's due to the fact that it's raining. A lot. Will keep you updated should the sun ever decide to show its face again.

[galen]

just popping in! Have had a better couple of days...but it has been raining. Got some diff AH's (loritadine I think) which dont make me as fuzzy, but only partially helped on bad days. Today a bit worse. rain has stopped and very windy...still nowhere near as bad as wk/end so fungers crossed. Have to g to a BBQ at wk/end ...will need to dose up before I go LOL
Hope you're all not too bad today.

[mrsrawlinson]

Thanks for the pregnancy advice, Squiggle. I'm off to Lloyd's!