I have hayfever, am breastfeeding and wear contact lenses. Pharmacist says there's nothing to help me - is he right?

[KirstyJC]

Hi

I am hoping one of you learned ladies and gents might be able to help me.

For the first time, I have horrible hayfever. My main problem is my eyes - really itchy and running, puffy because I'm rubbing them despite my best intentions......

I have been to 2 pharmacies today for something to help with my eyes and came away empty handed. Apparently because I want to wear my contact lenses (which I need to because I drive a lot and have no prescription sunglasses) and because I am breastfeeding, there is NOTHING that I can take. No tablets, no sprays and no eye drops.

Surely there must be something? Breastfeeding, hayfever and contact lenses can't be THAT outlandish a combination, surely???

I do have itchy nose and sneezing as well, but not too bad and I can live with that. I would take pills, sprays, eye drops, pretty much anything tbh as long as it works!!

Please, someone tell me there is something that can help.........

Thanks

If you can't use eye drops (such as Opticrom, are you able to use Optrex eye lotion? You could try to use something that doesn't actually go in the eye such as Liz Earle Eyebright lotion.
I'm trying the Lloyd's Pharmacy Allergy Reliever (little light rods you put up your nose for a few minutes each day!) and think it may be of some help to me for nasal symptoms/general itchiness. Using Vaseline round the nostrils is also supposed to help.

I was advised I could take a beconase inhaler. I also used haymax a vaseline type thing that you put on your nose. Finally I bought new era homeopathic tablets and they seemed to help.
good luck it is grim
De

Poor you, no advice I'm afraid but I feel your pain. Have dreadful hayfever and a swollen leg from insect bites, but because I'm breastfeeding neither the pharmacist or the doctor would give me anything. Pah

Try a glass of elderflower cordial in the morning.

how old is your baby?

I am in the same boat. Bought some Optrex eye drops for dry eyes which were OK with contact lenses only to find that they can't be used while feeding either.

I think that the problemis that anything that would dry up the snot would also potentially dry up your milk

Have used the New Era tablets in the past but not while feeding. Maybe a homeopath would be better than a pharmasist?

Remember than pollen rises with the air in the heat so the best place for you to sit is in the sun. Avoid shaded areas and come in as the sun goes in as the pollen will come back down again. Sunglasses might save some of the pollen getting in your eyes, especially if you can get wrap round ones. I find contact lenses help too. Vaseline around the nose is good for easing the sneezing. I had heard eating local honey can desenstise you to the local pollen too but not sure how "scientifically proven" that is. I would guess "not very"

Baths are great... I was sneezing horribly yesterday after a sunny weekend and several visits to our new pony. The sneezing only stopped when I was in the bath (fairly instant relief), I think it's the steam which is pollen-free and cleansing. Started sneezing again, though a bit less, when I got out of the bath.

Conclusion... all available hours should be spent in the bath!

Ah yes, forgot a good shower. If your eyes are sore, rinsing them under a cool shower is bliss

Those cooling eye pads you can put in the fridge are soothing too

Try toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT to see what's available to take while BFing... it's an American list and might throw up a few options for you. (Then don't admit to BFing to the pharmacists). I found that pharmacists are very cautious when dealing with BFing women and often the guidelines are too strict. (I ended up with a sinus infection because of it and then took a whole set of drugs). For example loratadine (Clarityn) is listed as compatible: toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~y1Qdse:17. I also took into account the age of my boys when I was feeding them - I was far less concerned when they were 10 months than when they were newborn for example.

alcrowley you are right that the issue is milk drying up

if you have a newborn obviously this is a risk you'd probably rather not take. if your baby is older then you might give it a shot

i took antihistamines a while ago and it did nothing to my milk supply, but it was only a one off

some people find it makes no difference, others find that their baby just feeds more to make up for it.
it is highly unlikely that it would just stop your milk suppy... so if your baby is over say, 6 months, and you want to try it that would probably be ok an you can just not take any more if it has an adverse effect

hello. i'm a pharmacist who has hayfever and wears contact lens and breastfeeds.

I have used potters allerclear eye drops single use vials. they're not full of wonderful drugs but they sooth your eyes. there's a full range of allerclear stuff.

Wow, some hope after all - thanks! He is 19 months so only feeding once or twice a day, so might be prepared to take a (smallish) risk with milk.....Not ready to stop feeding though, which is what one pharmacist recommended. Helpful..NOT!

It really is the eyedrops / contact lenses which seems to be the problem - I found out from one pharmacist that Opticrom is safe to use with feeding, but not contact lenses.

Interesting about loratadine - I posted on another forum and several people seem to be using that, although I don't know exactly what it is - is Clarityn tablets? I seem to recognise the name although I've not used them. I looked at a lot of boxes and they all said not for use when breastfeeding - I did ask the pharmacist whether that meant 'don't do it 'cos we've tested it and it's really bad' or 'don't do it 'cos we've not tried it and although it's probably fine you might sue us' but he wasn't able to clarify!!

Never heard of potters, will look into that too - thanks all, I knew you must be able to help!

You could try seeing a Homeopath as this may solve the problem rather than just relieve the symptoms.

all of them will have on the box (usually under the brand name) what the ingredient it

it'll be either cetirizine or loratidine

it isn't just Clarityn, boots do an own brand loratidine one

Hamblys herbalist in Wadhurst (mail order ) do a product called eyebright compound for hayfever. I started to take it 5 years ago through the hayfever season and it is fantastic! give them a ring- website is www.hamblys.net

Paediatrician at the Portland told me that beconase nasal spray and cetirizine (zirtec) are fine when you are breastfeeding.

Optrex Itchy eyes is, as it says, good for itchy eyes. Just looked on my box and it says it's ok for people with contact lenses but to take them out and leave them out for 15 mins after putting the drops in.

I find it helps on the days when the anti-histamine eye drops don't work for long as you can use the drops as often as you want.

I had exactly the sane problem last year when pregnant and now again bf. After much discussion I am on piriton, the type you have to take a few throughout the day. I take one tablet if I know I'm going to be outside or I'm indoors and its a really bad day. Helps my ds who is allergic to milk and eggs and has piriton too for hives. Obv am careful about doses x

BfN drugline would give you advice but this page has a link to an antihistmine advice sheet which you should find helpful. BfN drug info is written by a pharmacist with a special interest in breast feeding. Hope that helps

I was told that piriton was fine while breastfeeding.

Same as pinkism.

I suffered horrendously (sp?) last year whilst pg with DD. Was dreading this years hols as I'm still feeding. Was advised to take Piriton but reduce my dosage to one or two a day max. Suggested first thing in morning /late evening as required.

I feel your pain though, it's just awful

I was told piriton was ok by one pharmacist, but then that it wasn't by another. Same with various other meds I wanted during my bf time - great variation in advice. It gets a bit sickening doesn't it.

Not pregnant or breast feeding (been there, done that) but this year I and a work colleague have been using this and we both reckon it has eased our symptoms.You use it for a couple of minutes up to 4 times a day - I only use it morning and night. It doesn't get rid of all symptoms but definitely seems to reduce them quite significantly.

i agree with using the bFn page. i think i also looked on kellymom.
my ds is 2, and a few months ago i was desperate and HAD to do something. i ended up getting clartyn i think (the loratadine one) and i have had no issues with my milk supply at all. ds feeds 3 times a day still and i have not had any issues.

i spent a few days obsessively searching all the online databases about the safety of drugs in bfing and felt confident enough to take what i had learnt and try the drugs.

good luck!