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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Hay Fever is the most inappropriately named condition there is...

60 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 13/06/2015 20:32

Apart from the fact that actually, im not even allergic to hay anyway Hmm

"hay fever" sounds pretty innocuous - it sounds like i might sneeze a little and get the sniffles if i stand in a field full of hay or have to clean the rabbit out.

What actually happens is for me (for others its actually longer and worse) is that for pretty much the whole of june/july I walk around in a haze. Sore throat, sore eyes, streaming nose, aching like i have the flu, looking like something out of Shaun of the Dead. I feel really really unwell, and the anti-histamines don't really help they just make my head even more foggy than it already is.

I had to make my excuses on a night out tonight - I can imagine my friends faces look Hmm because my reason was hay fever!!!

Please can someone think of a more appropriate name?

Seasonal allergic rhinitis just sounds like a grow a huge nose once a year and its not just my nose, its my eyes, my throat, my joints and everything.........

OP posts:
mumofboyo · 13/06/2015 21:04

Yanbu. I don't know what I'd call it though. Spring/Summer 'flu maybe? Mine hasn't actually been that bad this year but last year it was unbearable: streaming and swollen eyes; sneezing; itchy and sore soft palate; itchy, sore and streaming nose; and that awful muggy, tired, dull feeling in my head. I hated it.

I was prescribed Benadryl (the only thing that seems to touch mine but costs an arm and a leg to buy otc), some eyedrops and some nasal spray that smells like roses. Altogether it did take the edge off but I was glad when autumn came!

Lilymaid · 13/06/2015 21:11

I've suffered with this for the best part of 60 years. All the years of school and university exams in May and June were particularly hard as I felt dreadful at that time (no allowances given in those days). It seemed to improve as I got older until I got a job in an area with lots of London Plane trees. Now the season stretches from April through to August for me.

redautumnleaves · 13/06/2015 21:13

The medical term is Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis.

redautumnleaves · 13/06/2015 21:14

Ask your GP about immunotherapy.

Fluffyears · 13/06/2015 21:17

People who don't suffer have no fucking clue how miserable it is. I refer one 'friend' saying 'oh don't rub your eyes you'll make it worse' worse? I wanted to going right my own fucking eyes out in frustration. My mum refused to pay for tablets or take me to Dr as 'it's only hayfever'. The first time I could afford anti-histamines myself was a godsend!

ShatnersBassoon · 13/06/2015 21:18

As a fellow hay fever sufferer, I get where you're coming from. I unexpectedly had to spend the afternoon in a field yesterday, and I felt like I'd been snorting drawing pins and pepper by teatime.

Ringworm wins for the worst name though Grin

annielouise · 13/06/2015 21:24

Completely agree. I suffered from the age of 11 during the months May to September. Nose either dripping like a tap or completely bunged up at night to the point I felt I was suffocating and close to panicking. Couldn't eat certain fruits during those months as they gave me a sore throat and hives round my mouth - melon and strawberries were the worst. In the early years it cause nose bleeds that would last an hour or more.

However, I had a steroid injection (kenalog I believe) in the late 80s which stopped it immediately for a couple of years and it was never as bad after that. I had another injection after that, can't remember when and that plus age seems to have improved my life no end. Some doctors don't like to give kenalog. I insisted as I'd tried every bloody tablet out there and some worked for the odd few days then stopped working. The cost of them is horrendous as well. Try the injection.

The5DayChicken · 13/06/2015 21:36

The absolute worst bleeding thing about suffering badly from hay fever in this country is the fact that the crappy weather literally springs it upon you and it takes you days to get it under control...by which time the weather has switched and you're alright again.

I was flattened by it yesterday.

ASorcererIsAWizardSquared · 13/06/2015 21:38

this year i've discovered that my limit for in-a-row sneezing before i start swearing is 5 times, then i punctuate each one with a resounding FUCK OFF.

I managed 12 times in a row earlier. right now though, its the ear itching that is driving me mad, someone said they fantasised about using a hacksaw blade and threading it through to scratch both ears.. really sounds like a plan right now!!

Debs75 · 13/06/2015 22:00

I agree, why call it hayfever when I am not affected by hay?

I get allergic reactions to:
Some cats (not my own)
Some dogs including non-shedders and cockapoodles (again not my own)
My aunts houseHmm
Dust
Artificial scents in air fresheners
Perfumes
Propellents
Cut grass

I am affected almost continuously, dripping nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. The eyes are the worst by far, it got so bad once I thought I had ripped my cornea. I described it to the Dr as feeling like my eyes are sat in sand. Wearing sunglasses helps a little. I don't think people realise how much it takes over your life, and can make it pretty miserable.

I currently take loratidine, which is rubbish even when doubled up. My son has cetrzine which I borrowed one day and it is pretty effective.

gointothewoods · 13/06/2015 22:03

annielouise, my friend used to get some kind of injection then she had a constant period for the whole summer. Not sure if the same one? I think I'd prefer to take antihistamines every 4 hours..

minxthemanx · 13/06/2015 22:05

Glad it wasn't just me this week; utterly miserable with horrific itchy eyes that I wanted to scratch out, and nose that felt like it had pepper spray up it. Normal hay fever medication didn't make a jot of difference. Hoping this week coming is better for us all.

Naty1 · 13/06/2015 22:11

I found taking a multivitamin helped my symptoms.

mousmous · 13/06/2015 22:14

I agree.
I suffered badly until a GP recommended I try a steroid nasal spray. I'm now nearly without symptoms and even the (allegic) asthma has improved a lot.

ouryve · 13/06/2015 22:19

I'm so glad that mine is milder, now, but I spent the 80s with a streaming nose, every June. O-levels and A-levels were in full swing for most of June. That was fun.

EBearhug · 13/06/2015 22:20

If you react to cut grass, then calling it hayfever seems pretty accurate to me.

I go through from about March to October, though it's been particularly bad this week - and it is round about the time of year people cut hay, so I can see where it comes from.

Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 13/06/2015 22:21

i can't take the nasal sprays as they give me an erratic heart beat :(

OP posts:
amouseinawindmill · 13/06/2015 22:24

I am on, as usual, fexofenadine tablets from February to October, and beconase spray from May to August and permanently have sunglasses on when outside or in the car. There are no windows open in the house. No clothes, towels or bedding are dried outside and everyone in the family has a shower morning and evening so that i don't react to pollen left in people's hair. And with all this i still have some symptoms (not as bad this year so far though, touch wood). I haven't had to call in sick to work this summer yet. That doesn't go over well "i can't come in because of hayfever" has to be explained as "i can't come in because i am wheezing, dizzy, can't see through the gunk pouring from my eyes and my head feels like it is full of cotton wool". Gosh I am simply the most attractive person ever in the summer....
I take vitamin d3 as I read it helps. I have also been known to take benadryl on top of fexofenadine. I don't know for sure it's allowed but I haven't dropped dead from it yet.

bantamgirl · 13/06/2015 22:25

Does anyone else feel completely wiped out by it and the shortest walk feels like wading through treacle?

LittleMissIntrovert · 13/06/2015 22:26

My worst time is September, when the leaves fall and break down the mould spores cause my allergies. I start in March and it lasts all summer. It isn't so bad in winter, but my doctor said I have year round allergies, things like certain perfumes set it off.

I can't take cetirizine as its makes me very drowsy so loratadine is better than nothing! I take it all year round.

I get very tired and achy joints too, is that linked to hayfever then?

LittleMissIntrovert · 13/06/2015 22:28

I can't use the nasal steroid sprays either as they dry my nasal passages and cause nose bleeds!

42andGaffaTape · 13/06/2015 22:29

I agree it's just awful, and people who only get a little sniff give you a head tilt as you stand there a snotty, dribbling, wheezing, croaking and leaking mess.

I have been taking nettle tea as it is a natural antihistamine. It helps helps a little but still have 'stoned' eyes and a bright red nose.

It's bloody awful and mean! We finally get sun and I have to avoid all parks and plants I can. I went to kew gardens in a moment of madness the other week and people seemed concerned due to my leaky face. Angry It's like you're walking around with a nonexistent personal tragedy!

ouryve · 13/06/2015 22:30

And yes, pollen doesn't hit me so hard now, apart from things like lilac, honeysuckle, etc

Newsprint, though! I have scars on my nose from reading papers before the Internet and soft tissues with balsam.
The streaming nose, cough and burning eyes are also triggered by perfume, the Lynx effect, air fresheners (I know instantly when somoene has a plug in in their house, even if I can't smell it) and the occasional furry animal.
And I had no idea why my ears itched in summer until a thread the other week. I always thought it was to do with sun exposure, like the PLE I used to suffer from which has been replaced by Springtime ketosis piliaris. None of which is not helped by being allergic to most sun creams.

Allergic to most make up, too.

ouryve · 13/06/2015 22:33

I can't take cetirizine because of the drowsiness, either (think sleeping for 14 hours) and have had to give up on loratadine because of the painful sore throat it gives me, for little gain. I've found drinking lots of water to be more effective than either.

BrokenBananaTantrum · 13/06/2015 22:33

Mine kicked in big time yesterday. I have suffered every year for 35 years. Its awful. Itchy/sore throat and palette. Itchy eyes and ears. Sneeze sneeze bloody sneeze. I'm off to the docs on Monday. I have found mine getting worse for the last 2 years. Over the counter meds just don't touch it. I had some Fexofenadine last year and it was good. Poor DD also suffers. They gave her Neoclaratine.

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