To be panicking about ds's hayfever

[Doubtfuldaphne]

I don't have any experience of hayfever and now my teenage ds has got it. Every day he looks as though he has two great black eyes - swollen, unable to open them, constantly watering and red.
He's been in tears as they sting so much.
He's sneezing a lot too.
He has been prescribed eye drops but that and piriton just doesn't seem to do anything.
Can anyone give me advice? Should I keep him off school? He's exhausted from it.

You need to be proactive with hayfever: start the tablets a month or so before you expect your hayfever to kick in, Clarity works quite well for me.

My big problem is my eyes: there are a few different kinds of drops on the market, some actually make my eyes much worse. the ones that work for me are sodium chromoglycate, your son might have to try a few different ones.

it's horrid, but it's not something to panic about - just keep going back to the GP until he gets something that works - but do allow for the fact that things take a few days to ramp up.

Lots of advice here about avoidance as well. I would add sunglasses. All the time when outside, without exception.

I take loratadine year round because of skin conditions, I still suffer from hayfever but not as bad as previously. I used to be on fexofenadine which I found stronger and more effective, but was changed from it whilst pregnant and haven't gone back. Never got on with piriton, I know my Dad used to take it (think there used not to be much choice over the counter) and he still suffered pretty bad.

It is scary if you're not used to it. Those of us who've grown up with it are probably a bit more blase. I know my husband (whose family don't seem to have it) still gets shocked at how quickly it can hit me and the severity sometimes. I seem to have passed it to one child but not the other.

Prada Congrats for actually doing something, there could be another food that you're intolerant to, like corn, wheat or the deadly nightshade family of veg. e.g. I am bad with tomatoes, there are other good veg with vit. C as a substitute.

Prada Try the turmeric it's incredible.

Seconding the rec to combine the antihistamine with a nasal spray if it's really bad. I use Avamys, which is prescription-only but works like a charm, though it does take a few days to get the full effect. Definitely the best thing I've tried, and works for the allergic rhinitis I get at other times of the year too. Have only needed to take an antihistamine as well one day so far this year and the pollen count has been vile.

I cut out dairy years ago and had made sod all difference to my hay fever.

I would be VERY careful about taking turmeric capsules,I am just getting over being quite poorly (4 weeks on!) after taking only a few capsules. It's strong stuff, and while some people find it beneficial there's a lot on line about it having all sorts of side effects. I certainly wouldn't give it to a child.

Wizard It doesn't apply to everyone and I'm not good at links but if you google Earth Clinic and dairy allergy you'll get more information there.

I'm very intolerant to dairy and because I don't normally have it, I notice that I get all the horrible hay fever symptoms almost immediately after a cream cake or whatever!

I don't have any problems at all usually! So I must be doing something right!

DameDiazapam The side effects of all the normal medics are to be ignored though are they ? ds takes turmeric to control his allergies and it works absolutely fine, it's a curry spice fgs.

Hayfever and milk allergy have absolutely nothing to do with each other (except that both can occur in individuals prone to allergy).

Unless you have a milk protein allergy (and if you do, symptoms will occur year round) then cutting out dairy will do the square root of bugger all.

Treating hayfever works best if you can combine anti-allergy treatments with actions to reduce allergen load, like showering and changing out of pollen covered clothes.

I know exactly what it is, thank you, glad it works for your ds I'm saying take it with caution as it's very strong and it's not medicine therefore a doctor isn't monitoring side effects.

My DS who is 14 has horrendous hayfever every year. I started him on over the counter anti hist in April once these stopped working I took him to the GP. He is now on Fexofenadine 125 mg daily plus eye drops and nasal spray. He is so much better still bit of a runny nose but 90% there. He started them over a weekend and was a bit sedated initially but now fine. I keep his bedroom window closed but leave hs door open to air his room and wash all his bedding every couple of days. I am considering phoning him in sick for sports day which is tomorrow. He will be sat on the field all day as he isn't participating in anything.

Yum -I would definitely phone in sick for him. It's miserable sitting outside when you feel rotten.

I find Opticrom Allergy Eyedrops work brilliantly for myself and my kids. We all suffer with gritty feeling gooey eyes which run and run. I am also on a double dose of Cetirizine antihistamines, and can take Piriton if I have a flare up (I have multiple allergies). It might be worth asking your GP to prescribe a combination of antihistamines/nasal spray/eye drops, rather than trying one at a time.

Prevalin is very good as a nasal spray, I'm sure they do a children's version. I suffer from bad hayfever and find that ice wrapped up in kitchen roll is great when I'm at home. I rub it or hold it around my eye and it takes the swelling and soreness down. If you don't want ice close to his eye, a wet, cold piece of kitchen roll would probably have the same effect.

Try acrivastine, it's marvellous! (It's in the Benadryl allergy tablets, slightly more expensive but well worth it).

My DS2 takes antihistamine all year round. His hay fever is linked to asthma. He takes Loratadine which is non drowsy and touch wood that has done the trick so far .
We see the asthma nurse at our GP's and she really knows her stuff.

Laydeez!Lots of confused things being said here. So, a few facts from a medical professional to ease confusion:
Allergies to anything produce similar symptoms, therefore saying you get 'hayfever' symptoms after eating dairy is incorrect; if after eating or being exposed to anything you sneeze/wheeze/get hives/itch abnormally/ produce a rash or sores,it means you are sensitive or allergic to it. Being exposed to one allergen does not produce symptoms associated with another & everyones symptoms will vary in severity.
Anaphylaxis is a life threatening reaction to an allergen which, unless treated immediately and correctly, will result in death. If you are at risk of anaphylaxis you will have been prescribed an epipen/anapen.
This is about hayfever ie pollen allergy so please, , don't go changing your diet to treat it, just do everything to avoid over exposure. Some really good tips in here; shower/ sunglasses/ indoor washing etc.
With regard to meds, always buy generic (cetirizine, loratidine)not branded (piriteze, clarytin) as will have same PL # & cost pence vs pounds( aldi loratidine 14 tabs = 89p)
Sprays are a great addition & can be prescribed or bought.
Fexofenadine is great but needs script.
Kenalog Is a steroid injection contraindicated in children and used with caution in adults as the side effects may outweigh the benefits.
Look up the NICE guidelines for treating hayfever, thus arming yourself with info on 'best practice' & visit your GP with this info, then you can't be fobbed off & should receive the best treatment available to you on the NHS.
Also take drops/ sprays in to school. Your GP should prescribe 2 of everything to assist this.
Oh & hope you get him sorted, poor love!

Thanks everyone especially speck who posted above this!
I took ds back to the gp and he's been prescribed a steroid spray. I wouldn't cut out a food group for a growing boy without medical advice and help from a dietician.
Let's hope the spray works. I'm sure it will.

I have horrendous allergies, they are dormant in the winter and rampant in the summer. You can get a GP blood test that identifies all of the allergies in one quick test. Its handy to know as different pollens are in the air at different times. I am allergic to both tree and grass pollen, cats, dogs, birds, dust mites, penicillin, mold...... the list goes on and on.

Hayfever like your sons can be terribly hard to cope with. Once you have the blood test results then you need to work on starting the antihistamines atleast 2-3 weeks before the season for each allergen starts every single year. You must take the antihistamines religiously! I use telfast, nose spray and eye drops and it just takes the edge off.

It may be worth you investing in the almost invisible nasal filters on amazon, they block all pollen from going into the nasal cavity. You can also get special sunglasses that wrap around and create a barrier that is 98% effective against allergens. I bought a ridiculous glowing nasal probe device that uses red light therapy to reduce nasal congestion. I have found over the last few years if I start to use it at the same time as my tablets it definitely helps to reduce symptoms.

An allergy reliever might be worth trying? I find it helpful in reducing symptoms. You can use it on top of medication.

www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/lloydspharmacy-allergy-reliever-15677

Dry his clothes indoors especially bedding

If his bedroom windows are open, close the curtains

Get him to wash his hair before bed. Wash face when coming in.

Try keeping pollen covered clothes out of the bedroom

Hoover regularly.

A cold, cold drink can really help - put glass on eyes/ drink/

Get him to wear sunglasses at all times outdoors

Eating local honey can help. Also lots of onion type veg

Smear Vaseline inside his nose to trap pollen, also on the corners of his eyes

Im massively suffering this year. Two things that have helped a lot.

1. hepa air filter. They are expensive but they work wrel make syre it us one that guarantees for pollen.
2. there us an air spray advertised for pet allergies but covers dust and pollen called pet clense (I think). If ysed in a smallish room I find it works wonders for a few hours.
   Pairing these with the other tips should at least ease his symptoms.

When very bad I actually sleep and drive with a surgical mask on...

Haven't read whole thread... Apologies if I repeat recommendations...
Ds 10yrs gets it horribly! Eyes so puffy can't see.. Red all round eyes... Nose completely bunged up! . Tried lots... All meds... Lorataridine /cetrozine (or whatever they're called ) prescribed by doc... Felt a little uncomfortable giving him drugs when they didn't help (did try for considerable period. . And. .. Started taking before the 'hayfever season' started as suggested by doc. I. So . Itopped.. He hated eyes drops as they stung. .. So tried. .. Sneezer beam!
www.amazon.co.uk/health-beauty/dp/B0014ZADW0
And it has seemed to make a difference to the nose! Not completely. .. But definitely relief!
Eyes? www.superdrug.com/Murine/Murine-Hayfever-Eye-Drops-10ml/p/424652
Using these and he says they're not so stingy!
At the moment. . Because pollen count so unbelievably high.. Sneezer beam / lotradine / piriton and eyes drops. .. Seems to be making it bearable! (and it's still bad by regular standards!) for him!
My ! Good luck!