That this is fucking up my life??

[snottery]

Some kind of hay fever / allergy / mild asthma.

I realise it's not 'serious' in the grand scheme of things, but it's really affecting my life and my sleep.

Had phlegm / post nasal drip for years and years and that's bad enough, but recently it also includes such delights as

Hours upon hours of streaming / blocked nose / sneezing almost every day
Taking in too much air when blowing that I get heartburn and trapped wind. Can't burp so this is horribly uncomfortable until it comes out other way
Throbbing bridge of nose
Even my teeth hurt at times
Itchy skin
Sometimes wheezing and a bit hard to get a breath.

It's embarrassing as I'm constantly wiping or blowing my nose or making horrible choking noises trying to get phlegm up.

The final straw has been the past 24 hours. I got 4 hours sleep last night because of it, my neighbour was banging down at me cause of the noise of my nose blowing last night, and I cancelled a family outing this morning cause of embarrassment and just generally feeling shitty because of this.

Finally gave in and took an antihistamine which I found in the cupboard. It's helped somewhat. Not completely but enough.

Please, Please tell me that these tablets work long term and that your body doesn't get 'used' to them??

It's making me miserable.

No idea what I'm allergic to, but it happens when I'm indoors for days and the phlegm has happened year round. I'm guessing dust.

Explain to the pharmacist. They will be able to guide you.

Anti-histamine and Beconase spray or its generic equivalent.

And try and identify your triggers. Some of them might be things you can eliminate, eg one of mine is feathers, so I got rid of feather pillows and down-filled duvet and it was much improved.

Go to the gp, I had this and got a nasal spray, that doubled with heavy duty antihistamines and I could breathe!

A year on and it's like night and day, dried up completely with just a bit of runny nose this year rather than streaming!

Honestly, don't power through, get some proper advice and medicine.

Mine was a dust allergy, but cleared up completely once dog hair was gone.

You might think about seeing a good allergist. They would put you on the right course.

I suffered with this for years and ended up having a course of cryotherapy on my face. It was wonderful and I haven't suffered since. YANBU to feel so down, I'm usually a really up eat person but became very depressed when I was suffering with it.

*beat

What do you mean you 'gave in' and took an antihistamine? What's wrong with doing that when you are allergic to something?
Get yourself to the GP, they can prescribe decent antihistamines (fexofenadine), in the meantime a pharmacist can recommend nasal sprays and otc meds. I find loratidine more effective than cetirizine.

Why didn't you take an antihistamine when you needed to?? Why haven't you been to the GP???
I get budenoside on prescription for chronic rhinitis which it sounds like you have. Go and get help!!

Yes it is actually getting me down.

For some reason I always resist medication, for anything, but I think I need to take it for this. The tablet was cetirizine. I just hope it works long term, even if I just keep it for particularly bad days or socialising.

Triggers are my bedding I think as it starts as soon as I move my head in the morning or when I lie down at night. My cat as well when he's near it seems to be worse.

Sounds a bit like hay fever to me. There are different types of antihistamine tablets you can buy over the counter, try one but you must take regularly. I would say if there’s no improvement in symptoms within a week try a different one. They don’t all work for everyone! Beconase nasal spray is good and you can now buy it at chemist without prescription. If your eyes are itchy and/or sore try Opticrom eye drops. If these don’t work see your GP as you might need a stronger prescription. Hay fever is no joke - it’s bloody miserable.

Anti-histamine nasal sprays are even better than tablets OP; or you could try another anti-histamine tablet.

YABU not to regularly take an antihistamine for allergies. They actually work better after a few weeks taking daily because they build up in your system. Anti histamines calm your immune system down from attacking allergens. It’s not a type of medication with any risks.

Do you have feather pillows? I’m so allergic to cats and all furry animals apart from dogs, but especially cats. I also get hayfever and use cetirizine and beconase. If I didn’t treat it I would suffer terribly from my allergies. Doesn’t even occur to me not to take the tablets!

Nasonex nasal spray is very good, I don’t know if you can get it otc though.
Airwaves chewing gum is great for a blocked nose.
You should cut dairy out of your diet if you can, it creates phlegm. Soft drinks give me phlegm too.

It happens all day though.

Shower seems to temporarily help.

My aversion to drs or meds is ridiculous tbh. It isn't due to any reason really, I don't think they are bad or anything, I think I just get annoyed at my body and think it should just function without, and worry if I get relief then they stop working. Backwards thinking.

You don’t get addicted to antihistamines, and they’re less than a pound to buy. My DS has hay fever and takes them daily - one a day - for a few months. And buy hypoallergenic bedding and pillow/mattress covers if that’s a trigger for you. You shouldn’t resist taking meds for this.

I second the Beconase spray, or similar. I think Citirazine are the ones you take daily. I don't know if one will make much difference? Take them daily, if that is how they are designed to be taken. Resisting medication when you say it is "fucking up your life", I mean... take the medication !

You are very unreasonable to suffer like that without trying medication. That’s what it’s for? Why would you choose to live like that rather than take medication developed to relieve these symptoms? I’m baffled.

i had something that sounds similar and it was feather pillows including the ones downstairs and duvet. i removed all feathers from my house and it cleared up.

It's probably the cat!
Why on earth wouldn't you take anti-histamines if you need them?

DP suffers terribly from some kind of hay fever. An acupressure band on his arm has really helped.

I couldn't give up milk in my tea but it's only a tiny bit. May try those vegan cheese alternatives.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far 😊 so far 😊

I would put you (depending on history) on a mild daily anti-histamine. (Take before bed and it can help with sleep) -but most importantly I woud refer you to an allergy clinic.