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.

If you suffer all the time sounds like allergic rhinitis and is probably the cat....
I was extremely allergic to my pets and had to rehome them 🤧 😪

Oh good lord OP, you need to find out what is doing this and eliminate it from your life. It could be your cat, bedding dust mites or if seasonal hayfeaver. Do you have this all year around?

You can also get dust mite hoover with a uv light in it for bedding mattress etc

Nothing wrong with taking a daily antihistamine if you have allergies

Daily antihistamine usage is not terribly good for you

My partner got one of the acupressure bands. It's been amazing!!

No amount of medicine will work if you don't clean your home, your bedding or your clothes properly. If it gets better when you aren't in your flat, then it's what's in your flat that's the problem.

Why don't you have a washing machine? Handwashing doesn't kill dust mites and you're likely to have excess soap/perfume residue on your clothes - and if you dry them indoors, you're providing the perfect environment for mould. if you can afford holidays you can afford a replacement

Keeping the home clean is the one thing my mother refused to do. My sister nearly died as a result of her allergies/asthma, but still she refused, as it was 'her that's the problem'.

My sister moved out aged 18 and they almost completely vanished overnight. When I moved out aged 17, so did mine - no more 'hay fever', no more cough, sore eyes and no more allergic reactions to things in the night. Not because either of us were away from pollution or trees, but because the places we moved into were cleaner.

Not read all the posts but wanted to share my experience. I felt like this too for about 2 years. It wasn't consistent, just on and off but enough for me to visit the doctor and then get allergy tested. It came back that I was allergic to dust and cats. I've lived with both for years so I was a tad confused as to why it should start affecting me so badly. DH and I had a night away in a hotel, in a brand new room, in a brand new extension where they'd only just removed the plastic covering on the new bed. We were the first guests to stay in it so there would have been no household dust and no cats. I felt as bad as ever with my runny nose. We also have a camper van which our cat is never allowed in and I keep it spotless. I would occasionally feel just as bad if staying in it too. And sometimes I would feel fine. That was what was so confusing - there was no rhyme nor reason to it. I can bury my face in my moggie's fur and be absolutely fine.

I was prescribed steroid droplets which worked after a couple of weeks and then I was fine. Until months later when it came back. The droplets worked again but the doc said it's not something I should be relying on.

It isn't anywhere as bad as it was but it still comes and goes. I am convinced it is a side affect of perimenopause as I have other things that come and go with no rhyme nor reason. Having researched it a bit more, it is most definitely a thing other women have experienced but no cures or insight seem to be available.

I don't have any answers but it might be something to consider and perhaps give you a different direction to follow. My sympathies and good wishes. It can be shite! x

YABU for doing nothing about this. My DS has been taking daily anti histamine since he had allergy diagnosis aged 1. He is 13, he still gets bad rhinitus so he has nasal spray when it gets bad. You need to work out what your allergic too, it may be environmental but without testing its a bit of trial and error. Suggestions on here are good, change bedding, enusre non feathers, do a deep clean and get rid of high level dust, take anti histamine daily and go and see a GP.

Gps are rubbish for this sort of thing. I would avoid taking regular antihistamines if possible, try and treat the cause not the symptoms

I think maybe you need to prioritise looking after your self and your surroundings... you’ve painted quite a grim picture of a slightly damp and mouldy flat, old pillows, no washing machine, Henry hoover (probably not very allergy friendly). I understand you might not be able to afford to make huge changes but do try to implement some!

Unless you want to pay for allergy testing you need to see a GP to get you referred.

See your doctor. I have had chronic hayfever for as long as I remember and am on prescribed tablets, much much stronger than the ones you can get over the counter.

Still get symptoms on really bad days but nowhere near the extreme I would get had I not been taking the medication

I have a bad dust allergy. Control it in my own home by having no carpets or heavy soft furnishings and dusting/hoovering a lot. Always gets worse when I go to stay in someone else’s house, I can feel like I am in a fog for the whole visit. Doc prescribed Avamys nasal spray and for visits to the in-laws it is life-changing - you have to take it a few days in advance to build up the effect though. It’s not the same as Otrivine, that is a decongestant, don’t be put off by your Dad’s experience.

And chick all your old pillows - new synthetic ones are very cheap in Argos.

I've had daily sneezing/runny nose/itchy throat/wheezing after exercise for years now. The GP simply said to take an anti-histamine every single day which helps. At one stage I was taking 2 a day. They still work!

This is easily and cheaply treatable - I've been taking antihistamines almost every day for the last 15 years and I'm not aware of any side effects. 30 days worth of tablets are a couple of quid if you buy own-brand at a supermarket pharmacy.

But you do need to take them regularly to build the drug up in your system - taking when your symptoms are bad is not as effective.

I honestly don't understand why you'd suffer when a solution is so easy!

Antihistamine, nasal spray, dust / hoover regularly, and cut down on dairy. The dairy makes a huge difference to my phlegm and nasal drip.

[quote DazedandConcerned]@snottery all that worked for my husband was a kenalog shot. Cost £100 but since he had it he's had no symptoms though previously he suffered from debilitating hay fever and cat allergies. They last 6-12 months.[/quote]
Did you arrange this privately?

I have to take cetirazine and loretadine daily to keep on top of my allergies, maybe having both daily will help you? I get mine from aldi usually or chemist direct
So far i haven't become immune to them and have been taking for years

I have had hay fever since childhood but developed the phlegm problem in recent years. It’s horrid. ENT recommended nasal rinses, antihistamines and nasal sprays. Doesn’t eliminate the symptoms by a long shot but eases them.

Sorry, haven't RTFT so don't know everything that's been suggested.

It could be reaction to house dust mites &/or your washing powder/liquid if it seems you are being affected by your pillows.

Get & take antihistamines though, they will help you feel better & surely you want that.

Switch between antihistamines. Take certzine one day and then lorratadine the next.

@chocolatespiders yes he used the Ghosh clinic in Liverpool but there are many all over the country who do it. Ranges from about £75 in London to £100 in the north.

I work in community pharma at head office level and a Pharmacist recommended it. He was on fenofexadine, eye drops, inhaler, nasal spray, and benadryl top ups. He is now, hand on heart, allergy free. It has also helped with pain from a serious wrist injury as a side effect, his ear popping is gone as well as his nasal congestion.

I have 2 cats. My allergies have improved since I got them. Maybe it's because I'm obsessed with hoovering more?

I've been taking cetirizine for almost 30 years with no side effects and without losing its effectiveness. In agreement with my GP it was safe to take during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.

Treating your allergies would be a little bit if self care and I think you need that.

Gps are rubbish for this sort of thing. I would avoid taking regular antihistamines if possible, try and treat the cause not the symptoms

Nope not really, what they can do is point you to someone or a clinic at your hospital who can investigae futher to see what the alergen is.

It Might be more than the one, thats what testing can show up and this is where snottery needs to go and soon!