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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone else has insane hayfever?

55 replies

GingerAle1 · 16/04/2023 15:44

Honestly, never had anything like thisI heard vaguely that England was having really high pollen levels a week or so ago. From about Thursday, I have been waking up in the night sneezing like a cartoon character, my nose is runny, my eyes are runny, I look like Iike I've got a cold.

I had some fenofexawotsit for skin rashes last summer, it wasn't doing much so I tried cetrizine instead. That's better but it seems to wear off after a few hours.

Is there something else wrong or is anyone else having this? Thanks. I'm actually sleeping in the other room tonight in case I do have a cold rather than hayfever but it doesn't feel like a cold.

OP posts:
Original poster
GingerAle1 · 16/04/2023 22:08

I have just taken a shower and now have itchy skin. WTAF is going on.

OP posts:
WobblyLondoner · 16/04/2023 22:37

Do any of you suffer with dry eyes? I was diagnosed last year and understand that antihistamines can make them worse. So far this year I've been managing with hay fever eye drops but I am worried they won't be enough later in the season - plane tree pollen is a particular issue for me. Plus the fact I swell up like a balloon if anything bites me!

This article is useful in dry eyes and antihistamines if anyone else affected. www.healthline.com/health/dry-eye/which-antihistamine-does-not-cause-dry-eyes

Pixiedust1234 · 16/04/2023 22:45

Cetrizine only lasts 8 hours so take one in the morning and one in the evening. They work best if you take them at the beginning of symptoms/in anticipation rather than waiting until you are bad (enough). You can add a nasal spray or eye washes to your arsenal.

If you are really struggling then my DD was prescribed chlorophanime maleate(?) 3 times a day as that meant morning, midday and evening doses to help spread it out.

MoonlightMemories · 17/04/2023 04:52

GingerAle1 · 16/04/2023 22:08

I have just taken a shower and now have itchy skin. WTAF is going on.

It's strange you mention that, I have just suddenly developed a big patch of really red, itchy hives on the underside of one of the tops of my arms - not changed anything dietwise etc and was fine earlier, I just woke up early an hour or so ago and it's itching like crazy (hence me still being awake) - I rarely ever get hives!

Original poster
GingerAle1 · 17/04/2023 09:04

Pixiedust1234 · 16/04/2023 22:45

Cetrizine only lasts 8 hours so take one in the morning and one in the evening. They work best if you take them at the beginning of symptoms/in anticipation rather than waiting until you are bad (enough). You can add a nasal spray or eye washes to your arsenal.

If you are really struggling then my DD was prescribed chlorophanime maleate(?) 3 times a day as that meant morning, midday and evening doses to help spread it out.

Thanks for this. I took one before bed and didn't wake up with the awful symptoms I have had the last few days. I'm still hayfevery, but not as bad.

off to the chemist at lunchtime.

OP posts:
colouringindoors · 17/04/2023 18:34

Yes! I'm thinking I have a combo of cold plus early hayfever. Feel dreadful. So above pp said you can take Certirizine 10mg twice a day? I'm almost certain that's what my GP said last year. Steroid nasal spray needed too. It's early this year though- I don't usually start anti histamines til well into May, but this is crazy bad now.

WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 18/04/2023 00:51

I used to spend a fortune on prescriptions. I take one a day Benadryl tablets, cool eye drops and Beconaise nose spray twice a day. Works brilliantly 💜💐

MrsAvocet · 18/04/2023 00:58

Our entire family is terrible at present. We ran out of antihistamines at the weekend and I had to resort to using a bottle of ceterizine liquid I found at the back of the cupboard , expiry date October 2019. Fortunately it worked and didn't kill me but I was off to the chemist like a shot first thing this morning. None of us has ever had such bad hayfever so early before, and even on rainy days, it's hideous. I don't normally have any problems til about the end of May.

Flipflopflips · 18/04/2023 01:05

I usually take cetirizine and beconase for hay-fever throughout spring/summer. At the moment, I'm currently prescribed 4x 180mg fexofenadine a day for 6 months to try to get rid of chronic urticaria and random lip swellings, which don't seem linked to any particular allergy. The prescription is from my GP as advised by an allergy consultant.

Apparently it's pretty impossible to overdose from antihistamines according to the GP. She said even taking more than 4 a day if I'm in the middle of a reaction won't cause me harm, but is unlikely to have any additional benefit.

On a positive note though, I've not had itchy eyes yet this year!

emptythelitterbox · 18/04/2023 03:27

I used to have it so bad like that.

I would wear a mask which helped a lot.

Rinsing off face and arms with cool water several times a day.

Then started using Flixonase spray daily and using it pretty much year around stopped it.

Original poster
GingerAle1 · 18/04/2023 20:51

Chemist advised 4x piriton per day for now

feel normal now. So relieved!

OP posts:
Bunnyannesummers · 18/04/2023 21:02

Loratadine and fexofenadine for me, one each a day and the Sudafed nose spray.
Its starting to impact my breathing though so I’m currently wondering if you can get an inhaler for hayfever

Original poster
GingerAle1 · 18/04/2023 22:39

Bunnyannesummers · 18/04/2023 21:02

Loratadine and fexofenadine for me, one each a day and the Sudafed nose spray.
Its starting to impact my breathing though so I’m currently wondering if you can get an inhaler for hayfever

Would a blue reliever inhaler for asthma help? I have one but strangely the pollen hasn't kicked things off...yet.

OP posts:
HairyKitty · 18/04/2023 22:54

I always get chest tightness and s bit of breathlessness at this time of year

Zanina · 18/04/2023 23:02

I find putting vaseline in the nostrils and eye lashes also helps as it catches pollen before it can get into my system

ssd · 18/04/2023 23:05

GingerAle1 · 18/04/2023 20:51

Chemist advised 4x piriton per day for now

feel normal now. So relieved!

I didn't know you could take 4. It says one daily on the box, if a chemist says its ok i wonder why the box says just one?

ssd · 18/04/2023 23:12

Why is piritize ceterezine so much more expensive than the ones in cheap chemist's? Is it just the brand name? Also it says online one daily, dont exceed the stated dose..yet its safe to take 4 a day?? Im really confused

DHsPoorBack · 18/04/2023 23:16

Not only do I get terrible hay fever, I am "hilariously" allergic to antihistamines (IE all sodding allergy tablets,) so apart from local honey, which does nothing by the way, can anyone recommend what to try?

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 18/04/2023 23:53

Try Amazon. The Allacan cetirizine hay fever tablets for a 6 month supply is £14.99 and they don't make you drowsy like some hay fever tablets do either.

Original poster
GingerAle1 · 19/04/2023 00:09

ssd · 18/04/2023 23:05

I didn't know you could take 4. It says one daily on the box, if a chemist says its ok i wonder why the box says just one?

Show quote history

Just looking at the leaflet
it actually says you can take up to 6 in 24 hours

this is the over the counter version, is it possible you're thinking of a different one? It's chlorphenamine maleate 4mg.

OP posts:
Lullabies2Paralyze · 19/04/2023 00:19

I have really bad hayfever that results in violent sneezes (so bad I don’t feel safe driving) and going to bed is the only thing that helps

antihistamines from shops never work (possibly because I was only taking 1 as per packet and maybe I should take 4 as some people suggest) a lot of you have mentioned tablets/brands I’ve not heard of. Are these dr prescribed or can you get them anywhere? I need to try something else as piritin, piritize, clarityn etc are doing nothing

beezlebubnicky · 19/04/2023 00:34

I feel for you OP, it's shit. I have permanent, year-round allergic rhinitis and go through boxes and boxes of tissues. Terrible dust mite allergy, and I also have hay fever - I suspect I'm allergic to both tree and grass pollen. Even drying clothes outside isn't easy for me as they get pollen on them from the trees.

Antihistamines help. I switch from loratadine to cetirizine to fexofenadine every few months - it'll stop working then I switch back to one of the other ones.

I can never fully breathe deeply through my nose and always have a very slightly impaired sense of smell as my nose is always blocked to some extent.

PickleOfAConundrum · 19/04/2023 00:37

The pollen count is extremely high in Northern Ireland this week unfortunately as my poor daughter suffers hay fever no matter how much Piraton (I think that's spelt right 🤷). She used to be really bad with it bless her wee face looked like she'd been in a fight with her eyes swelling up and she'd come out in hives too. Grass and flowers are a no-no with her. Its not fair as it makes going on day trips/ holidays that more challenging. Hopefully it'll be something she grows out of!

Throwncrumbs · 19/04/2023 00:45

I was informed by my pharmacist that there’s a problem with orders for fexofenidine atm, which I’m in for difficult asthma.

LighterNights · 19/04/2023 01:42

I have to take loratadine, nothing else touches it. Just experiment with all options until you find something.