AIBU to think breathlessness / fatigue could be caused by hayfever?

[Balticeiderdown]

My dd (late teen) complains of fatigue and breathlessness daily. She has had all the tests and visited the doctor multiple times. Tests come back normal. Her breathing test at the hospital she “passed” with flying colours. She does have health anxiety and fixates on her health a lot but I’m not convinced this is what is causing her fatigue or tight chest. She does walk a lot but struggles to walk the length of a field (10 min walk say) without getting out of breath. At home she’ll complain about her tight chest while she’s been sitting down, watching tv for example.

I’m really not sure where to go from here, the doctors don’t seem to have a clue, although no one has suggested hayfever, I’ve just thought of it today.

Could it be as simple as hayfever? Could she have this all year round? She doesn’t seem to have other symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, red eyes.

If anyone has any ideas they’d be much appreciated.

PS posted in aibu for traffic.

Dh and dd have hay fever and aren't breathless or tired with it. Has she had blood tests?

Could it be low iron? GPs (in England) are notorious for telling you levels are fine when they’re actually quite low. Ferritin levels should be close to 100 but NHS says anything over 30 is ok. Low iron causes fatigue and breathlessness.

I would get iron and thyroid checked if they haven’t been tested. I couldn’t even walk up the stairs without getting out of breath when I got diagnosed with under active thyroid and also when I’ve been anaemic.

If its hayfever it would be relieved by a reliever inhaler (usually blue). Can she try that?

Start by taking antihistamines - I get wheezy with hayfever and the antihistamines usually handle it. Occasionally I need an inhaler as well but antihistamines are easier to try first.

Yes, hay fever causes fatigue. If the chest tightness is hay fever/allergy related Chlorphenamine is the best anti histamine to try for that. It’s old fashioned piriton so causes drowsiness but worth trying to see if it helps.

Hay fever symptoms

Unless there is a medical reason why she shouldn’t do it, then I would absolutely try introducing an anti-histamine to her daily routine. I start taking mine at the end of February every year when the tree pollen starts and I notice that all of a sudden I’m knackered, head achy, have a persistent annoying tickle cough, heavy eyelids and itchy skin. My DD has started getting similar symptoms in the last couple of years and her eczema starts to flare up so she has a Clarityn every morning before school. It doesn’t completely get rid of the symptoms but it makes a big difference. Give it a week and see if there’s any improvement.

I had a blood clot in my lung which didn't present in a "classic" way. Is she on oestrogen-containing contraception?

It's rare so I don't want to frighten you unduly, but also very serious.

Hayfever can trigger asthma. I don't get severe attacks from hayfever but do feel wheezy and tired just doing mild exercise,

Antihistamines are worth a try but lots of them cause severe drowsiness. The one least likely to do this is fexofenadine (brand name Allevia in UK).

was Her b12 checked? What level was it? A passable number here would be a fail elsewhere in the world, sadly the NHS is rubbish with b12 deficiency's

I would also guess low iron. You could try her on a liquid iron supplement. I take Spatone every day, it made a huge difference to my fatigue levels within a few weeks.

You could try having a chat with her and asking is everything ok workload wise, just in case she's feeling under too much pressure for whatever reason. Allergies and hayfever can cause shortness of breath too so if it's only a recent seasonal thing then ya, it could be it. Low iron is a possibility also if it hasn't been checked already. Diet also as a higher fat diet or Inflammation of the gut can cause breathlessness too

there is a chance this could be anxiety. She is focusing too much possibly on her bodily sensations and interpreting it as being fatigued or having chest tightness. It could be related to her health anxiety.

If all the physical tests have been okay, I would try and perhaps consider some help in getting her to distract herself from anxious thoughts.

Thank you all so so much for your replies. She has had several blood tests and everything normal. Iron was sort of borderline so maybe that’s an avenue to explore more based on what some have mentioned already (we’re based in England). B12 was tested, I can’t remember if that was borderline but will check. The anxiety could well be playing a part but she doesn’t want to acknowledge that of course, so it’s difficult to go down that road with her. She is having therapy and on the waiting list for cbt. I guess I just wondered and hoped it might be something as simple as hayfever as that would be an easy fix and funnily enough I have noticed even my own breathlessness recently whilst out walking and i’m a frequent runner so wondered if it might be the pollen count. I think the way to go will be to try some hayfever tablets for now, nothing to loose there, and look into the iron thing too.

Thanks again!

For me I suspect yes, but it's best to get checked. I take fexofenedine and inhalers. Allergies to our pets I think who bring in pollen of course.

DH developed hay fever in his 50s. A major symptom for him is fatigue. It only come on, in the pollen seasons - he’s had regular blood tests on B12, etc and it’s not that.

If the nhs have said iron levels are boarder line they will actually be considered rock bottom in other countries. Low iron can be linked to low b12