Advice needed for a new hayfever sufferer.

[Eve]

After spending last summer feeling like I had a constant cold and sneezing when same symptoms started this year I twigged that at a ripe old age, I have developed hayfever, so I have gone to Boots and self medicated and feel a lot better.

Have some questions though and not sure I want to waste GPs time on them.

1. is it important/ useful to be allergy tested to establish what the trigger is?

2. Are there are differences in the tablets available..

3. Are any brand better than others

4. Would hayfever have been a reason for me being so knackered all the time, I'm certainly sleeping a lot less than I used to ... I can stay up to 11 now with no problem, before I was wiped out.

5. As I have developed this recently.. is it likely to get worse?

..all other hints and tips welcome

Don't think it's vital to be tested for your trigger unless your symptoms are severe like asthma and you are able to avoid.

Tablets - I find cetirizine best for me, think it's a personal thing, trying them out. Some knock me out,cholphenirimine(sp?)

I get store brand as all the same ,much cheaper.

Yes hayfever can knacker you out.

Not sure if it'll get worse.

I have recently started using beconase nasal spray which helps me enormously,wish I had started using it yrs ago.

Thank you.. do you take them all year round?

I get the 99p packs of Loratidine - take one every morning once my HF starts showing symptoms until the end of September. The active ingredient in the cheaper ones is in the same amounts as in the expensive ones generally, as you would find with paracetamol/ibuprofen.

I've never been tested for which kind of pollen triggers it. Seems a bit pointless as avoiding it would be impossible with it being airborne.

I find treating it topically ie. beconase nose spray and eye drops as well as anti-histamine really helps. As others have said buy the generic tablets, our Co-op chemist is the best with 30 tablets for £1.99.

If your eyes are effected sun glasses are vital. 1. To keep pollen out of your eyes. 2. To hide red puffy eyes!

I'd say

1 - no point in checking, unless you had it so severely you'd try to move to a part of the country which had less of that type of plant. The time of year gives a clue whether its trees/grasses/whatever - but you'll know yourself it starts up at a certain month and goes on so long.

2 - there are several different ingredients - I like Loratadine, but it just depends which you get on with. Some can make you drowsy, but they don't all get everyone that way. Try one for a week or so to see how you get ob with it

3 - Brands make no difference, they just contain the same chemical. I buy whatever is cheapest at the time

4 - could well have made you tired, specially if it was disrupting your sleep

5 - well, its not going to get better, but it could stay about the same

And, I only take the pills when I have symptoms - which start in March for me. When I start finding I have an itchy nose, I buy some!

It disrupted my sleep and made me tired because I was drying my bedsheets outside right under all the lovely pollen - it might sound obvious to you, but I was really slow at putting 2+2 together, so thought I would mention it!

In line with Runner's advice, I'd also say that whenever you come inside, take off your outermost layers of clothes or get changed if possible. Pollen from outside clings to clothes and so you can continue to get the symptoms even if you're indoors with all the windows shut .

I also like the three-pronged approach... (tablets, nasal spray and eye drops) but shop around, it can cost a fortune unless you're savvy.

Chemistdirect.co.uk are quite good from experience, and often have deals.

I developed hayfever in middle age. I been using a nasal spray for some years used to be Beconase but latest advice is Flixonase. Long term use of topical steroids can cause thinning of the skin so advise caution.I try and manage without it during wintertime. Almost any oral anti histamine will help. Some can make you drowsy Piriton does but that may help if you have trouble getting off to sleep. I used to think it was tree pollen that set me off but now it could be almost anything including house dust mite. I have two cats and can't bear to think they might be involved.
I used to wake up every morning with a stuffy blocked nose and was getting heartily sick and tired. Back in January I bought an air purifier a large one with replaceable filters and keep it on in my bedroom all the time. The effect has been truly amazing and it really really helps. I can't believe the colour of the filter after just a couple of weeks. I have removed all clutter where dust can gather, damp dust every day, Hoover regularly with a powerful vac with a hepa filter. The change has truly been life changing and worth the effort. When I wake up in the morning now I am constantly grateful for being able to breathe more freely. I've no wish to advertise but am happy to let anyone know which model I chose and why.I have a latex allergy developed whilst nursing and I've always had contact allergies particularly nickel and lanolin which is in an unbelievable range of goods. Allergies can get worse over time culminating for some with a form of asthma so it pays to treat and control your condition now.