Husband's hay fever very bad but driving me nuts!

[MagicSummer]

DH does have bad hay fever every year, but it seems to be worse this year. His whole day (WFH) is spent sneezing, coughing, blowing his nose and rubbing his eyes, all accompanied by heavy sighs and moaning. I am sympathetic but he rejects everything I suggest - can't take pills because they make him drowsy, can't have drops in his eyes as it makes him feel 'funny', won't see the Doctor about having the injections which are supposed to reduce symptoms - I don't know what to do. I am fed up with his moaning and sniffing all the time. Grrrrr!

I'm a hayfever sufferer.
He can take a hayfever tablet just before he goes to bed!!
He should know this.
Then he'll have a great nights' sleep and no sneezing at all the next day.

Is he wearing the dressing gown of doom?

Any over the counter hayfever tablet will work. Right before bed. Then he'll be fine.

He sounds like a right martyr.

You can get non-medicated barrier relief nasal sprays which might help.

As others say. Tablet right before bed. And taken religiously. Also keep windows closed in his home office. Ideally keep all windows closed in the house. And try the nasal sprays, they have transformed my terrible hay fever. Finally get an air purifier. It is really really horrible to have it but I imagine it is also really annoying to have to listen to it too!

Family of hay fever sufferers here. Not all antihistamines cause drowsiness so there may be one he can take. Nasal sprays can be useful too. My dd uses both of these and eye drops of it gets too if needed. He could ask a pharmacist or gp.

Other things that we do to help are: drying clothes inside (so they don’t get pollen on them drying outside). Keeping windows closed early morning and early evening when the pollen count is higher. Shower before bed so not rubbing pollen in face while sleeping (it goes on the pillow and can irritate eyes that way. Also if eyes are itchy & swollen apart from eye drops use wet flannel on eyes to soothe.

Alcohol can aggravate mine, does he drink?

Fexofenadine from the doctor is non drowsy but as already said, take at bedtime if necessary.

It is the only thing that stops me getting continual sinus infections from hay fever and allergies.

He could also try a neti pot.

He is being foolish, and I say that as someone who suffers greatly from hay fever (as do those around me ).

He can take a tablet at night - any drowsiness the next day is in his mind. Eye drops work, and if preservatives irritate his eyes, preservative free sodium Cromoglycate is available OTC. There are sprays, injections...lots of options.

And in my opinion if he was REALLY suffering, he would be trying all the available options. If he is moaning but rejecting all treatments then his hay fever is not bad.

I swear by my beconase. But if he wants something more homeopathic and, imo, as helpful, I love Otrivine natural nasal spray.
I have HORRIBLE hay fever. Pills don’t cut it for me. But eye mist, beconase, and otrivine natural really help (I do use drops as well but I find the allergy eye mist much more beneficial and it provides immediate relief).

I used to have it severe and similar to your husband I asked the GP to prescribe fexafenadine - recommended to me by a friend who is a pharmacist - it changed my life! Non drowsy and Can go on repeat. Can't do links so I've attached a photo

Neilmed sinus rinse helps. Similar to a neti pot suggested up thread.

Also, agree with PP to take the hayfever tablets at night.

Does he wear contact lenses? My hayfever eye symptoms improved loads when I stopped wearing contact lenses. The optician said that the lens sort of collects the allergens and concentrates them.

My DH and DD both suffer, they take antihistamines and never any drowsiness. He needs to try a few and see.
I would also be out of sympathy with and adult who won’t help himself!

DH is exactly the same...very LOUD hay fever to which I'm sympathetic to a point as I suffer too. But...when he stood there last night showing me the snot running out his nose onto his chin, I lost it.
Sympathy for dealing with it, no sympathy for not taking meds and then letting the snot run out.
I offered my pills, but no....

It has been especially bad this year a lot of friends have said so, something to do with the weather I think. I would suggest he try getting a non drowsy allergy pill and you could look into an air purifier although they are quite expensive but might be worth it.

@MagicSummer, I sympathise! DH is the same every year, May to August. Every year recently seems to have been “particularly bad”. He’s miserable and grumpy for 3 months!
DH does take medication, but seems pretty resistant to it, or it’s not powerful enough or something. He’s been to the GP countless times. We have a couple of air purifiers which hum all night and live with all the windows closed. Whilst I really, really feel for him, I hate the wider effect his hayfever had on us all.

Think masks can help when out and about.

Vaseline round the nose

Hayfever sufferer for 20+ years here.

I have found eye wash to be the best thing ever for sore eyes, it washes away the irritants and soothes instantly, you can get them from supermarkets like tesco and sainsburies, or even boots and home bargains, they come with a little eye bath and leaves you feeling really refreshed,

Don't dry any of his clothes or bedding outside, I know it's a pain but the pollen gets stuck in the fibres.

Baby wipes to wipe his face when he comes in from outside, try to keep windows closed.

Sunglasses help when outside too.

I've never had any hayfever tablets make me drowsy so I can't really help there.

I have found Beconase Allergy plus nasal spray to be the saving grace the last few years, it gets rid of the irritated nose and also makes a barrier to help protect the nose from more allergens!

Thanks for all the useful tips - will definitely suggest the pill at night instead of in the morning and will try some different brands! Also the closed windows is a good idea.

@ineedaholidaynow - he doesn't drink much, perhaps one glass of wine at night.

@Leshan - no the dressing gown of doom has not yet appeared, he has to keep up appearances a bit for his video calls!!

If you want me to call over and give him a kick up the hole OP, just let me know.
He's probably been a hayfever sufferer since he was a child or a tween - so he knows fine well what he needs to do. We all do, we get it every summer, so we have to find a way.

I am another sufferer - Fexofenadine helps, and I have a steroid spray on prescription (Dymista) which is good too. The best thing I have found this year is actually a saline rinse nasal spray - OTC in Boots etc - which just seems to clear everything out.

Mine is a nightmare because while I am grateful not to be bothered with my eyes, I get terrible post-nasal drip which makes me cough - I feel like I should carry a sign saying NOT COVID.