HAYFEVER - do you have it badly and if so can you tell me what you are taking to help?

[foxinsocks]

because I'm struggling...I think the rain this week will help wash some of the pollen away but I feel like I am walking around in a cloud at the moment (hayfever makes me feel incredibly dopey even before taking antihistamines).

I'm taking beconase nasal spray, piriton or cetirizine at night and I'm considering now taking a daily non drowsy tablet for the day.

I have the added complication that I have a deviated septum so if I let nasal congestion sit around too long, it triggers an awful, almost unbearable sinus headache which will last for weeks so I have to keep on top of it.

But I'm wondering what other people are taking and how it's controlling their symptoms. I can function now (which I barely could last week it was so bad) but I want to keep a hold on it.

Hayfever generally makes me feel (even) more dopey than the antihistamines do. Ask docs about different drugs/doses - I was told I can take 1 * loratadine at night (otherwise I wake up at 4am with raw throat) and another in the morning when needed, but it depends on your weight, etc.

Wear sunglasses at all times outdoors.

Don't dry your clothes outside.

Wash your hair v.regularly.

..apart from empathy (although mine is not too bad so far this year, it will get worse soon I am sure) that is all I have to offer!

Go to your GP and ask for an allergy specialist referral.

I've suffered with hayfever for years and my season got longer and longer. Last year, my season was February through to November and at that point I snapped and went to see my GP.

I got referred to the allergy clinic at the local hospital. Apparently it turns out that I'm not allergic to any pollen or moulds at all, but am extremely allergic to dustmites (which happen to breed in spring, hence the sudden increase in symptoms about that time). I'm now on a stronger antihistamine, a stronger nasal spray and an anti-allergy tablet. I have not had ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL SINCE! It's wonderful, I feel human again.

I'm just really cross with myself that I suffered in silence and didn't get a referral earlier, tbh.

When living in a town I used to get it so badly I couldn't open my eyes and had to take time off work. Since living back in the countryside it's got a lot better, I think the car fumes were making me more sensitive to allergens.

The only antihistime that's ever worked for me is Benedryl (and it's non drowsy which is a bonus) and I use a nasal spray and eye drops too. One summer it got really bad so I went to the dr in tears and he put me on steroids for a week which gave me a break and reset me so that when I finished them the normal antihistimes worked better again.

Also we have a HEPA air filter in our bedroom which helps at night.

nettle tea

my father has had TERRIBLE hayfever for years and he takes all the antihistamines etc but swears that the only thing that really relieves some of it for him is drinking nettle tea regularly.
Health food shops stock it and probably supermarkets do nowadays. It's not as bleurgh as it sounds (so he says) and if it helps....

oh that's interesting about the nettle tea

I have seen allergy peeps and an ENT but have not been back for years. What they did a few years ago (last time I saw them) when it was unbearable, was put me on a course of steroids (like Moosy!) and that did give me some relief. In fact, this is the first time since then that it's been this bad grrr and I have a feeling I'll have to be re-referred.

Apparently my worst allergen (when they looked at it) was grass but I'm wondering whether I have other food allergies that haven't been diagnosed so I am thinking of going back (I have a feeling it's humous as it seems to be even worse after I've had a meal containing that). So good point about the allergy referral as I do think this is now 'more' than just normal hayfever.

Thanks for your medication info! Arrrgh. Never thought I'd be pleased to see the rain.

And I am off to see my sister who lives by the coast over the bank holiday so that should do me wonders too!

ps hope you don't all suffer too badly this hayfever season!