Hayfever - OK so who's really suffering?

[northerner]

Cause I know I am.

I'm taking Zirtek, Beconase (sp?) and eyedrops and still feel crap basically. Anyone come accross a miracle cure yet?

And is it just me or do you have a nose full of horrible bogies that cling to the lining of your nose? Sorry if TMI!!

Arabica and DS are sneezin' up big in Stoke Newington. Tried vaseline and it does indeed help, but not enough, and it doesn't make itchy eyes any better. As a child I had everything--steroids,anti-histamines, scary injections, and NOTHING worked. But I do feel better when I am not eating dairy, sugar or wheat (three foods I usually eat far too much of).

Acupuncture worked really well for me a few years ago.

Currently finding Flixonase really good - but like the Vaseline tip - will try it.

I live in Budapest and seem to be OK at the mo but heading home to Dublin on Wed and I know it will flare up - will buy lg jar Vaseline - just to keep your share price up!

I'm doing ok with homeopathic remedies. Last year I used Nelsons Pollenna (sold in Boots and health shops) which was good. However, this year my itchy eyes, throat, ears were much worse and the Pollenna didn't sort my eyes out. I've switched to New Era Combination H for Hayfever and allergic rhinitis and that has sorted it all out. Even got kids version for my six year old who has just started with itchy eyes and she's fine with it.

ive had hayfever now for the past 6 yrs and ive noticed now that i only seem to get hayfever at the beginning or end of the hayfever season...

DS age 9 and I are both suffering v badly this year. We both wear hats with a brim and sunglasses and DONT take the sunglasses off, even indoors,LOL.

We also keep the curtains closed with the windows open. We have tried local honey it was ok and you can use it as much as you want, esp useful with lemon for sore throats.

DS takes zirtek which he gets on perscription, at the moment though it doesnt seem to be doing much.

Does anybody have a really good technique for getting eyedrops in because DS has really itchy eyes and whilst he always has a wet flannel to soothe his eyes and face, I know the Boots hayfever eyedrops would help him so much.

Thanks Starmummy

Not a solution, but I do find that my eyes are tolerable in the daytime when I have my contact lenses in, and then when I take them out they start to stream....strange as I thought the tear ducts were the problem for hay fever...?

I've had awful hayfever for about 15yrs now. Before I became pregnant, I used a beconase inhaler, eye drops, benadryl 3-a-day tablets, citirizine tablets and an asthma inhaler (the doc said i'd be ok to combine the tablets occasionally...)

The combo worked really well, but I couldn't take ANYTHING when pregnant... so I went all out and bought a homeopathy kit. Its really good. There were about 12 different remedies in the kit, and a sheet explaining the symptoms to look out for for each remedy. Itchy mouth is my worst symptom, and a general lethargy, heavy / tired body and achey head. Arundo remedy worked wonders for me (symptom description: Itching in nostrils & sneezing; Itching in roof of mouth and ears) and gelsemium (symptom: Where there is voilent sneexing and the nose tingles and streams, partic in the morning. Face feels hot, eyes heavy, throat and swallowing causes pain in ears. Body aches and limbs feel heavy).

I'm still breastfeeding, so I still can't take most of my old prescriptions, and the homeopathy is great as a 'boost'. You can buy mail order online from some places. It doesn't always work, but i think thats because its sometimes v hard to diagnose yourself when you're feeling really awful!!

hope you find something that helps, its really terrible, and last weekend was a nightmare. i itched the back of my mouth with my tongue so hard at the weekend, that I've got a massive painful ulcer beside my tonsils now, and its not going away!!!

xx

Starmummy, what problems are you having with the eyedrops? With mine, all you have to do is pull down the lower lid and put one into corner of eye. Is DS just refusing to have them put in? Could he be persuaded to do it himself? I'm training Ds to do it and he is only 4.

very interesting article in today's Times re hayfever and current weather conditions. anyone read it?

if you wanted to go the drug free route, I have tried the following with good resultd. The key is water to wash the pollen away, rather like creating a rainshower in your own house/car etc.
1.Sterimar - sea salt nasal spray, completely natural - costs £5.99 though. Safe for children as completely natural, usually found behind pharmacy counter.
2.www.shopneti.co.uk for something called Nasopure. Indians have used netis for thousands of years cheaper long term alternative to the above. Its a plastic container you fill with water and unrefined sea salt and squeeze a fine mist up the nose.It washes all the pollen and snot away! Then coat inside of nose and upper and lower eyelashes with vasaline
3.Buy a indoor plant spray bottle (the type you spray the leaves with) or you can get travel spray bottles from superdrug/boots. Fill with water, twist nozzle onto fine spray setting and spray yourself/hair/clothes/people/pets/room/near windows and doors etc. whenever you need to. I've got one for the car aswell.
4. Luffa Complex (tincture) by bioforce -brilliant herbal remedy 20 drops with tiny amount of water hold in your mouth for a minute or more. I've found this has stopped the sneezing in its tracks
5.Quercertin B5 complex by viridian food supplement, take 1 a day.
6.Use kitchen roll rather than loo paper as less fibres so less irritation up nose when blowing.
7.Use dryer rather than clothes line as the pollen will stick to clothes/towels.
8. last resort if bad attack - take shower, wash hair and change clothes.
I've also tried something called a nasal guard - a tiny filter that fits up the nose (see www.nasalairguard.com) which worked a couple of years ago - about £7.99 for 5 filters, each filter lasts 24 hours so very expensive.
Haven't tried conventional drugs for a while as I've had 3 children in the last 5 years and am feeding ds3. Had tried all the steriod sprays, injections, tablets, acupuncture, homeopathy and have had better success with the natural route.
hope some of this helps

Wow Shrub! Thanks very much. That's a comprehensive list of new things to try. If your nose is itchy, it's a good idea to snort water up it to clean away the pollen then do the now famous vaseline thing. Numbers of people affected by hay fever seem to be swelling every year. Must be pollution. I'm also suspicious of crops like Oil Seed Rape. Anyone have any thoughts on possible reasons?

Thank you shrub - that is most helpful! I've given up on traditional doctors remedies for DD2 as nothing has ever worked. I am going to try something called Aller DCG. You can only buy it from Victoria Health and they are totally out of supplies. It comes from USA and is supposed to be foolproof. It is rather expensive at £12.95 for 60 capsules (3 a day) but when you have a dd suffering so much you will try anything.
She has been on a 3 day activity thing with school and I was seriously worried about her after day 1 and tramping through fields. She would not give up on it so we have tried everything to try and alleviate her symptoms. Today was rainy and she was on a golf day and got hit in the face by a golf club so, hey ho, there are dangers everywhere (including hayfever!)

I seee some more advice has come on dd is really bad (grown up) and says she has hardly been able to walk to the bathroom...sudden onset of asthma + hayfever...tablets not very effective...

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didn' t realise children this young got hayfever
i would try light coat of vasaline on top and underneath eyelashes and explain that this will stop the pollen from itching her eyes as the pollen will stick to the vasaline instead.
could you get her sunglasses - i think there are ones for children with elasticated backs that go around the whole head to keep them secure. maybe shop for them with her so she feel they are something special to help her stop her eyes being so itchy. I would try the vasaline up nose with a cotton bud and see if she is open to it by explaining why she needs it. you could also get a little spray bottle (see my post from last night) maybe make it into a game 'zap the pollen'.
never heard about blotchy skin as a reaction - could it be the heat? again i would try to eliminate the source with lots of water to wash the pollen away, maybe take a travel spray bottle filled with water with her when outside?

DD1 at A&E today as around her eyes had swelled up - so much she could hardly open her right eye. Yesterday eveing after running through lots of meadow grass she had large red blister type marks on her back & arms which were itchy. Hurt to put water on but ok with wet towel. She has been diagnosed with a reaction to pollen & given medication which has helped. Think the weather is also part of the prob as so hot with no wind. Will try the local honey idea - thanks for this.

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Just saw this thread. Am suffering badly this year too - and 5 months pregnant - so I'll try the vaseline thing!

Dd seems very sneezy and snotty too but she's only 17 months. More likely to be a cold? Has anyone heard of babies/toddlers with hay fever?