Pregnancy and hayfever

[FeatherFeather11]

I'm six weeks pregnant and my hayfever is terrible. Anyone know if you can take anything at all? I'm seriously suffering and can't spend the summer like this! Help!

Feather, you can use eye drops but not antihistamine. I went to my GP this morning as the drops I had been given from the pharmacy were making my eyes really sting so they have given me a different one which are anti-inflamatory for allergy relief. Nothing I can do about my nose running but I would rather cope with that than want to scratch my eyes out.

Hopefully it won't last too much longer.

Thanks Lisa. Thought that would be the case! It's making me so miserable. Grrr!

Was literally just about to post a thread on this.

My doctor has prescribed me something but my husband has had to go pick it up for me cause I can't even make the 10 minute walk (i can run 10k at 22 weeks pregnant just to give you some context) I feel like I've got the worst flu I've ever had In my life.

When I spoke to the docs he did ask how many weeks I am so it might mean its not safe to take anything in the first trimester. I hope this isn't the case for you and that you can take something though.

I'm going through a nasty bout of depression too with a toddler to look after so this hay fever business has totally wiped me out :(

Ring your gp hun Its worth a shot Xx

Hi :)

I've got prevalin! It makes my nose feel funny but is kinda like a sticky blockage that stops pollen getting in. Totally safe during pregnancy according to my doctor, but ask at a pharmacist in your case. I hope it works for you as it has for me!

Vaseline up the nose helps a bit. I'm off work today and keeping myself shut in the bedroom with all windows shut. Yesterday I felt like my face was erupting; so painful.

You can use Naseonex. It is really helping for me. I have also been given eye drops but find that slices of cucumber straight from the fridge really help too.

Thanks for all your suggestions! Heading to the pharmacy now.

ithought hope your bout of depression is short lived and that you have a swift recovery.

you can use loratadine or cetirizine. if it is really really bad you can also use low dose steroid nasal spray (beconase or pirineze).

Thank you feather :)

If you get no joy from your pharmacy I would try nhs direct tonight. They can sometimes get your local out of hours doctor to write you up something over the phone.

I always seem to get laid up in bed with something on a Friday afternoon!

tbh I sent dh out to buy stuff for me as pharmacist didn't want to sell me any.

It says on the nhs website you can take loratadine, please excuse my spelling! It says get gp advice first though (doesn't it always?!) but at least we can take something!

Piriton and promethazine are safe in pregnancy and well used although both are sedating. I think there is limited evidence of use or other anti histamines.

Have you tried a Hay Band? It's one of those elasticated acupressure bands like the sea sickness ones. You wear it on the crease of your arm next to your elbow. My DH gets really bad hay fever and he says this works better than antihistamines most days.

I've been suffering massively today - sore eyes, runny nose, sneezing, scratchy throat and itchy skin. I rang the midwife, she said to send my partner out to get Piriton. It's what the maternity department would give apparently. The only downside she said was that it doesn't work for everyone. I've just taken one so waiting to see. When not pregnant I take Loratadine. If this doesn't work I'll have to get a GP appt next week. I've not been this bad before - I hadn't realised how good Loratadine was! Good luck.

I'm starting to think that what I have is actually just a cold not hay fever. I took what the doctor gave me.... nothing. I still feel horrendous.

Makes sense .. I haven't had hay fever since I was about 9 so why would I randomly have it now?!