Hayfever

[RaceyLacey]

Sorry if this has been done to death a million and one times before, feel far too crap to hunt around.

I'm suffering really badly this year wiht my hayfever. Absolutely all the symptoms just far worse than ever before. It's knocking me right out, and giving me really bad headaches which I obviously don't want to take too much for.

I've been taking cetirizine which are the one a day piriton and they only work for 2 hrs . Been to the dr and he was reluctant to give me anythign for it at all. What he did give me is useless. I do remember my dr giving me a load of stuff with one of my previous pregnancies but that was at a different surgery so can;t see her.

What do others take for it? I never even thought anti-histamines would pose a risk until I saw the dr.

I'm 14wks atm.

I get horrendous hayfever and while pregnant with my dd had to stop taking my daily hayfever pill.

I was recommended Sterimar spray by a woman in Boots, you spray it up your nose and I presume it clears out all the possible pollen etc that is causing the hayfever.

After a couple of weeks, my hayfever symptoms disappeared and I managed the whole summer without taking anything for it.

I breastfed so had to go without medication for 8 months after dd was born too.

As soon as I stopped breastfeeding I started getting symptoms again. I think its all in my head cos I know I can do it without the tablets!

When I was pg my obstetrician (a very experienced consultant) told me that the original Piriton (chlorphenamine maleate) was safe to take throughout pregnancy. I took it for the whole summer. However the pharmacy will not let you buy it for yourself if you are pg, so you may have to either lie or get someone else to buy it for you. They will of course give it to you if on prescription.

No antihistamines are tested on pg women, so they are not licensed for use during pregnancy. But, as my consultant explained, Piriton has been used for so many years, since before there was concern about medication in pregnancy, without causing any harm, that there is sufficient evidence for her to be satified of its safety.

Thanks PC, I was hoping someone would say normal piriton, I seem to think that may be what my old gp gave me. I will go to the chemist first thing tomorrow morning and get some own brand chlorphenamine 'for dp!' until I can get an appt for a prescription.

It's horrible, my head is not working preoperly at all )even more so than normal in pregnancy.

My doctor has prescribed me Opticrom eye drops for itchy eyes and Beclometasome nasal spray (which is the generic name for Beconaise). He told me that nasal sprays were the safest thing to use and try that first but if that didn't work then Piriton was also safe.

Never get hayfever usually - apart from this yr whilst pregnant. Quickly sourced some locally made honey ( I could only find normal honey but comb honey even better) and ate half a jar. Cured me within 48 hrs.

I have been sneezing and streaming and snuffling for 2 days and the pollen count is high- but I don't get hayfever normally. Am 14 weeks too. Thought it was either a summer cold, (only I don't usually get them either)or dust from mega house cleaning session.

But can you sudenly develop hayfever or a more sensitive hose when pg?

Miffster My allergies are always much worse in pregnancy.

My GP was extremely vague about hay fever meds. Suggested best not to take any anti-histamines in 1st 12 weeks or if absolutely necessary cetirizine was the safest option.
Lack of evidence from trials seems to be the main problem, so drug companies say do not take them in pregnancy to cover their backs, but that doesnt necessarily mean there is any proof they could affect the baby.

I was prescribed Chlorophenamine 4mg tablets by my GP. At first i was taking one when needed ( you can take 1 every 4 - 6 hours)but my hayfever is really bad at the minute, i took 2 on Saturday and Sunday and the drowsiness is incredible - the lights were on but no one is home and i had to take to my bed! You can't drive if you are drowsy on them and i have had to stop taking them because i felt so 'altered'. Apparently these are the only tablets considered 'safe' in pregnancy.

GP has now prescribed me Beconase which will not work as well but will help alleviate the symptoms a bit.

I hope you have a better experience with the tablets than i had on what is now known as 'the lost weekend'!

I've also been using this red light thing that goes up your nose. Takes the edge off but importantly is drug free. Can't link as on phone but go to lloyds pharmacy site and it is the allergy reliever.

My GP also prescibed opticron eye drops and flixonase nasal spray during both pregnancy and breastfeeding.

My GP gave me a massive lecture about how nothing is safe to take in pregnancy except beclometasome and eye drops. I ended up there a week ago with wheezing and breathlessness and was still told the same, but that if it lasted a week to go back for a ventolin inhaler. Which is what I was about to do, but if I can just take piriton I know what I'd rather. Why on earth do they not all have the same information? Think I will go back for a chat with a different gp.

Smear vaseline inside your nostrils - the pollen sticks to it so you don't breath it in. you can also buy balms that claim to do this but the vaseline worked for me.

Second the nasal spray (if its safe) and local honey (tsp a day).

Other than that and sticking with the ceterizine as it builds up, don't dry your washing outside, wear sunglasses, and shower before bed so its not worse in the evening if you've been outside.

If you can work out where you get it worse (home, work, etc) you can try to avoid it.

There's also a technique to washing your nostrils out but I've never tried it....

Good advice, I'd heard the vaseline thing before but forgotten it, I'll try it tomorrow.