New To This Hayfever Lark......

[DEESMITH1970]

So this year all of a sudden I have started suffering from Hayfever - 45 years old. Itchy eyes, nose, ears as well, one nostril is always completely blocked. Speaking at a family gathering yesterday to fellow sufferers of many years... lots of debates about what is good and what does not work. Apparently it is best to start nasal sprays anti-histamines in April to "build up immunity"...some agreed some didn't. Lots said anti-histamines have no effect on their Hayfever at all... they don't appear to with me either. Sister in Law also said she sometimes feels very "jittery" with hayfever almost as if her body is "on standby for histamines"......she hit the nail on the head as I feel the same as well ..coincidence?. Any feedback or suggestions re nasal and eye drops would be appreciated. Also lots of people seem to suffer with HF these days even new sufferers like myself :-(

[Bathsheba]

All that comes to mind is a tip I heard last year....a bit of Vaseline round the nostrils can help? Sorry, I've no experience of hayfever personally. Good luck Dee x

[Sqad]

Such a large subject that i feel it would be better if your Googled hay fever and it's treatment.

However, here are my feelings on the subject.

If the symptoms are mild then over the counter medication by anthistamines either by mouth or by sprays should suffice.

Where these treatments are ineffective, regular intranasal
corticosteroids should be used. Intranasal steroids are more effective if used at the start of the season and in the presence of established nasal congestion, a topical decongestant may be used for up to one week as a pre-treatment.

If all these methods fail or if it is for a special occasion e,g exams, wedding then a short course of steroids by mouth are =, in my opinion justifiable.

Injectable steroids seem to be a contentious issue in the UK and many other countries,but should not be discounted.

Treatment of hay fever is b y trial and error.

[DEESMITH1970]

OK thanks for the advice.

[horseshoes]

Hi Dee. I, too, developed hayfever in my late 40's. I dont suffer the "snots" and sneezes that affect a lot of people, I have awful, awful itchy eyes and a strange sensation in my chest which makes make vocal chords "quiver"! Very hard to explain. I tried many, many antihistmine remedies until my GP prescribed one which he uses himself! So dont give up finding one that suits you. My consolation is that once everything has actually flowered and leafed, I'm OK.

[DEESMITH1970]

Thanks Horseshoes....its the itchy ears that get me.....!

[237SJ]

I prefer to use eye drops and nasal sprays as I only get hay fever at the beginning of the summer for a few weeks but I have used cetrizine tablets in the past. They are one of the main types that people use. Just a tip if you want to try them - they are in Aldi (by the tills) for 89p for a pack of 14. The same size pack is £4 + in Boots. My friend stocked up with enough packets for her husband for the next two summers as they had an expiry of 2017

[Old_Geezer]

Consider yourself fortunate to encounter this now in the days of air conditioned offices, not when you were younger when a hint of sunny weather meant all the windows were opened.

[LyndaB]

When I was at school, many moons ago, I was the only one in the whole school to have hay fever, now everyone seems to have some form of it. I used to be really ill with it, thank goodness I don't suffer so much these days. I tried everything, but nothing worked properly

[DEESMITH1970]

Old-Geezer....it still comes through the air conditioning !

LindaB ... seems lots more people are affected with it now doesn't it.

[woofgang]

Have had it since a teenager, It was terrible in my thirties and much less severe now I am in my sixties. I also found that symptoms have changed over time and also from year to year. Best advice that I can offer is to try the different options in different combinations until you find the best management strategy for you.
Years ago desensitisation injections were on offer. I had these one year and they worked very well for quite a few years. Sadly some people (not many) had very bad reactions to the treatment and it was stopped. I have seen recently that the idea is being revived.

[mosesg]

Although I haven't tried it myself they say to get locally produced honey to help build up an immunity ahead of summer.

[Old_Geezer]

Tell your employer to get better filters for the sake of their staff and the company's production ;-)

[DEESMITH1970]

Thanks everyone

[boxtops]

I take cetirizine from march - october as i have sensivity to what seems to be all pollens - plus a steroidal spray from the GP to use as needed. I also find that if it affects my sinuses then a dab of Tiger Balm above the sore area (externally) is smelly but effective, it makes my nose run and clears any blockage.

[woofgang]

I am not sure that more people have it, just that we know more about what it is. When I was a child people had things called "summer cold" or "rose fever" Symptoms were running eyes and nose, sore/itchy throat and sneezing. Similarly, IBS was "a bilious attack" Prickly heat rashes in children were put down to eating too many strawberries or other soft fruit.

[Greedyfly]

I use drops, nasal spray and Loritidine and STILL get symptoms, I hate it but not much to be done. I do use tablets quite early in the year then start the drops and nasal spray once summer hits.

You have to do what suits you best. The itchy eyes drives me nuts, my eyes were so swollen one year one closed up. People swear by some Vaseline or similar under the nose to catch the pollen.

[jourdain2]

Allergies can start suddenly and end equally suddenly! A few years ago I started wheezing in May ( was in my 60's) and had an inhaler prescribed, which helped. Next year I was ready for it and it didn't happen. This year I caught the 'flu (real variety despite vaccination against) and followed with horrible, really horrible bronchitis (antibiotics needed and dispensed) after which I was wheezing again! Now OK but 'claggy'.

OH had no skin problems at all until the last few years, now eczema strikes at the omission of a creaming.

This year I have simply been taking a standard antihistamine from Boot's.
It's a relief and everything works OK. Good luck with it, hope it isn't a variable one.

[B00]

I appear to have developed a mild form of hayfever this year. My only symptoms seem to be sneezing none stop along with a runny nose, and only seems to affect me about once a week. I pop a generic allergy tablet at the first sneeze, and so far, touch wood, it stops the problem for a good few days.

[ummmm]

Mine starts about March time. Weeping eyes, streaming nose, sneezes...

It's gone now though so I assume I'm sensitive to tree pollen.