Hayfever

[D2022]

Is anyone else blighted by this during WINTER as well as summer? I've got it all years round, no matter what the weather, night and day. I permanently take tablets each day or I literally become a sneezing and eye streaming wreck unable to breath properly, my throat closes up and I begin to wheeze.

 

[michael769]

Is anyone else blighted by this during WINTER as well as summer? I've got it all years round, no matter what the weather, night and day. I permanently take tablets each day or I literally become a sneezing and eye streaming wreck unable to breath properly, my throat closes up and I begin to wheeze.

During the winter months fungal spores peak and some hayfever sufferers can be sensitive to this - however this is relatively uncommon.

Where symptoms are worse indoors and especially when getting up in the morning then it is more likely to be a dust mite or airborne bacteria allergy. Generally dry air in homes increases dust allergies, wheras damper air can increase bacteria related allergies. Asthma like symptoms of wheezing and throat swelling is more likely to be a dust allergy than hayfever.

It is not uncommon for people to be sensitive to both hayfever and dust leading to year round misery.

There have been recent studies that suggest that drying clothes indoors can exacerbate the problem.

 

[D2022]

I'm sadly one of those people to have the year round thing. It's horrible, I went to the doctor who basically said the only way to deal with it was to take tablets, but long term I would become immune to the effects of antihistamines and begin to suffer again. At that point even any injection treatment would be pointless and I'd have to deal with it. He's seen me at my worst, and was genuinely concerned it would prevent me breathing normally.

 

[GB]

I used to get it bad all year round, but since using baby wipes on my hands and face (use them to get all the crud off from work) it hasn't been nearly as bad.

 

[D2022]

I used to get it bad all year round, but since using baby wipes on my hands and face (use them to get all the crud off from work) it hasn't been nearly as bad.

that's awesome, I will have to try that

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am sure that the subject of Hay Fever as one that also is a major factor that affects many forum members in summer, so perhaps this thread could be used for forum members to express their views on cures or medication.


On a personal basis,I thought that being on holiday for most of the last two weeks in June on the Isle of Wight, based at Sandown on the east coast of the island would help, but two days in particular at Cowes and at Ryde, both in marine situations, did not offer their usual respite. Perhaps the pollen levels were excessively high on both of these days, but even having taken the prescribed Fexofenodine Hydrochlorate tablets (Neoclarityn), Necrodil eye drops and Prevalin nasal spray (a real "belt and braces" job), I was quite badly affected.

Back here in Cheshire East, living in a rural location with all types of crops growing all around us, I am just about persevering, but only just.

 

[Johnuk123]

I have had it since teenager days and it used to be hell. It always used to start the last week of May for roughly 2½ months and was totally predictable.

Now I start tablets and nasal spray before it starts and generally get about 3 or 4 bad days usually all together in June. That's generally all I get now as it's well known it does lessen as you get older.

When I was in the Met I spent a summer protecting Michael Howard which was mainly in his back garden, that summer was the worst ever for hayfever. I came to the conclusion that he must have had some particularly evil foilage which caused my hayfever to be so bad.

Anybody who suffers year round has my complete sympathy it's bad enough having it ruining the summer.

 

[Mojo]

It seems to vary with me. Earlier in the summer I had really bad itchy eyes, now this week my problem is a blocked nose! Indeed the last few days I have woke up with an extremely dry mouth which must mean my nose is blocked all night! Last year I had quite bad problems with breathing too and had to be prescribed with an inhaler.

As for me, I just take a one-a-day own-brand Loratadine tablet every morning and carry around some own-brand eye drops and Otravine. Can't really take anything stronger as I need to stay clear of medication that may cause drowsiness as I don't want to be restricted at work.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Used to take medicine, then Lorantadine (or something like that), now just on bog-standard allergy tablets. Like just about everyone above me, it varies hugely. Some days I can walk past a front garden and it will start, other days I could walk through a common or field I'll be fine. Still only a few weeks left for this year's period; then scientists have another ten months to find an effective treatment What's always annoyed me, and mercifully sitting my A2 exams this year it didn't occur, is getting it around exam season. It's a hell of a lot harder to concentrate on revising or a question when it feels like your eyes are on fire.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I have really, really bad hay fever. At worst my eyes swell up like I've gone through a round with Mike Tyson and breathing is more difficult. I take Fexofenodine Hydrochloride and eye drops. Normally my nose is blocked and my eyes are itchy and thats with medication. Yesterday for example, whilst on the Helsby-Hooton 150 train, it was really bad and my eyes were swollen so I had to get my dad to bring my eyedrops to Hooton. It must be an inherited thing because a load of people in my family on my mums side suffer from really bad hay fever. Not fun In summer, sometimes I even have to stay in with the curtains drawn and lights off, or if I go out wear sunglasses and avoid grass and plants (which is hard as there is loads of it around). I tried the local honey and lemon method but it doesn't really work either

 

[Pride Of Crewe]

I get hayfever every year if I start sneezing and I cant stop I get an itch in the back of my throat and my eyes run and itch. It makes my summer hell.

 

[Temple Meads]

I suffer from it, but it could be a lot worse, it usually only occurs the first couple of hours after I wake up, although some days it can go on for longer, today (bizarrely, given the pollen level) I haven't had any symptoms at all!

 

[edwin_m]

Mine is a lot less bad than 20 years ago but both then and now always worse on overcast days rather than full sunlight, even though reported pollen counts are normally highest when it is sunny. I've had no problems for the past week and a half of sunny days but I see tomorrow is forecast overcast again.

 

[tsr]

My (inherited) hayfever is absolutely abysmal today - and largely what brought me to this thread! I use a powerful nasal spray & tablets on prescription - unfortunately they are not working today because my symptoms are so bad, and this happens once or twice a year. "Normal" lawns don't affect me, but almost all other plants and types of garden/park seem to. Hot weather with a bit of haze is always worst, plus a light breeze... as is present today in southern England. Oddly enough, full sunshine isn't the worst thing for me, either - it's when I'm in the shade or just coming indoors. Heavy rain - summer storms - will generally be fantastically helpful. Unfortunately, my type of hayfever is also sometimes very intermittent - one hour it is really bad, and the next I have no symptoms. I can be sitting or standing in roughly the same place without the weather changing or any other environmental differences, and bang! Sneeze after sneeze. It's mainly sneezing and a bunged-up nose.

The best trick is using "Hay Max" or conventional vaseline around the inside of one's nose. You will still sneeze, so take care to avoid bogies getting stuck in the front of your nose.

As for itchy eyes, I do get that sometimes. Sunglasses (even wraparound safety specs) do not help in the slightest, so I just avoid grass and crops and try to only touch my eyes when my hands are really clean.

One good friend of mine used to get hayfever all year round and now has been prescribed tablets and sprays after visiting her GP as I recommended... however she now cannot survive without them - indeed, she often has to borrow my tablets (same drug, don't worry) if she is out and about (unhelpfully for her, she is the most forgetful person alive). My dad, from whom I inherited all this nonsense, is much better than he used to be - just as he gets older, really. Loratadine works for him when he occasionally needs it.

Sprays mentioned above: Mometasone Furoate.
Tablets mentioned above: Cetirizine Hydrochloride.

And no, I do not use those whilst carrying out any task where my reaction time needs to be spot on, as per medical advice.

 

[Liam]

Is anyone else blighted by this during WINTER as well as summer? I've got it all years round, no matter what the weather, night and day. I permanently take tablets each day or I literally become a sneezing and eye streaming wreck unable to breath properly, my throat closes up and I begin to wheeze.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? I used to get it really bad when I was 12-16 (nose dripping from face to feet...) Haven't had any problems for at least 10 years.

Also invest in some anti allergy bedding.

 

[Antman]

I suffer from it, but it could be a lot worse, it usually only occurs the first couple of hours after I wake up, although some days it can go on for longer, today (bizarrely, given the pollen level) I haven't had any symptoms at all!

Mine is only bad first thing in the morning, generally not too bad after breakfast, just the odd sneeze. I don't take any medication unless it gets bad. I'd rather put up with that than the sunburn my wife gets if she is in the sun too long

 

[trentside]

I suffer very badly at certain times during the summer, with a blocked nose and itchy eyes - I also have the occasional cough with mine. I try to vary my treatment each year, and this year am using a nasal spray from the doctor, over the counter eye drops and Benadryl once per-day tablets. I don't always need or use all of them, or even any of them as it varies day by day.

There are various other remedies I've been suggested, such as eating local honey but I don't know how effective these things are. Fortunately, I'm a big lover of local honey so it's no hardship to have if for breakfast (doesn't seem to be making a huge difference!).

 

[43106]

I've had hay fever since I was 14, and there have been times when slashing my wrists was a serious option. I also used to get asthma with it as well. The latter was partially relieved with a throat/lung spray of a mixture of Atropine and Adrenaline.
To sort out the blocked nose, 0.1% Privine usually helped, but Ciba stopped making it. Antistin and/or Otrivin was used instead, but it was no-where near as good.
My dad saw a GP privately to get an injection of a corteso-steroid called Kenalog. I got the same jag at the same time. He was cured of ALL his symptoms by the time he got home - It did damn all for me!
At the age of 20, I had a series of about 24 injections of something of increasing strength in my arm over about 40 days. That didn't work either!
I was a guinea pig for a couple of things in the late '70s. A powder in a capsule that was inhaled into the lungs was tried - that didn't work! I tried another corteso-steroid called Depo-Medrone. Guess what......
The ONLY thing that has worked for me is BECONASE that I get on prescription. I know you can get it over the counter - or you used to - I haven't seen any on sale for a couple of years.
Here in Edinburgh, my season lasts from early July to mid-September, but if I'm in, say, London, the start & finish is about 6 weeks earlier.
I've no idea what I'm actually allergic to, as I've never had a scratch test. I occasionally get an itchy upper palate, but there's nowt you can do about that AFAIK. I still have the occasional sneezing fit that could strip walls of paper!
The itchy eyes is still a problem, but sunglasses help. In extreme cases, I put the back of my head on the edge of a table, so I'm looking up, then put an ice cube on the corners of each eyelid and the bridge of the nose. You allow the thawing ice water to seep onto the eyeball. It's a bit Heath Robinson, but by God it works!

 

[Crossover]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones in that I don't particularly suffer from hayfever, though at certain times of year, I may suffer slightly. Usually I take Cetirizine Hydrochloride which seems to help, though I'm not the best at remembering to take them each day when I do!

 

[Class172]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones in that I don't particularly suffer from hayfever, though at certain times of year, I may suffer slightly. Usually I take Cetirizine Hydrochloride which seems to help, though I'm not the best at remembering to take them each day when I do!

Well I don't seem to get it at all, though I usually end up with the common cold at least once in the summer months. :roll:

 

[Crossover]

Well I don't seem to get it at all, though I usually end up with the common cold at least once in the summer months. :roll:

I had a spate of colds last year, but seem to have been better this year

I think it is fair to say I don't really suffer hayfever though, judging by how I was helping field a fun game of rounders yesterday at a local group, which often seemed to involve me hunting in the "garden" of various flowers and weeds to locate the ball again. With the amount of stuff (seeds, pollen) flying round, I had a bit of a sore throat for a little while, but nothing else

 

[Class172]

Whilst doing some construction on my model railway yesterday I was overcome by a bout of sneezing and runny nose though I think this was down to me planing the polystyrene which sent a load of shavings and dust into the air - dust doesn't irritate me so it must have been something to do with the polystyrene.