What do you do when all the hay fever options don't work?

jenniewb

I rarely get hayfever, generally speaking I seem to get a milder form every two or three years and it mainly ends up being watery streaming eyes and a runny nose, over once I take an OTC hayfever pill or just grin and bear it for a month.


However; this year seems to be different. It is currently 3am and I have very itchy eyes which didn't react to the "scientifically proven" hay fever relief eye drops. I have an itchy nose (not just running but really itchy!) which has not reacted to the hay fever relief nasal drops. As to the pills? Tried each brand for however long the pack lasts (generally a week or two) none have touched the sides of this thing and most caused drowsiness. I also tried that nasal wax Holland and Barratt sell; made no difference.


If I stop and think about how much money I've wasted I think I'll end up too afraid to buy any food- just this week I blew another £10 I can ill afford on products which promised to help but have done absolutely nothing to help let alone stop this thing.


What else is there I can try? Even my facial skin is itchy! This is driving me mad! I feel like I've got my head underwater all the time with these symptoms! Today has been the worst day and I am really praying it gets better because I've already had enough and it's only been a month!


Does anyone have any tips or things I could try?

rainbowfairydust

I sympathise.. I have hayfever and it is a bleddy nuisance. It wakes me at 4am as well - sneezing, blocked nose, runny nose, itchy eyes. Then the same again around 10pm:mad:

I usually have a shower before bed - that way any pollen from my hair/skin/eyes has been washed away. Change bed linen twice a week (extra washing =annoying) , make sure all windows are closed whilst sleeping. Keep a handy supply of tissues, nose drops, eye drops at the side of the bed.

If they dont work - go to the bathroom and wash your eyes/nose (i only do this when NOTHING has worked and its in desperation) .
I cut down on alcohol, and cheese intake as both apparently aggravate hayfever. I dont cut it out all together mind.

ETA - You could also try a teaspoon of very local honey (within a 10 mile radius i would say) . It helps to build up pollen immunity.

Useful pollen calendar
http://www.zirtek.co.uk/hayfever/pollen_calendar

chez22

Over the counter stuff is useless, go to your GP and get a prescription, you can normally get 2 or 3 months worth of pills which should see you through the whole hay fever season. I used to get severe hay fever every year but prescription meds combined with a nasal spray have almost stopped all my symptoms.

FBaby

There are not many remedies that GP can prescribe that you can't get over the counter, besides steroids.

You can buy the supermarket own brand which are exactly the same than the leading brand, just much much cheaper. I think Tesco do them for £2.50 for once a day for 30 days, hardly breaking the bank.

You say the pills don't work. Do you mean they don't work at all or they wear out? If it is the latter, Benadryl do a version you can take 3 times a day. These are not usually on the regular supermarket shelves but at their pharmacy counter. Unfortunately, these are indeed expensive. It did do the trick for me at my worse for a number of years, although somehow, last time I tried them, they made me feel very dizzy and I had to stop.

rach_k

I'd go to the GP. OTC antihistamines don't work for me but Telfast (prescription only in the UK) works perfectly. There may not be loads of prescription only options but that doesn't mean one of them isn't the right one for you

Local honey seems to help me too, but it works out more expensive than a prescription!

Cornucopia

If general eye-drops are not working, then try Opticrom (Sodium Chromoglycate). These are available from pharmacies. I originally had these on prescription and they are very good (though they do sting a bit at first).

Whilst there are only two main drugs in all the various own-brand and branded one-a-day remedies, there are a number of different drugs in the various nasal sprays, and the different sprays work in different ways, too.

In the end, if nothing works, having consulted with a Pharmacist, then head to the GP.

GwylimT

Telfast used to work for me, it doesn't any longer so now I have injections which so far have been very successful.

peachyprice

chez22 wrote: »

Over the counter stuff is useless, go to your GP and get a prescription, you can normally get 2 or 3 months worth of pills which should see you through the whole hay fever season. I used to get severe hay fever every year but prescription meds combined with a nasal spray have almost stopped all my symptoms.

rach_k wrote: »

I'd go to the GP. OTC antihistamines don't work for me but Telfast (prescription only in the UK) works perfectly. There may not be loads of prescription only options but that doesn't mean one of them isn't the right one for you

Local honey seems to help me too, but it works out more expensive than a prescription!

^^^ This.

Fexofenadine/Telfast is the only thing that works for my daughter too. She has a prescription for that and Optilast eye drops every year from the doc. She gets enough to last the summer.

This year she has also been taking local lime tree honey (it's that specific pollen she's allergic to) and so far, touch wood, she hasn't had the dreaded 'jelly eye' reaction.

paddyrg

My nose responds well to flixonase and mometazone furoate, neither of which is OTC.

I don't like to use them though, and get pretty good partial relief with washing my sinuses out with salty water. The NielMed sachets and squirty bottle are great (if wildly overpriced) as it doesn't sting (buffered with bicarb of soda) and removes a lot of pollens and gak that blowing doesn't. Over the counter.

Could be worth a try :-)

downinja

OTC Acrivastine is probably the best antihistamine, as it's 3rd Gen, unfortunately only availably from Benadrlyl as they still hold the patent. 3 a day and it's hardly cheap.

I suffer from asthma as well, normally go to GP about this time of year, they prescribe Prednisolone if I ask nicely, which sorts may hay fever over the summer months.

Not saying its always the best route but it works for me.

Nile

What do you do when all the hay fever options don't work?


When I was in your position, I went back to see my GP. I had a blood test, which confirmed that I was allergic to Timothy Grass pollen. Then I was referred to the hospital to see the consultant in the department of immunology.


At the hospital, I had skin p-r-I-c-k testing, lung function testing and further blood tests which confirmed that I was severely allergic to Timothy Grass pollen.


I've had allergen immunotherapy via injections and then I've had similar treatment via Grazax tablets.


I know the misery of hay fever. I'm delighted with the results of my treatment and my sleeping, working and sports activities are transformed.


The first step for you to get help with your symptoms is to see your GP.