Hay fever - less this year ?

ifconfig

Obviously the summer got off to a slow start but I am a bit perplexed as I am having *much* less hay fever symptoms this year.
I turned 49 in May and I've had hayfever since a young boy and particularly bad hayfever with regards to grass pollen.
Way back when doing Inter(Junior) Cert or Leaving cert I did get the Kenilog steroid injection but I heard that it fell out of favour in relation to steroids,etc.

Anyway fast forward to last summer - I had pretty severe hayfever all summer. Chronically tickly palate, constant sneezing and red itchy eyes and irritability and night wheezing. That was the story of my life with hayfever right through teens,20s,30s,40s.

This year there is silage cutting going on all around me and nice dry days, perhaps the temps are not in the very high teens or early 20s but I've had *MUCH* reduced sympoms and haven't taken a single Zirtek this year.

I am wondering if anyone else has noticed less pollen or maybe (fingers crossed) at my 50th year technically I have built some age related immunity finally from this annoying condition.
Maybe I am counting my chickens way before they have hatched ?

Any perspectives from fellow sufferers ?

Simon_K

Similar situation here, I haven't experienced too many issues thus far. I really hope this keeps up

sullivlo

Simon_K wrote: »

Similar situation here, I haven't experienced too many issues thus far. I really hope this keeps up

Me too. I still take a zirtek at night just in case and I keep the piriton handy in the day time but touch wood - no big flare up this year. I even cut the grass last week with no ill effects.

Samsgirl

I am the opposite this year! Really struggling with it. So is my 2yr old.

stepster

Yes, it is the same this year for me. Generally I'm at my worst with hayfever during June and July and then it disappears in August. I take one Centrine in the morning with a squirt or two of Flixonase and this year have had hardly any symptoms. I think you are right - it could be related to the cooler conditions this year. Hopefully it's not the calm before the storm!! I used to take Zirtek too, but find it cheaper to get a months supply of Centrine (or any other generic antihistamine). If I were you I would still take it regardless of your reduced symptoms..

Colser

Similar situation here..I dont suffer from it but the two people in the house that would normally be in a bad way at this time of the year are actually symptom free..great for them and for me:)

Simon_K

Hah, first rain in a while and I start sneezing.. I Thought it worked the other way around, rain is meant to bring relief

Euphoria Intensifies

Unfortunately mine has been as bad as ever!! I hope it stays away for all of you.

For those of you who get itchy/watery eyes due to hay fever, I really have to recommend the Boots own brand eye drops for Irritated Eyes (they are in a pink and blue box). I have found them great so far.

Simon_K

While we're on the topic of eye drops - anyone here use opticrom? It work for me, but it takes an hour for the initial "pain" to wear off (eyes feel dry and swollen at first, sometimes a headache kicks in, but it passes and the allergy symptoms are completely gone)

juke

Simon_K wrote: »

Hah, first rain in a while and I start sneezing.. I Thought it worked the other way around, rain is meant to bring relief

I always have worst symptoms when it rains, always have done, and I've always had hayfeaver. There must be logical science to it, like the moisture in the air captures the pollen and condenses it more at sea level? (says the non scientist). It's funny alright.

Last few days have been tough, this afternoon: bleurgh :mad:

pancake_tuesday

Has anyone who suffers from a dry nose tried a humidifier at night? Was thinking of giving it a go but not really sure what sort of money should be spending on this or the size you'd need

grey_area

I'm finding my hay fever worse this year than most. As a teenager I was on it all, prescription eye drops, nasal spray and tablets. I've managed the last few years though with just the regular over the counter antihistamine tablets. This year is worse though, I've been suffering a lot over the last 2 weeks and Clarytin isn't doing much, if anything for me.

I'm going to go to the GP to see what he can do for me. I'm interested to hear what other remedies people have found effective as well?

DaveWalsh2020

[QUOTE=i
I am wondering if anyone else has noticed
Any perspectives from fellow sufferers ?[/QUOTE]

Same here. I had thought that it was because I had tried the honey and immune system top ups.

It may be the temperatures they have been quiet low.. Warm week next week we will see if we survive it...

SillyMangoX

My hayfever is bad enough this year but it's not gotten to the point where I'm constantly popping antihistamines, I've taken maybe one or two over the past couple of weeks if I've had to go out somewhere but for the most part false tear gel stuff is sorting my eyes and in drinking 2 or three cups of camomile tea with local-ish honey and that stuff is absolutely brilliant for it!

rubadub

I have not been too bad, took tablets a few times, have to find my LED device again, found it worked very well.

Penny Tration

Mine is worse this year than it's ever been tbh, as is my sister's. I'm taking as many antihistamines as I'm allowed, using flixonase and optrex and I'm still going around constantly sneezing, blowing my nose and scratching my raw red eyes.

rubadub

The met eireann pollen count is high today. I have been using my LED today and its working great as usual.

The place I got mine is still selling them, but a different model. They did not send to the republic so I had to use parcel motel and get it delivered to their address in the north, this would add €3.95 to the price, which is on sale at £11.99

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/lloydspharmacy-allergy-reliever-15677

The one I got is £20.07 incl. delivery on ebay for a new one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kinetik-Medical-Allergy-Reliever-/252011143895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aad08e2d7

DaveWalsh2020

Hay fever hit me hard since yesterday. So I tried a trick someone told me. Rub Vaseline, just a little coat around the inside of both nostrils and within 5 mins eyes nose and sneezing flared down. I gave the nostrils a rub every two hours and I was perfect all day. I bought a little tub at 10am. It really worked well.

Simon_K

Yeah, I've been using vaseline as well - its meant to catch the pollen and reduce the itchiness.

ceecee14

My hayfever has by far been the worst year I've ever had. Had a baby 9 months ago, had no hayfever whatsoever during the pregnancy, a month or two after I had her, hayfever came back worse than I've ever had it. Hate going to the doctor about it because he just fobs me off giving me piriton or zirtek and they are simply not working.

DaveWalsh2020

Simon_K wrote: »

Yeah, I've been using vaseline as well - its meant to catch the pollen and reduce the itchiness.

and is it working for you.........

DaveWalsh2020

ceecee14 wrote: »

My hayfever has by far been the worst year I've ever had. Had a baby 9 months ago, had no hayfever whatsoever during the pregnancy, a month or two after I had her, hayfever came back worse than I've ever had it. Hate going to the doctor about it because he just fobs me off giving me piriton or zirtek and they are simply not working.

Try the vaseline every 1/2 hr quick little rub around. I was riddled sneezing nose running eyes fcukde up the lot... Not a bother on me today since I bought a little tub of vaseline and gave a little thin coat right up all around the nostrils.

When I feel it coming on I give them a rub and it keeps it at bay. The relieffffff...

DaveWalsh2020

ceecee14 wrote: »

My hayfever has by far been the worst year I've ever had. Had a baby 9 months ago, had no hayfever whatsoever during the pregnancy, a month or two after I had her, hayfever came back worse than I've ever had it. Hate going to the doctor about it because he just fobs me off giving me piriton or zirtek and they are simply not working.

Try the vaseline every one or two hsr quick little rub around. I was riddled sneezing nose running eyes fcukde up the lot... Not a bother on me today since I bought a little tub of vaseline and gave a little thin coat right up all around the nostrils.

When I feel it coming on I give them a rub and it keeps it at bay. The relieffffff...

ceecee14

DaveWalsh2020 wrote: »

Try the vaseline every one or two hsr quick little rub around. I was riddled sneezing nose running eyes fcukde up the lot... Not a bother on me today since I bought a little tub of vaseline and gave a little thin coat right up all around the nostrils.

When I feel it coming on I give them a rub and it keeps it at bay. The relieffffff...

My mother actually told me about this trick the other day, kept blowing my nose and rubbing it off tho. Will keep giving it a shot tho thanks.

grey_area

I bought some Haymax, which is basically a fancier and more expensive version of the Vaseline trick. I think it has helped a little bit, but no major improvement. I think somebody with mild symptoms might find it very beneficial. Still planning on going to the Doc next week to get a prescription and try to banish the itchy eyes for good.

deadanonymau5

DaveWalsh2020 wrote: »

Hay fever hit me hard since yesterday. So I tried a trick someone told me. Rub Vaseline, just a little coat around the inside of both nostrils and within 5 mins eyes nose and sneezing flared down. I gave the nostrils a rub every two hours and I was perfect all day. I bought a little tub at 10am. It really worked well.

Do you put it inside your nose? I always just put it outside

rubadub

If anybody is looking for cheap petroleum jelly (vaseline) go to dealz,

375g for 1.49
http://www.dealz.ie/petroleum-jelly-375g

I have put it on the inside before and it worked OK.

While looking for the LED devices I found these filter things you shove up your nose. There are other types which are more discreet.

deadanonymau5

rubadub wrote: »

If anybody is looking for cheap petroleum jelly (vaseline) go to dealz,

375g for 1.49
http://www.dealz.ie/petroleum-jelly-375g

I have put it on the inside before and it worked OK.

While looking for the LED devices I found these filter things you shove up your nose. There are other types which are more discreet.

Where did you get your LED thing?

grey_area

I don't think there is any scientific evidence to suggest that 'LED Therapy' reduces the symptoms.

rubadub

deadanonymau5 wrote: »

Where did you get your LED thing?

I posted it earlier,

rubadub wrote: »

The place I got mine is still selling them, but a different model. They did not send to the republic so I had to use parcel motel and get it delivered to their address in the north, this would add €3.95 to the price, which is on sale at £11.99

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/lloydspharmacy-allergy-reliever-15677

The one I got is £20.07 incl. delivery on ebay for a new one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kinetik-Medical-Allergy-Reliever-/252011143895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aad08e2d7

they were being sold in argos last year, still in argos UK, so you might get them in some chemists here.

grey_area wrote: »

I don't think there is any scientific evidence to suggest that 'LED Therapy' reduces the symptoms.

It does not seem to work on some people, the pharmacy I linked showed mostly good reviews. Amazon feedback on these devices also shows good results. I know 2 other people who got them and they worked well.

Here is a couple of studies
http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749%2804%2900067-3/abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9109708

The downside is you literally look like a clown when using it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOmbUVSI20I

EDIT: found some cheap ones on ebay, under $14 which includes postage.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HG-Allergic-Rhinitis-Therapy-Laser-Light-Treatment-Machine-Therapeutic-Apparatus-/111650836354?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fee88f82
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-Allergic-Rhinitis-Therapy-Laser-Light-Treatment-Machine-Therapeutic-Apparatus-/151668947494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23502c7a26

Tranceypoo

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

Mine is worse this year than it's ever been tbh, as is my sister's. I'm taking as many antihistamines as I'm allowed, using flixonase and optrex and I'm still going around constantly sneezing, blowing my nose and scratching my raw red eyes.

Me too, I feel like I want to gouge my eyes out of my head! My toes literally curl when I'm scratching my eyes!!!

Has anyone tried the Neil Med Sinus Rinse? I just started using it a week and a half ago, it seemed to work a bit at first but after a few days I seemed to be back to 'normal' hay fever levels, I'm actually ok today but most overcast days I seem to be worse, there seems to be no logic or rhyme or reason to my symptons!

deadanonymau5

rubadub wrote: »

The met eireann pollen count is high today. I have been using my LED today and its working great as usual.

The place I got mine is still selling them, but a different model. They did not send to the republic so I had to use parcel motel and get it delivered to their address in the north, this would add €3.95 to the price, which is on sale at £11.99

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/lloydspharmacy-allergy-reliever-15677

The one I got is £20.07 incl. delivery on ebay for a new one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kinetik-Medical-Allergy-Reliever-/252011143895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aad08e2d7

How do you use it? Stick it up your nostril for 5 mins?

Tried to get one today in store,no luck.

When I tried buying on Lloyds it wouldn't accept payment I think because of my billing address. Did you use a billing address in the republic?

Thanks

rubadub

deadanonymau5 wrote: »

How do you use it? Stick it up your nostril for 5 mins?

Yes, my one runs for 3mins at a time, sometimes I press the button again to get 2 "doses". Your nose can go more runny during it, a friend has one and his gets very runny. It turns itself off after that time and beeps.

I usually have 2-3 goes a day, use it just before heading outside.

deadanonymau5 wrote: »

When I tried buying on Lloyds it wouldn't accept payment I think because of my billing address. Did you use a billing address in the republic?

They will not ship to the republic, I was saying you will have to use parcel motel. Did you use parcel motel? with a belfast address?

Or was it still rejecting because of a Irish credit card? I did a test order there and it accepted my parcel motel address and then in the payment option it had paypal. So if the credit card address is an issue you could probably use paypal as it will probaably not care or detect where the address is.

Parcel motel will cost €3.95.

EDIT: lloyds pharmacy also sell it on amazon, more expensive but more reviews if people need convincing, it did not work for some. Some say it makes them sneeze, and it does for me sometimes when using it, but its gone afterwards
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lloydspharmacy-LloydsPharmacy-Allergy-Reliever/dp/B0049GZ3LW/ref=sr_1_1?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1435754537&sr=1-1&keywords=ALLERGY+RELIEVER

it appears to be an all in one compact unit, the usual ones use AA or AAA batteries and have a long lead going to them, like an mp3 player. This one must take those watch coin type batteries which will cost more, but can be got cheaply in €2 shops or dealz or ebay or dx.com

nerd95

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

Mine is worse this year than it's ever been tbh, as is my sister's. I'm taking as many antihistamines as I'm allowed, using flixonase and optrex and I'm still going around constantly sneezing, blowing my nose and scratching my raw red eyes.

My hay fever was particularly bad this year too, especially after my exams- I was told that I have become immune to the medication and the optrex just doesn't appear to work for me either. I am therefore currently using natural supplements such as Quercetin and Vitamin C tablets (natural antihistamines) which are working for me at the moment anyway. Apparently, it is not good to eat a lot of dairy products when you suffer from hay fever (which means no ice cream!!!). Instead, it is recommended to eat pineapples, red apples, beetroot and grapes- so I was informed anyway. I gave this diet a try and it did help a bit! Also, when my eyes get really itchy and sore I was told to put damp, cold chamomile teabags on them!!

tietambrown

Mine is the worst I can ever remember it being. I'd usually get maybe a weeks worth of hayfever over an entire summer, but this year I've had it every day for nearly a month now. Sneezing, runny nose and eyes watering. Only thing that actually clears it up for me is generic diphenhydramine tablets that a friend brought home from the states. Luckily, there's 600 pills in the bottle so they'll last me quite a while. They make me fairly drowsy and tired unfortunately, and only work for 5-6 hours at a time so I have to take 4 a day.

deadanonymau5

rubadub wrote: »

Yes, my one runs for 3mins at a time, sometimes I press the button again to get 2 "doses". Your nose can go more runny during it, a friend has one and his gets very runny. It turns itself off after that time and beeps.

I usually have 2-3 goes a day, use it just before heading outside.

They will not ship to the republic, I was saying you will have to use parcel motel. Did you use parcel motel? with a belfast address?

Or was it still rejecting because of a Irish credit card? I did a test order there and it accepted my parcel motel address and then in the payment option it had paypal. So if the credit card address is an issue you could probably use paypal as it will probaably not care or detect where the address is.

Parcel motel will cost €3.95.

EDIT: lloyds pharmacy also sell it on amazon, more expensive but more reviews if people need convincing, it did not work for some. Some say it makes them sneeze, and it does for me sometimes when using it, but its gone afterwards
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lloydspharmacy-LloydsPharmacy-Allergy-Reliever/dp/B0049GZ3LW/ref=sr_1_1?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1435754537&sr=1-1&keywords=ALLERGY+RELIEVER

it appears to be an all in one compact unit, the usual ones use AA or AAA batteries and have a long lead going to them, like an mp3 player. This one must take those watch coin type batteries which will cost more, but can be got cheaply in €2 shops or dealz or ebay or dx.com

Sorry, I edited out the bit saying I used parcel motel. The address was in Armagh. I used an the visa option not Paypal. Thanks, Ill use Paypal so when the money is back in my account...they authorised the money for it even though my order wasn't confirmed.

rubadub

tietambrown wrote: »

Only thing that actually clears it up for me is generic diphenhydramine tablets that a friend brought home from the states.

I was using these too. Diphenhydramine is actually sold as a sleeping tablet too, thats what I originally got them for, years later I suddenly got hayfever, as a few people I know have.

I find they did last into the next day, I would take 1 or 2 at night to get to sleep and would find I had no hayfever early on. On days I did not take them as sleeping tablets I would be bad in the mornings. So now I still take these and was using generic cetirizine during the day, but now would be using my LED device.

deadanonymau5 wrote: »

Sorry, I edited out the bit saying I used parcel motel. The address was in Armagh.

Ah right, hopefully you will get it, and bigger hope that it works. If not you might give it to someone else, though it would need a proper clean! its cheap enough that its worth a shot, and would save on medication in the long run.

Also more suited to kids for parents who to not want to give them medication, or allow them bring medication to school to use. Or if you have it really bad and are on your max dose of meds it might give further relief.

SillyMangoX

My hayfever in general has been better over the past couple of days, my eyes aren't going to crazy and I'm only having about 2 sneezing fits a day. But the one thing that's constant is a really horrible feeling of heaviness in my head and it feels as though my brain is itchy on the inside of that makes sense. It switches from one side to the other depending on what side of my nose is blocked and makes me so dizzy when it's switching over. Sudafed helps a bit but I can't take it all the time or I'll end up with rebound stuffiness and that'll make it worse. I'd love to just reach up a bottle brush and wash out all my sinuses!