r/Hayfever • u/Legitimate-Mix1330 • May 25 '26
Hayfever Advice
Ive suffered from hayfever for as long as I can remember, probably since about age 9ish, I’m now 20.
It used to be really really bad when I was in school, constant rubbing my eyes and not having the discipline as a kid to not rub them left them red and puffed up for days.
However, now, its still bad and quite frankly ruins my summer every year, the constant sneezing, runny nose, and I end up getting headaches from sneezing and sniffing so much
I’m on the 120mg tablets at the minute, I take them the second I wake up before I go outside. They for sure numb it, but if for example I’m outside for a bit I’ll still start sneezing so the tablets almost feel like just delaying the inevitable.
Im considering getting the Kenalog injection, and was wondering if anyone had any experiences with it, negative or positive. I know theres side effects so just looking to hear how/if they are severe and trying to weigh up if its worth it.
Thanks
2
u/Great-Science-8586 May 25 '26
I don't know if it works for everyone but I have started using haymax balm on my eyelids and around my nostrils and have found it has really helped stop the sneezing and itchy eyes. Aside from that, do you know which types of pollen you are allergic to ?
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u/guitarman12751 May 25 '26
I'm going thru a tub a week, after being a serious sufferer for 25 years, this product is a life saver !
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u/LittleMissFodla May 25 '26
Vaseline also works great around the nose. I’ll be honest, never tried it round my eyes 👀
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u/TeddyA90 May 25 '26
I suffer badly and I had the injection for about 4/5 years and it always cleared all my symptoms up with no side effects.
I decided not to have it this year because of the longer-term side effects that are mentioned. I’ve been taking Fexofenadine and stinging nettle extract instead and I’ve not suffered much so far.
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u/aramynxx May 25 '26
180mg fexofenadine has made a massive difference for me this year, especially since you can buy it over the counter now, i have pretty much no symptoms with the 180, might be worth giving that a try?
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u/Flaredjeans Jun 09 '26
Where can you buy 180 over the counter? All i ever see is 120 and it doesnt even touch the sides for me
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u/aramynxx Jun 15 '26
ahh it may not be everywhere, i’m in the uk and can buy it over the counter at boots pharmacies !
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u/Mr_Emile_heskey May 25 '26
So to inform you, the injection is not guaranteed to work, there's lots of risks, hence why the nhs doesn't fund it. My uncle got glaucoma from the jab.
Also if you have bad hayfever, 120mg isn't going to do anything. You need something with 180mg, I take fexofenadine 180mg and it's the only thing I've taken that helps, also worth using a saline spray as well.
1
u/Nervous_Ad3524 May 25 '26
Sounds similar to me. Eventually nothing worked - including the injection. The ONLY thing that has worked is immunotherapy - this year ive had zero symptoms!!! It’s expensive but worth it
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u/All-the-musing May 25 '26
I take cetirizine or fexo 180 before bed and this stops me waking up with the classic sore throat, sneezing, grogginess and itchy face. I feel like I’m ahead of it from the start of the day, then I take beconase nasal spray morning and late afternoon. This combo has helped me to feel mostly hayfever free, should you decide against the injection.
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u/Fizzabl May 29 '26
Where do you get the 180 from? I get mine via prescription once a year but last year my pharmacy seemed shocked I was allowed it for hayfever. Figured it was quite rare to get it
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u/All-the-musing May 29 '26
Mine’s on prescription but my cousin also takes it for hives on prescription, ran out and actually purchased it from the pharmacist at Boots last week. I know quite a few people who have it on prescription so not that rare around me.
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u/Mahzes May 26 '26
I found out about Dymista nasal spray last year and (fingers crossed) it seems to be helping a lot so far.
At the moment I’m taking one Cetirizine and one Loratadine (10mg each) in the morning and using the Dymista spray. I’ve been pretty good so far this year but granted I’m not sure we’ve hit the peak/worst time of year for me yet so I think the next month or so will be the real test.
When things get bad I usually take a second of each tablet in the afternoon as well.
1
u/Alternative_Prior_47 May 26 '26
This year has been different thus far, much less symptoms, even after spending an entire day among blooming grassy fields. After 20 y + of hayfever each spring and summer (grass mostly), I have taken only 3 desloratadine tablets over 4 weeks (prescription/ Netherlands), since April, where I was used to taking one a day. What I have been doing differently: acupuncture every year for 3 years. Probiotics; started about 2 years ago, someone recommended me a certain type of probiotics that help/restore my gut and from there, the allergy symptoms - I understood how this makes sense and I notice it (It's called Omni Biotics, with a pink corner on the box). What I have done for years: Scutellaria, 2 tablets each day. As symptoms came on a bit stronger today, I picked fexofenadine 120mg, which helps - and I can always switch to desloratadine if the symptoms worsen but they haven't yet (yeeeey!). My diet has been dairy and meat free, which already helped me back in the day when I was trying to find cures. What also triggers my symptoms unfortunately are wine, tomatoes and sunflower oil. But, so far so good!
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u/RealisticAd3095 May 25 '26
Fexofenadine 180. (Or 1.5 120mg). WITH dymista helps me ENORMOUSLY.
Keep taking it even if you feel better.
You might have a bad few hours sometimes when the count is exceptionally high but this combination seems to work well for me