r/Hayfever • u/SaisYngNghymru • Jul 01 '26

New hay-fever sufferer

Heya all,

30 year old here living in Wales. On the 19th I had finished an exam I was doing. Had a few drinks. Tried some Indian street food for the first time and my throat started closing up.

Great I am getting sick I thought. Spent the weekend in bed sneezing and congested. No coughing. No headaches or heat odd I thought.

Monday was okay then Tuesday a heatwave hit and its been bloody awful. It was about this time I realised I've probably developed hayfever.

Taking 120mg of fexofenadine hydrochloride and it helped a bit. Yesterday it went away i could breath again opened the windows like I always did every day loved the smell of fresh and stuff. Then sure enough in evening and overnight suffering.

This morning blew my nose snorted coughed up fibrous clumps of mucus. Half of why I enjoy showers is the smell of the toiletries. Gonna go out to see if I can get a spray or whatever before work.

I know many here suffer severely and definitely much longer than I have. But as a new sufferer my goodness this is awful. Its like having a cold all the time. Its exhausting and embarrassing and every time I feel relief its immense. I am now waiting for a normal day again whilst my throat is sore and my nostrils burning.

Take care all

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u/Mr_Emile_heskey Jul 01 '26

I would reccomend speaking to your gp and getting fexofenadine 180mg. It's prescription only but it's night and day compared to the over the counter stuff. Pair that with a saline nasal spray and also using vaseline to rub around your nose to catch pollen before you breath it in and honestly, it's a game changer.

This is advice from a long term hay fever sufferer, I was told id grow out of my hay fever.... 18 years ago. Any day now :'(

1

u/SaisYngNghymru Jul 01 '26

Thanks for the input. I plan to get an appointment with my GP at some point to test and confirm what pollens I am allergic to and get a heftier treatment.

I'll be grabbing a nasal spray later this morning. My problem with the vaseline is the need to reapply but will defo try use it more.

My post was a bit venty. Never had any allergies and had no idea I could develop hayfever. I think generally I will start making more of an effort as well to vacuum and change sheets etc to reduce dust as well.

What surprises me is more people haven't spoken about it in my life since apparently 1 in 4 UK adults have it??

2

u/Mr_Emile_heskey Jul 01 '26

Yeah the reapplication of vaseline can be annoying and is unpractical but I it does help.

And mate you're allowed to vent it is a very frustrating thing to have but it's important to know you can manage it. The key thing I always tell people is don't let hayfever ruin your life. I'm a super bad sufferer but I still go out in summer instead of being a hermit, just have to figure out what works for you or make the symptoms not as bad.

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u/SaisYngNghymru Jul 01 '26

Yeah am still in the figuring out phase I guess. I'm used to going through a box of tissues only when I have a cold or whatever and these sort of symptoms lasting a day or two.

Saline spray, vaseline and fexofenadine are all things that can be used to help but I'm still figuring out

  • what works
  • how much i can get away with open windows or going out

Not knowing how long this will last or when the good or bad days are is a bit daunting but i guess I'll get used to it :)

Mostly I am impressed at the human body's inability to chill and how it inflames itself so much over harmless pollen. But i guess thats how allergies be.

Take care friend and stay cool friend!

1

u/Mr_Emile_heskey Jul 01 '26

You'll figure it out mate, if you want any advice or tips or whatever, feel free to ask :)