Dealing with HAYFEVER this spring/summer!

I’m probably a month or two late with this post, but my hay fever is at its peak now so this might help a few of you!

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My experience with hay fever – I have suffered with the worst hay fever every spring/summer since the age of about 13. Exam times at school were always extra terrible for me because trying to revise and sit in school halls scribbling was bad enough in the heat (blame the school blazers) without the extra stress and suffering from hay fever. I used to have to scrape my fringe off my face (to stop it irritating my itchy eyes) and carry around a bag of tissues everywhere I went. This also meant that I could never go to the park with friends, school sports days were terrible, no picnics or BBQs unless I was prepared to deal with the consequences of suffering.
I DID find a cure that I was given from the age of 17-19… an injection called Kenalog which was provided by the NHS. I had the injection at the start of every spring for about three years that I literally used to have to beg my doctor for (it contained steroids which have side effects – such as stunting growth – I’m 4’11’’ anyway, I really didn’t care about that!). I haven’t been able to get the injection since because my doctor refuses to give it to anyone anymore so I’ve had to carry on suffering. (You can read about Kenalog here)

I’ll let you know the basics of what I use religiously at this time of year to lessen the effects of hay fever.

Beconase Nasal Spray – I have no idea if this actual works or not, it doesn’t really ever seem to do anything than make me more snotty and sneezy than usual, but I like using it because it might be doing something and it does clear my nose for a short period of time after using.

Optrex Eye Bath – Optrex is my absolute saviour at this time of year. I suffer with the most itchy, red eyes which are unbearable – they get particularly bad at night before bed but this stuff really helps. You pour the liquid solution into the little eyebath, place it over an eye, swing your head back and slowly you open your eye in this solution to give it a good rinse/clean. This feels incredibly soothing and takes the itching away for a while, although its super messy and I always end up with the liquid all over me.

Optrex Itchy Eye Drops – This stuff is also incredible and I always carry it in my handbag. If I start rubbing my eyes or if they start to feel drowsy after taking hay fever tablets, I just squeeze two drops into each eye and they immediately feel better.

Hayfever tablets – I have tried them all and none stand out any better than others, they don’t completely take all the symptoms away but I take them every morning anyway. I have given up buying the expensive branded ones and nowadays just opt for chemist own-brands because they include the same ingredients to the dearer ones anyway.

Tissues – You can never have enough!

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Last year my Dad bought me the contraption above – Medisana, Medinose Plus (I believe he got it in Amazon for around £60 – its probably a bit cheaper now!). You basically have to stick the little prong bit up your nostrils for five minutes whilst a red light glows in your nose, three times a day. I don’t know how on earth this works, but it really helped my hay fever last year. It cleared my nose and lessened the symptoms ALOT. I know what you’re thinking, it looks RIDICULOUS, yes, yes it does, I get teased all the time when I use it but if it helps then I’ll do anything! You can read reviews on Amazon here. ( I don’t mind if you laugh your head off at the photo above, I forgive you!)

So that’s’ my guide for surviving hay fever this year, I’d love to know what you all use also.

Have you got anymore tips/products to help me?

xxxx

EDIT – Last weekend I visited ‘same day doctor’ and had the Kenalog injection! I am no longer suffering with hayfever (it took about three days to kick in fully). My amazing mum payed for the injection (it is pretty pricey) but its very worth it.

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16 Comments

  1. June 15, 2011 / 3:09 pm

    I don't suffer from hayfever myself buy my boyfriend does. He takes clarityn and loratadine but they don't really help :-S
    He's constantly sneezing, his eyes water, his nose is always blocked.. I feel so sorry for him.

    BUT.. Why I'm commenting – You should try a sea salt spray. A nasal sea salt spray.
    Ask the pharmacist.
    I've also just told my boyfriend to get it as I remembered how effective it is (I know a lot of people who've used it)!

    Sea salt spray and nettle tea (yes, a herbal remedy but does soothe)

    xo

  2. June 15, 2011 / 4:30 pm

    I suffer from hayfever really badly these days, and I never used to! I'm going to look into those eyedrops because after I take tablets my eyes droop!

    R – hello scrapbook

  3. June 15, 2011 / 4:32 pm

    OMG! It is hilarious, but as long as it works, use it 🙂

  4. June 15, 2011 / 5:22 pm

    Ugh it's hayfever season for me too at the moment! Lovely! I like the nose gear ;] x

  5. June 15, 2011 / 9:07 pm

    wow that medisana thing looks insane. i'm totally the same though, i don't care how ridiculous it looks; if it works, it works. this year i've been taking zirtek, putting hay max around my nose & i've started taking a homeopathic remedy. unfortunately i don't know where any farm shops are where i live, but if i did i would be eating local honey on toast every day. i used to do that when i lived elsewhere and it helps you become immune to local pollen. thats definitely the best thing i've tried xx

  6. June 15, 2011 / 10:24 pm

    I used to get hayfever really bad every year and nothing worked. I thought that I had escaped it this year up until about a week ago. Usually my symptoms used to set in around the end of March but for some reason I didn't get any until June this year. I'm guessing that's because I'm now in a different location to the last few years, but who knows?

    I went to get some hayfever tablets the other day and I picked up Clarityn (purely just because I'd seen the ad on the telly). I hadn't tried them before but they're better than any of the others I've tried! I had no symptoms until I ventured away from my town but they're lessened in comparison to what I usually get.

    They're currently buy one get one free in Superdrug, they're around £5 but you get 14 tablets per pack so you pretty much get a month's supply for a fiver.

    Kleenex are my handbag staple at the mo, it's ridiculous. I also find the Vics Inhalers to be quite useful too. Doesn't help that my office is full of flowers. Fail! xxx

  7. June 16, 2011 / 5:47 pm

    Miss A – I've never tried a sea salt nasal spray but I'm going to pop out tomorow to get one, it sounds really good! And I have loads of nettle tea at home so I'll start drinking that too! Thank you!

    R – its terrible how drowsy the pills make you feel huh! I just used my optrex eye bath and my eyes feel super awake now, try it!

    Hania – hahahahaha I feel so sorry for myself looking that stupid!!

    Caroline – I used haymax last year and didn't notice it helping at all, but maybe I'll give it another go! Local honey is such a good idea, can't believe I never thought of it but I have no idea where to get some, I'll look into it, thank you loads! XXX

    Kim – I had exactly the same thoughts as you, because mine has only just started, a lot later than usual. I completely forgot that Vix could help with unblocking nose!!! I'll get some tomorow. Also, I've never tried clarytin so I'll try that aswell and I'll let you know what I think! Thank you so much! XX

  8. June 16, 2011 / 9:57 pm

    Katie the red nosed blogger… had a very shiny (red) nose….! That pic has made me giggle 🙂

  9. July 11, 2011 / 4:18 pm

    I have terrible hayfever and found that tablets with Cetrizine hydrochloride and Loratadine never work – I get ones from my GP called Fexofenadine which are better!

    I've been looking into getting the injection for the last 3 years but none of my doctors have let me have it even when I told them I wanted to pay for it! Plus the itchy eyes is gross for me cos I wear contact lenses 🙁 I also have one of those light things for my nose and it seems to work a little but sometimes there's no helping me! xo

  10. July 13, 2011 / 1:18 am

    I used to spend a fortune on nasal sprays and they just gave me a bloody nose. I will have to look into the Medisana.

  11. April 12, 2016 / 11:41 am

    Really amazing blog.I am Happy to read this.All credits goes to the author.Thank you.

  12. March 22, 2017 / 7:51 am

    It is really very bad experience those have hay fever issue. I am Suffering now. I don't know it will work for me or not. But definitely i will try. Thanks for all the information.

  13. July 31, 2017 / 7:57 am

    This stuff is also incredible and I always carry it in my handbag. If I start rubbing my eyes or if they start to feel drowsy after taking hay fever tablets, I just squeeze two drops into each eye and they immediately feel better.
    Buy Wheatgrass powder

  14. August 1, 2017 / 6:19 am

    My sister always suffer from fever. I want to know more info about this for her safety?

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