Hayfever and asthma

[Coop20]

Really struggling at the moment with hayfever / asthma symptoms. Inhalers help for a short while but it’s really effecting my quality of life currently. I’ve heard hayfever in the U.K. seems to be affecting a lot more people every year being particularly bad this season.

I’m at the point where i don’t know what to try next, i want to preface this as well that i have a doctors appointment follow up Friday 17th June so hoping they can suggest something…anything else to help as this is horrible currently.

My symptoms:

Wheeziness, occasional cough, short of breath occasionally, blocked sinuses, itchy runny nose, watery eyes occasionally, headaches.

I’m 32 and this gets worse every single year, currently taking…

- Combisal 25micrograms/dose / 250micrograms/dose inhaler (Aspire Pharma Ltd) - two puffs morning and night

- Salbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free - around 3 puffs a day when needed currently

- Fexofenadine 120mg tablets - 1 a day

- Levothyroxene 50mg for hypothyroidism daily

- Vicks inhaler hourly (seems to really help for a while)

- olbas oil overnight

[Jolu29]

Hi the gp can prescribe fentofexdine 180mg, and puritan aswell if your really struggling. Do you have air Purifier they can help abit. I'm on 3 anthestimes a day at mo, my asthma all over place keep getting asthma attacks since covid.

[Coop20 in reply to Jolu29]

Awful isn’t it, I’m hoping the doctor will at least change the antihistamine next week when i speak to them, just need it to improve because it’s crazy how bad it is this year. Hopefully you will improve too 🤞🏻 I have an air purifier as well yeah because i feel like dust also effects me.

[CANINE12]

My hay-fever has hit me today but I wasn't too bad yesterday. I'm needing my salbutamol inhaler more.

Dymista nasal spray is good especially if you nasal douch beforehand, wait about 10 minutes for your nose to settle down then use your nasal spray. I got the recipe for nasal douch from Allergy UK website. A lot cheaper than preprepared solutions.

Your GP may increase your Fexofenadine, but only increase on Dr's advice as I'm sure you know.

I also use Opticrom eye drops which really help.

[Coop20 in reply to CANINE12]

Yeah ofcourse, i tried nasal sprays as well but they irritated my nose more i think! Typical! Might try eye drops though as i haven’t. Yes ofcourse will wait for doctors advice anyway next week but fingers crossed we all don’t get worse with the hot weather coming next week!

[LottieB36]

Hi, I’m really struggling too and have had to have a course of prednisolone, still not settled and this is always the time of year where I flare. When you speak to your GP ask them if they can switch you to 180mg Fexofenadene to see if that helps. Rather than a nasal spray, I’m prescribed Flixonase nasal drops which really do help at this time of year. Do you take Montelukast? If not that’s something that you could ask about as an add on treatment - that’s also for allergies. Are you under consultant care? If not and your GP has run out of ideas it’s worth asking for a referral - I’m looked after by the respiratory team and ENT, also had previous input from Allergies/ Immunotherapy but I’m not eligible due to asthma being brittle/too severe. I currently take Fexofenadene 3-4 times a day, but only because my consultant has prescribed this dose - my GP said any increase above the standard has to be by a consultant. I also have Opatanol eye drops which I find better than Opticrom. Vaseline under your eyes and nose also helps a bit as the Vaseline helps to trap the pollen. If you’re experiencing an increase in your asthma symptoms have you been keeping an eye on your peak flow too? Hope you’re feeling better soon x

[Coop20 in reply to LottieB36]

Yeah i tried monteluklast last year i think it was and i reacted badly to it, made me really sick for some reason. I’ll definitely be asking gp if i can have an increase dose of the fexofenadene to try that and will try Vaseline again i think as well. Good shout on the consultant though, i think that ENT might be the next step to be honest. I have this every year and ended up in A&E in 2020 as my breathing was so so bad and they xrayed me then and came back normal so i guess there are no other concerns but obviously good to keep getting checked i think. My peak flow is weirdly always normal i seem to never struggle with that! Even when i had a really severe bought of pleurisy my peak flow was fine!

[Gwalltarian]

Try washing your face frequently and rinsing, douching, your nose with salt water - particularly when your nose is irritatated, or you’re sneezing.

[Lizzog]

I use sterimar alongside inhalers. I’ve been very wheezy the last couple of days too.

[Nutzs47]

It might be worth paying your dr a visit as I’ve just been to drs as I’ve been struggling with my hayfever to the point I now have sinusitis.She told me that fexofenadine was the best antihistamine out there ,which I’m on plus montelukast and nasobec steroid nasal spray.I have allergic asthma so take fostair 100/6 x2 twice a day and has my peak flow has started dropping I’m now taking it 3x a day.After she checked up my nostrils she said I have a polyp on one side and a very red nasal cavity on the other side so changed my nasal spray to avamys.Apparently nasal polyps are common in asthmatics esp if you have post nasal drip

[strongmouse]

Hi, yes allergic reactions to pollen are high at the moment. With your 'itchy eyes' it sounds like you are reacting to these. You can get eye washes which help, plus indoor hepa air filters (need to keep windows closed - hard when it is so warm). I use the air filters during the day and in my bedroom a couple of hours before I go to bed.

Vaseline in the eyebrows and bottom of nasal passages can help during the day, plus shower before going to bed. (Gets rid of any pollen on your hair, face, body etc.) I have recently started Montekulast which has helped a lot. My doctor also recommended using Neil med nasal washes (not available on prescription but many pharmacies stock them).

Hoping to start a low dose immunotherapy course for allergies with private doctor later this month. I'll let you know how I get on with it.

I've had allergies for years and this year it is bad.

[Coop20]

Thanks for all the replies, i got so bad yesterday I’d had enough, woke with with a very bad wheeze. Made an on the day doctors appointment and said i could wait till the already scheduled Friday one, doctor prescribed me the 180mg dose of fexofenadene and said to take steroids so i now have those as well. Told me to keep Fridays appointment as i only have the steroids for three days anyway and then they will investigate more.

Interesting that Nutzs47 tou mentioned about nasal polyps. I have felt like my left nostril has been smaller / blocked for some time, doctors looked before and said there’s nothing there. But i literally cannot get for example the covid swap down it more than approx 3mm on that side!

[Nutzs47 in reply to Coop20]

It was a surprise to me as I’ve never been checked for them but this dr asked straight away and then had a look and saw one so I was lucky I saw her

[Madbiker1]

I have eosiniphilic asthma. I have just started xolair - even after pred and fexofenadine I am still rattling.