PMR and Hayfever

[cycli]

Every year since a teen I have had this. In 1976 that awful summer I had serious trouble breathing at all. I have in recent years used Benadryl as a means of controlling it. Since being on prednisolone I haven't noticed any symptoms. For this I am grateful but have some of my issues been related to hay fever being a part of my system and trying to come through but being suppressed by pred?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

See this -

healthcentre.org.uk/allergi...

[cycli in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks DL. Useful read. I assumed pred. was doing a great job in keeping me free. However what I was interested in was whether they hayfever which is now part of my system and just ramps up with the coming of pollen was still active in my system and contributing to the mess of symptoms that pop up every so often to confuse me.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to cycli]

Can’t say for sure, but would guess the triggers are still there, but Pred controlling symptoms.

Hay fever symptoms can reduce with age apparently, but don’t think there is a cure as such, once you have it, you have it!

[cycli in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks and yes I believe they are still active but suppressed so when pollen high they could be working to cause complications especially with breathing. just another thing to consider. I'm wondering whether the cellulitis I had which nearly did for me in my 20's is also still there in the background and adding to the swelling in legs. Who knows anything for certain.

[herdysheep in reply to DorsetLady]

Sadly, for some of us as we age, allergies develop. I used to get mild hay fever with white flowers in spring - may blossom, cow parsley etc. Now developed full blown hay fever. S**'s law

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to herdysheep]

Sorry to hear that…miserable

[herdysheep in reply to DorsetLady]

a pain in the **** but not as bad as many. Sneezing a bit challenging to the frequency of nosebleeds, despite much nose pinching!

[MrsNails]

We’re a Hayfever/Allergy/Asthma/Eczema Family 😷Whenever you/we take Steroids (Pred) you will often get an improvement in your other Allergy/Atopic Symptoms……

No1 Son - The Most Allergic amongst us - when he was little if he had a Chest Infection that needed Steroids his Eczema would ‘miraculously’ clear up only for it to rebound when he stopped the Steroids….

He’s still the same today & he’s approaching 40 in October!

My Husband & Myself we’re ‘Old Asthmatics’ as Children & Both Big Hayfever Sufferers during our Childhood & Teenage Years where Piriton was the only option 🤧 🥱😴

Thankfully we grew out of both Conditions but if we get Colds they usually lead to Chest Infections & have in the past have had the occasional course of Pred; so the tendency never leaves you but can improve.

No2 Son in France - has only ever had Hayfever but has it with Bells on as he’s got older but has had some very successful treatment in France.

Both Grandchildren - had/have Infantile Eczema so nothing compared to their Daddy but ChestWise afraid both of them have already had Pred Courses even poor old Theo who’s only 10months old. (Mummy too was an Asthmatic as a Child)

So be it maybe improving or it just may be a Side Effect of the Pred - some side effects ain’t too bad 😉

[cycli in reply to MrsNails]

wow. a full house so to speak. Yes, I think like DL says it's carrying on in background but suppressed. one blessing, but it may be having some effect when pollen is high. Something I didn't factor in this year. I'll be aware next time and see whether there are some changes around pollen time. Hope you are feeling better after your recent injuries.

[MrsNails in reply to cycli]

Getting there - Thank You 🙏🏼

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred is often used to suppress allergies - lots of us have allergy stories. I can eat wheat while on higher doses of pred!!!!

The pred suppresses the immune response to the allergens - they are there but the body doesn't get excited and cause the symptoms

[Koalajane]

It hasn’t helped my hayfever, runny nose most of the summer

[Longtimer]

Got it for the first time ever in Feb/March....horrible, nothing seems to work.......only now easing....but have read many people got it for first time this year..... I wonder why?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Very high levels of pollens - climate change ...

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

The heat and high pollen as PMR suggests I think. Was similar in 1976. I;m thinking now that the condition has been affecting me also but under the surface even with this high dose of steroid. I've never had a year since I was 15 without being affected. I lose about 20% lung capacity when cycling as the fluid builds in the lungs and inhibits oxygen to the muscles. Hence all the fuss of the jiffy bag to Bradley Wiggins. People argued that such an impediment was de facto a disability and as such effectively should disbar him from competing at elite level. Being allowed within the rules to take a powerful medication even under the "UCI Rules" gave an advantage over other competitors. History now but given that PMR and GCA reduce the oxygen to the muscles it could still have an influence.

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

I also think this is the first summer in many years that OH has hardly got there lawn mower o ut!.... grass is yellow and looks de ad.....so no grass pollen, otherwise maybe I would still be sniffing for England!....

[Alazarin]

I am allergic to tree pollen, it has resurfaced now I’m on much lower dose pred.I started a herbal medicine course and discovered that a tincture of Plantain is great for hay fever. It has a natural antihistamine apparently. To my astonishment It worked!

[Longtimer in reply to Alazarin]

That's interesting...

[cycli in reply to Longtimer]

agree. If symptoms resurface I'll try rather than take benadryl.

[Longtimer in reply to cycli]

Me too....

[ubaoz]

Diet modification may be helpful in some cases too for hay fever. When I first met my OH, he suffered from it really badly every spring / early summer from grass pollen – real "tie a bucket under his chin" type hay fever. Markedly reducing dairy and sugar made a huge improvement in symptoms for him. Didn't do much for his sense of deprivation though… 😂

[cycli in reply to ubaoz]

also interesting approach.

[Daffodilia]

I think pred suppresses the immune systemso that might mean you don’t react to pollen so badly - touch wood I have not had the terrible reactions to insect bites I always suffered from before pred #everycloudhasasilverlining

[cycli in reply to Daffodilia]

think that's it. The higher the dose the greater the suppression and the lower it comes back. I still think that it is affecting breathing capacity more and more as I think about it.