Hay Fever Injections

[carnation]

My daughter has hay fever as well as Hashi’s. she asked my opinion today about getting a hay fever injection. It says online that it is a steroid injection that suppresses the immune response of the body.

So would this suppression be in contra indicated with Hashi’s. (also would the same risk apply if she got COVID? )

She does suffer quite badly, but I am at a loss what to advise . Any help greatly appreciated

[Hidden]

Hi,Although I have not got Hashi's, I have no thyroid function due to no pituitary function and therefore no TSH, I take a T4 replacement amongst other hormones plus low dose hydrocortisone.

I have a Steroid injection for seasonal allergic rhinitis twice a year (I live in Cyprus and we get 2 hay fever seasons here, Spring and Autumn.) I have been having these jabs for several years now with no known ill effects.

Hope this helps

[EMBoy]

I have Hashi's and suffer from hay fever, but I wouldn't touch hay fever injections with a barge pole. Steroids do have side effects and the NHS has stopped giving hay fever injections because they don't work very well. I use antihistamines (cetirizine bought over the counter), and they do the trick for me.

A suppressed immune system would certainly reduce the body's immune response to any infection, including COVID.

COVID vaccines are a different matter - I have had three vaccines and a flu vaccine, without any adverse effects.

If your daughter is concerned, I'm sure her GP or a pharmacist could give her professional advice. Modern antihistamines are very good, and a GP may be able to prescribe higher doses than those available in shops.

[Batty1]

I use flonase for allergies which I have year round.

[serenfach]

I used to get terrible hay fever, and had to breath through a damp flannel - this really works as the pollen does not get through and gives your body a chance to breath!

It was suggested to me that I bought local honey and ate it through the year and this does seem to have helped a great deal. A fruit pastille is useful as the sugar coating can be used to scratch the roof of your mouth very effectively.

I get it through tree pollen mostly, which is lucky as I make hay! I wear a mask and goggles when driving the tractor, which looks strange but it does mean the hay bales are not covered in sneeze and I can see where I am going.

I have never been offered the injection, prefering to regulate it myself through the odd tablet.

[Geography1]

Hi there, I have Hashimotos and suffer from allergies, especially dust and perfumes, I do well with homeopathy, it has always worked, I have worked with a holistic doctor and In the past, at the moment I take over the counter homeopathic allergy medication, it has no known interactions and it’s mostly safe, I would rather do that than injections, steroids have side effects, especially in the long term. I use Boiron “Rhinallergy” it is even safe for kids, if you follow the directions on the box it should work, they have different ones. Worth a try before using something so strong in my opinion

[DelicateInput in reply to Geography1]

I'll give this a try. I have had hay fever since 2009 at the age of 60. Over the counter products did not help. I was prescribed Fexofenadine about six years ago and over the last couple of years was on the higher dose. I was advised by an allergy clinic to take it all year round but it then stopped working.

I have just bought a product, Pollinosan described as homeopathic, from Holland & Barratt but it does not work either. I could not go out on Saturday night because I could barely open my eyes and could not wear make up and the pain and stinging in my eyes was so bad I almost screamed. I always have a cough, sneezing and breathing difficulties. The allergy is to early and mid season tree pollen, and the only tree I can identify is birch. I am allergic to a lot of other things - medications, jewellery, make up but they are easily avoided so do not bother me. The NHS actually told me they could not control the environment and it was not their problem. They are useless for everything I have needed treatment for - a long list including RA and hypothyroidism.

[Geography1 in reply to DelicateInput]

Hope you found relief

[thyr01d]

Hi carnation. Hashi's is an 'overactive' immune system, which means the immune system mistakes our own cells for invaders and so it attacks healthy cells. Although I'm not medically qualified I am sure that steroids would not be contraindicated (I have Hashi's and am prescribed steroid cream) whatever they were being used to combat. You have to be careful with steroids in people/animals susceptible to infection because the steroids damp down their immune response to any infection making them more vulnerable. Hope that's helpful. (PS injections for allergies have mixed results sometimes very good other times doing nothing but if you can identify the cause of the allergy, as in hay/pollen/tree pollen etc, then it's possible to create an injection/vaccination to target it.)