Hi folks. So I'm having the absolute worst attack of hay fever (ie: seasonal allergies) of my adult life. We had a very harsh winter in central europe, and now that the spring (such as it is) is here, I'm dying. It's been ramping up over the last week, starting with nosebleeds and stuffy nose last week, with sore throat, and escalating today into constant sneezing, a faucet nose, bleary eyes, etc. Really it's the worst my allergies have ever been. One of my students sprayed perfume before a lesson today and I proceeded to sneeze for 20 minutes almost without pause. We had to stop so I could go to the bathroom and wash my face in cold water. I'm also thinking this could have been brought on by my move last week (I moved to a new neighborhood, an area with a tram depo and a lot of manufacturing).
So I can't go to the doctor this week, partly because i don't have time, and partly because my new health insurance isn't finalized yet, and I don't want to pay out of pocket, even though it wouldn't cost that much (with insurance it costs about a dollar). What can I do in the meantime? Drink milk? Tea? Avoid milk and tea? What? I've never had anything like this and I'm going nuts.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Lots of fluids in general. Other that that, one of the only things you can do is use over the counter meds. Sutafed works well for me when I need it, but I have no idea what is available for you over there.
Decongestants can help treat the symptoms.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
One of my students is a rep for SP corp. Maybe she can get me some Claritin samples... hmmm..
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Spend time in the shower.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
I used to have hay fever before the invention of claritin. With luck, there will be a pharmaceutical option that short-circuits the effect for you, too.
Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :
Use a humidifier, and/or constantly have water at a slow boil on the stove.
Lots of fluids. You may also have a reaction to gluten, or some other common food allergen, that is being greatly aggravated. You might want to try an elimination diet.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Tea with lemon and honey. Lots of fluids. Then MORE fluids. Decongestants are good. Expectorants are good. Do you have Mucinex there? Antihistamines may be good, depending on how you react to them.
Hot, steamy showers are great. So are humidifiers.
As for the move, I find that when I move I get allergy symptoms because of the dust that gets kicked up. But new environmental triggers can be a factor too.
Much sympathy! Bad allergies are HELL! Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
I don't know what the laws are in the Czech republic but in Germany you can get both Loratadine(Claritin) and Cetirizin Hexal (Zyrec) at a pharmacy without a prescription (and for a fraction of the US price). I find the Cetirizin to be more effective, but both of them work quite well. Go to a pharmacy and tell them you are suffering from allergies and see what they recommend.
Posted by Hedwig (Member # 2315) on :
The only medication that will help with sneezing or watery eyes is an antihistamine.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Not true....decongestants can help with that too, although antihistamines are the most effective. Decongestants won;t stop the sneezing, but they help relieve the pressure, and help clear up the blockages.
Posted by Week-Dead Possum (Member # 11917) on :
Yeah, so I found some 3 year old fexofenadine I must have been perscribed in college. I took one this morning. So far it's better, but I'm sneezing with the force of 5 grown men, and one newborn baby.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
quote:I don't know what the laws are in the Czech republic but in Germany you can get both Loratadine(Claritin) and Cetirizin Hexal (Zyrec) at a pharmacy without a prescription (and for a fraction of the US price). I find the Cetirizin to be more effective, but both of them work quite well. Go to a pharmacy and tell them you are suffering from allergies and see what they recommend.
yeah, you should be able to get Zyrtec.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
You might want to avoid dairy.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
You have my sympathies, but no advice beyond what anyone else has said. Hope it's a short allergy season and that you find relief. I've had years that made me want to scratch my face off.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
Drinking more fluids than usual helps with hay fever? Why would that be?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
ANy ntime you are congested it helps clear it out by thinning it out. Also, usually hay fever is driven by pollen, and the more fluids you have the better. Once again it helps you clear out the system. If you are congested the pollen stays in your nose rather than being carried out by the runny nose, and it keeps irritating your sinuses.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Also, antihistamines (both the ones your body produces and the ones in pills) can dry out tissues. Extra fluids help.