Hay fever

Yea I randomly developed hayfever when I was about 17.

My symptoms change throughout the season (due to the change in pollen types throughout the year I guess)

I always start with sore throat and what feels like a head cold but as summer progresses I get watery/itchy eyes and runny nose.

Antihistamines -I would recommend any with loratadine as the active ingredient as its non drowsy. Buy supermarket/boots own brand as they are much cheaper than Claritin etc

Also sleeping with the bedroom window closed and washing your hair before bed helps (pollen sticks to your hair)

Hi, it does sound like hay fever. I never had hay fever until I was 40years old. It just started one day right out the blue. Most antihistamine tablets work for me (even the cheap ones from Poundland) I find wearing sunglasses help, they keep the pollen from going in your eyes. Good luck, hope this had helped a little x

Yep. I first got hay fever when I was in my 30s - mine isn't too bad and I only get it at the end of the summer but I'd never once had it as a child. I would suggest trying the antihistamines suggested and see if they work - if they don't, you know you have a cold and can deal with it x

Cheers all, I'll try an antihistamine tomorrow and see if it helps. I don't get why it would be worse in the car though as it's enclosed? I'll have a shower before going to bed too, whatever it is it's making my contact lenses feel very gritty!

Have you had the air conditioning on? Or even just the vents running? Could be pollen coming in that way - but that does suggest it is hay fever as a cold wouldn't get worse in the car x

I didn't think about the vents! What an idiot! Yes vents were on (no a/c in my car) I was thinking maybe it was the time e/g, day/night but I guess the antihistamine will tell me either way!

I could always tell the differenc because my nose always felt sticky rather than runny or bunged up when I had hayfever, I also swear I can 'taste' pollen but other people look at me like I'm a bit odd when I say that!

Oops just spotted the pollen is evil thread, didn't see that before. That's starting to make me think even more that it's hay fever. Gah! I hope it's just a cold!

The difference between hayfever and a cold is quite subtle if you are not used to having hayfever. For me the main difference is my eyes water / are itchy and my nose is runnier rather than snotty with hayfever! If you think it is hayfever then l would start taking antihistaimines and consistenlty take them, not just on the days you feel worse.

For me hayfever makes my nose feel itchy, like I'm permanently about to sneeze, and my eyes itch too. A cold is more bunged up and snotty. I'd say just start trying antihistamines and see what works - there are a few different ingredients you can try. And pray you don't end up with Piriton, they're the only ones that work for me now and they take a lot of getting used to! Good luck finding something that helps -)

I developed Hayfever 2 years ago (I was 26) and last year, and it hit me really really badly. I usually wear contact lenses and was unable to wear them for most of the summer due to the high pollen count! I usually find benedryl works best for me, although i haven't found anything that completely makes it vanish! I'm still on the hunt for a miracle cure!

Cheers everyone, I got some boots own one a day tablets this morning and it seems to have eased a bit this afternoon,my eyes are still itchy and watery but my nose has settled. Do I just keep taking them?

I didn't develop hay fever until i was 19. Have u had any itchiness? Throat, nose, eyes. I get that!

Incredibly itchy eyes, they're driving me crazy, I thought it was cos they were streaming/cos of my contacts but I've had to wear my glasses today and they've still been really itchy.

yea just keep taking them usually take a few days to settle down.

I developed some similar symptoms last week, but sadly we think it's adult asthma yours sounds like hayfever I'd just take an anti histamine which isn't going to hurt you either way and then you'll know. I sometimes take antihistamine if I have stuff that needs swelling taking down in general because I think it's an anti inflammatory

I'm sorry to hear this Marianne, I was diagnosed with asthma about 18months ago and I managed to get it under control relatively quickly, it's seems fairly normal now and carrying around an inhaler becomes second nature! I hope you get it under control quickly.