[IamJen]

I'm having a rough time this year with hayfever, some days. It's usually only in the Fall that it gets me very badly, but I'm sneezing like mad on the warm days.

Normally, I'd use nettle extract or an antihistamine if it got *really* bad, but neither of these are recommended during pregnancy, especially for long-term use.

I've seen some "blocker" creams (put them under your nose) at our local hfs, but they weren't vegan. Has anyone tried this approach? Trying to do some rinsing as well, but hard to do that at work with little ones.

Would love to hear any tips. Achoo!

 

[Digger]

Sorry to hear about that Jen. I'm asking this more out of curiosity than anything, but do you eat a lot of wheat and other grains? I've been reading that families who experience hay fever and excema (they're related) experience increased symptoms with wheat consumption and are more likely to have wheat allergy. There's a word for the specific relationship between the two but for the life of me it escapes me right now. I've had hay fever since I was a kid, and interestingly when I handle wheat flour my hands get very itchy and sometimes rashy and my hay fever symptoms are worse.

 

[_charlotte_]

MSM might help you. It's good for a lot of things other than allergies and I think I read that it's ok to take during pregnancy. It's a natural supplement, not medication.

 

[Joe]

Here's something that you may not have thought of, but which I have been clued into.

I went to the doctor's once, thinking I had bronchitis. My diagnosis: allergic rhinitis. I learned to change the filter in my heating and cooling system religiously. They also have filters with MERV or similar ratings (over 1000 is better) that will remove fine particles. I keep a record of when I change the filter so I can tell at a glance when it was last changed. During peak allergy season, I change the filter every 4 to 6 weeks, even if the filter says it will last 90 days.

There are also room-based air cleaners that are good for use in the bedroom while you are sleeping. They sort of double as a "white noise" machine.

 

[danakscully64]

Jen, are you pregnant? If so, why am I just now hearing about it?

 

[IamJen]

Thanks for ideas so far. I'm not sensitive to wheat as far as I know, but maybe it is aggravating the symptoms? I've been eating less, as baby doesn't seem to like bread, but still have pasta and tortillas sometimes.

I will look at msm, but not sure about veganacity?

Dana, about halfway now. I hadn't planned to tell until our scan, which was yesterday, but I leaked it recently in a couple of threads.

It's been very very dry this year which might have something to do with it too. I think I will look at one of those filters, since IS gets a bit snuffly too at night.

 

[Digger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

I'm not sensitive to wheat as far as I know, but maybe it is aggravating the symptoms?

Not sure Jen. My doctor ran all kinds of celiac testing on me, both bloodwork and an actual endoscopy, and I don't have it. Nonetheless I still did an elimination diet just to see, since you can have wheat allergy without being celiac. When I added wheat back into my diet I started getting itchy again and stuffed up. It's not so bad as to be intolerable though, and I'd hate to attempt being vegetarian without grains. Congrats by the way, I didn't know either! Just a shot in the dark, but being pregnant does so many crazy things to your body, could you simply be having rougher hay fever symptoms because of that?

 

[yally]

Congrats Jen!

When you say rinsing, do you mean that thing you shove up your nose to rinse out your nasal passages with warm water? Cos that's the only suggestion I have...

Hayfever is the pits

 

[IamJen]

Yeah exaggerated allergy symptoms ate pretty common in pg, but one of my munchkins' mom is suffering too, do I think the weird weather is playing a part.

I have a neti pot that I use to rinse, though I had to get a new one recently and I'm nearly drowning myself now. Heh.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

 

[Cadrian]

Like someone else said... Make sure you use decent filters in your heat and air, and make sure you change them routinely.

Also though... Take a shower before you go to bed, it will clear up your sinus due to the steam plus it will wash all the pollen out of your hair and skin before you go to bed.

Keep animals out of your bed room and if you can out of your house... Pet Dander is really rough on me.

Wash your sheets often... most people suggest once a week but I usually do it two times. All that dead skin, dust, and pollen build up on it.

Drive with your windows up... not down and spend as little time outside if your having a occurrence.

 

[danakscully64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

Dana, about halfway now. I hadn't planned to tell until our scan, which was yesterday, but I leaked it recently in a couple of threads.

Congrats!

 

[IamJen]

Cadrian, that's a good idea about the shower! I used to get allergies super super bad in Oklahoma (cottonwood trees are the work of Satan, I tell you), and that was one thing that often helped.

I've been drying out sheets/etc. outside until recently (and actually forgot and put them outside for a bit today), so I suspect that might be making it worse too. I don't think I can really manage hanging *all* of our laundry inside though, so I'm hoping to just do the sheets/bedding and hang our regular clothes on the line. We do have a dryer, but I hate using it so often....feel like we're making our own little hole in the ozone layer.

Thanks, dana!

 

[Spidergrrl]

I can't recall if I actually sent you a PM to say this or if I just thought to myself it would be a good idea to do so (my sent file for PMs appears to be empty so i probably just thought it) so i'll say it again.

If you want I can whip up a barrier balm like haymax that is vegan made from plant wax and post to to you.

I cannot line dry anything outside due to pollen issues. Hope you get it sorted soon.