I suffer really badly from hayfever early in the season (April - May). I have tried every tablet / spray / eye drop going and nothing really works. On the worst days, I can barely open my eyes and go through a whole box of tissues. It feels like I have pepper up my nose and is generally very horrible. For the rest of the summer the medication holds it at bay but for the first 2 months of the season, it is hell.
In the past doctors have reluctantly given me steriod eye drops which work a treat but, I understand, are not very good for your eyes.
I have heard of a steriod injection that you can get but it seems that NHS doctors are reluctant to give it. Possibly a cost thing?
Do you guys have any advice and is the steriod injection something that can be done privately? It generally makes my life really miserable for 2 months of the year and it would be great to keep the worst of it at bay.
Hello, Brandon!
Sorry to hear about your severe symptoms. Be careful with steroid eye drops as they can cause problems with your eyes, and even cause glaucoma.
When medication is not effective, we certainly administer in some cases a steroid (Kenalog) injection, provided there are no contraindications. It does not always work, but when it does, it can be effective for up to three months. A single injection in a year usually does not cause any side effects or any problems. In some cases, it might slightly reduce your immune system. Some doctors do not like administering it, but I believe that it can be consider in individual cases when the quality of life of the patient is severely affected by the symptoms. If you wanted, we could give it to you in our practice.
Best wishes,
Jose
Hayfever
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