We're just coming into hay-fever season in my little corner of the world, and after never experiencing hay-fever my entire life, I suddenly am now.

All of the women in my family tend to suffer from it to varying degrees, although the boys don't. With about 6 months of HRT, is it possible that I'm now vulnerable to a little pollen too? I'm certain it's hay-fever as it follows all of the usual trends ( occurring after being outside, worse on windy dry days etc ). I can't think of much else which has changed in terms of diet, and can't think of any other potential causes.

Nah,

There are genetic links to Hay fever but no hormonal ones that I'm aware of.

It may be a particularly bad season that is affecting you. I know that in Australia the allergen levels are extreme, and many people who coped previously are having problems this year.

Hi Cindy, neighbour... I'm from down under too .

Last year was also extreme on the pollen counts, and that's when I was exposed to more of it than ever ( walking outside ~4hrs /day ), but nothing. No symptoms at all. This year, just 15 minutes outside is enough to cause waterworks and sneezing.

I will ask my endo this question, although it will be quite a while before I see them again.

Quote from: SammyRose on October 05, 2013, 05:50:04 AM
Hi Cindy, neighbour... I'm from down under too .

Last year was also extreme on the pollen counts, and that's when I was exposed to more of it than ever ( walking outside ~4hrs /day ), but nothing. No symptoms at all. This year, just 15 minutes outside is enough to cause waterworks and sneezing.

I will ask my endo this question, although it will be quite a while before I see them again.

This year is even worse than last!!!!!

A wet warm winter has not been good for allergy! I'm an Immunologist BTW.

Actually maybe this is related to some newly formed habits.

Sorry if TMI, but a year ago I never plucked or trimmed nose hair. There used to be a copious amount that just kept growing... It was completely gross... .

Now I'm kept properly and cleanly, with a very low amount of hair in that area since HRT. Could more pollen be entering the skin due to less hair? The first symptom on a daily basis is generally a runny nose...

Wow Cindy! How appropriate for you to be an immunologist, how random is that! Or not I guess 

Anyway glad to hear it's not something to worry about as far as hormones. I had horrible hayfever most of my life (6-19) every single day thankfully I grew out of it. I only get it on a rare occasion now thankfully!!

I had to get some rest!

Try washing your nose out with some saline. You can get it from the chemist. I think one brand is Fes, or something like it. It is sold for that very purpose. The idea is to get rid of the pollen particles that are very sticky. The violent sneezing and runny nose are all responses to try to do the same, get rid of the allergen.

There are lots of good anti histamines and the generic brands are just as good as the named advertised ones and a fraction of the price. The patent rights ran out ages ago so they can all be copied.

And yes I know the misery of Hay fever!