Steroid injection for hayfever

I have been told by a GP that I could take up to four Fexofenadine a day but I’ve only dared to take two some days. It doesn’t seem to make much difference actually. Nothing seems to help. The clinic I asked haven’t got back to me so they obviously don’t want to give me the injection so it’s irrelevant unless I can find some other place willing to do it. I feel a bit let down and hopeless as I’m obviously not going to get any relief from it all.

Private Bone Density scan costs £200-300. Your GP would have to refer you.
It might be worth it to get the Steroid injection if it’s all ok, if not then you at least know about it.

I used to be absolutely poleaxed by hayfever in the summer and allergic rhinitis in the winter but the newer drug Fexofenadine has changed all that for me. I occasionally have to top up wit a Beconase spray. I know how miserable it can be and I hope you find a solution for you Dollymixtures and all here who suffer very soon.

Exactly, Lathyrus, I obviously wouldn’t want to take a risk with osteoporosis. I got hayfever in spring normally but it’s come back with a vengeance now. Maybe I escape the worst of it some years but some years, it’s truly painful and miserable. Remember, this has gone on for weeks now. I’m probably too late really this summer but was hoping to find somewhere that I could get one early next year. I can’t bear the thought that this could last for three months more. As you say, there might not be another one. Sobering thought.

Frankly (although we don’t like to think of ourselves as old) at my age quality of life, in the present, tops any worry I might have about future long term effects!😬

I suppose I might take into consideration how long the hay fever lasts. I get it in the Spring for two or three weeks. I can put up with that. Lose a whole Summer to it? Nah. There might not be another one😬

I think it would be as difficult to get a bone density scan as getting a steroid injection! My quality of life normally is quite high but, of course, I’m totally debilitated by this dreadful hayfever just at the moment.

I know about the suppression of the immune system which is why I couldn’t get one during COVID but I am willing to do anything at the moment to relieve my symptoms. I’ll have to investigate if there’s a travel clinic round here.

Yes, I know I’m elderly but didn’t like it pointed out! Isn’t there a saying that old is always ten years older than you are?

It sounds like your hay fever is as bad as mine - so you may decide that it's worth taking a little risk to avoid a summer of misery. I think steroid jabs are available at my local travel clinic.

My GP did say they suppress the immune system for a while, though, and that's how they work. Ask your doctor about immunotherapy - sometimes available on the NHS for severe allergies - and available privately.

Shocked to be described as elderly? That made me laugh! Medically speaking, we're 'geriatric' in our 60s - far worse!

Are you able to get a Bone Density scan to see if you are at risk or already have Osteoporosis?

Better to know for sure if the Steroid injections have caused any problems so far.

Hi Dolly
The steroid is known as Kenalog and it was withdrawn from NHS due to the risk of side effects (this is well documented on Google along with many research papers over the years). You may still be able to get it privately and if you can you should research the possible risk of side effects versus your quality of life and make that the basis of your decision, apparently the more injections you have the higher the risk. I've had bouts of hayfever which were totally debilitating so l appreciate how awful it must be.