Terrible allergies - where to get help?

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jonathan18

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#311144 18-Dec-2023 09:16

My wife suffers from really bad allergies that peak in spring but continue through summer (and are atrocious right now); obviously, pollen is the most obvious culprit.

Thus far, nothing any doctor (including local specialists) has prescribed her has been particularly effective; I’m keen on her getting an assessment from a practice that’s got a good reputation for dealing with allergies.

Can anyone recommend any specific doctor, clinic or practice in the North Island that they believe are exceptional at dealing with allergies? We’re lower NI (PN to be precise) but happy to travel if they’re that good!

TIA.

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#3172903 18-Dec-2023 09:22

deleted, see PM

Lias

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#3173055 18-Dec-2023 15:28

FWIW I find that the prescribed antihistamines are only minimally useful. The best thing I've found when mine flare up is Telfast 180. Not terribly cheap unfortunately.

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mkissin

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#3173106 18-Dec-2023 15:46

It's worth noting that you can use Flixonase as well as a tablet antihistamine together safely. That's what I do and it helps a lot.

jonathan18

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#3173109 18-Dec-2023 15:55

Lias:FWIW I find that the prescribed antihistamines are only minimally useful. The best thing I've found when mine flare up is Telfast 180. Not terribly cheap unfortunately.

Yeah, she’s similar in that they generally do SFA, especially at peak season like now. Thanks for recommendation re Telfast - would an alternative brand with the same active ingredient (at same potency) provide the same effect? This is $25 for 70 tablets vs $50sh for 30:

https://www.ibuypharmacy.co.nz/products/hayfexo-fexofenadine-180mg-tablets-70

jonathan18

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#3173110 18-Dec-2023 15:59

mkissin:

It's worth noting that you can use Flixonase as well as a tablet antihistamine together safely. That's what I do and it helps a lot.

Yep, she definitely does use both, but even then it’ll often not provide much relief. Last night she was up much of the night, so it also has a serious impact on her sleep (and sometimes mine!)…

The problem is she’s tried the various products her doctor etc have prescribed, so I imagine that’ll cover the usual suspects; can anyone recommend an immunologist or allergy clinic that they’ve found good, or even have heard good things about?

mkissin

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#3173112 18-Dec-2023 16:07

Sorry, we use Dr Annaliesse Blincoe (and find her excellent) in Auckland, but I'm pretty sure she's only pediatric.

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cddt

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#3173114 18-Dec-2023 16:13

No suggestions re doctors, but have you tried having an air purifier running in your room, at least at night? This should significantly reduce the pollen in the air and may allow for some respite overnight.

jonathan18

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#3173124 18-Dec-2023 16:37

cddt:
No suggestions re doctors, but have you tried having an air purifier running in your room, at least at night? This should significantly reduce the pollen in the air and may allow for some respite overnight.

Yes, we did try that - I bought her one a year or so back; I was so hopeful it would make a difference but sadly it also did nothing! It wasn’t a cheap/cr@p one either, so am unsure about trying a more expensive one given the first attempt didn’t work.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions - all feedback and ideas are appreciated.

The only ‘solution’ that seems to work is being by the sea; whenever we stay at our union holiday homes on the Kapiti Coast (seaside property) her allergies are so much improved. One more reason for that being our planned retirement location!

jonherries

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#3173130 18-Dec-2023 16:54

You have probably done this but there might be allergens in the house as well as outside, so “being next to the sea” might not be the change that matters.

Have seen bedding, beds, carpet, paint, insulation etc all contribute to allergies.

Given it is seasonal though gives an indication it might be outside, although this comes with different wind and rain patterns so I wouldn't discount a source in the house. This would be a good explanation for why the air purifier didn't help.

Agree combinations of active ingredients would be useful to trial (the differences in many are the brand and formulation), but these are long term medications so in general you need to keep them going (ie. take them regardless of symptoms to get best effect).

Jon

martyyn

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#3173189 18-Dec-2023 17:19

My teenage hay fever has come back with avengeance the last four or five years. It leaves me completely incapable of doing anything other than shutting myself in our bedroom and going through multiple boxes of tissues a day.

After trying a number of things I ended up on Telfast 180mg. I found they did very little if the symptoms had already started and I needed to be on them for a couple of weeks before they started to clear.

This year I started taking them in September and I've not had a single day of symptoms so far *touch wood*

I have a friend who takes them all year round but I'm not sure how healthy that is.

tweake

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#3173199 18-Dec-2023 18:24

jonathan18:

Yes, we did try that - I bought her one a year or so back; I was so hopeful it would make a difference but sadly it also did nothing! It wasn’t a cheap/cr@p one either, so am unsure about trying a more expensive one given the first attempt didn’t work.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions - all feedback and ideas are appreciated.

The only ‘solution’ that seems to work is being by the sea; whenever we stay at our union holiday homes on the Kapiti Coast (seaside property) her allergies are so much improved. One more reason for that being our planned retirement location!

price is no indication that its good. what make/model was it?

no1 thing is simply ventilation. good constant ventilation with a decent filter. don't bring the pollen inside and blow anything else outside. exactly what it will take to do that will vary depending on the house. some houses you may never be able to do it well. its not a good thing to let pollen into the house and then try and catch it. no2 thing is to stop it coming inside to start with.

i would have to ask some family as they have similar issues and i think they find the coast a lot better as well.

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mentalinc

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#3173205 18-Dec-2023 19:00

Pseudoephedrine will be available again to help her next year...

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kinginvercargill

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#3173234 18-Dec-2023 22:12

I have chronic bad hayfever, for me pollen and grass are the main culprit.

Has she had any allergy testing through her doctor to establish what exactly she is reacting to?

I've been on so many different hayfever relievers (Allersoothe, Zetop, Nasal Sprays, Steroid Jabs) that i'm now on those as well as a 3–5-year course of allergy immunotherapy, which I get a prick each month by the nurse of my main allergens to help build up a tolerance to them. It will take some time but 8-12 months later I am noticeably better than I have been for the last few years.

There's more details here - https://www.allergy.org.nz/managing-allergies/treatment/immunotherapy/ with a list of Allergy Specialists here - https://www.allergy.org.nz/managing-allergies/getting-a-diagnosis/allergy-specialists/

Personally, I am in Wellington and see Dr Tim Jerfferies at Johnsonville who's prescribed me the course and done a few follow ups since. I know some other people in NZ on it as well, and they don't have a local specialist so get an appointment every 1 year/18 months to see them for follow ups, but otherwise the nurse orders the injections for them when they run out and they get the monthly jab. Thankfully the regular visits to the nurse are covered by Southern Cross, while I do pay for the actual jab stuff.

Another similar option (which sometimes isn't know that well), is the doctor can inject a 3 month course of steroids in your arm (done only once) at the end of Spring / Start of Summer. I had this a few years back which helped to a degree, but only relieved the symptoms, whereas the Allergy Immunotherapy helps build a tolerance to the allergens instead.

Bung

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#3173252 19-Dec-2023 07:30

jonathan18: The only ‘solution’ that seems to work is being by the sea; whenever we stay at our union holiday homes on the Kapiti Coast (seaside property) her allergies are so much improved. One more reason for that being our planned retirement location!

Be careful. Further north Waitarere, Foxton Beach and Himitangi have pine forest on the coast that coat the local areas in pollen. Looks as if the ground has been dusted with sulphur. Could possibly affect north end of Kapiti.

craigw

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#3173265 19-Dec-2023 08:30

I saw a documentary about hookworms and how they solved severe allergies for some people years and years ago.

A quick Google shows that there are a few people who have tried this and that scientific investigation has continued.

Not sure on it and have no personal experience but I do remember being impressed with their results.

These are some old stories but you may be able to hunt down the current state of this.

I've got parasitic worms living inside me, and it's great | Stuff.co.nz

Hookworm and allergies — Science Learning Hub

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