If you live in Holland, Europe, or any Western country, you probably have heard about hay fever. If you never had hay fever, you are so lucky! I have hay fever since I was 24 years old. Someone told me that if you start having hay fever age 24, you will have it forever. Nice! No, not nice at all! I can't enjoy the nice weather and have to avoid parks and forests. Actually, I have to avoid being exposed to the air outside! Most of the time I am home during summer with all windows closed preferable. I was hoping I wouldn't get hay fever this year because usually it starts already in April. This time, I didn't had any hay fever in April. Suddenly when it was May, I got hay fever and it came to me like BAMMM!!! From one day to the other, I had all the symptoms. The first day I didn't have medications yet. I was sneezing like crazy and if you sneeze all day long, you will have a sore throat!
I called the pharmacy and ordered my standard medicines for hay fever, Levocetirizine. Without this medicine, I would not be able to function normally. I would sneeze all day long which means I would stay in bed feeling miserable! BUT, it doesn't help all the symptoms I have for 100%. It helps the sneezing with 70%. I still have an itchy, runny nose, burning and itchy eyes and a sore throat. Everytime I eat or drink, my throat hurts like crazy. I don't think I would be a good receptionist. I would sneeze while being on the phone.
My eyes are always so red, itchy and burning that the layer around my eyes are loose from my eye ball. I usually use Livocab eyedrops but they don't work that good. It feels nice on the eyes, but after a minute or so, the symptoms are back again. So I did some research and found 4 good reviews about Allergodil. 4 is at least more than zero, right? I called the pharmacy and ordered Allergodil. Didn't get a bill yet, I guess I will get it end of this year from my insurance company. I have to say it works okay, slightly better than Livocab.
This is how my eye(s) look(s) like when I have hay fever. I have to say that this looks quite OK-ish. I should make a picture of my eyes where you see the outer layer being loose from my eye ball(s). It's so annoying to have itchy burning eyes. I can't do my tasks and chores like I normally do. These days are also very hot here, like 27+ degrees Celsius. The hotter the weather, the worser my eyes are getting and the more I sneeze together with a sorer throat.
I was googling about hay fever and what other things you could do against hay fever. Some people get a pollen injection, but there can be side effects. I also am afraid for needles....
There is another way to beat hay fever with acupuncture. Again, this is with needles, MANY needles! I am not sure if I would do this, it just looks so scary.
I googled again, and I found something very interesting, Bee Pollen. Something that the bees are making that contains pollen. I can't really explain it very well, but this is a natural product. It also contains many vitamins and minerals. It's called a Superfood. The best is to find a beekeeper to get the best bee pollen. I couldn't find one closeby home yet, so I bought at a natural shop. I tried and it tasted funky. My husband tried it too, even though he doens't have hay fever. He said it tastes like an old sweet carpet :-D. So I tried it, but I don't feel any difference :-(. I think I will just eat it everyday because it's healthy. But that means I had to look further...
I read something about Propolis, that also comes from a bee, which means it is a natural product. I wasn't sure if I should buy it because you can have allergic reactions. Then I read further, it says you should test it first by putting a drop of Propolis on the innerside of your elbow. You have to wait and if it feels burning and looking red, you are allergic to it.
I tested it and luckily no burning feeling or redness. Time to get a shot of that Propolis. 24 drop to be precisely. I didn't read the article online till the end. It says I had to test it 24 hours before I could take the drops.... Yikes! I just hope I will be fine tomorrow! BUT, I feel my eyes aren't irritated anymore and they are white and no itchy eyes...
My husband said we could finally all go together to the park. I told him that I have to see how it goes when I leave the house first without sunglasses. I am for sure not going to the park/forest directly after one day testing this Propolis. I have to see it for a few days and take baby steps.
Another thing is, will the symptoms only go away when I take the medicines and the Propolis? Or will it go away forever? So far it just feels Propolis and my pills will only be good for my hay fever when I take a shot every single day. If it won't go away forever without any medication, I might consider acupuncture or a bee pollen injection.
I actually don't like bees and wasps but I have to admit that they play a very important role in our nature and health.
My eyes after the Propolis shot
