Anyone currently taking or have taken allergy shots in the past? I plan on giving this a try and set up and appointment for next week. Everyone I've talked to really swears by them. My allergies are very bad, not so bad I can't enjoy the outdoors but dries my eyes out fairly bad which is hell with contacts. The worst thing is the office building I work in is the worst. I always feel like a new person going to work on Monday. By Friday I'm just completely out of it.
Both of my kids are getting them . Enzo (3 years old now) has about 45 things he is allergic to , milk being the main one. We couldn't figure out why he had a constat runny nose and ear infections , after tubes in his ears and a year wasted with a nurse practicioner a friend of mine who is a ENT suggested taking him for a allergy test. Since he has been getting the shots (over a year now) he is doing much better. He can eat cheese and some ice cream but not ice cream and cheese in the same day so he seems to be getting better. He just switched from every week to every other week with the shots. Margaret is still every week right now but she is doing much better also since stating the shots.
Allergy shots can build up an immunity for many people over time (usually 3 -5 years of shots to have success with immunity), and for others they are ineffective...certainly worth a try. So many things in an office environment can be detrimental to the health of an allergy sufferer( mold, perfumes, bad ventilation)...any chance that your work will allow you to work at home? I am deathly allergic to many bee/wasp/hornet stings.... always carry my epi pen and have too many "near death" experiences over the years. Of the 40 or so varieties of the bees/h/w in my area, there are only allergy injections available for two types of venom...after 7 years of use (two shots per month) i am now immune from one type of sting (white face hornets) and the other one (yellow jackets) has not built up any resistance over all the years of shots. So as long as i only get stung from a white face hornet I will be OK....anything else and I am in real hot water very fast....every minute of every day I consciously know the location and best route to the nearest hospital (live right next to one...and cabin up north is 4 1/2 minutes to another)...no time to wait for an ambulance. Even when on the water fishing, I never venture far from the launch point and always have my epi pen on my belt loop. I wish you luck with your shots...hopefully relief will be forthcoming. Beev
Great to hear and thanks for the info. I've heard several different ways to get the shots. The place I will go to (recommended by a coworker) starts off with a twice a week dosage. I've always wanted to find out what things I'm allergic to on a more specific level. I noticed the last few times I've eaten nectarines and peaches I found I felt flush with a warm sensation come over me. That's what really freaked me out. Thank you. If they're even slightly effective it's better than nothing. Unfortunately as a research analyst it's impossible for me to work from home as I have to constantly supply results instantaniously. And at times large volumes at once. I don't think I would be a productive person from home though. I by myself enough as it is, I couldn't imagine working alone.
Man, I'm with ya there. Been living the same kind of life but it's the Fire Ants instead and they're EVERYWHERE. I recently moved from a location that, essentially, had only one species of stinging ants (the IFA). Now there are at least 5 where I live that sting, including these freakin' bastids (Elongate Twig Ant). If that ain't bad enough the Hypoponera punctatissima stings as winged swarmers. Although I get monthly shots I can't risk to see if they're working or not and I've used so many Epi-Pens that I've lost count. When exposed, my only symptoms are hypotension (loss of blood pressure) and an increased heart-rate. No hives, throat swelling, etc, just anaphylactic shock within minutes. And I get antsy everytime I talk about it. Elongate Twig Ant - Pseudomyrmex gracilis http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/entomo/ants/Pest%20Ants%20of%20Fl/Elongate%20Twig%20ant.htm Florida Harvester Ant - Pogonomyrmex badius http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/entomo/ants/Pest%20Ants%20of%20Fl/florida_harvester_ant.htm Hypoponera punctatissima http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/entomo/ants/Pest%20Ants%20of%20Fl/hypoponera.htm Little Fire Ant - Wasmannia auropunctata http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/entomo/ants/Pest%20Ants%20of%20Fl/little_fire_ant.htm Red Imported Fire Ant - Solenopsis invicta http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/entomo/ants/Pest%20Ants%20of%20Fl/red_imported_fire_ant.htm Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've known several people that had multiple allergies and the Doc targeted the most severe first. Worked really well too. By all means, get tested.
I've been on allergy shots for almost two years. I kept getting colds and finally saw an ENT. He decided to test me for allergies. I was tested for 32 things, and was allergic to 31 of them. I'll try and explain the process. They figure out your allergies and prepare serum to immunize you from the allergies. It is called immunotherapy. You start out with a miniscule dose and build it over time. As you complete vials of the serum they increase the concentration until it is at full concentrate. A lot of the process is getting tested as you move into the new vials, they want to make sure you don't have a severe reaction to the new serum. At first I was getting 4 shots once or twice a week. I built up tolerance to concentrate doses of the serum. Now I go in every 2 or 3 weeks for shots, they are the maintenance dose. You can take an antihistamine on shot days, it helps. Also you have to carry an Epi Pen just in case you go into shock. The doc I go to has an allergist. They make it very easy to go in, get the shot and leave and still make it to work on time. Its not that painful, and helps. Do it. PM me if you want more details.
I have been getting shots since I was in the seventh grade (~1997) until now. I started with two shots twice a week and am now on once a month. I do take Zyrtec as well. Honestly, it has made a world of difference and I don't regret it at all. Some may say it's money wasted or that it's all in your head then I say if it's all in my head then so be it, because the shots are doing the trick! I am allergic to many things (pollen, not food) and before the shots was miserable. Growing up with them allowed me to do all the normal things as a kid without much issue. I live in Boise, Idaho therefore it's a city/desert here with mountains just a few minutes away. All sorts of allergens around! If you'd like any further info PM me. I'd be happy to discuss. Best of luck!
Severe reactions are pretty scary (even for the medical staff at the hospital) and it always seems that those of us that suffer these allergies are often the same people that love to be out in nature where the biggest risk for us is. Beev
Great info, thanks for the detail. My coworker is going to actually bring in the paper work for me to begin filling out so when I go I don't have to waste my time. I need to see my original ENT on top of the allergist just to go. I've had 6 sets of tubes in my ears, followed by a "patch" or something to cover the hole in my ear drum. The last time I saw him I was probably 14 or 15. He was a fairly new doc back then, but a great one. Now he's apparently well known in the nation. I've gone to others since, but none have been as good as Dr. Franklin. My mom has terrible allergies and while I don't believe mine are as bad as hers they are very bothersome. She started getting shots again and she says she's noticed a difference. It's interesting you mention you're allergies being bad elsewhere. I've gone to Milwaukee and Breckenridge and I've noticed that my allergies are far better. A lot better. I use to take Claritin/Claritin-D, and Zyrtec (when it was prescription only) but I've pretty much stop taking it because I feel I need to step back from taking meds so often. I don't notice much of a difference between on or off it. I only take it on really bad days. Thanks for all the great info everyone.
I suffered from Hay Fever since I was a child. When I finally started a real job after college at Mayo I went to an allergist. Went through the testing and started on a desensitization regimen for approximately 7 years. I quit after I left Mayo. My allergies to Ragweed and Alternaria (grass mold) are gone and have remained gone. It's been about 20 years. Unfortunately they don't work for everyone and it usually takes years of immunization therapy but it was well worth it in my eyes (and nose!) LOL. Steve
The way I look at it... Just a little trouble in Paradise But, everyday... "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..."
haha! My eyes are really the biggest reason now. They've become far more dry which makes it harder to make it through the day with contacts. I've even developed a mucus which I thought was just protein build up. My eye doctor (a childhood friend) said it wasn't protein and she has never seen anyone with the mucus nor as bloodshoot as my eyes are. Just last night I walked out of the club (no smoking in Houston) and I could hardly see once I hit the outside air. It was terrible and I'm glad I didn't have to drive home.
I have friends that had allergy shots and have done great. I took them for about 4 years and they didn't help. I've been thinking of trying again. I had the testing done after I took them for a few years and it showed what the test prior to them showed.
I've done allergy shot regimens twice. The first time as a child/teenager. Started out at twice a week and worked up in concentration to the full amount then extended the time between shots to three weeks. I think going 3 weeks between shots was too long because they would really knock me out. The second time I took them the program was once a week every week for two years. Both methods worked very well. Prior to starting the shots the first time, I was sick with upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, etc. every six weeks or so. I carried a case load of drugs with me everywhere. On the shots I did not get sick at all for 7 years. No colds, no flu, nothing. I tested for 68 things and reacted to 64 of them, I'm an 8 or 9 on a scale of 10 for allergies. Plants, animals, bugs, but not foods Thank God. Texas is a tough place to live if you are allergic to plants, dust, etc. My reason for doing them twice is that over time the desensititization wears off. So by the time I was 25 or so the allergies were back. I haven't taken them for years and live on Zyrtec and Flonase but really don't like taking the drugs all the time so I may try shots again. The only downside to the shots for me was running fever for half a day or so after each shot. On really bad pollen or dust days I would just take a Benadryl and go on, without the shots I would curl up and die. PM me if you have questions.
I had contact issues myself. I just couldn't wear them anymore. In conjunction with the allergy shots you might want to consider Lasik. I did that about 10 years ago and it was by far the best money I've ever spent on myself.
I used to when I grew up in Houston, couldn't stand them as a kid. When I moved up to Fort worth it cleared right up & finally grew out it. I still know some adults that still have to suffer with those shots.
I will be getting lasik, but not until I'm 30 probably (3 more years). Especially since my eyes keep changing so dramatically each year.
I got mine when 29 and it really helped even that problem. My prescription changed yearly back then but the eyes have been rock solid at 20/15 ever since.
That's great to hear, as I have heard that from a few people. I figure I can hold out a little while longer and save up for it, as I'm saving up for other things currently. I'm really looking forward to it though.
Are they prescription or OTC? I looked them up and they appear to be OTC, but couldn't find a definite answer. I've also never seen them in the store.
Going to see my old ENT on Wednesday. I haven't been to him since I was probably around 13-15 years old. I recommended him to a co-worker and she said he remembered me well. That was enough to get me in his office again. He specializes in allergies according to the webiste, so I will be discussing that as well as an ear ache I've had since Friday.
A few years ago I got bit by some fire ants, and man did it swell up. Well, over the years I've spent a lot of time in the garden and get bitten by them nearly everytime I go out not. Trust me, I fight these little buggers with everything I've got, when I find them. What I have noticed it the bites now don't even creat a head on them anymore. They are just little red spots now. My body has adapted to the toxin and it has a such a minor affect on me now. Interesting how the body remembers the poison. I'd like to point out that I used to be exposed to poison ivy almost weekly and never had even a a minor rash. Well after college and several years of being away from thick brush, I made my way into the sticks one day golfing after hacking one into the woods. I ended up with the worst rash I've ever seen in my life. They hit me with everything and it just would not go away. I couldn't even sleep for almost a week. The doctor tells me I've developed a reaction to poison ivy. I said that's impossible, I could wad it up and carry it out to the burning station when we had an orchard. He asked when that was. I said Ohhhhhhhh, some fifteen years ago. There you have it. I better keep some ants in a bottle to keep my resistance up. Where those damn bees? Give me a few stings would ya?! I got stung on the nose last summer twice by a wasp. Man, what a pain. Nothing too bad, but now I need my fix.
Have an appointment to see the doctor on May 19th, as well as a check up for the prior visit. He found a small hole in my ear drum, so I'm currently taking Augmentin. I've never had an side effects to any prescription meds (and this is what he use to prescribe me for my ear infections as a kid), but this time I am. Friday night I started having diarreah. I was fine for most of Saturday, and it started up at night. I only took one pill Sunday, and it seemed to subside by the night. I felt really run down and weak all day, but still managed to go to church. Got home and took a 45 min-1hr nap. Was asleep before 9pm and pretty much slept straight through the night until my alarm went off at 6:15. Took another pill this morning and have only had one "issue" today thus far. No where on the medication or the directions/Caution with the med and there was no warning about consuming alcohol. I didn't drink a lot, but had 1 beer Thursday,1 Friday and around 4 or 5 on Saturday. I sort of think this is what's causing my stomach issues. Still feeling a bit out of it and warn out, which I guess is from the anti-biotic. But I do feel I'm starting to perk up as the day goes on. As long as my stomach stays stable I'm going to attempt to hit the gym and have a very easy-mild workout. Even if it's only 30 minutes I think it will help me feel better.
