Has anyone "given up" on allergy shots?

[yoopermom]

I'm in my mid40s with lifelong dust allergies.

Over a decade ago I did the shot routine for over a year (maybe two). Last year I felt rotten, so I committed to them again.

This September (almost a year after starting them) I had a pretty severe reaction to a shot for the first time ever and it really scared me (dr has no idea what set it off). He put me back on the smallest dose possible on a weekly basis, I was ok for a few months, but then had another reaction (not quite as bad but still scary) last month.

I honestly just want to quit them. I don't feel as though they are worth it (time and money wise) for the amount of relief I'm getting. I worry, too, that those two reactions are my body trying to tell me something. OTOH, I have a lot of time and $$ already invested in the process.

Sigh.

If anyone has any other "cures" for dust allergies (other than all the obvious preventatives) please feel free to share....

TIA!

Terri

 

[KristaTX]

I did quit them. I've had bad nasal allergies my entire life and am allergic to many things, including dustmites and dust.

My allergy test showed that I was allergic to almost everything, so I started shots. I quit the shots after about a year. It was a hassle, and it didn't seem to help me very much after a year. However, I don't have asthma or eczema. For people who have those issues, too, the shots can still a good option since allergies have an effect on those.

I take Zyrtec, Flonase, and Singulair every single day (well, sometimes I skip the Flonase). When you have dust allergies, your allergies will be year-round, so there is no "season", although other allergens that you may also be allergic to may be seasonal. I take the generic version of all of them. I will also take Benadryl as needed.

Also, we have no carpet in the house, which helps tremendously. I have dustmite covers on our mattress and on our pillows. Taking care of the bedding issue was a huge help for me. I rarely open our windows. The only time the temperatures here are nice enough to do so are when all the pollens and other allergens are abundant in the air outside.

Taking all of those measures works well enough for me.

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks, Krista.

I've never had asthma/eczema, but those two reactions "felt" like what I imagine a bad asthma attack to be like. Urgh.

I take Zyrtec daily, as well.

I've gotten rid of *almost* all the dust collectors in the house. We have laminate flooring, leather furniture, heck I even took the drapes down! I've locked the dogs out of the bedroom (which breaks their hearts ) and wash all bedding/towels in hot weekly, etc. Just so frustrating!

Terri

 

[lovemygoofy]

*Que the music to beauty school drop out*

I dropped out of allergy shots. I couldn't take them if running any kind of fever or when not feeling well. I think I kept an allergy cold more with the shots than ever without.

Are you using any saline spray? That has really helped with my dust allergies especially in the sandy desert. I snort the saline spray 2-3x a day and when I was really sick probably triple that. It really helps clear up the sinus passage.

I use a prescription nose spray 2x a day and the allergy pill in the morning and the other one at night and then the saline spray all day long.

I don't miss the shots at all!

 

[KristaTX]

Talk to your doctor about the possibility of adding in some other medications, like Singulair or a nasal spray that is an antihistamine. He/she might have a reason for not having you on those with your particular set of circumstances, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort, etc. are nasal steroids. But there are some that are nasal antihistamines. I'm not on an antihistamine one because it just didn't seem to help me, and it irritated my nose.

When we built our house back in 2007, we went with no carpet and no drapes. I like that better anyway, but it also helps with the allergies.

Poor doggies!!! But I understand. We have a cat even though I'm allergic to cats. I'd rather be allergic than not have my kitty .

 

[Pembo]

After a severe reaction that landed me in the ER I stopped cold turkey after years of shots. The doc told me that my reaction was probably caused by the shot given just a day after we were painting a room in our house?!

I am allergic to trees, weeds, grasses and cats. I had shots almost 20 years ago. My allergies never really improved on the shots in fact I became more sensitive to cats! After shots, 3 kids, and time, my allergies have very much improved. (Just like my mom said they would). LOL

If I could do it over again, I would have skipped the shots and just treated the symptoms. That said I cant take many meds because they cause extreme fatigue: ie. Claritin, Zyrtec, etc.

I just take a Sudafed when things are really bad or a dose of children's Dimetapp if I need something to allow me to sleep.

 

[gncntry]

Took 5 years of shots and now I am no longer allergic to everything.
Some things still bother me a little but a Zyrtec fixes it right up.