Terrible Allergies

[TruBlu]

DS's allergies have finally gotten so bad that we are going to get an evaluation for allergy shots.

The final straw was when he was allergic to his COUSINS last week! They have lots of pets at home. All the kids were playing together at Grandma's house when DS had an awful reaction to them. I had to give him Benadryl and take him home.

 

[Michelle67]

Ugh, that stinks. It's been a rotten year for allergies, it seems. Best wishes with the doctor's appt., and I hope they find something that works well for him.

 

[Darcy03231]

I had terrible allergies as a child/teen and had to have the shots. It really wasn't that bad and made a huge difference for me.


After graduating from college and not being on my parents insurance any longer, and not having my own yet, I couldn't afford to get them one year. Surprisingly my allergies weren't that bad and I was able to use over the counter meds to control them. The next year I decided not to get the shot and see what happened. I was still able to control them with over the counter meds as needed. I finally went to the allergist to find that I'd outgrown my severe allergies. Although I still have them (and I'm now in my 40's), my reaction isn't anywhere near what it was during the child/teen years, so there is hope that he won't need the shots all of his life. My last shots were when I was in college, well over 20 years ago.

 

[Huggles]

It is a standing joke that I am allergic to my mother! We had stayed at a hotel which had feather pillows and duvets ( which causes an asthma attack for me) and as soon as we saw them we asked that they be changed. However, obviously there were spores or things flying about because for the rest of the week I wheezed my way through every bedtime in the room I was sharing with my mother.

 

[tinatark]

There are now allergy "drops" - you can administer them at home, with the same frequency as the shots - and supposedly the same success rate. You should check it out with your allergist (and your health insurer!).

 

[TruBlu]

So... will the shots work well enough that we could get a dog? My boys are begging for one, but I'm afraid it would kill them both.

We finally got a pet this weekend - hermit crabs.

 

[Michelle67]

They might. We were able to get one when we were younger and my sister (with severe allergies and asthma) was living at home, as long as she had her shots. And we had a Pomeranian, so I guess the shots worked great even with all that looooong hair floating around.

 

[lovemygoofy]

So... will the shots work well enough that we could get a dog? My boys are begging for one, but I'm afraid it would kill them both.

We finally got a pet this weekend - hermit crabs.

I took allergy shots for 3 years and it did not help a thing. I always seemed to carry a mild temperature(because I always carried an allergy/sinus cold) and couldn't ever get the stupid shots. I got a shot in each arm once a week for almost 3 years when(well tried to each week) and just gave up.

I've always had asthma and take a preventive every morning and a singluar every night in addition to a daily prescribed allergy pill.

One thing that really helped get my allergy and asthma under control was getting the acid reflux under control. I didn't even know I had it. The other thing that really helped was haivng my tonsils out. I still have my adenoids, I don't even know if they take those out as a kid but having my tonsils removed at 25 has really helped.

OP, talk to your doctor about the differnt allergy scratch testing. Some people do it all on the back at one time and some do it in two visits with scractches down the arm. I understand there is a new test for allergies but I'm not familiar with it.

 

[Camicar]

I would strongly advise against getting a dog bec in my experience, the allergy meds can suddenly stop working. Then you have a kid in the hospital with an asthma attack, a dog to donate to someone else and totally have to do a major clean (with duct cleaning) on your house. And then it's still not clean enough and your kid is back in the hospital again.

 

[TruBlu]

I would strongly advise against getting a dog bec in my experience, the allergy meds can suddenly stop working. Then you have a kid in the hospital with an asthma attack, a dog to donate to someone else and totally have to do a major clean (with duct cleaning) on your house. And then it's still not clean enough and your kid is back in the hospital again.

Ok, we'll just have to be happy with the crabs.

THANKS for the advice!

 

[shelly3girls]

So... will the shots work well enough that we could get a dog? My boys are begging for one, but I'm afraid it would kill them both.

We finally got a pet this weekend - hermit crabs.

Before making any decision I would wait to see what kind of allergies your DS has. My DD has severe allergies including allergy induced asthma. She has food allergies, seasonal allergies and environmental allergies. We were able to find a dog that is hypo-allergenic and does not bother her at all. I would not count on allergy shots or meds to control a dog allergy if he has one. We had DD spend time with a dog of the same littler who our friend adopted. After she spent some time with the dog with no reaction we decided to get a dog. We did make it clear to everyone in the family that if any issues arose the dog would be adopted by my aunt who agreed to take her. Months later and peak allergy season and DD is doing great!

 

[VirtuallyMe]

There are now allergy "drops" - you can administer them at home, with the same frequency as the shots - and supposedly the same success rate. You should check it out with your allergist (and your health insurer!).

You actually usually do the drops daily. But definitely check with insurance- many insurers will not cover the drops but will cover the shots.

 

[DisneyKT]

My DH had the worst allergies he use to take all kinds of pills etc. He finally went to see a allergist it was the best thing he ever did. He did the test and then had shots for about a year. He is so much better. Everyone is different it might work for your kiddos. Also my friend has a poodle and is allergic to dogs and but she is fine with poodles. Good Luck to you.

 

[MELSMICE]

So... will the shots work well enough that we could get a dog? My boys are begging for one, but I'm afraid it would kill them both.

We finally got a pet this weekend - hermit crabs.

One of my DD's has been getting the shots for about a year now. They have worked wonders for her. I do realize that's not the case with everyone, but we have seen a noticeable difference in her.

She is less tired, less sinus congestion, which would always turn in sinusitis. One year she has chronic sinisutis for about 6 months straight - it was awful.

Anyway, we had held off for about 2 or 3 years before finally starting them & I wish we would have done it sooner.

As far as the dog, I wouldn't recommend it. She still gets red, puffy & stuffed up when around animals.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

I would talk to the dr and see about finding out what exactly your child is allergic too. It could be the difference between you not getting a dog vs getting a dog with long or short hair for instance.

Also no offence, but my experience with Benedryl is that is doesn't help my allergies it only makes me sleepy which kind of masks the problem. Maybe you should check into different allergy medicines vs prescription meds too.

Good luck.

 

[missypie]

Sounds like your child really does have allergies, but for anyone else reading this: I always thought I had terrible allergies...eyes always rd and watering, frequent hives. I went to a fantastic allergist who did the skin tests but more importantly, asked me a lot of questions and listened carefully to the answers. Turns out I wasn't allergic to much of anything BUT she correctly diagnosed the thyroid condition that was causing my hives. I also went to an eye doctor who diagnosed my extreme dry eye condition. So allergy symptoms are not always allergies.

 

[TruBlu]

Sounds like your child really does have allergies, but for anyone else reading this: I always thought I had terrible allergies...eyes always rd and watering, frequent hives. I went to a fantastic allergist who did the skin tests but more importantly, asked me a lot of questions and listened carefully to the answers. Turns out I wasn't allergic to much of anything BUT she correctly diagnosed the thyroid condition that was causing my hives. I also went to an eye doctor who diagnosed my extreme dry eye condition. So allergy symptoms are not always allergies.

OMG! Thyroid problems can cause hives????? I've recently started having all kinds of new "allergic" problems and I'm suddenly cold and tired all the time. I think I'll mention it to my doc. Thanks!

 

[missypie]

OMG! Thyroid problems can cause hives????? I've recently started having all kinds of new "allergic" problems and I'm suddenly cold and tired all the time. I think I'll mention it to my doc. Thanks!

That was me! I asked my obgyn to test me and it came out as no problem. But 6 months later the allergist nailed it. She said that my obgyn had just asked for one simple blood test and she asked for a lot more detailed info.

 

[luv2nascar]

I didn't have allergies as a child but now as I'm turning 40 they get worse ands worse every year. I broke out and my eyes swelled shut the other week because I bought new eyeliner and mascara. It seems I have problems with everything now, food, makeup, drinks, gum, flowers, grass, cats, etc etc. Good luck

 

[jenrose66]

So... will the shots work well enough that we could get a dog? My boys are begging for one, but I'm afraid it would kill them both.

We finally got a pet this weekend - hermit crabs.

The shots will not work well enough that you can get a dog. Please don't get a pet when you have children with allergies. I had very bad allergies as a child (I still do...but not as bad). I got shots when I was little for a few years.

Anyway, my parents were divorced and while my mom kept no pets in the house, my dad's new wife insisted they get a cat. That cat made me so sick that i was miserable every time I went there.

You will eventually build up a certain immunity to an animal once you are around it enough, but at the very best, you will still be in a constant state of reaction, that I liken to having a head cold.

The allergies, especially to animals can't be completely erased, no matter what type of medicine or how clean you keep your house.