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Share your experiences with allergy shots

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Posted 10/21/2011 10:13 AM (GMT -6)
Have you tried them? Have they worked? How long did they take to work? What allergies did they help?

I did sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops) for about 3 years with very minimal improvement....so I don't know if the shots will help me more than that did.

I'm allergic to cats and dogs and lesser to dust mites and molds. I recently acquired a cat by coming home to find her on my doorstep. I grew up with cats and have tried most allergy meds. Right now, I've started back on singulair and allegra, and I've had to take Sudafed since I got the cat on Monday night. I saw a new allergist yesterday and she put me on Omnaris nasal spray so I started that yesterday. 

I have to refrain from the allegra for 10 days so I can get skin tested again.

Posted 10/21/2011 5:17 PM (GMT -6)
Oh, Sara, I'm sad to tell you that the shots do work, but you still have to avoid the allergens. At least be sure that the cat doesn't come in your bedroom, and try to allergy-proof that room as much as possible. Remove draperies and rugs, put allergy-proof covers on mattresses and pillows, and be sure to dust regularly with a slightly damp cloth, so you pick up the dust instead of just scattering it.

Good luck with your testing.
Posted 10/21/2011 5:39 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks, Judy!
Posted 10/24/2011 7:01 AM (GMT -6)
I take weekly shots for mold, mites, spring and fall pollens, recently had to add grass. I don't have a cat, so I can't say if they work for that, but I have NO symptoms from my other allergies.

Talk to a good, long experienced, allergist. Mine helps me.
Posted 10/24/2011 7:47 AM (GMT -6)
That's great, Alcie! Thanks for sharing.

I love my new allergist. I'm going back in a week to get skin testing with her.
Posted 10/26/2011 6:12 AM (GMT -6)
Sorry that the shots didn't work. Allergists keep recommending them b/c I'm allergic to just about everything, but I'm paranoid about getting them on Remicade. (It is actually recommended that people with RA, lupus, and other AI diseases shouldn't get allergy shots...yet it is okay for IBD?!).

A "lifestyle"/nutrition MD told me that cutting out dairy will improve my allergy symptoms...we'll see!
Posted 10/26/2011 3:30 PM (GMT -6)

My hubby had horrible dog & cat allergies and asthma...couldn't spend more than an hour in a house with them. He had shots as a kid and didn't have a huge amount of success, and as an adult his allergies were getting worse -- especially around fall ragweed and mold seasons. He tried allergy drops - has been on them for about 4 years. No more problems with dogs, cats or ragweed and is off all of his meds (hasn't had to use his inhaler for 3 1/2 years)! He takes his drops three times a day religiously and it has made a huge difference for him.

Posted 10/29/2011 10:42 PM (GMT -6)
You could try dander wipes. I use them on our cats. They make a big difference for me. I found them at the local pet store.

Free Spirit
Posted 11/8/2011 9:22 AM (GMT -6)
I'll give that a try, Free Spirit.

ameph - That is great he had such success with the drops! I had very minimal success with drops so after about 3 years I stopped taking them. I'm hoping the shots work better for me.


My allergies are not too bad right now with the medications the allergist put me on. I start allergy shots this Friday! I am getting 24 shots on Friday as part of their "rapid desensitization program." Basically, it's like I'll already be 24 weeks into shots after just one day. It's a 5 hour allergist appointment and I have to take prednisone 2 days prior, the day of and the day after as well as pepcid and my regular allergy meds. They had me pick up an epipen too just in case of a bad reaction! Kinda scary.
Posted 11/8/2011 12:14 PM (GMT -6)
Sara -

Sounds scary. Let us know how it goes. It's an interesting concept.

Don't they have epinephrine on hand there? One epipen might not be enough, from what I read somewhere (but that's online stuff, so ask about it), if you have far to go for serious treatment. Maybe that is for any reaction you might have on the way home.
Posted 11/8/2011 12:31 PM (GMT -6)
I had to get two epipens. It cost me $50 after insurance too. Those things aren't cheap. haha

Maybe it's more for if something happens afterwards when we get home?? I don't know.

Posted 3/24/2012 11:15 AM (GMT -6)
bookworm21... my son is on remicade and stopped his allergy shots which were working. He desperately wants to go back on them. Did you ever take more after going on Remicade?

thanks.
Posted 3/26/2012 7:28 PM (GMT -6)
I amy very allergic to cats, dogs, grass and trees. I have 2 cats and a dog that all sleep on me every night. I've gotten allergy shots on and off for over 5 years and they did help me. With that said there were still certain random dogs that I would react badly too - hives where they lick me, eyes swelling shut. I stopped going for shots last August just because I got lazy. Depending on how I make it through this season I may or may not start going again. I am on Remicade and Methotrexate and have never been told not to get allergy shots.
Posted 3/29/2012 11:28 AM (GMT -6)
Hey everyone just had a question:

Ameph said something about her husband taking allergy drops and it worked for him. What exactly is allergy drops? She said three times a day so I can't imagine she mean't the allergen shots from the doctors office. Just curious, since it sounds like something I would like to try.
Posted 3/29/2012 3:52 PM (GMT -6)
twob--I've never had allergy shots. What does his doctor (GI and/or allergist) say about going back on the shots? Both my GI and allergist have okay-ed allergy shots. My allergist has told me that he has several autoimmune patients who take allergy shots and are fine with it.

By the way, cutting out all dairy did not help.
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