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Immunotherapy can only treat one Allergy at a time? (UK)

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westham88
New Member
Joined : Oct 2017
Posts : 3
Posted 10/9/2017 1:13 PM (GMT -7)
Hi All

Recently I had a consultation in central London with an Allergy clinic. My skin prick test showed i'm Allergic to Dust Mite, Tree/Grass Pollen, Cats and Mould.

My doctor mentioned in the UK we only treat one allergy at a time and the method is usually SLIT which cost £2000 for a years supply of tablets. I've been trying to find somewhere that does the shots for multiple allergies within the UK but am not having much luck. From what i've read on this forum, people get treated for multiple Allergies and they really see the benefit.

For any that its helpful to, the recommendation in the consultation was to go through the following routine each day. The main thing that helped me was to start using multiple medications and double the dosage.

Morning

1. Neilmed Nasal Rinse
2. Steroid Nasal Spray
3. Asthma Inhaler
4. Fexofendine

Evening

1. Neilmed Nasal Rinse
2. Steroid Nasal Spray
3. Asthma Inhaler
4. Fexofenadine
5. Montelukast

I also have to add Rinatec (Ipratropium Bromide) to my routine otherwise my nose just runs constantly all day.

Additionally I would have liked to have gone for an appointment with the NHS, however the nearest appointment was 2 months away and I was suffering quite badly. If its helpful to anyone my consultation and testing came to £419.

Thanks
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Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5169
Posted 10/16/2017 2:10 PM (GMT -7)
Sorry you are being treated so badly. It's ridiculous to treat only one allergy at a time and to spend so much for pills. I got two shots a week for 4 allergies (mites, tree and weeds and mold), later added one more ingredient for a new allergy (grass).

It makes sense to start with low dose shots and build up until you hit your tolerance. Maybe the new pills are better, but I'd wait until the price comes down or health care pays for them.

I'd also wait for the NHS appointment instead of paying so much for an unsatisfactory private one. I'm in the US, but would wait for something free. I just waited 2 months for a special or oral surgeon appointment for a simple skin tag inside my mouth, and now have to wait another month for him to actually snip it (dentist where I can get in tomorrow can't do this), so waiting happens everywhere.

I can't tell you what allergy meds might help better, but my shots "cured" my allergies after taking them for several years, and now I just take montelukast once a day.
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westham88
New Member
Joined : Oct 2017
Posts : 3
Posted 12/5/2017 4:19 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks for your response. I thought i'd post a quick update for anyone it may be useful to.

Since my last post, I've had one more Private consultation at another clinic and just recently one for free on the NHS.

Second Private Appointment
The conclusion was that Multiple Allergies can be treated at the same time. Although in the UK we use SLIT as its supposedly more convenient for everyone involved, personally i'm not quite sure, if your having to take daily drops for each individual Allergy, 15 minutes apart, ontop of your current Allergy routine, it does get a bit much.

I ended up purchasing 6 months of HDM SLIT for £900 and 6 months of Pollen for £900. My doctor suspects i'll know within 4 months if the treatment is effective and whether to continue.

NHS Appointment
The UK doctor basically told me I shouldn't shop around and Multi Sensitized people like me need to accept there Ill and treat symptoms as opposed to looking for a 'Cure'. She mentioned how she wouldn't have even started me on SLIT, as they only help people with one or very rarely two Allergies. She mentioned in the UK we do not desensitize multiple allergies because it doesn't work very well.

The conclusion was to carry on SLIT for 6 months and let the NHS doctor know how I get on. I am also currently trialing Intranasal Capsaicin to see if it helps with the watery runny nose.

Thanks

Post Edited (westham88) : 12/5/2017 4:25:27 AM (GMT-7)

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Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5169
Posted 12/5/2017 5:11 PM (GMT -7)
Sorry again that you are spending so much and not getting good treatment.

I got tree pollen, grass shots in one arm and mites, mold in the other weekly. It worked, and after a couple of years I stopped taking the shots and seem not to have those allergies anymore.

I still have a little asthma maybe, taking Singulair (montelukast) for that.

I still do sinus washing when I get congested, but not daily.
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westham88
New Member
Joined : Oct 2017
Posts : 3
Posted 12/6/2017 3:17 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks again for the response Alcie. Its funny because you have the exact same allergies as me. Along with having a little Asthma however Allergies obviously make it worse.

Unfortunately here in the UK, it just seems very difficult to get help.
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Betsy12
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2017
Posts : 91
Posted 12/13/2017 1:18 AM (GMT -7)
That must be a common combo of allergies. I'm encouraged by Alcie's post above, as I'm currently being treated for cat, mold, ragweed, and dust mites. Two shots a week, one in each arm, and I started in August. I'm not so sure I feel a difference yet though. I'm in the US for what that's worth.
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Joan M
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 2094
Posted 12/20/2017 7:43 PM (GMT -7)
Never heard of something like that. My doc gave me small doses of each thing I was allergic to. He did not add in dust because I was very allergic to that. He made me wait for 15 minutes and then I would show him my arm especially if it was red. He had to give me benedril shot if I had a reaction. I had years and years of this. Eventually he did give me dust shots. Now I have no carpeting or heavy drapes and also have mites covers. Must clean and dust often.
I am sorry you have problems getting help. I am in the US and my doc was great, very careful and responsive to me. I did have years and years of shots though.
It makes no sense why they will not give multiple shots. Also seems so expensive too. They do have to be careful to not give you too much of anything. Giving shots separately is good because that way they know what you are reacting to and know what to cut back on and if they can increase dosage
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