Is my doctor over-medicating me? - Allergies Message Board

ashley_moore · 11-15-2005, 01:52 AM

My allergy doctor has me on 4 allergy shots a week, allergy pills (antihistamine & clarinex-d) , nasal spray, nasal strips, sea salt & a inhaler.
Not to mention i bought Hepa-Machines for every room in my home. He told me to get rid of all my carpet, curtains and stuffed animals and throw pillows and rugs. I did all those things.
I changed all my bedding to the allergy bedding with zipper covers & have had the best nights sleep of my life. *(no more going to the bathroom at night i sleep thru the night).
BUT......Now he tells me to get rid' of my cat who i have had for 4 years and i love my cat more than anything in the world.
I feel he is trying to tell me to do alot of stuff that might not be medically needed..

Titchou · 11-15-2005, 05:46 AM

WEll, the general idea is to avoid those things to which one is allergic in order to avoid an allergy attack. That being said, those allergens are what your shots are supposed to control....eventually. When I first went to my current allergist and we were discussing the list of things to which I am allergic, he noticed I had a cat. He asked if the cat could stay out of the bedroom (generally a reasonable idea.) I said - well, I have a 10 x 13 color portrait of my cat made at a pet photography studio. Dr. B replied....guess he stays in the bedroom. Extremely wise physician I have! The cat has stayed (he's 10 now), I finish up my 5 year regimen of shots the last week in December, the cat sleeps in the bed with me (under the covers in the winter and he weighs 14 pounds and has long hair) and I have no allergy problems from him. Tell the doctor the cat stays...

sneezydiva · 11-15-2005, 12:11 PM

It honestly would help your allergies, but it is not realistic to get rid of it. People love their pets like family. I'm impressed you got rid of your carpet, most people (including myself) don't have the means to do that. I agree that if you can keep your cat out of the bedroom, it would be a good idea. If not, get a comforter that you can wash in hot water every 10 days or so. (Dust mites like kitty's skin cells just as much as people's)

One of the best things we ever did was get a leather sofa. I still have throw pillows, but I just spray them with dust mite reduction spray periodically. Also, I highly reccomend 3-M filtrete furnace filters. They take a lot more stuff out of the air than normal filters. They will help your HEPA filters last longer too, since they can be pricy to replace.