Allergie shots.... questions - Allergies Message Board

*Versailles* · 05-20-2006, 09:27 PM

Hi,

I've had allergies all my life, I've just had my last allergy test yesterday, and the news was bad as usual. I had a positive allergic reaction to multiple things including: mold, rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, dogs, cattle, pigs, trees, cockroaches, ragweed, and dustmites among others.

My doctor has decided that shots could be an option for me, because my symptoms are so wide-spread. I have decided that I'm going to go ahead and get the shots and see how they help me, but I have a few questions.

1. Do they feel similar to regular shots/immunizations?

2. How quickly do they start to make the allergies better?

3. What kind of side-effects are there?

thanks!

Titchou · 05-21-2006, 06:31 AM

Not sure exactly what you mean by "feel" but they use a small needle and give it in the fleshy part of the arm, not up by the shoulder like a flu shot. You will probably get some sort of reaction at the site - small bump that may itch depending on the strength of the serum. They strengthen the serum gradually. The strongest concentration (towards the end of your series) will have a red top. You should take an antihistamine the morning of the day you get your injection to help with the reaction.

How long it takes to see any progress varies with everyone and also depends how quickly you get to the once a month level. Most docs will let you get at least two shots a week...some will do 3 but that's a huge committment from you. I did the two a week at the beginning. My doctor made me wait till November to start them when there were fewer of my allergens about. By June when the grasses were coming out I was somewhat better. By the one year mark I could really tell a distinctive difference. I finished up the 5 years last November and have had a great spring.

The only side effect is the reaction to the shot. They make you wait 20 minutes to see how severe it is. Of course, the most severe is anaphalaxis but that's very rare.
Just be sure to take the anthistamine that morning.

I've done the injections 3 times in my life (I'm 60 now) and they work wonders. Good luck!

Jovach51 · 05-21-2006, 06:47 AM

Allergy shots have done wonders for me. I started back in October 2004. I have asthma along with allergy to mold, dust mites, pollen, pet dander, grass, trees, weeds, etc. No food allergies. The only draw back is the commitment to 5 years of shots. But once you get to monthly shots its a breeze.

I can now keep my windows open without wheezing. I do occasionally have allergy eyes, but I just use artifical tears and that helps.

As Titchou said, it depends on the person how quickly your body adjusts to the shots. I got some relief after 3 months and total relief after a year.

Take care.

hickey · 05-22-2006, 08:26 AM

Some of the shots can be mean. For me the dogs really sting. But usually I don't feel anything. Don't notice anything and I heard from people that after a few years, they were allergy free. So they seem to do their job.
I never had any side effects. It might take a while before you feel any difference with your allergie triggers.
I am still in the weekly shots period and I get three each week.
I think it is worth the effort.

realtydog · 05-22-2006, 09:36 AM

I did the shots for 15 months with an ENT that had an allergy clinic---nothing nada zip--I just saw a immuno/allergy specialist----she was great-----she stated that the dose she will be giving me is 5 times what the ENT was giving me----she retested me (***** trest) nothing was down from 15 months ago----it seems as though I wasted my time for 15 months---I chose to start the shots in October of this year