I'm so aggrevated right now. All I want is to feel better and have my allergies properly managed. I know what properly managed allergies feel like because mine were managed very well where I used to live. But since I moved, they have gotten worse.

When I first moved, I started getting shots at an ENT. Things were fine until Ragweed season this past winter (I live in AZ) I complained and was told basically the shots should be working so something else is wrong. After CT scans were negative, I tested positive for food allergies. The ENT said they were the culprit as to why I was so miserable.

So my primary doctor referred me to an allergist. The allergist said no way were the food allergies causing my symptoms. After testing me for something called Valley fever, he told me I just needed to give the shots I was getting more time. It had been about 6 months, and in SC my shots only took 6 months for me to see an improvement. Just give it a little more I was told. Later on, I got a copy of his dictation, and in it he basically said I was a difficult case because I have to move so often (dh is military) but also I might have low symptom tolerance! Whatever, the girl who drags herself through each day until it gets unbearable, has low symptom tolerance. I'm not talking about a case of the sniffles.

Then I went back to SC for 3 weeks, and to my suprise, I felt better than I had in months, despite the fact it was rainy, and mold season was my worst season in SC. It became obvious to me that all the mold shots I am getting in AZ are working. After telling the ENT's shot nurse this, she suggested that I should be retested because maybe I was tested too early when I moved, so all the shots I am getting are for things I was allergic to in SC, but now I have developed allergies to things unique to the southwest. I thought this was a good idea and made a lot of sense.

But I wondered, if I had to go to the trouble of retesting, if I should switch doctors. I mainly wanted to do this because the ENT is a jerk and rude. (although his nurses are nice) I called the allergist's office telling them of my situation, and the allergist called me back. At first it sounded so positive, reading things from my file and telling me what I needed to do. But then I asked how long I should be off allergy shots before getting tested. What? If I am already getting shots, why do I want him to test me? Because they aren't working!!! Again he said I needed to give it 3-6 months. I tell him it's been almost a year! Something is wrong. He said if I really want him to retest me, he will, but it is foolish to start from scratch with him, when I only have 2 years left here. Argh!

So what should I do? Neither doctor listens to me very well, and they are the only 2 choices in town. Do I let the jerk ENT retest me, and hope some new stuff shows up that can be added to the shots I already get, which appear to be working? Or do I start fresh with a well mannered, new allergist, even though he isn't enthusiastic about treating me?


Thanks for listening. (I know this turned into a rant!)

Hi Sneezydiva--

I live in Arizona as well and I have a great allergy doctor. I dont know if we can put names of doctors on here, but i'd be more than happy to give you his name if you would like. What part of Az do you live in?

schao

I'm so aggrevated right now. All I want is to feel better and have my allergies properly managed.

sneezydiva,

Some people wind up having to "manage" their health problems themselves. We would all love to have doctors who are knowledgeable about their medical specialties AND who listen carefully when we describe our own ideas about what we think may be going on. (Dr. Kildare? Dr. Welby? Who's currently the wise, gentle, caring TV doctor? I'm showing my age here!) But one out of two ain't bad. At least he's willing to do another round of allergy testing. His bad attitude doesn't negate your own intelligence OR your right to question things OR your right to steer the investigation into your problems or your solutions. HE may think you're a "difficult" patient because you keep questioning his wisdom, but don't give up. It's YOUR health, not his.

--Rheanna

Sneezy:

It can get frustrating when you go to a part of the country where the vegetation is different. I live in Birmingham, AL and my sister lives in New Orleans, LA. Whenever I go visit her, I start my Zyrtec before I leave home...whether I need it in B'ham or not.
Stuff's blooming/growing there that isn't here - and it's only 350 miles away!

I assume from your post that you did not get retested when you got to AZ and just went right on with your shots. So, it would make sense to be retested since exposure since your arrival could have triggered some new allergies.

BTW, if ragweed bothers you, don't come to Alabama! It's my #1 allergy and always has been...

Thanks guys for your responses. Schao, I'm in the Southwest corner of the state, pretty remote. Tuscon and Phoenix are both 3 hours away. These 2 guys are my only choices unfortunately. I WAS retested when I moved but it was literally weeks afterward. Looking back, I should have waited longer. I hadn't had time to acclimate to the Southwest yet, and I think new allergies have popped up since the test. I think the biggest problem though is the ragweed didn't show up very well in the AZ tests, probably because my SC shots were taking care of it. But I still need to be desensitized to ragweed.

I'm going to stay with the ENT. The truth is the nurse handles most everything, I don't have to see the doctor very much. ANd if push comes to shove, I can demand to see the other doctor in the practice, even though they don't like the patients to switch. I don't want to lose the progress I've gained on the mold shots by starting all over with someone new. Especially someone that isn't very entusiastic about treating me to start with.