tuffyluvr
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2011
- Messages
- 1,339
I finally went to the allergist yesterday... I have literally been dragging my feet on going for YEARS, but lately my asthma symptoms have been worsening and on top of the irritating itchiness and skin rashes I have been really cloudy/foggyheaded, sleeping poorly and exhausted all the time. I feel sick almost every day.
They did scratch testing on my back and injections on my arms. In all they tested for 40-50 allergens and I am allergic to all but 7. The doctor gave me a chart that noted everything I am allergic to along with a number rating the severity--0 being not allergic and 4+ being extremely allergic. I am in the range of 3-4+ on 90% of the allergens.
I am currently on Advair 500mg, prednesone, flonase and Zyrtec for my allergies/allergy-induced asthma, but the doctor strongly recommended that I start a course of allergy shots. I am planning on starting the shots, but from what I have heard, people have varying levels of success with allergy shots and I have heard from several people that they felt horrible when they first started the treatment. My allergist said that after treatment I will be about 80% improved--which is very promising--and improving my allergy syptoms will also decrease my risk of developing COPD later in life (which is a huge concern for me). Also, my allergies effect my quality of life--I can't always spend time outside hiking and doing things I love because I get so wheezy and itchy... and I am such an animal lover, but our dog makes me break out in hives anywhere he licks me and I LOVE cats and horses but I can't be around them because I am so allergic.
I am just looking to get an idea of what I can expect--did allergy shots improve your health/quality of life enough to make the 2-3x weekly trips to the doctors for the injections? How did you feel when you started the shots? Did your symptoms worsen before they got better, and if so, how long until you started improving?
Thank you!!!
They did scratch testing on my back and injections on my arms. In all they tested for 40-50 allergens and I am allergic to all but 7. The doctor gave me a chart that noted everything I am allergic to along with a number rating the severity--0 being not allergic and 4+ being extremely allergic. I am in the range of 3-4+ on 90% of the allergens.
I am currently on Advair 500mg, prednesone, flonase and Zyrtec for my allergies/allergy-induced asthma, but the doctor strongly recommended that I start a course of allergy shots. I am planning on starting the shots, but from what I have heard, people have varying levels of success with allergy shots and I have heard from several people that they felt horrible when they first started the treatment. My allergist said that after treatment I will be about 80% improved--which is very promising--and improving my allergy syptoms will also decrease my risk of developing COPD later in life (which is a huge concern for me). Also, my allergies effect my quality of life--I can't always spend time outside hiking and doing things I love because I get so wheezy and itchy... and I am such an animal lover, but our dog makes me break out in hives anywhere he licks me and I LOVE cats and horses but I can't be around them because I am so allergic.
I am just looking to get an idea of what I can expect--did allergy shots improve your health/quality of life enough to make the 2-3x weekly trips to the doctors for the injections? How did you feel when you started the shots? Did your symptoms worsen before they got better, and if so, how long until you started improving?
Thank you!!!