My 11yo is allergic to mold and dead and decaying plant materials. These things seem to be around all the time. She also rides horses, so she's at the barn a lot with hay and other decaying plant materials that are blowing around and seem to aggravate her allergies as well. She's had a particularly rough 6 weeks with all the rain we've had in our area. She's been on a twice a day allergy med for the past year and if she misses even one dose, we can tell. She saw the allergist yesterday who said she's a good candidate for allergy shots. The doctor said the meds are more of a bandaid type thing and the shots would in essence allow her to build antibodies to her allergens and then when complete, she wouldn't need any meds. They would do some further testing, then she would have shots once a week for a year and then once a month for 3-5 years. They also said to think about it and then come back in 6 months if we wanted to have the testing done and the shots started. When I asked at the front desk why she should wait 6 months if the doctor was recommending it, they said it was because the doctor is going on maternity leave soon. There are certainly other doctors in the practice, but my daughter really likes the one she normally sees. So...my question is two-fold.
1 - What can you tell me (good or bad) about your experience with allergy shots?
2 - Would you wait the six months, or start the process now?
Thanks so much for all your input. I spoke to our pediatrician today who told me this has been the worst spring in a long time (in our area) for allergies. We've had record amounts of rain so of course her mold allergies would be worse. She suggested we try the new meds prescribed by the allergist and give them a chance, and if that doesn't work to take the next step with the shots...so I think we'll give it a bit more time and then pursue the shots if we don't get relief from the new meds.
Sorry this is so late....When we started raising bees's, for their honey, we learned that eating local raised RAW honey, is good for alergies. You may want to give it a try. Google it, and see what they recommend. Remember, that it has to be RAW, or all the good stuff will be destroyed.
D.
Our son is currently undergoing shot therapy for allergies. The shots are not a big deal, but it does require that you have the child at the doctor every week for the injections. EVERY WEEK.
Now, if your daughter really is comfortable with that doctor, and that doctor is who is going to be giving the injections, then you might wait to begin therapy--BUT, you COULD go ahead and get the testing done to find out what her triggers are. You might be able to eliminate some of them or avoid some of them some of the time. Maybe not. But maybe so. Also, ask how they do the injections. For my son (who's 12), he doesn't actually even SEE the doctor when he gets his injections, unless it is time for an evaluation or something. The nurse gives the injections. The doctor must be present at the office, in the event of a bad reaction, but he doesn't actually "treat" my son. The nurse gives the shots, my son plays video games for a half hour, the nurse checks his arms for reaction, notates his chart and we leave. BUT, every 6 weeks or so, or whenever he finishes using a vial of serum and a new one must be formulated, he DOES see the Dr. And that is probably something to consider. The same doctor would probably need/want to be making the call on the formulations throughout the treatment plan.
Does that help?
I started allergy shots when I was 8yr old, and yes they helped! I wouldn't wait the six months, I would just go ahead and do the testing and start the shots. At my allergists clinic, the doctor wasn't the one giving the shots anyway, it was a nurse.
Also, even though the shots did help, what REALLY ended my battle with allergies and the subsequent sinus and ear infections was sinus surgery at age 13. I wonder if your doctor has ruled out physical problems, mine were sinuses that were half the size they should have been and a deviated septum. Once the surgery was done, I had no more shots, no more meds, and no more allergies!
I know several people who have done the shots and they have made a WONDERFUL difference in their lives. And I mean HUGE!!!
I say GO FOR IT NOW!!!!
After our high allergens die down, i am going back in for testing and going on the shots as well....
In answer to your questions....I, myself, was on allergy shots. I started them about the same age as your daughter. My allergies were more severe than what you're saying she has. I did the weekly shots, every other week and so on until I got to taking them monthly. I did build up an immunity to what I was allergic too. I haven't had a shot in about 20 years. I've been free and clear!!!
Also, my own daughter has allergies and has been on shots now for 2 1/2 years. She is much better.
Should you wait?? No!!! I would start the process now so you daughter can start getting relief.
I hope this helps.
B.
I had several years of allergy shots and they made a huge difference! Well worth it.
Because I lived far away from our allergist's office I was able to takey serum to a regular doctor's office that was closer to my house. I paid a regular copay, received my shot(s) and waited 20 minutes before leaving. It was much more conveniet than traveling to the allergist each week.
I never had any problems.... an occassional itchy bump at the injection site but nothing worse.
Also, I just heard that some office are offering oral immunotherapy instead of shots! Might be good for your daughter since a weekly shot is not a lot of fun for a kid.
I also wouldn't wait. I agree with other posters that your doctor would help formulate the serum but will probably not be the one giving the shots.
First I would not do allergy shots. But I also don't do flu shots or immunizations.
I just blogged about allergies: http://heyyougetreal.com/momblog/yikes-what-about-allergies/
Maybe the info there will help.
As for my kids, the youngest has had seasonal allergies for the first 10 years of her life. We started feeding her better throughout the year (nutritional supplements etc) and no more allergies.
B.
Family Success Coach
My experience: I had allergy shots ears about 3 years. They had to break the shot into 3 separate needles because my arm would swell so much at the injection site and leave me with a tender lump for a week until my next dose of shots.
Additionally it is critically important that you always wait the 15 minutes or so after the shot because you could go into anaphylactic shock and die if you do not get a shot of adrenaline if needed. I stopped getting shots after going into anaphylactic shock. Very scary experience. This was about 20 years ago so maybe dosing is better now and people are less likely to go into shock. I can tell you though I would not let my kids get the shots if their allergies could be controlled with medicines. FYI... I saw no improvement in my allergies while getting the shots. Also, I was allergic to 10 of the 12 types of grass/trees I was tested for and 11 of the 12 molds. I also had a severe allergy to cats and a mild allergy to dogs although at that time they did not test me for food or animal allergies nor were their shots for that.
If you decide to get the shot however I see no reason to wait 6 months.
I started allergy shots when I was in Kindergarden, yes my allergies were that bad. I had to get one in each arm once a week. They did help. The only thing I am now still severly allergic to that I was back then too is grass.
Yes, grass. I can't mow the grass- if I do my fingers and hands swell up and I get hives all over my arms and legs. It doesn't matter if I have pants and long sleeves on- still happens.
I would get the testing done now- with a different Doctor and wait to start the shots when the Doctor she is comfortable with comes back from her leave.
