Allergy Shots - Any Advise

Looking to read all your responses b/c we just set up our son for allergy shots as well. He, too, is 11. His worst titer was the C.herbarum (mold) and we have lots of deteriorating leaves on the ground around here year round (where that particular type of mold is mostly found-- in compost).

Our son has about 14 different allergens his bloodwork showed reactions on. So the serum they are making for him will be in 2 vials... one of the more severely reaction allergens, and one of the milder reaction ones. That way, we can up the dosage faster on the milder ones and he can get some relief sooner as regards those particular ones. The more reactive (higher titer?) ones we will have to "up the dose" at a little slower rate. We were told it will take between 1 and 2 years. Much faster (and higher success rate) than waiting until adulthood (3-4 years and lower success rate).

And yes, we were already told he will have to sit in the office and wait for a good 20 minutes after each treatment to watch for any adverse reactions, just in case. They have a video system and game chairs set up for their younger clients to use.

And nasal washes did nothing for my son. He actually likes doing them... but it doesn't help beyond the few minutes after he does it. And it won't stop a significant allergic reaction like he had last week. Exposure to something (probably the mold in some leaves he was bagging) followed by exercise brought on an asthma attack/event. Building immunity to the antigens will significantly reduce the potential threat from that happening again. A neti pot or other sinus rinse can't offer that peace of mind, as he won't be carrying one around on his person neti-potting/rinsing on hikes in the mountains during summer vacations, etc.

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I have similar allergies to what your daughter has as well as asthma. I started allergy shots when I was 14. I had them once a week for a few years, then tapered down to once every two weeks. I think I had them for seven years in total and I have to say I am so happy that I did have them. My worst allergy was to mold, and I still have issues when I stay at a house or hotel with mold. However I was highly allergic to pollens, dust and dust mites and I am much better as a result of the shots. I would miss a week of school in Fall when I was a kid because my asthma would be so bad. Now, in Spring and Fall when other people are suffering from hay fever, I am fine. There are really only a couple of weeks out of the year when I even need to take antihistamine. I feel lucky that my parents took the time to get the shots for me.

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For what it's worth, I messed with all that for over 8 years with my son. Then, rather than treating the symptoms, I decided to look into the cause of his allergies. It was the environment I was creating through the household cleaners, and the lack of nutritients I was giving him. I fed him "pretty" well, but I needed to be more strick and stick to a high qualtiy, very little junk food diet to build his health.
It took a lot of years to figure out it was ALL the cleaning products I was using in the house, the food I was feeding him was causing him to have a weak immune system. I changed our life style and he got better. The shots never really helped him. I learned that Allergies are simply a sign of a weak immune system. I was weakening him with the bleach, the Windex, the oven cleaner, and I wasn't giving him enough fruits and veggies.

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I had similar allergies to her beginning at age 12. I took allergy shots once per week until I was about 19. They did ease up and were controlled during my flare up times (fall was the worst); spring was a little bad. Now, I'm 33 and I really haven't had any problems with seasonal allergies for the past two years. I know it's been awhile since I had them, but they did help when I took them. The school nurse always gave them to me.

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I have two cousins and an aunt that swear by them. I found out about allergies to dust, trees/weeds, and cat dander as an adult and got shots for over a year before I found out I was pregnant and quit them (just in case). I never felt better in my life. The effects of the shots lasted for more than a year after that and I will find an allergist in my area once I'm sure I'm done having kids. I get yearly sinus infections that require antibiotics, I get very fatigued, and generally feel like I'm fighting a cold all the time without the shots. I was a new person when on them.

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I had allergy shots when I was young and it was a godsend. I tested allergic to dust mites, trees/grass, and housedust. I'd be up all night sneezing and honking my nose. I could not smell half the time. I was miserable. I went weekly to get my shots, for about 5 years. It really, really helped. It does not cure allergies 100%, but it really makes it milder. I still honk my nose and sneeze here and there, but nothing like how it was before I got shots. They are very safe and the only reaction I got was a little itching at the site they were given on my arms for a few minutes.

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Allergy shots did wonders for me!! Well worth it!

Regarding the Advair - my doctor is very against it. He has been trying to get it off the market because it "may cause asthma related death". Have they dried a different steroid inhailer? Advair should be a last resort. Symbicort is another one to avoid. These both have long acting bronchodilator in addition to the steroid. Bronchodilator should only be used as needed. The long acting bronchodilator stimulate the lungs all day long instead of for a couple hours. If they don't need to be stimulated all day long, then you don't want them to be. If the lungs get too used to being stimulated all the time, then when you really need them to be stimulated (during an asthma attack), then they may not respond as well to the broncodilator (rescue inhailer). Therefore, there have been deaths because of them.

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I had them starting at age 8 until 12 for allergies to mold. They definitely helped me, but...about 4-5 yrs after I stopped, they came back in a different form. First time was coughing and since then it is a constantly stuffy nose. I have not gone back to shots since I just hate getting shots, but they really did help me for many years. Since she is so young, it will probably help her more. My dad is allergic to dust and tried the shots with me but it didn't help him since he had had them so long. So it's up to you guys to see if you want to try it.

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I was a child on allergy shots. I was allergic to almost everything including dust, cats dogs, wheat, and so on. I think I started at age 5 and ended at age 8 every saturday morning. The shots were worth it because I am more immune to most of the things I was allergic to except chocolate, dust, mango and pinapple, and bee stings. I could be a lot worse today if I didn't get them.

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Allergy shots were truly life changing for my son. His quality of life is so much better now. It was and continues to be a fairly big commitment, but it has been worth the efforts.

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Allergy shots were the best thing that ever happened for me when I was younger. I had the same allergies as your daughter. I missed so much school when I was younger because of allergies. It was a kind of annoying the sitting and waiting part but that got easier once we moved and the bus stop was at the doctors office.
I also had the flonase and did not like it at all. The post nasal drip part was bad enough for me to find something else to use.

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My husband has gotten the shots for pollen and dust (mites). Also has allergic Asthma (cats). He says that he remembers it being a big hassle, but is happy he did it. He actually wishes that they would have done cats too... so I would say go for it.

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Hey there,

The allergy shots I have experienced with my daughter were to build up an immunity to her pet reactions. The shots started with a low dose of the stuff she's allergic to combined with your average immune boosting vitamins and such and then the dosage was increased over time. It seemed to work but slowly, so we still had to rely on benadryl and other over the counter allergy stuff while she was getting the treatments.

Since the shots have a potential for immediate side effects, we had to stay in the dr office 30 minutes after the shot so I had to be prepared with snacks, toys, etc to keep my toddler out of tantrum city. Your 11 year old may just want to bring a book or video game.

My daughter often got a big red patchy swelling after the shot so I gave her tylenol or motrin 15 minutes before and then benadryl after if she showed signs of itching. when we got home.

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My husband has been getting them since he was a teenager. He goes monthly. they have been great for him, except twice he went into shock (not a lot for getting them every month for 25yrs)-they make him stay at the office at least 20 mins after the shot so that if this happens again, they can take care of him immediately.Hope this helps.

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Hi M. S,
I received allergy shots as a child starting around 3rd or 4th grade. I'm allergic to dust & dust mites, molds, mildews, trees, grass, & weeds. Fun! Allergy shots really helped. I even made friends with another girl in my class who had to get shots too. We made up nicknames for the nurses who gave us the shots. :)
Be careful with the Advair. I was on it as an adult, but once my asthma got more manageable I was taken off it. It really is only for those whose asthma isn't well controlled on other asthma medicines. It did work well for me though.

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have you tried a neti pot? i would research all the ingredients in the allergy shots and determine if you want those routinely shot into your child. I have heard great things about Quercetin helping people with allergies as well. A neti pot will help flush out dust and mold ( i assume you arent routinely exposed to roaches) Please try some of these non invasive techniques first please.

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My husband has been getting allergy shots for three years and it has made an enormous difference. He's much more comfortable during allergy season, he takes many few meds, and doesn't have to worry constantly about allergic reactions. I don't know where you live, but we go to Dr. Detjen in Kenilworth. He is excellent.

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