Allergy Shots - Do they help?

[PurpleCat]

I don't know where to post this because it is not food specific so if it should be moved, please do.


My DD has been having allergy shots for 15 months for grasses, tree pollen, and dust.  There is no guarantee these shots will help her but we decided to try before she goes off to college. 

The discussion we had with the allergist was that if her total IGE numbers went down, she could tolerate things that she is allergic to better.  We are not expecting her to be "cured"  My DD would like to be a vet.  She is allergic to many animals and has reacted to different peoples pets with asthma, eczema and rashes.  She shadowed a vet 2 years ago and came home with hives that needed benedryl and eczema for a period of time after.

Tree pollen season is the worst for her.  Last Spring, we did not have to add any other allergy medications to the ones she takes daily year round for the first time in at least 11 years! 

Last month, DD started to volunteer at a business that is a vet clinic, boarding and grooming, and behavior center.  Her shifts are about 3 hours at a time.  On Veteran's Day she shadowed the vet she previously followed for a full day and then went to her clinic for 3 hours that night.  That day they decided to pay her so now it is a part time job.

But the real news is:  Not one rash!  No eczema!  No asthma flares!  I am so happy for her!

If she is unsure about an animal food she needs to handle, she wears gloves due to her food allergies.

[spacecanada]

Great story!

My allergist said the same thing: allergy shots aren't a cure, but an attempt at making daily life more comfortable when confronted with your environmental allergens, whether that be pets, pollens, moulds, or otherwise. You will likely still have to take antihistamines, but those should keep it under control. So her story sounds like the ideal case. Fantastic. So happy for her!

I needed to hear this story today, after my swollen arm ordeal yesterday (and still today).  My case is a bit different because I don't have significant environmental allergy reactions, but I have anaphylactic OAS, so the shots are an attempt to prevent future OAS food allergies and reduce environmental allergies overall. If I can ever get past the first few doses, that is.

Thank you for sharing. Happy stories are always so wonderful to read.

[hezzier]

Good news! 

DS has been getting shots for a little over a year now also (he gets 4-grass, trees, mold and weeds).  We are in the monthly maintenance phase.  August due to grass pollen was not a good month for him and had the sneezing and itchy throat in the office after the shots, but at his allergy appt this week we were given the go ahead to wean him off zyrtec to see how he does.  He will take a zyrtec on shot days.  We also have flonase, but he hasn't taken it in months and really only took it when symptoms got worse.

[GoingNuts]

Great story PC!

I found allergy shots immensely helpful until I could no longer tolerate them.  I know that my experience is not the norm, and hope that this is a solution for your DD!