Monday, February 13, 2012

Can anyone give me some information on getting allergy shots?

My family doctor recommended I go see an allergist and I am going to go in a few weeks. In the meantime, he gave me a shot of Demerol and it is working very well. Can anyone tell me exactly what type of shots are given for allergies and what the side affects are? I'm allergic to everything, from animal dander to pollen to strawberries! My doctor doesn't usually recommend shots but he said I am an exception. I've never been to an allergist and I'm not sure what to expect.

Can anyone give me some information on getting allergy shots?
Each patient and their allergies are different. The first thing they will do is test you for every thing to see exactly what foods, what animals and exactly what pollens you are allergic to. Then they make up special antigen (allergy ) shots just for you based on these results. They usually recommend you come 1 or 2 times a week for shot(s). They start you with an extremely small dose and then gradually increase the amount to build your tolerance to your allergens. Right after the shot(s) they will have you wait in the office for 30 minutes. This is to make sure you do not have a bad reaction on the way home - they are equipped to treat you should you have any problems. After the 30 minutes they look at your arms to make sure you did not have too big a reaction. If you do, they put special medicine on your arms and next time give you a smaller dose. Eventually you will reach a maintenance dose and get a shot once a month. This may take months or years depending on the patient - though rarely does anyone get allergy shorts for as long as 5 years. It is best to start allergy shots during the off season of your allergies. You never start ragweed allergy shots during ragweed season.
Reply:I am allergic to anything in the air so I know your pain! I have been thru 2 series of shots; the first time I went for about 7 years in my early twenties and now in my forties, I just recently stopped after another 7 years of shots. I found that over time, my headaches became less severe as well as the frequency of sinus infections. Good Luck!!
Reply:Go to an allergist?


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