allergy testing? Coping w/ no antihistamines?

[msincredible]

Flonase is a good option for nasal allergies and won't interfere with the tests.

I've been on allergy shots (immunotolerance) for a few years now, and they have made an amazing difference in my quality of life.

I am allergic to pretty much every kind of pollen around (tree, grass, and weed), dust and dustmites, mold, as well as various other odds and ends. I used to have a constantly stuffed and/or runny nose, couldn't go anywhere without a big wad of kleenex, and had no sense of smell. It was like permanently living with a headcold, even when taking antihistamines all the time (and I hated having side effects from them). I used to get sinus infections all the time (really sucks when you are allergic to the most common antibiotics that they want to give you too).

After being on the shots and getting up to the maintenance dose, I no longer need any allergy medication at all, I hardly ever even need to blow my nose. It's great.

[tulip]

Do you have carpet in your house? I suffered from really bad allergies for many years (in different apartments, but all with carpets, being apartments), and then I moved into a house with all hardwood floors, and my allergies went away. Amazing!

I hope you get relief soon.

[Eden]

relatively mild allergies here - I only really react badly to tree pollen so I only have severe symptoms for a few months, though I am positive for a few other things (cats - I have two..., dust mites, grass pollen)

I had allergy testing for the first time two years ago. They started with the most common allergens doing pin pricks on my arm, then went to a few other less common things on my back. I think I only had to wait a half hour or so to have the test read. The hardest thing to do was to not scratch the positive ones.... (they rubbed a topical antihistamine all over me when they were finished)

[Becky]

Do you have carpet in your house? I suffered from really bad allergies for many years (in different apartments, but all with carpets, being apartments), and then I moved into a house with all hardwood floors, and my allergies went away. Amazing!

I hope you get relief soon.

Hardwood, with area rugs. Much better than our old apartment with wall to wall carpeting!

Strangely enough, the nasal symptoms have quieted down somewhat since yesterday morning. At the moment, it's the itchy skin and eyes that are making me crazy. Weird....itchies aren't one of my normal symptoms....

I slapped on an N95 dust mask last night, and vacuumed and mopped a bunch, as well as washed a bunch of pet laundry in hot water. DH was quite amused when I sent him a picture of me in my stylish mask

Thanks for all of the well-wishes, ladies! Just 24 hours to go!

[Biciclista]

This makes for fascinating reading. keep us posted, and good luck.

[Becky]

This makes for fascinating reading. keep us posted, and good luck.

Really? (The fascinating reading part, I mean. I just feel like a giant whiner at the moment!)

[OakLeaf]

I slapped on an N95 dust mask last night, and vacuumed and mopped a bunch, as well as washed a bunch of pet laundry in hot water. DH was quite amused when I sent him a picture of me in my stylish mask

They look extra nice with sunglasses, orange earplugs and a straw hat for mowing the lawn in ragweed season.

[Becky]

I had my testing yesterday. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. They did the surface pricks, and then the shots below the skin. Evidently, I'm allergic to cats, dogs, dust mites, molds, trees, grasses, weeds, and maybe a few others that I can't remember. No great surprise by any of them.

The nurse who took care of me was so sweet, and I like the doctor too. I can see why so many people recommended him to me. He wants me to experiment a little with my medications (stop this one, add this one, see what happens) and see if I can find a minimum combination that controls my symptoms before I see him again in May. He did give me a script for Flonase, to try as part of the experimenting. I like docs who are comfortable with the whole self-management idea.

He did suggest allergy shots, but told me to take my time in making a decision because it's a big commitment. 3-6 months to ramp up to a maintenance dose, and then shots every 2-4 weeks for the next 3-5 years. Any input from those who've done this? I like the idea that this is a tried-and-true treatment that's been done for years and doesn't involve drugs, but it's a big commitment. The practice isn't far from my home, but it's in an area of town that I don't get to often, and I can't really bike there in time for the clinic to be open. Giving my own shots isn't an option- I asked.

Then there's the environmental changes. I'm not giving up my pets (nor did he ask me to). I'm not sure that I can run the air conditioning half the summer, and I hate the idea of not line-drying my laundry during the summer or not going for early morning bike rides. Truthfully, the environmental/lifestyle changes are giving me more angst than the med/shots decisions.

Thanks for reading my verbose ramblings. I welcome any input that those who've been down this path can provide!

[Pax]

I've been at maintenance level for a few months now and it is a BIG commitment. If the location where you'll get your shots isn't convienent it will be even more challenging. Each shot takes an hour out of my day, driving to the clinic, signing in, waiting my turn, then waiting the 30 minutes for the arm check. If you feel like you can commit to it though it is a very worthwhile endeavor.

[Biciclista]

yes, i was serious. My daughter in law has serious allergies and i have cats. Some day she's going to have kids (i think). you are going down the same road she is (i don't know why she hasn't done shots lately) and you have been most graphic in expressing what it is like.

thanks and good luck.
did you buy that stuff to wipe your cats down with?
you're supposed to wipe them down once a week to get rid of dander. baths help too, although i think most people don't want to give their cats baths every week.

[tpb]

I've been doing allergy injections for years now. Although they have helped my stuffiness/runny nose, my eczema has gotten worse.

Anyway, I noticed you mentioned biking to your allergy shots. Be sure you talk to your allergist about this first. When I get my shots, I'm not supposed to exercise for 1 hour before and 2 hours after the injection. The exercise speeds up the absorption of the injection and increases the chances of a full-body reaction to the injection.

Take care.
TB