Allergies: have em?!

[eskimono]

A couple months now, and my allergies are more obnoxious than ever. Eyes watering, nose blocked (ears block up too as a result), only relief is during sleep and heavy exercise.

GP sent me to allergy specialist, turns out i'm allergic to dust, pollen, peanuts, among other things (strangely enough, i can eat peanuts without feeling adverse reactions). Wants me to do an allergy shot, asked him about the theory, answered something along the lines of: small doses of allergens per injection, will build up your immunity to reaction. Problem is when i looked at the ingredients, formaldehyde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde)was the first one. Not into it. Na'ah.

My homeopath had me on pulsatilla for a long time: little to no effect. This past summer ended up in the hospital 3 times due to mosquito/black fly bites. Had to take antibiotics on one occasion (had avoided them effectively for 7 years).

Its really frustrating, what are your experiences?

[cheeseshredder]

How are antihistamines like reactine for you? These block the receptors for histamine so your body does not react.

Your allergic response is due to a type of antibody (IgE) that binds histamine releasing white blood cells due when exposed to allergens.

The theory for (one type of) allergy shot is that small doses of allergen over a long period of time may cause your immune system to "class-switch" the antibodies into a form (From IgE to IgG , etc) that won't cause histamine release (and therefore no allergic response).

[Stv23658]

I'm currently getting weekly allergy shots, which have been effective. Soon I will start going every two weeks. I've been going for over a year and have about 2-3 years of allergy shots left. Eventually it will be down to once a month. Once the shots are done I will be free of allergies for about 15 years before it wears off. I already went through this about 20 years ago and had many allergy-free years when I was done the shots.

[eskimono]

How are antihistamines like reactine for you? These block the receptors for histamine so your body does not react.

Your allergic response is due to a type of antibody (IgE) that binds histamine releasing white blood cells due when exposed to allergens.

The theory for (one type of) allergy shot is that small doses of allergen over a long period of time may cause your immune system to "class-switch" the antibodies into a form (From IgE to IgG , etc) that won't cause histamine release (and therefore no allergic response).Haven't used reactine to be honest. I try to avoid drugs generally but i've been using loratadine (claritin, generic from costco) just because they're in the house. Even though i take 2 pills a day (morning, evening) while its advised as once a day, symptom reduction is minimal.

I'm favourable to the theory of controlled allergen exposure to get my body "used" to allergens without reacting, but i was not happy with the ingredients. I don't think formaldehyde should be injected into living bodies. I'll be looking for greener shots in the meantime, if you've got any leads that would be great.

As for reactine, i'll give it a shot to be honest because its been 2 months and the frustration is turning into desperation, lol.

[TTony]

I'm currently getting weekly allergy shots, which have been effective. Soon I will start going every two weeks. I've been going for over a year and have about 2-3 years of allergy shots left. Eventually it will be down to once a month. Once the shots are done I will be free of allergies for about 15 years before it wears off. I already went through this about 20 years ago and had many allergy-free years when I was done the shots.

I have mine started 6 months ago, the problem is I hate wait for Doctor every week, can you shot your on allergy shot?

[mrmccowcow]

You need to change to a different brand of allergy medicine every year in order for it to be effective due to the medicinal ingredients.

A couple years ago, I went to my doctor's and was prescribed a nose spray and for the past 2 years, I haven't had allergy problems. I'm not sure the brand of the spray though.

[Spongeg]

I use reactine - for a few years now without them its awful with them I am relatively fine

have tried others but reactine has been the best for me

[blahing]

I've been taking allergy shots for 4 years now and I'm only about 30% better than before. I'm on 1 shot per month so I only have a year left. They didnt work too well... But I'll be taking double concentrated shots for the last year to try and make things a little better. I don't take anti histamine's too often since they give me a really frequent nose bleeds.
Maybe give the allergy shots a try? suffer a bit for 5 years instead of suffering for the rest of your life during allergy season

[Stv23658]

I have mine started 6 months ago, the problem is I hate wait for Doctor every week, can you shot your on allergy shot?

I go to a walk-in clinic in Mississauga and usually see the Doctor within 5-10 minutes. They have a separate injection room and since I go every week they are good about seeing me quickly. I doubt you can give yourself injections.

[Cheap Cat]

Haven't used reactine to be honest. I try to avoid drugs generally but i've been using loratadine (claritin, generic from costco) just because they're in the house. Even though i take 2 pills a day (morning, evening) while its advised as once a day, symptom reduction is minimal.


I use this stuff too and I haven't found it very effective. I use it because it is cheap and long lasting but I usually supplement it with cheap 4 hr chlorpheniramine maleate tablets that I get in the US. You need to try different antihistamines until you find what works for you. I also like Benadryl but it knocks you out so I only take it before bed.

[ruhroh]

I have minor allergies to ragweed (minor because other people here seem to have to pop a billion pills to have any effect, I only need one). Suffered the first few years because I thought it was just a cold... lol stupid. Itchy eyes, watery nose, sneezing, horrible.

I now take one Reactine once a day in the fall (when my allergies act up). I tried the cold/sinus at first but it really messed me up and made me druggy unless I took 1/2 of one. So I take regular now. The pills are nice and tiny and it's like I have no allergies at all.

[eskimono]

UPDATE
-----------

So been on a bit of a research run from India, France, to the M.E., back to N.A. If it wasn't for the damn blocked nose&ears/watery eyes this would've been more fun, but i probably wouldn't have bothered, right.

Found SLIT or Sublingual Immunotherapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublingual_immunotherapy). It shares the same methodology as the "allergy" shot, minus the shot part which is replaced by daily drops under the tongue. The good thing (for me) is that its composed from less controversial and reactive ingredients (like formaldehyde).

Here's a link to a company in B.C: Pollen guarf http://pollenguard.com/index.php, but it delivers to anywhere in Canada, yo u just need to go through your family doctor first (they fax em your allergy results -from a prick test for example and they send you the vials).

Stallergenes, www.stallergenes.com is a company in France that i think is more comprehensive than Pollenguard in B.C.

[Topher]

Allergy shots changed my life. I have seasonal allergies, apparently I'm allergic to outdoor molds and dust mites. Started shots a little over a year ago and I've never been able to breathe this well, EVER. I wish I'd done this 20 years ago. On top of that, I've saved myself oodles of dollars on OTC meds that I don't need anymore.

[eskimono]

I'm definitely going for this path (slit). I've had enough with allergies, they've been messing me up for years, **** em.

Here's another clinic i found in TO: http://www.ntnaturopathic.com/new.html

[thesk8man]

I have had quite a good share of allergies aswell my biggest prob was when i was sleeping my nasal cavaties would get blocked up sooooo bad that i wouldnt be able to breath properly ... and i would wake up with swollen eyes and tired as heck cuz of lack of breathing the entire night ...

my remedie is ...

i got this bottle from shoppers i think its called "Saline Sinus Rinse" basically you pour mild warm water in it and add a pouch of this mixture ( house hold salt repacked ) in it and you put the bottle in one of your nostralls and squeeze ... by squeezing you oush the warm water through one side of your nose and it goes inside yer head and cleans all of your sinuses and nortrals and dirty water comes out the other side ... very effective

after doing that i use claritin nasal spray ... that prevents my sinuses to swell up again and keeps my nasal path open/clear to breath

*allergy shots work pretty well ... prob is you gotta keep taking them so its a continious treathment

keep in mind your body may get allergic to differant things as time passes b4 i had no prob with dogs and ciggeates but this year those two are the worse for me. so even with the shots after your done your course you have to g back and see what else you got allergic to.

good luck.

Sinus Rinse video on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zYLvSMAprg)

http://www.allergymax.com/Merchant2/graphics/nasalrinse.jpg

http://www.claritin.ca/Resources/images/en-CA/p_nasal.png