B
BEDY
Guest
Is there a sign to watch for to know for sure whether you are benefitting or not from the allergy shots? and what duration of time is acceptable to have given it a fair chance.....I was told 3 to 6 months....
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A
Aarondawg
Guest
Hey there,
I have been taking allergy shots (dogs, cats, feathers, dust, dust mites, mold, trees and grasses) since February. I started my final vial (most potent)3 weeks ago and it has really changed my sleeping patterns. I received my shot yesterday afternoon and last night, I did not sleep worth a squat!
Has anyone has such reations to their shots? (Note, I had sleeping issues before I was diagnosed with allergies and know that allergies affect sleep; however, I was starting to sleep better shortly after starting the shots.)
On a positive note, I am starting to see some small benefits from the shots. Not as moody and I want to do things again.
Thank you,
Aarondawg
I have been taking allergy shots (dogs, cats, feathers, dust, dust mites, mold, trees and grasses) since February. I started my final vial (most potent)3 weeks ago and it has really changed my sleeping patterns. I received my shot yesterday afternoon and last night, I did not sleep worth a squat!
Has anyone has such reations to their shots? (Note, I had sleeping issues before I was diagnosed with allergies and know that allergies affect sleep; however, I was starting to sleep better shortly after starting the shots.)
On a positive note, I am starting to see some small benefits from the shots. Not as moody and I want to do things again.
Thank you,
Aarondawg
T
Titchou
Guest
It can take as long as a year or more to notice a substantial difference. My doctors always like to start them during the fall - October or Noveraber - as hardly anything is blooming here at that time so allergens are at a minimum. So for someone with spring allergies, it would be the second year before you'd really notice any differences. Maybe the next fall if you have ragweedor other fall blooming allergies.
B
BEDY
Guest
I have noticed that I have some chest tightness and difficulty breathing since the grass was cut last week, and now the allergy clinic told me to skip this weeks shot...I took a sudafed pe but the side effects of fatigue from the sudafed is as bad as the allergy symptoms.....I suppose if worsening symptoms of allergy get bad after 50, so can asthma symptoms....the problem here is the difficulty getting seen by the doctor, I am almost to the point of thinking I need to switch to a dedicated allergy dr rather than an ENT, I see no advantage, if anything this doctor is pressed for more time dealing with surgeries and everything else they are doing for patients.....what a mess
M
mrt7777
Guest
Hey man, I remeraber you from the other thread I had.
I never noticed any sleeping problems with my shots.
how are you feeling tho? are they helping at all?
I just quit taking mine, I was having bad reactions the lat few weeks.
they seemed to help me a little after the first few months, but then turned on me.
I never noticed any sleeping problems with my shots.
how are you feeling tho? are they helping at all?
I just quit taking mine, I was having bad reactions the lat few weeks.
they seemed to help me a little after the first few months, but then turned on me.
A
Aarondawg
Guest
Hey there, I have been taking them for almost 5 months now and I am in it for the long haul.
Regarding the sleeping. When I first starting taking shots my sleeping was getting better and better and I even cut my sleeping medicine in half. However, as the dosages increased each week, I started to awake early the first few days after each shot. 4:30 on the dot each morning.
Last night, I went to bed at 10PM and awoke at 3:45PM and was wide awake.
I am thinking that it's because the allergies have been disturbing my sleep for years, the increased dosages and my body having to fight them after each shot, is again affecting my sleep.
I have a few more weeks of the build-up dosages and then I go on the level dosages.
What side effects of shot finally made you stop the shots?
Overall, I am noticing some good from the shots (better mood, less dramatic reactions, etc.) but just want the benefits to level off and get back to a better sleeping pattern. Heck, early on, I slept 9 hours a few nights.
Aarondawg
Regarding the sleeping. When I first starting taking shots my sleeping was getting better and better and I even cut my sleeping medicine in half. However, as the dosages increased each week, I started to awake early the first few days after each shot. 4:30 on the dot each morning.
Last night, I went to bed at 10PM and awoke at 3:45PM and was wide awake.
I am thinking that it's because the allergies have been disturbing my sleep for years, the increased dosages and my body having to fight them after each shot, is again affecting my sleep.
I have a few more weeks of the build-up dosages and then I go on the level dosages.
What side effects of shot finally made you stop the shots?
Overall, I am noticing some good from the shots (better mood, less dramatic reactions, etc.) but just want the benefits to level off and get back to a better sleeping pattern. Heck, early on, I slept 9 hours a few nights.
Aarondawg
T
Titchou
Guest
Have you tried a benedryl at bedtime?
D
danabarb
Guest
Please do yourself a favor and put yourself in the hanRAB of an allergist!! they know more than the ENT men because they have been schooled on the subject while the ENT men are schooled in another area.
B
BEDY
Guest
Yes, I am starting to think that is a good idea, I was told I had wheezing in my left lung last week when I went to get my shot....so that is two weeks of shots I can't have....when the tech told me there was a lot of grasses in my vile, and that this is weed and grass season, I started to wonder why they did not leave that out till the fall.....I was given advair, which makes me feel horrible...and an emergency inhaler...I have never had asthma before....what complicates my problem is a deviated septum and nasal spur which I have made a surgery date to get resolved so that I can rule out that as well as the allergy issue...not confident about anything going on to be honest, nose surgery, allergy shots, the whole nine yarRAB.....I'm not crazy about the doctor, however, he has been the only ENT to validate my nasal breathing problems regarding the septum....this whole area of ENT surgical intervention is a slippery slope it seems, some doctors want nothing to do with a deviated septum...it does not change the fact that there can be some complications from having one, why are doctors so torn on this subject? It cannot give patients a feeling of relief to make decisions when there are so many on the fence
A
Aarondawg
Guest
No, I take 25mg of trazodone which I was prescribed by my MD prior to getting tested for allergies. I was on 50mg.
I guess it's not that bad because I do sleep straight through for 6 hours. I am an early bed person, going at 10PM.
Just looking forward to not getting my dosage increased each week. Come on maintenance!
I guess it's not that bad because I do sleep straight through for 6 hours. I am an early bed person, going at 10PM.
Just looking forward to not getting my dosage increased each week. Come on maintenance!
M
MountainReader
Guest
I'm currently on my second round of immunotherapy. Both times, it took me a year to really begin seeing a difference from my allergy shots. The first time, I had one vial and this time, I am on two.
BEDY, if you miss dosages, that is OK. You just need to be careful that it doesn't happen all the time. What they will probably do is drop your next dosage back some and work back to the level you were at the last time to make sure you do OK before they move on. It just adRAB to the length of time of your treatment.
I agree with Titchou. If you have serious grass allergies and it has been less than a year on your shots, I wouldn't expect to really see a difference in your allergies yet. Next summer is when you should really see the difference. If your allergies are worse, you probably need to step up your medication treatment.
You didn't say what allergy medications you are on. You did say you tried Sudafed PE. I've been told by several docs and Pharmacists that the PE verison doesn't work. You need to try the regular Sudafed from behind the counter. Are you on an antihistamine or nasal spray? When my allergies got really bad, I had additional allergy meRAB added to help get them under control. When things were under control and I'd been on the shots for about about 1 3/4 years, I was able to begin cutting back on the nuraber of meRAB I was taking. My regimine was: Allegra, Singulair, Flonase and Astelin. I also take a couple Asthma meRAB.
If you suspect you have asthma, you really should see a Pulmonologist. Asthma is really common for those with allergies. A Pulmonologist can ensure you have the best treatment.
As for the Allergist vs. ENT debate, I've found it really depenRAB on the individual doctor and their training. I went to a highly certified Allergy/Asthma specialist for about 7 years. I went through my first round of immunotherapy with him. When my symptoms got horrible again after about 5 years, I went back to him. Despite regular visits with him, he still didn't know who I was. When I had new allergy testing with him at that point, I had tons of allergies (many severe) and he only offered to do immunotherapy for one of them. I then went to a highly recommended ENT who runs an allergy clinic. I'm still going to him for my allergy treatments and sinus and ear issues. I'm currently receiving immunotherapy for 28 of my most serious allergies. They greet me by name and the therapy is working well enough that I'm now off 2 of my 4 allergy meRAB.
Allergies and Asthma are chronic conditions. You cannot expect immediate results. What you can do is be aggressive in your treatments and communicate well with your doctors. It will take time to get things back under control.
Also, do some research on homeopathic things you can do to help. Things like nasal irrigation, saline sprays, avoiding allergens, etc... If you have bad grass allergies and are around grass, make sure you change clothes outside your bedroom and take a shower at night to get rid of the allergens before going to bed.
BEDY, if you miss dosages, that is OK. You just need to be careful that it doesn't happen all the time. What they will probably do is drop your next dosage back some and work back to the level you were at the last time to make sure you do OK before they move on. It just adRAB to the length of time of your treatment.
I agree with Titchou. If you have serious grass allergies and it has been less than a year on your shots, I wouldn't expect to really see a difference in your allergies yet. Next summer is when you should really see the difference. If your allergies are worse, you probably need to step up your medication treatment.
You didn't say what allergy medications you are on. You did say you tried Sudafed PE. I've been told by several docs and Pharmacists that the PE verison doesn't work. You need to try the regular Sudafed from behind the counter. Are you on an antihistamine or nasal spray? When my allergies got really bad, I had additional allergy meRAB added to help get them under control. When things were under control and I'd been on the shots for about about 1 3/4 years, I was able to begin cutting back on the nuraber of meRAB I was taking. My regimine was: Allegra, Singulair, Flonase and Astelin. I also take a couple Asthma meRAB.
If you suspect you have asthma, you really should see a Pulmonologist. Asthma is really common for those with allergies. A Pulmonologist can ensure you have the best treatment.
As for the Allergist vs. ENT debate, I've found it really depenRAB on the individual doctor and their training. I went to a highly certified Allergy/Asthma specialist for about 7 years. I went through my first round of immunotherapy with him. When my symptoms got horrible again after about 5 years, I went back to him. Despite regular visits with him, he still didn't know who I was. When I had new allergy testing with him at that point, I had tons of allergies (many severe) and he only offered to do immunotherapy for one of them. I then went to a highly recommended ENT who runs an allergy clinic. I'm still going to him for my allergy treatments and sinus and ear issues. I'm currently receiving immunotherapy for 28 of my most serious allergies. They greet me by name and the therapy is working well enough that I'm now off 2 of my 4 allergy meRAB.
Allergies and Asthma are chronic conditions. You cannot expect immediate results. What you can do is be aggressive in your treatments and communicate well with your doctors. It will take time to get things back under control.
Also, do some research on homeopathic things you can do to help. Things like nasal irrigation, saline sprays, avoiding allergens, etc... If you have bad grass allergies and are around grass, make sure you change clothes outside your bedroom and take a shower at night to get rid of the allergens before going to bed.
A
Aarondawg
Guest
Hey there, I just reached my 5 month mark last week and have 3 more weeks of increased dosages and then I go every 2 weeks for 3 times, then every 3 weeks for 2 times and then monthly after that. I am looking forward to them finally kicking in because right now they have not really stablized. I am just seeing small improvements right now....
BEDY, do the increased dosages affect you each time? They have me. I am just ready for the level dosages!
BEDY, do the increased dosages affect you each time? They have me. I am just ready for the level dosages!