How do you handle allergies?

[recycled sixtie]

Do you just live with them or do you go see a med specialist? I have allergies from dust from the furnace vents(I change the furnace filter often), red wine and some over the counter meds.

For those that go to a doctor for allergies does the doc give you meds? If so do they work? Or do you just avoid what gives you allergies?

[Fast Freddy 944]

Nose spray, mucinex..

[wswartzwel]

saline nasal flush kit. Comes with little salt packets and a squeeze bottle. I started flushing my sinuses once a week, and no longer have to see my doctor once a month for meds.

[avi8torny]

Changed my diet, no sugars, no grains. Food and environmental allergies went POOF! GONE!

[GH85Carrera]

I had HORRIBLE allergies as a kid, and into adulthood. Finally I went to the Oklahoma Allergy Clinic. They cured me of 99% of my allergies. I took two shots per week, for 20 years. Lots of needles, but my allergies are essentially gone.

I used to really suffer in the spring and summer when the trees were blooming and pollinating. Pecan trees were the worst. That is virtually gone. If I mow the yard in spring and the trees and plants are in full allergy mode, I might get a day of discomfort at most, but some pills and Flonase fix that. It is over the next day.

So if you can endure 2 shots per week (104 per year) x 20 years or so (over 2,000 shots for me) you too can have much better breathing.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Do you just live with them or do you go see a med specialist? I have allergies from dust from the furnace vents(I change the furnace filter often), red wine and some over the counter meds.

For those that go to a doctor for allergies does the doc give you meds? If so do they work? Or do you just avoid what gives you allergies?

I used to get shots, they never did much for me. I just switch up nasal sprays (Flonase, Nasocort etc) and take a cetirizine when my sinuses start bothering me. I was told by my allergist to change up sprays but I don't recall the reasoning behind it.

Something else I use is a saline rinse with a Navage. I used to just inhale the saltwater mixture until I could feel it running down the back of my throat. I called it waterboarding myself.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I used to get shots, they never did much for me.

I got the shots in Anchorage. 87-92 They helped.

Now when the irritation hits I get the behind the counter stuff with the decongestant in it. Claritan D, I think.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

Nose spray, mucinex..

Yep - mine are mostly seasonal (late Aug, Sept, Oct). Anything earlier (May, June), I know it will be a long allergy season. I will say this year, my symptoms were mild. Not to get all stupid, I'm wondering if wearing a mask and hunkering down due to Covid actually helped.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I got the shots in Anchorage. 87-92 They helped.

Now when the irritation hits I get the behind the counter stuff with the decongestant in it. Claritan D, I think.

I used to love that stuff! Had a terrible sinus infection during hunting season. My sinuses were so jacked up my teeth hurt. Told the doc, you gotta give me something to get my head cleared up. If I pull the trigger on my shotgun, my head will explode!. He prescribed Claritin D. I swear they've weakened that stuff though. Last time I used it, it wasn't as effective at clearing the congestion.

[flatbutt]

As a kid I got epinephrine shots but I outgrew most of my allergies. Later on I got tested so now I know what triggers them and I can treat with OTC meds.

[livi]

Allergy is one of my specialities. With children of course, but same principals apply. As others have indicated immune therapy is often very successful and has been a treatment in the form of injections for a hundred years. We now have the same treatment in tablett form that you can take at home. Three years treatment and most people will get much better, some complete relief. Its now available commercially for some type of grass, birch and mite.
So if by dust you mean mite allergy I would not hesitate to ask for that at your doctors.
In my opinion a very good treatment.

[GH85Carrera]

My shots really did not do much for me the first 5 years. It was 7 or 8 years before I noticed a real change. After 20 years I was to the point of no more improvement. It was not a quick fix.

[Cajundaddy]

Never noticed allergies as a kid but over the last 10 years cat dander, some dogs, and some minor hay fever bothers me seasonally. I take loratadine as needed for symptoms and it works well. No major life threatening attacks.

[livi]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My shots really did not do much for me the first 5 years. It was 7 or 8 years before I noticed a real change. After 20 years I was to the point of no more improvement. It was not a quick fix.

I venture a guess your shots were yearly cortisone. Not immune therapy. A whole different concept. The cortisone will dampen the allergic reaction over the season, but you still have your allergy. Immune therapy is based on administering the actual allergen protein you are allergic to, regularly during three years. This will basically make your immune system develop a tolerance, an acceptance if you will, of the allergen. Down regulate your sensitivity toward the allergen.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by livi

I venture a guess your shots were yearly cortisone. Not immune therapy. A whole different concept. The cortisone will dampen the allergic reaction over the season, but you still have your allergy. Immune therapy is based on administering the actual allergen protein you are allergic to, regularly during three years. This will basically make your immune system develop a tolerance, an acceptance if you will, of the allergen. Down regulate your sensitivity toward the allergen.

Nope, they were all the stuff I was allergic to. Two shots per week. I had to go in every 5 years and the would test me again. Lots of fun having little needle sticks of stuff that makes me react. It was like having my arm covered in mosquito bites, chigger bites and bee stings. They would take that result, and brew up a special dose of torture shots for me.

Right after every test, they would ramp up the amount of my allergens in the shot so it really ached for a couple of days, and then it was one day of feeling normal and then time for another shot. The last 5 or 6 years I had very little reaction to the shots. That was when we decided it was to the point of no more advantage to continue.

They usually did give me a cortisone shot after all the testing to make my arm feel better faster. I am in a textbook somewhere, or more accurately a picture of my body's reaction to pecan pollen. One of the first tests the doc scratched my arm with the allergen and within seconds said wow, turned to his nurse and told her to go get Dr. somebody, and to bring the camera. The second doc came in, looked at the spot and said oh wow! and started taking pictures. It was a "textbook, classic" severe reaction to an allergen. I don't get any royalties.

[livi]

That sounds like it may have been a while ago. The method was in many ways rather primitive back then. Even now there are individuals that doesn´t seem to have a real good effect from the treatment but its rather rare. Fortunately with the substance in tablett form its also a walk in the park, basically with almost no allergic side effects.

[Sooner or later]

When I was a kid (mid 1960's) I was very allergic to poison ivy. I would have terrible cases.

It got to the point I had to get shots. My memory is foggy on the subject but at one point it seems they gave me a "preventative" shot.

Now, I am not nearly as allergic and only get very mild cases. Don't know why.

[RWebb]

livi - I thought the tablets only covered grass allergies

do they now have them for other allergies?

[cabmandone]

IDK about others but my shots were of the stuff I reacted to in the skin test.... which was about everything.

[David]

My wife is (mildly) allergic to everything. She's started taking oral drop allergy therapy which are not covered by insurance while shots are covered. I'm not going there. She just started so no results yet.

I'm just now starting to realize I have allergies deep into my middle age. I always thought my colds just lasted a long time

My aunt, who's a bee keeper, says you should eat honey from within 50 miles every day to help with all the local pollens. I might try that. How is honey in a margarita?