allergy testing
Jul. 13th, 2012 05:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
indigo_rose99I did it. I got fed up with the shooting scary drugs up my nose very day (legal, thank you!) and went to an allergist. Today I got poked in the arm.
When I did this 10 years ago, I was allergic to dust mites and some plant I'd never heard of. They told me to rearrange my bedding a bit and to take Claritin. The problem promptly got better.
Today? Today I'm VERY allergic to cedar and dust mites. allergic to mold, many grass and weed pollens (including the oak trees in our yard), and somewhat allergic to a long list of other things. The way Texas seasons works, the allergist declared that I would have the same symptoms year-round. *fake Yay*
They told me that there is pretty much no humanly possible way to avoid all of these things that I am allergic to. They told me my allergy shot (time consuming, painful, but probably covered by insurance) or drop (less time consuming, not painful, totally not covered by insurance at all) options.
But I found the very helpful clear description of my drug options enticing. I'm going the drug route for the moment. I REALLY liked the way the doc laid out my options -- which ones do the same tasks if I don't like my current daily nasal spray, which ones can be taken together, which ones can be done once or twice a year. Turns out that what I am doing (not explained by my GP, who prescribed it) can be done longterm with no harm. Further, he gave me testers of something I can do "as needed." I REALLY like the idea of "as needed" additional drugs that should not interfere with my sleep.
It could be the fact that I feel good this week. I do feel now like I have more options. And the door is very much open for me to get totally fed up with my allergies and go the shots/drops route.
When I did this 10 years ago, I was allergic to dust mites and some plant I'd never heard of. They told me to rearrange my bedding a bit and to take Claritin. The problem promptly got better.
Today? Today I'm VERY allergic to cedar and dust mites. allergic to mold, many grass and weed pollens (including the oak trees in our yard), and somewhat allergic to a long list of other things. The way Texas seasons works, the allergist declared that I would have the same symptoms year-round. *fake Yay*
They told me that there is pretty much no humanly possible way to avoid all of these things that I am allergic to. They told me my allergy shot (time consuming, painful, but probably covered by insurance) or drop (less time consuming, not painful, totally not covered by insurance at all) options.
But I found the very helpful clear description of my drug options enticing. I'm going the drug route for the moment. I REALLY liked the way the doc laid out my options -- which ones do the same tasks if I don't like my current daily nasal spray, which ones can be taken together, which ones can be done once or twice a year. Turns out that what I am doing (not explained by my GP, who prescribed it) can be done longterm with no harm. Further, he gave me testers of something I can do "as needed." I REALLY like the idea of "as needed" additional drugs that should not interfere with my sleep.
It could be the fact that I feel good this week. I do feel now like I have more options. And the door is very much open for me to get totally fed up with my allergies and go the shots/drops route.
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no subject
Date: 2012-07-15 05:30 am (UTC)Let me give you my experiences with the allergy shots.
1. Allergy shots are not painful if you have a good nurse. I get them weekly barring an asthma attack or my sinuses hurting.
2. I haven't had a sinus infection in a year because of them. Sometimes you may not think they're working but they are. It's worth it.
3. Insurance does cover them. They cover all but $5.77 of mine.
I have the same problem you do--because I'm allergic to a lot of different trees, I'm pretty much miserable throughout the year. The good news with the shots, I've been able to back off the Rhinocort from twice a day to once a day.
We should still be cleaning more often, and when it gets bad, that's when my allergies get bad.
It is very much worth it though IMO.
drops
Date: 2012-07-17 01:42 am (UTC)Glad that you had a good experience w/the allergist. Hope that the relief continues!
Re: drops
Date: 2012-07-18 05:04 pm (UTC)My allergist said that in the past ~4 years, daily drops under the tongue have become an alternative to allergy shots. He said that shot vs drops, they are the same basic chemical. The difference is in the delivery system. Also, while the drops are typical in Europe, they are still considered somewhat experimental by our medical folks. Thus insurance company does not have to pay for them. My allergist considered that the European accepting the drop approach was good enough for him to feel confident giving it to his patients.
The receptionist talked about how people who travel love the drops option even with the cost. Shots require being at home and physically driving into the doctor's office to get the shot. For the drops, they give you a bottle and you can administer it every morning wherever you are. If it wasn't for the cost, I would be really tempted to go the drop route.
Re: drops
Date: 2012-07-19 12:02 am (UTC)I'm no expert, but it seems that our country's resistance to methods that are well-accepted elsewhere doesn't always make much sense.
There's certainly value in not being tied to having to drive to the MD's office for shots!