So, with the results showing that I'm allergic to 61% of the things tested, what was the next step? While I was glad that my cheese addiction or any other foods weren't the culprit, the reality is if they were, the solution would be quite easy wouldn't it. On the other hand, environmental allergies are much harder to address because you can't just remove them from your life as they are everywhere. That's where Allergen Immunotherapy comes in. The point of this therapy is to build up an immunity to things you are allergic to over time, so eventually they are no longer an issue. I know a handful of people who went for weekly allergy shots for several years, but I never realized that was the point of the shots. I always thought they were just getting extra strong medication to keep them under control. Instead, the shots are actually made up the very things one is allergic to. The amount given increases over time, building that immunity. So the thought of not struggling with allergies was very appealing.
The weekly allergy shot was an option for me and one that is covered under insurance. Having to go to the doctor each and every week for what could be years was not appealing all. But there is now a new alternative. Allergy drops! Rather than the allergens in a syringe the doctor sticks in your arm, allergen extracts are put in a jar that YOU drop under your tongue, in your own home!
Three vials and a recording sheet arrived in the mail about 2 weeks after the allergy testing.
Each bottle is designed for a build up of the allergens and is a stronger version of the next. I take one drop for a week, and then add a drop each week until week 4. Then the bottle is changed and the process starts over. I have finished the blue bottle and am on my second week of the yellow.
The first few days were a little strange because the drops have to remain under the tongue for 2 minutes. Two minutes are A LONG time when you can't swallow. But now, I'm used to it. Because it's under the tongue, I rarely taste it, but if I do it just has a sugar water taste, so nothing too offensive. I believe the red vial is the version I'll be on for the remainder of the time so once I finish that one, it will be a regular 4 drops each day until I'm "cured". I will have an allergy test once a year to check the reactions. Once each of the allergens shows no reaction, then I can stop the drops, and am supposed to be allergy free for about 20 years - assuming no new ones pop up.
On a side note, I had done some research ahead of time, wondering what to expect, how it worked, what it tasted like, etc. At first, I was surprised to read that it was not FDA approved. The process of Immunotherapy and each extract ARE approved, but what is actually in MY bottle is not. That is because everyone's bottle is different, to meet their needs. I found that fascinating. I've found this whole process fascinating.
And how is it going.
ReplyDeleteSo far so good. I've been told that after about 6 months is when I will start noticing a difference in my allergies. So I'm not there yet, but it makes me feel good knowing that I'm working towards (hopefully) some relief. In the meantime, I'm on an allergy/decongestant regimen - one over the counter and one prescription - in the am/pm to get things under control for the time being.
DeleteHow interesting to know that it can be done with drops now! My oldest granddaughter had the shots done (her mother's an RN, so could easily administer them). Sadly, for reasons I won't go into here, I don't know how it worked for her since I rarely see her anymore.
ReplyDeleteI hope it works for you and just think, twenty years from now it'll probably be even easier and last longer!
Yes, the drops sound so much easier than a weekly shot...I think that between the doctor visit AND a shot every week, well I'd get awfully tired of that pretty quickly. I was told the biggest reason the therapy doesn't work is people start to feel better in the middle of it and then stop - I'm sure doing the shots would tempt me to ducking out early just to avoid them. The drops are so easy, and aren't a SHOT!
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about your limited time with your granddaughter. I know that family circumstances can be hard.
Fortunately my kids haven't shown any allergies thus far but we rarely use anything with antimicrobial properties in our house. I've always been of the belief to expose them early and often to common things in hopes of preventing allergies. Part of this comes from being on the school board and having hordes of parents trying to get us to make the school peanut, dust, mold, dairy free to name just a few requests. It seems to be out of control these days.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I think more people should entertain drops or shots to immunize themselves from their allergies. I think it is much safer in the long run than depending on those around you to know, understand and help prevent your allergic reactions from occurring.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are on to something about the parents possibly being part of the problem with allergies especially all the ones that seem to be in place these days. I know that I was not raised in that kind of environment - I was at the barn around horses and dirt and what not for hours every day. And I agree with you about the antibacterial stuff - that can't be good for building immunity.
DeleteAs for the food allergies. I often wonder what is a true allergy/concern and what is a perceived allergy/concern. I just finished my 17th year of teaching, all at low income/English Language Learner schools and I've had ONE child with a dangerous peanut allergy in my entire career. I have friends who teach on the other side of town, which has a more middle to upper class/English as a first language population. They have several students with food allergies EVERY year - peanut, gluten, dairy, etc. While I know that people do have severe food allergies, I do wonder how much of it is due to helicopter parenting. I'm not a parent, so my observation is simply from afar, but it does make me wonder seeing those huge differences between the two socio-economic groups.
That's a really good observation. As you know, I'm associated with a private school and there are probably a half dozen kids attending with what I would call severe allergies if left untreated. I always thought that the reason they came to our school was because we were small and perhaps a more controlled environment. The parents usually approach the board asking for us to be a peanut/dairy/mold free school for their child and for liability reasons, we always turn them down. (We do require plans put in place with the teacher/school nurse/office.) I thought the reason we see so many was all about control of their kids environment but you may have a very good point that it might be more about the environment back home, i.e. wealth.
DeleteI've heard stories about schools becoming peanut/dairy/gluten/etc. free to accommodate those with those allergies. While I understand the urge to do that, that isn't life. These kids are not going to be able to live their life never having an interaction with some who eats these foods. I think it's a lot for a small group to expect out of a larger group. While taking steps (and health plans as you've noted) to keep the children safe are definitely necessary, expecting no one else to ever eat peanut butter (or the like) because your kids can't seems unreasonable to me.
DeleteIt would be an interesting study for sure - how do food allergies fall socioeconomically, culturally, etc?
Just a few observations. Who would diagnose an allergy in a low income environment. While the middleclass will have access to all sorts of diagnostic tools so the kid can have the very best prospect. Second, in LA, the lower class usually mean those with a strong native gene base. Where over multiple generations the allergies would be weeded out of the population giving a naturally resistant group. A neat revenge for all those polio and scarlet fever infected blankets given as gifts back in the day.
DeleteBut one thing that has disappeared from middleclass homes is smoking. It shouldn't be forgotten that things like potatoes and tomatoes came at the same time as tobacco into the diet of Europeans. There is a possibility nicotine was an antidote to something in the solanums.
All very good points! Which is why I think there needs to be a study!
DeleteThis whole idea of accommodating a few at the expense of a larger group reminds me of how ticked off my daughter's best friend was on a SouthWest flight one time. Seems someone had a peanut allergy on the plane, so they only passed out the pretzel packets. Her friend had been looking forward to her honey glazed peanuts!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't get me wrong, I know that peanut allergies are a thing and can be severe and dangerous and if I were the one allergic to the point of anaphylactic or had a child who was I'd be very afraid and would want assurance that no in was going to die. However, how far do we go? You can only control so much. Sure, maybe they didn't serve them on the airplane, but what happens if someone brought them on the plane or had eaten them in the bar before the flight. I don't want to be hit by car as that could kill me, but I'm not expecting anyone to stop driving when I'm around. I don't know. Again I understand the need to have control, but the reality is you don't. There's always a chance.
DeleteI'm late to this very interesting and stimulating conversation, so will only say I'm glad it appears you are on the road to recovery! Will look forward to more progress reports.
ReplyDeleteThis post could not have arrived at a better time!
ReplyDeleteI was at D's allergist just two days ago and she suggested allergy shots and I was just speaking to two of my pediatrician friends about it and weighing the pros and cons.
Wonder if immunotherapy is advisable for children. Not sure if D could manage to keep it under his tongue for 2 minutes.
But yay for you!!