Should I get allergy shots?
October 10, 2014 10:23 AM Subscribe
I have multiple chemical sensitivity allergies, particularly to bleach and fragrances. According to the patch test, I also have less severe allergies to all the usual suspects - dander, pollen, grasses, etc. There are currently no desensitization therapies for chemical allergies like there are for the other stuff. My allergist says I should still do the allergy shot regimen because it will take my system out of constant "high-alert" mode and subsequently reduce the severity of the chemical reactions. I'm skeptical.
Double-dose Zyrtec and Nasacort keep the non-chemical stuff to a manageable level, but nothing does much for the burning eyes that chemicals give me. Every where I go, perfume and fragrances especially from detergent and fabric softener are like an assault on my system and it makes me miserable.
The allergy shot therapy is expensive and has extreme time demands with 2 months of bi-weekly visits and weekly visits for ~9 months beyond that. Does anyone have any experience with traditional shots helping with chemical allergies?
Double-dose Zyrtec and Nasacort keep the non-chemical stuff to a manageable level, but nothing does much for the burning eyes that chemicals give me. Every where I go, perfume and fragrances especially from detergent and fabric softener are like an assault on my system and it makes me miserable.
The allergy shot therapy is expensive and has extreme time demands with 2 months of bi-weekly visits and weekly visits for ~9 months beyond that. Does anyone have any experience with traditional shots helping with chemical allergies?
I didn't do the shot thing, but at one point, I was reacting allergically to a lot of things that I had previously been able to tolerate in small quantities without an allergic reaction (such as eating shrimp and eating eggs). Finding a way to take the load off my system got me back to being able to eat eggs in limited quantities. I can sometimes eat fish again in small quantities though I have not tried shrimp.
On the other hand, a few months ago I accidentally bought some entrée at Panda Express that contained both beef and shrimp (I thought it just had beef -- there was a miscommunication involved). I just ate around the shrimp and did not break out in hives. At one point a few years ago, I broke out in hives because I walked through the kitchen where my mother was cooking shrimp. So while I am not planning to eat shrimp again any time soon, I am also no longer living in fear of some accidental exposure turning into a serious health crisis.
So my general experience is that, yes, if you can reduce how much stress your system is generally under, it can help you become less reactive to various things.
posted by Michele in California at 10:47 AM on October 10, 2014
On the other hand, a few months ago I accidentally bought some entrée at Panda Express that contained both beef and shrimp (I thought it just had beef -- there was a miscommunication involved). I just ate around the shrimp and did not break out in hives. At one point a few years ago, I broke out in hives because I walked through the kitchen where my mother was cooking shrimp. So while I am not planning to eat shrimp again any time soon, I am also no longer living in fear of some accidental exposure turning into a serious health crisis.
So my general experience is that, yes, if you can reduce how much stress your system is generally under, it can help you become less reactive to various things.
posted by Michele in California at 10:47 AM on October 10, 2014
Yes. The way my allergist put it is that we have a "bucket" of allergen tolerance. The object is to keep that bucket from overflowing, because that's when things start to get miserable. Treating even some of the allergies will help your immune system cope better in general, even with the things you're not specifically being treated for.
Lifestyle modification is also helpful. Keep this stuff out of your home, obviously, but also talk to your employer about putting a no-fragrance policy in place, stop going to any places that you know would trigger you, etc.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 10:49 AM on October 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Lifestyle modification is also helpful. Keep this stuff out of your home, obviously, but also talk to your employer about putting a no-fragrance policy in place, stop going to any places that you know would trigger you, etc.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 10:49 AM on October 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
I spent a year getting the shots. For the first three or four months it was 2 shots 3x per week, then tapered off. The shots get stronger over time and at one point near the end I went into anaphylactic shock right at the hospital.
All that therapy did absolutely nothing for me.
posted by PSB at 1:06 PM on October 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
All that therapy did absolutely nothing for me.
posted by PSB at 1:06 PM on October 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I just spoke to my doctor today who said that allergy shots generally help about 60% of people who take them (meaning that 40% are not helped). I was one of the unlucky 40%.
posted by *s at 1:49 PM on October 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by *s at 1:49 PM on October 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I can't tell you if you should get them or not, but the "bucket theory" mentioned by rabbitrabbit has definitely been true for me. If I can decrease some allergens I feel better.
posted by radioamy at 2:35 PM on October 10, 2014
posted by radioamy at 2:35 PM on October 10, 2014
Purely anecdotal but allergy shots are the only way I can survive an Arizona winter. Prior to getting them, I was sick (like deathly ill!) from October to March every year. No exaggeration.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 2:49 PM on October 10, 2014
posted by nubianinthedesert at 2:49 PM on October 10, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks all. So after this question, I discovered SLIT (Sublingual Immunization Therapy). This will allow me to get the benefits without having to go get shots and wait around 30 minutes. It is mostly off-label use in the US , but I have found a new allergist who will do it. I hope I'm one of the people it helps!
posted by SpookyFish at 9:51 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by SpookyFish at 9:51 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by MrMoonPie at 10:41 AM on October 10, 2014