Allergy Shots Anyone?

[sister golden hair]

I went to an allergist to see if I had enviromental allergies as I am always congested, extremly fatigued. I take all kinds of supplements but haven't been tested for food allergies like dairy, soy, etc. They said I was allergic to mold and dustmites. The doctor wants to put me on shots, an inhaler, and nasel spray. Does anyone else out there have an opinion on allergy shots for celiacs? Just curious. Thanks....

[Happyw5]

I went to an allergist to see if I had enviromental allergies as I am always congested, extremly fatigued. I take all kinds of supplements but haven't been tested for food allergies like dairy, soy, etc. They said I was allergic to mold and dustmites. The doctor wants to put me on shots, an inhaler, and nasel spray. Does anyone else out there have an opinion on allergy shots for celiacs? Just curious. Thanks....

I was on allergy shots for 2.5 years. I actually took my last one on January 16 2011. I decided to stop mine because I haven't been able to figure out somethings going on with me. I keep getting new allergies, had alot of weight gain--about 30 pds in a matter of months) I think it was overloading my system with everything I am allergic to. My local reaction was still really bad even after a few years, so I just don't think it was a good choice for me.

I have to say on there defence I could actually enjoy springtime and fall while on the shots. I have every outside allergy and they helped amazingly with all my outside allergies. It also helped with some of my OAS (oral allergy syndrome)

The problems I was having may have had nothing to do with the allergy shots, I was just desperate and that was the only thing that I could figure was different to my system.. I wish they had worked out for me, I would have like to continue them...

Good Luck--Sarah

[mushroom]

My husband took them, for trees and grasses, also bees and wasps. Before he knew he was celiac. Made a big difference for him. He had also had a series when he was a teen, but they had worn off.

[Tigercat17]

I had allergy shots for three years before I was diagnosed with celiac. I actually started to feel worse. My allergies got so bad that I Really didn't want to leave the house especially in the fall and spring. And it wasn't like that before. My doctor at the time had me on so much allergy medicine it was crazy. He then diagnosed me with asthma. It seemed like every year I was slowly feeling worse and my doctor would just add on more medication to my already long list of meds. After three years, he had me on clartin D, singular, an inhaler, Nasacort AQ, Advair and sometimes I had to take predisone. Plus this doctor told me to avoid all my allergies, he wanted me to get rid of my cats( There was NO WAY I was getting rid of my cats), use mattress encasing and gave me a booklet, so I could buy all these expensive allergy products. I was naive and at the time I really trusted doctors. After all he seemed like a very well respected doctor in the area, so I fell for it.

After three years of just feeling worse and worse, I went to get a second opinion. I was feeling so horrible. I think my allergies were four times worse than when I started the shots. Also, I think avoiding all my allergens it made me even more senstive them. My new allergy doctor stopped the shots and ran more tests on me. Then told me I didn't even have asthma. I had vocal cord dysfunction. I couldn't believe that the first doctor completely misdiagnosed me with asthma and I was on inhalers and advair for three years and didn't even need it. No wonder I was feeling so bad!

After seeing the second allergist for a few months and stopping the shots I started to feel almost normal again. And he took me off all the medicine. But it seemed like I still had a lot of allergies. I started using nasal irrigation (that really helps me the most). I'm allergic to pretty much everything - dust is a big one for me, dogs, cats, trees, mold, fragrances and I'm sure there's more.

A year later I asked my new allergy doctor if the allergy shots would help me. He told me that since my old doctor was giving me shots once a week it was overloading my system. And he said he only does allergy shots once a month, so I figured I would try it again. It seemed like it helped a little this second time around, but after two years I got really sick and then I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease. I tried to start back with the shots but then I thought maybe this is just too much for my body, so I decided to stop again. I really think my body needed time to heal from the celiac disease and the shots would just be putting more stress on it.

I really hope this helps. I don't want anyone else to make the same mistakes I made. Here's some thing I wish I would have done differently: It might be a good idea to get a second opinion and see a different allergist before you start allergy shots. I'm not saying that I'm against allergy shots, but I don't think they really helped me that much if at all. The untreated celiac disease was my biggest problem.

And I learned that the weekly shots were way too much for my system. I responded better to the monthly shots.

Also, make sure your doctor properly diagnosed you with asthma before you start the inhaler. Vocal cord dysfunction is commonly misdiagnosed for asthma. And there's no medicine to treat VCD. It's just breathing techniques.

And make sure all your meds are gluten free. I know last year I had a hard time finding a gluten free nasal spray. I called Nasacort AQ and they told me it wasn't gluten free. So, now I just use the nasal irrigation - works like a charm and it's all natural!

I hope this helps and Good Luck!

[zus888]

I get allergy shots and have gotten them most of my adult life. They have made a HUGE difference in my ability to function as a normal human being during allergy season. Also, I'm now able to have a dog without any allergic reaction! I did take a hiatus because I thought I had to go off of them while trying to conceive - stupid idea. I didn't get back on them until recently. It's obvious that I need to keep getting shots to maintain a normal life without feeling dragged down by allergies.