Anyone had immunotherapy? (Allergy shots)

[ggavinmoss]

I'm going to start in a few weeks and am really excited. Anyone have any experiences, good or bad, to share?

-geoff

 

[Viper GTS]

It made a huge difference for me when I did (years ago).

I've been off them for probably 8 years now, thinking about going back on them.

Viper GTS

 

[bradruth]

I've had allergy testing & I take medication, but I've never had the shots.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
It made a huge difference for me when I did (years ago).

I've been off them for probably 8 years now, thinking about going back on them.

Viper GTS

You're in Oregon, right? What were your major irritants?

-geoff

 

[Ime]

What are you allergic to?

I get two allergy shots a week, one in each arm. My wife (who is a registered nurse) gives them to me.

They have helped me alot.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

I had them for years. The test to see what you're allergic to is FVCKING HORRID, but the shots did help. I had 36 needles and 12 miniature spear-like things jabbed into each arm in logical rows about a quarter inch apart. They make these little bubbles under your skin with serum in the needles and the 12 mini-spear things, they just fvcking st@b you in the arm with. After a little while (10 minutes?) they come back to see what you're alergic to. They did it once for each arm.

Worst.Day.Evar.

However, I did also have a systemic reaction to the shots one day. They make you wait 20 minutes or so at the facility after getting your shots so they can watch you to make sure you're okay. When I started to have a systemic reaction, they didn't have the two minutes that it would take to get me across the street to the hospital to save my life. They had to intibate me right fvcking there in the waiting room. They gave me a huge shot of adrenaline -like fvcking LOTS. The needle was probably an inch in diameter and about 3/4 inch full- I kid you not. I thought I was going to turn green and start throwing cars around, all while choaking to death. They had me breathing this stuff, Albuterol, through the intibator trying to keep my windpipe from colapsing.

Oh well. After years of shots, I still have allergies.

Good luck!

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: Ime
What are you allergic to?

I get two allergy shots a week, one in each arm. My wife (who is a registered nurse) gives them to me.

They have helped me alot.

My biggest reaction was to Rye Grass. I also had sizeable reactions to cat, dog, the major molds, willow, acacia, olive, and eucalyptus trees, american cockroach, and most other grasses.

The only thing I tested negative for was ragweed, go figure. Of course this test was suited for my area (southern California), so I may be allergic to all of Kentucky and not know about it.

-geoff

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
It made a huge difference for me when I did (years ago).

I've been off them for probably 8 years now, thinking about going back on them.

Viper GTS

You're in Oregon, right? What were your major irritants?

-geoff

I had my testing done when I was quite young, so I only had 13 broad categories vs the ~50 they do on adults.

I reacted to every category.

Viper GTS

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
I had them for years. The test to see what you're allergic to is FVCKING HORRID, but the shots did help. I had 36 needles and 12 miniature spear-like things jabbed into each arm in logical rows about a quarter inch apart. They make these little bubbles under your skin with serum in the needles and the 12 mini-spear things, they just fvcking st@b you in the arm with. After a little while (10 minutes?) they come back to see what you're alergic to. They did it once for each arm.

Worst.Day.Evar.

However, I did also have a systemic reaction to the shots one day. They make you wait 20 minutes or so at the facility after getting your shots so they can watch you to make sure you're okay. When I started to have a systemic reaction, they didn't have the two minutes that it would take to get me across the street to the hospital to save my life. They had to intibate me right fvcking there in the waiting room. They gave me a huge shot of adrenaline -like fvcking LOTS. The needle was probably an inch in diameter and about 3/4 inch full- I kid you not. I thought I was going to turn green and start throwing cars around, all while choaking to death. They had me breathing this stuff, Albuterol, through the intibator trying to keep my windpipe from colapsing.

Oh well. After years of shots, I still have allergies.

Good luck!

The testing wasn't that big of a deal -- I'd had it before.

But holy hell, your reaction sounds terrible! Was it full on anaphylactic shock? Also, are you asthmatic, or was the whole "gasping for air" experience new to you?

-geoff

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
I'm going to start in a few weeks and am really excited. Anyone have any experiences, good or bad, to share?

-geoff

I'll be starting too,they are very helpful.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
I had them for years. The test to see what you're allergic to is FVCKING HORRID, but the shots did help. I had 36 needles and 12 miniature spear-like things jabbed into each arm in logical rows about a quarter inch apart. They make these little bubbles under your skin with serum in the needles and the 12 mini-spear things, they just fvcking st@b you in the arm with. After a little while (10 minutes?) they come back to see what you're alergic to. They did it once for each arm.

Worst.Day.Evar.

I completely agree. Those needles in the arm hurt worse than anything else I've experienced. :disgust:

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
I had them for years. The test to see what you're allergic to is FVCKING HORRID, but the shots did help. I had 36 needles and 12 miniature spear-like things jabbed into each arm in logical rows about a quarter inch apart. They make these little bubbles under your skin with serum in the needles and the 12 mini-spear things, they just fvcking st@b you in the arm with. After a little while (10 minutes?) they come back to see what you're alergic to. They did it once for each arm.

Worst.Day.Evar.

However, I did also have a systemic reaction to the shots one day. They make you wait 20 minutes or so at the facility after getting your shots so they can watch you to make sure you're okay. When I started to have a systemic reaction, they didn't have the two minutes that it would take to get me across the street to the hospital to save my life. They had to intibate me right fvcking there in the waiting room. They gave me a huge shot of adrenaline -like fvcking LOTS. The needle was probably an inch in diameter and about 3/4 inch full- I kid you not. I thought I was going to turn green and start throwing cars around, all while choaking to death. They had me breathing this stuff, Albuterol, through the intibator trying to keep my windpipe from colapsing.

Oh well. After years of shots, I still have allergies.

Good luck!

The testing wasn't that big of a deal -- I'd had it before.

But holy hell, your reaction sounds terrible! Was it full on anaphylactic shock? Also, are you asthmatic, or was the whole "gasping for air" experience new to you?

-geoff

I wasn't going into convulsions, no. I was reading a magazine and didn't even realize that it was hard for me to breathe. I do have athsma and I've learned over the years to just deal with the attacks and hope they go away. I staggered up to the counter and asked if they had some asprin and the next thing I know the nurse is jumping over the fvcking counter and tackling me to the couch prying my mouth open. She was SMOKIN HOT too

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

... the next thing I know the nurse is jumping over the fvcking counter and tackling me to the couch prying my mouth open. She was SMOKIN HOT too

At least you still had your wits about you.

-geoff

 

[luv2chill]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
I had them for years. The test to see what you're allergic to is FVCKING HORRID, but the shots did help. I had 36 needles and 12 miniature spear-like things jabbed into each arm in logical rows about a quarter inch apart. They make these little bubbles under your skin with serum in the needles and the 12 mini-spear things, they just fvcking st@b you in the arm with. After a little while (10 minutes?) they come back to see what you're alergic to. They did it once for each arm.

Worst.Day.Evar.

However, I did also have a systemic reaction to the shots one day. They make you wait 20 minutes or so at the facility after getting your shots so they can watch you to make sure you're okay. When I started to have a systemic reaction, they didn't have the two minutes that it would take to get me across the street to the hospital to save my life. They had to intibate me right fvcking there in the waiting room. They gave me a huge shot of adrenaline -like fvcking LOTS. The needle was probably an inch in diameter and about 3/4 inch full- I kid you not. I thought I was going to turn green and start throwing cars around, all while choaking to death. They had me breathing this stuff, Albuterol, through the intibator trying to keep my windpipe from colapsing.

Oh well. After years of shots, I still have allergies.

Good luck!

Exaggerate much?

It's really not that bad folks. In my experience, the allergy test didn't hurt at all... in fact it was pretty damn interesting to see real proof of exactly what I was allergic to. If you're afraid of needles, the shots might bother you at first, but they don't hurt (you just feel a little "prick ), and after a few weeks of getting them regularly you will come to view any shot as being no big deal.

I also had a bad reaction to one of my shots... it was a little scary because I had skipped the 15 minute wait after the shot and was already on my way home. First thing I noticed was that my skin got incredibly itchy, and then I noticed I was wheezing a little bit... I was halfway home before I realized what was going on. I raced back to the office as it got more difficult to breathe. The office had closed and the nurses/receptionist had all gone home but luckily for me the Dr. was still there. I pounded on the door and as soon as he opened it he knew exactly what was going on without my even saying anything. He sat me down and injected me with an epinephrine syringe and just told me to relax... within about a minute I noticed my breathing getting easier and I was fully recovered within 15. My reaction wasn't severe enough for me to need any intubation, but it was scary.

However, it was entirely my own fault for not waiting around. This happened during my fourth (and last) year of treatments so I had just gotten lazy and accustomed to a normal situation every time. It happened only once, but once was enough. Every time after that I waited 15 minutes afterwards like a good boy

Have they helped? Absolutely. The dust mite antigen was very effective. However, I'm also allergic to cat dander and that wasn't diminished as much--however they told me to expect that when I first started getting the shots.

All in all it was worth all the money and hassle.

l2c

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

... the next thing I know the nurse is jumping over the fvcking counter and tackling me to the couch prying my mouth open. She was SMOKIN HOT too

At least you still had your wits about you.

-geoff

What do you expect? I had been going there for years and she was the only reason to keep going to a sophomore in HS. Petite blond, proportional, crystal blue eyes.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: luv2chill

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
I had them for years. The test to see what you're allergic to is FVCKING HORRID, but the shots did help. I had 36 needles and 12 miniature spear-like things jabbed into each arm in logical rows about a quarter inch apart. They make these little bubbles under your skin with serum in the needles and the 12 mini-spear things, they just fvcking st@b you in the arm with. After a little while (10 minutes?) they come back to see what you're alergic to. They did it once for each arm.

Worst.Day.Evar.

However, I did also have a systemic reaction to the shots one day. They make you wait 20 minutes or so at the facility after getting your shots so they can watch you to make sure you're okay. When I started to have a systemic reaction, they didn't have the two minutes that it would take to get me across the street to the hospital to save my life. They had to intibate me right fvcking there in the waiting room. They gave me a huge shot of adrenaline -like fvcking LOTS. The needle was probably an inch in diameter and about 3/4 inch full- I kid you not. I thought I was going to turn green and start throwing cars around, all while choaking to death. They had me breathing this stuff, Albuterol, through the intibator trying to keep my windpipe from colapsing.

Oh well. After years of shots, I still have allergies.

Good luck!

Exaggerate much?

It's really not that bad folks. In my experience, the allergy test didn't hurt at all... in fact it was pretty damn interesting to see real proof of exactly what I was allergic to. If you're afraid of needles, the shots might bother you at first, but they don't hurt (you just feel a little "prick ), and after a few weeks of getting them regularly you will come to view any shot as being no big deal.

I also had a bad reaction to one of my shots... it was a little scary because I had skipped the 15 minute wait after the shot and was already on my way home. First thing I noticed was that my skin got incredibly itchy, and then I noticed I was wheezing a little bit... I was halfway home before I realized what was going on. I raced back to the office as it got more difficult to breathe. The office had closed and the nurses/receptionist had all gone home but luckily for me the Dr. was still there. I pounded on the door and as soon as he opened it he knew exactly what was going on without my even saying anything. He sat me down and injected me with an epinephrine syringe and just told me to relax... within about a minute I noticed my breathing getting easier and I was fully recovered within 15. My reaction wasn't severe enough for me to need any intubation, but it was scary.

However, it was entirely my own fault for not waiting around. This happened during my fourth (and last) year of treatments so I had just gotten lazy and accustomed to a normal situation every time. It happened only once, but once was enough. Every time after that I waited 15 minutes afterwards like a good boy

Have they helped? Absolutely. The dust mite antigen was very effective. However, I'm also allergic to cat dander and that wasn't diminished as much--however they told me to expect that when I first started getting the shots.

All in all it was worth all the money and hassle.

l2c

Bah. :| Screw you. What do you know? Were you there? Shut the fvck up :| They held me there for an hour trying to get ahold of my mother to let her know what was going on and scared the sh|t outta her. How do you think I felt when I was laying there listening to one of the nurses say that they didn't have time to get across the street and grab a tube and shove it down my fvcking throat? Just because you had a small reaction doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who have come within minutes of losing their life in the same situation. Fvck off bitch. :|

 

[ggavinmoss]

All right, calm down... the last thing we need is a screaming match between asthmatics -- we'll all end up in the ER.

-geoff

 

[luv2chill]

LOL Why do you fly off the handle like that?

For the record dude, you did exaggerate a bit. 1-inch diameter needle? You would have needed stitches to close that wound. "spears jabbing" into your arm? They're just little plastic points that are simply designed to scratch the surface of your skin so the antigen can get into your system. "Worst Day Ever"? Please!!! Hell, I'd think your anaphalaxis experience was worse than a little allergy test.

Anaphalactic shock is scary. I know. I wasn't trying to diminish that for you... I simply meant that you used a bit of hyperbole when describing your experiences. I wanted to give my impressions, too, because IMHO way too many people suffer through allergies because they're afraid of getting allergy shots. Your post isn't going to help anyone get over that fear.

Sorry if I offended.

l2c

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: luv2chill
LOL Why do you fly off the handle like that?

For the record dude, you did exaggerate a bit. 1-inch diameter needle? You would have needed stitches to close that wound. "spears jabbing" into your arm? They're just little plastic points that are simply designed to scratch the surface of your skin so the antigen can get into your system. "Worst Day Ever"? Please!!! Hell, I'd think your anaphalaxis experience was worse than a little allergy test.

Anaphalactic shock is scary. I know. I wasn't trying to diminish that for you... I simply meant that you used a bit of hyperbole when describing your experiences. I wanted to give my impressions, too, because IMHO way too many people suffer through allergies because they're afraid of getting allergy shots. Your post isn't going to help anyone get over that fear.

Sorry if I offended.

l2c

Oh, so you WERE there? Firstly, I should have said the syrenge (sp?) was that big. The needle itself obviously wasn't an inch around. She didn't jab me with pvc pipe. Secondly, the "spears" weren't plastic, they were metal. They flattened out a bit and came to a forked-point. Those were pressed into the skin and pulled down a bit to break the skin. You think that every alergy clinic everywhere uses the same exact equipment and opperates the same exact way?

 

[BigSmooth]

I had allergy shots for about three years when I was a kid, maybe starting around age 8 (?). I remember being allergic to almost everything in the test as well. My allergies as an adult have been fairly mild. I think the shots helped a lot with normal airborne stuff like grass/tree pollens, mold, etc.

The only things I have major problems with now are significant amounts of household dust (if I clean out a closet I usually sneeze for 3 days straight afterwards) and cats, especially long-haired ones.