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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Allergy shots

Are NOT for me.

I started allergy shots about 9 months ago. The idea is that you are injected with the stuff you are allergic too, small amounts at a time and build up. This way your body accepts it and no longer see it as an enemy.

Except it didn't work that way for me.  I have been going in to get a shot almost every week- they start with a very low dose (.001) and work up to (.05).  I did great until about .1, I had a bad reaction and had to get an epinephrine  injection to stop my throat from swelling closed.  The allergist then proscribed me singular to take the night before and the day of the next shot. I also was to take 24 hour zyrtec the night before and morning of the shot. It seemed to work but boy I was tired. I felt tired and yucky for a few days though.  After the 2nd shot of .2 one side of my face swoll up. My md thought it was some kind of infection and prescribed an antibiotic, it seemed to work.  But, I soon realized that after every shot of .2 my face would swell up and I then would get a sinus infection.  So my allergist said that we would call .1 my high dose and go from there. Guess what? My sinus swelled up and I got another sinus infection-again. I am still fighting it as I type.  So the allergist and I agreed that the shots just aren't for me and I am done getting them.

It is frustrating that I spent so much time every week for nine months for the shots not to work.