Allergies

[Singel]

I have Hayfever (Allergic to grass and pollen and shit) and really allergic to cats, and sort of dogs. Shitty thing is I love the outdoors, and pets. Worst thing is, I'm more or less allergic to beer, it's not gonna kill me to drink it, but 4 hours later in bed I'll be filled in, sneezing, runny nose and shit...atleast hard liquor is a fun substitute.

So basically I've been popping an antihistamine a day from like April to now, Since September I only really take em if I'm going to my Gf's place with 2 cats, or out in the country. It's sometimes Claritin, or this Stanley's stuff, they all seem to be decently effective, but I'll still have a mad runny nose if I'm at the GF's or outdoors. Should I stick to one brand, or is it good to mix em up a bit? Is there any worry of my body becoming dependant or addicted to them, my dad has the same allergies and he takes the pills for a couple months and says his body's built up more of it or something and he should be okay for the rest of the summer, I really don't know.

I also have this Nasonex (Same as Flonase) stuff that's a nasal inhaler, and it seems to work decently too, but it's still not great even in combination with Claritin.

I've read up on allergy shots, but I don't really want to fully trust the websites or anything, cuz they obviously have something to benefit from getting people to get the shots. My doctor isn't keen on allergy testing, he says all that'll do is tell my what I'm allergic too exactly (Which wouldn't be bad to know IMO), and I don't think he thought allergy shots or seeing a specialist was a good idea. So has anyone had these shots, are they effective? Should I maybe try to get a second opinion and get referred to a specialist?

And lastly, do those specialised cat allegen shampoos really work? I know the allergens come from their saliva, so I can't see it reventing them from producing the allergens, but only getting them off their fur every time they bath, which isn't very often for my GF's cats cuz they hate it (Wish I had a cat like on TV who likes to shower every day...even though i heard that would be just as bad for allergies )

Fuck...is there maybe a place I can just move where allergies won't be a problem?...maybe Antarctica

[YCB]

i dun think the people on beyond are gonna be able to help u much on this one.. doctor would be a better person to ask

[Singel]

Originally posted by YCB
i dun think the people on beyond are gonna be able to help u much on this one.. doctor would be a better person to ask

Ya, but doctors can have personal interests or something, just like the websites. I can't really see Claritin telling my doctor to make me take them instead of getting an allergy shot, but that shit can happen. Just if anyone has personal experience of what has worked for them.

[max_boost]

My GF has major allergies. She basically copes with the same symptoms as you, year round. Sometimes worse than other seasons. Its pretty bad, she seems to have lost her sense of smell sinc her sinuses are so swollen?! She takes Bendryl, but that usually knocks her out cold.

She had allergy testing done when she was younger. Something like 80+ needles stuck in her back!! And it was basically just to see what she was allergic to..which is pretty much everything. I guess its a good excuse for her not to clean/do yardwork as much as she is allergic to dust and grass. Can't really do too much about avoiding allergies, just try not to get yourself into situations that elevate the symptoms.

[CRXguy]

i can't stand being around cats. its worse when im doing deliveries and they start swarming the chinese food!

also gets bad in the summer, between june-aug.... i'd just start tearing up and sneezing like crazy....

[Hash_man]

I usually get really bad hayfever every spring, and it kicks up again a few months later... im allergic to some small pets aswell.
For the longest time i was just using eye drops and a nasal inhaler, flonase and then nasonex... and if i had to using benedryl or something if it was really bad, which it was quite a bit every spring.

However i just went to see an alergist a few days ago, and got allergy tests done. My doctor reffered me because she thought it was a good idea, and i agreed. I cant stand allergies and how they make me feel.

So I went to the allergist, and got the tests done. Only took a short time, and wasn't as bad as most people make it out to be. They put about 24 drops of different things on each fore-arm, and then prick it with a little pin thing. The worst part is waiting for them to react, which some become quite irretated, but you cant itch them at all... Now i know what i'm allergic to (some trees, some grasses, mold, guinee pigs, and some other junk)

But the best part is that i now am going to start allergy shots to build my self up for the spring. I can't wait to get this done. I mean I hate needles a ton, but i hate allergies more.

[Singel]

I don't mind needles too much...unlesss maybe they're the huge ones , but I've never even had a big one so I'm sure after the first it would be fine. If you don't mind, post some updates of how it's goin and what the needles are like, don't you have to get like a couple a week for a few months or something?

[seer_claw]

I have sever allergies to spruce pollen as well as fertilizer. A couple of years ago i went for an allergy shot at the doctors office. I did not think that it would work but my allergies were much reduced for about 2 years. Less effective the second year. I recommend that you go talk to you GP about it. I will be getting it done next spring again becuse my allergies were bad again last spring. Also I don't take any antihistamines (Claratin, Reactin, etc) because they don't actually help any of my symptoms anymore because I have taken them for so long. Also they stick the allgery shot in your butt and you can't sit down for about an hour.