Allergy Shots-need Info

I would ask about the effectiveness. Perhaps things have changed since I was a kid, but I had 4 years of weekly allergy shot.. I cant see what good it did, Im allergic to everything from things like you listed to so many foods. Ive developed other allergic conditions as I grew older. In my opinion they werent worth it. My allergist eventually gave me 10x the prescribed amount of drug. That put an end to my shots :) ( we lived on a small remote island & he was a pot head... still.)
I have heard that chiropracters can have amazing results eliminating or decreasing allergies. Maybe look into that.

First of all I'm going to recommend you get a second opinion from a pulmonologist. True, Allergists are the best people to see if you need allergy shots, but a pulmonologist who specializes in pediatric asthma might be able to help your son without resorting to shots.

Secondly, they are not "just simple shots!"
They are specially prepared for your son, based on his specific allergies and skin test results. They often take one to two weeks to prepare because once formulated for your son they will have to dilute them to various strengths; the weakest strength solution will be given first, and they will slowly build up to higher concentrations.

You can't mess around with these shots. If they accidentally gave him the strong dose he could have a serious reaction. You really want to get them prepared and administered by a trusted allergist. Like I said, there is no pharmacy with a stock of allergy shots ready to go, they will be prepared specifically for your son. And if you miss appointments and they expire you will have to wait for them to make more (and pay for them as well). I'm not sure what the $28 is for, a copay? I don't know. Just ask them. And I guess it doesn't hurt to shop around, as long as you will be taking him to a reputable Allergist. I wouldn't even trust a pulmonologist to prepare those solutions, even if they offer a better price.

Lastly, make sure your son has true allergies to the things you listed. Did he just have a positive skin test to those things (which would indicate a sensitivity) or does he also have symptoms when he is exposed to cats, dogs, grasses, etc. If he only had a positive skin test and does not ALSO have symptoms in the presence of the things you listed he might not be allergic, just sensitive.

If you decide to do the allergy shots you will really have to commit to about 3 years of follow through. It's weekly at first, then monthly; but you really need to do the full 3 years or else he might not see any benefit. It's a tough call to make. I'm sorry but I dont know a damn thing about allergy drops so I can't help you there.

Best of luck to you and your son! It's overwhelming. See if you can find a support group or non-profit for kids/families with asthma/allergies and perhaps you can get some real world advice from other parents, as well as recommendations for specialists. Again, best of luck with this difficult decision!

My 14 year old son just had allergy testing last month, after years of prescription drugs and OTC meds. He is allergic to ALL grasses, some trees, cats, and dust mites. Oh, we live with 4 cats, and my son wants to be a veterinarian - so the cat allergy just made him shrug. LOL

Allergy shots were discussed, with my allergist stressing the need for possible multiple shots per week to begin with and treatment lasting 3 to 5 years. It seems it takes that long for the body to become immune to the allergens. Like, wow - treatment that would follow my son to college!!!

But, our allergist also suggested that we try alternate therapies first and prescribed a nasal spray called Omaris in addition to his regular, daily does of Singulair. Oh, it works wonderfully. Truly it does. His allergies are more under control then they have been in years. He actually mowed the lawn this week without having an allergy attack and sneezing for the next 2 days. He does suffer set backs if he skips a dose - but he has also only been using the Omnaris for 3 weeks.

Anyhoo, long way to say - talk to your allergist about alternate, prescription treatments first. From what our said, there are many alternatives that work well to try first.

Good Luck and God Bless

I go to my allergist weekly and his nurse gives me my shot. then I wait half an hour to be sure I don't have a reaction and then I leave. The nurse has helped me so much in my 4 visits already. The Dr always seems like he's in a rush and I don't really ask all the questions I want to but now when i go get my shots the nurse answers all of my questions and gives me helpful suggestions. I have been taking a Zyrtec pill EVERY morning and my nightly coughs have stopped and I haven't had a cold in two months. That is a record because I was always blowing my nose and getting sinus infections. I only need 1 shot a week. She told me that people who have it really bad usually see some relief quicker than those with not as bad allergies. I had to sign an agreement that if I stop going in for my shots in a years time, I will pay the remainder of the shots($1000 for a years worth). I am not sure if I get charged for a visit also or just the yearly $1000. Haven't got a bill yet. I would say if he has to get 3 shots per time he really needs the shots. I am allergic to grasses, trees, dogs,cats,dust. Now that I am feeling better with the Zyrtec I am not as miserable as I used to be and I am not using my inhaler as much as I was(4 times a day). Hardly at all. Good Luck. I haven't heard about the drops so I don't know what to tell ya.

We've had a similar situation. The sub-lingual drops work just as well if used properly, and they are the standard treatment in many parts of Europe. However, American insurance companies often will not pay for them, even though our allergy doctors have always charged exactly the same price as the vials for injections.

The danger of giving injections at home is overstated, according to several top-notch doctors who we've used. The first couple of injections after testing should be done in the office, and some doctors have patients get the first injection from new vials done in the office as a precaution. However, if you're willing to give the injections, and your son has never had a life-threatening reaction to anything, it's safe and many doctors allow this. The injections are not very deep, they go into skin instead of a vein, and they are not hard to do.

If someone does have a rare reaction to an allergy injection, it is even more rare that it is so fast acting that they cannot get to a hospital in plenty of time. We used to have an epi-pin in case of a bad reaction to an injection, but for the past ten years, our doctors have quit giving them because they were so rarely needed by anybody.

$28.25 for giving injections seems way too high. A big box of syringes costs less. I've seen charges of $7.50 for injections in done the office recently. It will be done by a nurse or an aide, not the doctor. Your insurance company may kick it back and refuse to pay that much.

I do not know doctors in your area, but here is one that gives my daughter sub-lingual drops, because she is away at college and is squeamish about giving herself shots. They call it an allergy vial on the invoice, and do not differentiate whether it is injectable or not. Howard Lang in Colleyville ###-###-#### He is a great doctor, and takes a lot of time with each patient, and really listens.

Also, many years ago, we got both sub-lingual drops and injection vials from this office. People travel there from all over the country for the specialists here, and they cannot come back for injections three times a week.
Environmental Health Center-Dallas
8345 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 220
Dallas, Texas 75231 USA

Here's one more to try that's not too far from you:
Constantine Kotsanis, MD
Grapevine, Texas
____@____.com
###-###-####
Phone: ###-###-#### • Fax: 214. ###-###-####

My children and I have been to all three of these offices, but the doctor who we went to at the Environmental Health Center isn't there anymore. The others are renowned, though. We changed around to different doctors over the years because each one excelled in different things that we needed at the time, and because we moved to Mansfield and go to C.R. Hamel now, who is also excellent and another doctor who takes the time to listen and solve difficult cases. My daughter went to Lang for the drops because Hamel's office stopped doing them, due to too many insurance companies refusing to pay for them.

If your son has that many allergies, he is probably also allergic to some foods. Some doctors don't "believe in" food allergies. (They must not have ever experienced that themselves!!!!!) As traumatic as it may be to re-do the testing with a new doctor, it may serve your son better to do so. Sublingual drops are easier for a child his age, and he needs to be treated for all of his allergies to bet the best benefit.

FYI, take him off of milk when grass pollen is in season. It cross reacts with grass (that's what cows eat), and people with slight sensitivities have more trouble with it during grass pollen season.

http://www.aafa.org/
http://www.ginasthma.com/UsefulAsthmaWebsites.asp?l1=3&am...
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/asthma.htm
http://www.aaaai.org/
http://asthma.about.com/od/supportforasthma/tp/asthmareso...

Maybe one of these links can provide info.

I have allergies and Asthma. Since childhood.
I have never tried, drops.

my son got the shots, but ours were only $10 a pop, which still was pretty dang steep. $90 a week? yikes!
they did help some, but he still has allergies. right now he's on antihistamines and nose spray but is still stuffy. it IS much improved from the misery when he was younger, but it's not a total cure.
and it *may* be unrelated, but he developed food allergies as he was in treatment for the seasonal/animal allergies. the doctors say it's not related, but i noticed that the week after i mentioned this to them, notices went up in the offices and waiting rooms to report any new food allergies cropping up after the shot series.
hmmm.
khairete
S.

Both of my kids are on allergy shots and I did them as a teenager. While most of my allergies are gone I do have to take a daily zyrtec and get the occasional sinus infection usually 1x / yr. Both of my kiddos also have asthma which tends to get worse when they have more allergy symptoms. Which from the sound of it sounds like your son. My son who is older has been on the shots for 4yrs and we are hoping he will be done in a year. My daughter has been doing them for 3 yrs. I have seen a huge improvement in both of them since starting the therapy. My son and daughter have both gone over a year without steroids and are no longer needing their inhalers daily, only as needed. The pricing for the serum and shots sounds right on. I pay $25/ shot but we have built up over the years and go now only monthly. When we first started in was 3X/wk. Generally, the Dr.'s office that mixes the serum will keep the serum at their location and will very rarely let anyone else administer the shots other than their personnel. They do this for liability, just incase your son does have a reaction they are liable and would administer medicine if that happens. I has happened to us once and they took my daughter into a patient room and gave her a breathing treatment and watched over her for a while. It's really not something you want to compromise on in my opionion. When we started the shots on my daughter she was three and it was dramatic for her now at 6 so no longer has a problem with the shots or needles. I hope this helps you in your decision. Your son will get better after a while if you decided to do the shots. Good Luck!

I would get a second opinion just to be sure. If he needs the shots then so be it, but that's potentially a lot of drama for you and him often if he doesn't like the shots. My husband gets weekly shots and has negotiated a $10/visit rate with the office since our insurance is like yours. I don't think they even bill to the ins at all, and that covers the shot and the nurse.

You mentioned a lot of different meds-has he ever been on the Nasonex nose spray? Our allergist and ENT rec'd that for our son and it's awesome-my husband uses it to. It's not a cure all, but part of the equation that helps.

And on the homeopathic side - try a neti pot. Helps clear the nasal passages of all the allergens in there and might help too.