<p>I agree that the amount of antihistime to calm an itchy reaction would make it inadvisable for the patient to drive just after the allergy testing.</p>
<p>I always found it irksome to sit around waiting to have a bad reaction. I got my shots for many years. Once, I had waited and driven home when I started noticing my palms were hot and itchy, as well as other areas of my body. I called the allergist & had to drive myself back there so I could get an ephidrine shot and be kept under observation.</p>
<p>I’m not a fan of allergy shots, as it is so difficult to get to maintenance dose and then you have to get your dosing back up when a new batch of serums is made, can’t get shots when you’re feeling under the weather, and there is a significant hassle factor. On the other hand, it really does help some people. If the allergy symptoms can be well controlled by an antihistime, the advantage of the shots is greatly reduced, IMHO. </p>
<p>In cases like OPs, where the patient is having a LOT of bad problems with the allergies, it makes sense to work with a PULMONOLOGIST AND allergist to optimize the patient’s health.</p>
<p>I so appreciate everyone’s comments and experiences! Kiddo and I have spent some time looking over them and doing rabid research, and have come to some conclusions.</p>
<p>First, neither of us is sure what would come from allergy testing other than “You are allergic to Planet Earth.” We already know that, but as she said, they’re “nuisance allergies” – she takes a daily antihistamine, and mostly is okay on the allergy forefront. Not really sure either of us sees a benefit (esp. to the asthma) in starting allergy shots for her, and she’s leaving to go back to school in August. Since this particular allergist’s entryway seems only through allergy testing, we’ve decided to start with a pulmologist (she’ll be calling tomorrow to make an appointment), as she said she really noticed that she never quite bounced back from the pleurisy she had last winter. It all appears to be lung function-related. If allergist appears to be warranted after she sees lung doc, we will certainly go that route, but I kind of hated that the “hello” is the testing, before they will even talk to the patient and see what their main concerns are. I get it – I teach babies and toddlers with special needs, and if a kid is showing a speech delay, we definitely send them to the audiologist to rule out a hearing problem, because strategies need to be different in teaching language to a deaf child. I can see (logically) having a baseline of what the allergies are can help in a treatment plan…but neither she nor I thinks there will be significant surprises or benefit to the testing, esp. since she can control much of the allergy symptoms with antihistamines. It’s her lungs that seem to be most broken. </p>
<p>Thanks for helping us with the thinking process. I am not opposed working on her allergies…but I think the lung issues come first.</p>
<p>As a parent of a child with significant asthma, and significant seasonal allergies, I’m a little confused as to how you know that the asthma isn’t triggered by allergies?</p>
<p>CuriousJane – I’m just going on a mom hunch here – but kiddo has kept an asthma diary for several years. She has never walked out on a sunny, tree-polleny day and done worse than sneeze. However, she has had exercise-induced asthma (she is a high-level dancer) and she has had issues with a reaction to pain meds as well as heightened asthma symptoms whenever she is sick with other lung-based stuff. She’s had several pneumonias, bronchitis-es and pleurisy over the years. </p>
<p>I guess we’re just hesitant to the tests/shots because we don’t know that she’d get any new information – we are well aware of her seasonal allergies, and don’t really think that going down the pathway of allergy shots would necessarily be her first step. I think we need to look at lung function first (as she stated she’s realized her breathing hasn’t been fantastic since she last had pleurisy), then follow up with the allergist as needed. It becomes a question of prioritizing needs/care. </p>
<p>CuriousJane, has your child’s asthma been helped by treating the allergies? We are discovering there are so many different triggers for different people. I hope that summer air is kind to your family.</p>
<p>My kiddos both had exercise induced asthma and inhalers (tho not needed too much). Younger son sniffles thru life, too. Too many pneumonias had me panicing. What helped us the most was to vacuum carpet thoroughly, vacuum mattresses, thoroughly clean bed frames (no dust left at all). Then allergy covers for mattresses and pillows. Clean all the window frames to remove pollen and dust. Basically I did a few rounds of intensive cleaning. It helped more than I anticipated - was mostly cleaning out of panic, heh. Also - Advair was terrible for DS, caused more coughing and tightness than without. YMMV! Good luck. Ok one more thing. Wheat - esp. since flour is brominated. If wheat belly is upsetting the whole system then other problems seemingly unrelated can come. Ok one other thing, lol. I have been amazed that starting a saline nasal wash has soothed my eyes from the inside. Never expected that and love it.</p>
<p>Our kiddos both bought electronic vacuums (Roombas) when they were in college because they could tell what a difference it made for their breathing and allergies. When I got allergy covers for all bedding throughout the house, all our allergy symptoms dramatically improved. Of course, as posted above, we’re all different so YMMV!</p>