Allergy meds/shots for my dd

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

My dd has horrible seasonal allergies. We have tried Zyrtec, Clariton, and I currently have her on alavert (lotordine). She has been on several others but I cant remember the names.

The lotordine is helping some but she is still suffering with runny/stuffy nose that causes her to rub her nose so much it gets raw and bleeds.

These allergies are affecting her school work. You can imagine how hard it is to concentrate and learn when she is sniffling and having to rub her nose constantly.

She is allergic to every type of tree and grass that grows here where we live. Now that the trees and grass/weeds are budding she is a mess

I am seriously considering allergy shots at this point but I am not convinced they will work or help in the long run.

So could you all share your allergy meds with me and anyone that is or has taken allergy shots I would love to hear from you.

(DD is 9y 6m now she also has asthma and is on singular and advar that keeps that under control. She has dealt with allergies now since she was around a year old)

[thefreckledmama]

My husband's aunt used to have horrible seasonal allergies, a lot like you described with your daughter. She started taking bee pollen (from local bees is best), and rarely has any issues anymore-but not sure how long she was taking it before she started having any relief.

You might try looking into that along with, or even instead of the allergy shots.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

DD cant/wont swallow pills I wonder if I could get it in a different form?

[kjbrown92]

Local honey is supposed to help (teaspoon a day, I think).
I got allergy shots for 5 years. It kept my allergies at bay for about 5 years, then they came back with a vengeance. So it helped for a little while.

[Mama2Bug]

I have horrible seasonal allergies and so does my DH. Our poor DD has inherited them but to a, thankfully, lesser degree. I grew up in central PA and was allergic to practically everything that grew outdoors. I began taking allergy shots when I was around 8 and they really, really helped. So much so that I stopped taking them when I was about thirteen and had no significant hay fever again until I moved to NC. DH grew up in upstate NY. He never had any kind of medication for his allergies, besides over-the-counter. He remembers being sick and miserable every Spring and Summer. It affected his schoolwork and made him sleepy all of the time. He wishes that his parents had gotten him the shots. DD seems to have less of an issue than either of us, though she does have an occasional unpleasant day when all of the pollen first gets started. Over-the-counter, children's allergy medicines work fine for her for those days. If her allergies ever get worse or the meds stop working, I will not hesitate to get her allergy shots.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Thank you

My main worry about the allergy shots is a reaction at the time they are given. I have talked to her allergist a few times about them but have been putting them off hoping dd would outgrow the worst of it but she isnt she is actually getting worse. Not only with the seasonal stuff but with her food allergies as well

Another thing is her missing school when she needs to go in for a shot which will be every week at first to my understanding. I would need to pick her up at least 30 min if not an our early to get her to the office since it is an hour away.

She has already missed enough this year that she could be in trouble for to many absentees. It is possible I might be able to find a Dr closer to home to give the shots. The allergist mentioned that was a possibility when I told her about my worries of her missing school.

[kjbrown92]

Another thing is that when I took the food triggers out (intolerances), my DD2's seasonal allergies disappeared altogether, and DS's got much, much milder.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

DD dosnt have reactions to any other foods that I am aware of. She cant eat nuts at all or eggs because of near ana reactions.

[queencarr]

Our allergist has my ds on 10 mg of singulair vs the smaller dose for younger kids--he is a large 11yo now, but we started a while back. She said she has much better results that way (it works for allergies AND asthma). We also go old school for meds--chlortrimeton is the anthistamine that works best for us both. Because it is different type of meds than the newer stuff, you can also take it with daily claritin or whatever.

I have done raw honey and bee pollen, both have helped, although I can't find any local to where we are. My grandaddy always said that it has to be from within 50 miles of you to be effective (the same pollens, etc. that you are breathing). We were told 1-2 TBS honey a day, and I don't remember how much bee pollen, I'm thinking it was about a teaspoon, as it was a full mouthful for me.

ETA: A B-50 complex 2x day also helps me a lot.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

DD has been on the 10mg singulair now for about 2 years. If I take her off it I can tell a difference in a very short time not only with her allergies worsening but her asthma flairs as well.

I havnt seen chlortrimeton in liquid or chewable around here but I will look harder.

[queencarr]

Darn, I forgot you said she couldn't do pills. You might call the pharmacist. My youngest has very severe egg allergies, and also dysphagia, he aspirates think liquids. We have his benedryl specially compounded into a transdermal gel that is absorbed through the wrists by a compounding pharmacist. They told me they can make just about anything into a liquid. Generic name is Chlorpheniramine Maleate, btw.

Ooh, I found it!!! Allerchlor syrup

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Great I will keep that link handy I know they dont sale that here I would have seen it. I may end up having to get it offline.

I will have to ask the pharmacies here about the compound things but I doubt it will be an option.

I dont respond well to allergy meds either. The only one that helps me is the lotordine and it only takes away the itching I have in the roof of my mouth.

[emilysmama]

I have terrible seasonal allergies. The only thing that has helped me are allergy shots and saline sinus rinse. My dd's seasonal allergies are awful, and medications don't seem to offer much relief. I am counting the years until she is old enough to get allergy shots.

I don't think the once a week thing should be such a problem. First of all, I think it's only for a couple of months, and then you can stretch it out to be less often between shots. Second of all, the shots don't all have to be done at the prescribing allergist. After the first few shots, I take the serum home with me and store it in the refrigerator. (Not every allergist will let you do this, so you need to ask your allergist before you commit to getting purchasing the shots.) I often get mine done at a different (nearby) allergist's office. Sometimes I go to a walk-in health clinic to get it done. I've also had it done at an urgent care clinic type place. You just need a place with a nurse on duty and either a physician or a nurse practitioner on premises just in case.

As for worry about having a reaction after the shots, that is why anywhere that give allergy shots makes the patient sit in the office waiting room for 20-30minutes before leaving. If you have a reaction in the waiting room, they'll be able to monitor you and give you a shot of epinephrine in the unlikely event that you need it.

Allergy shots completely transformed my life for the better. I would not hesitate to have my dd get them.