I just took my dd to see her allergist. She hasn't been in year since she was diagnosed with all her allergies. We've been able to manage her food allergies pretty well with just diet & the occasional dose of benedryl if she a really bad reaction to something. Her main symptoms are hives & eczema. She's only had a couple reactions where her lips swelled.
Anyways the dr. says that she has what he calls the "allergic march". That as she gets older & is exposed to more things she will become more & more allergic. That now she will start developing more environmental allergies. He says there have been studies in Europe about taking a daily dose of zyrtec to slow down this "allergic march". It won't prevent her from developing new allergies but delay their development by potentially years. I told him I'm not really comfortable having her on a medication daily. But he really wants her to take it.
I have experience with allergies myself. In my 20's I developed horrible seasonal & environmental allergies & even developed asthma. I was on allergy meds for years but now I feel that I have been able to manage my allergies by changes in my diet, supplements etc. I still have the occasional flare up in which I might take something. If she had horrible symptoms of course I would give her something for relief. I'm just having a hard time with the thought of her being on daily meds to possibly slow down allergies he thinks she MAY develop. Also I am very sensitive to some meds & I just worry they will affect her the same way. When I took zyrtec I was in a complete fog. I was just hoping there is a better way. Now that she is older I feel more comfortable giving her supplements so I've been researching that.
So I just don't really know what to think. I'm confused as to what the right choice is & would like to see if someone can give me some input. Thanks in advance for your help. Sorry this post is so long but I wanted to give you more of the "big picture"
Anyways the dr. says that she has what he calls the "allergic march". That as she gets older & is exposed to more things she will become more & more allergic. That now she will start developing more environmental allergies. He says there have been studies in Europe about taking a daily dose of zyrtec to slow down this "allergic march". It won't prevent her from developing new allergies but delay their development by potentially years. I told him I'm not really comfortable having her on a medication daily. But he really wants her to take it.
I have experience with allergies myself. In my 20's I developed horrible seasonal & environmental allergies & even developed asthma. I was on allergy meds for years but now I feel that I have been able to manage my allergies by changes in my diet, supplements etc. I still have the occasional flare up in which I might take something. If she had horrible symptoms of course I would give her something for relief. I'm just having a hard time with the thought of her being on daily meds to possibly slow down allergies he thinks she MAY develop. Also I am very sensitive to some meds & I just worry they will affect her the same way. When I took zyrtec I was in a complete fog. I was just hoping there is a better way. Now that she is older I feel more comfortable giving her supplements so I've been researching that.
So I just don't really know what to think. I'm confused as to what the right choice is & would like to see if someone can give me some input. Thanks in advance for your help. Sorry this post is so long but I wanted to give you more of the "big picture"