Question:
My saga is long and involved, but the crux of it is that after having
had sinus infections off and on each of the past 12 winters (Oct - Feb),
trying most antibiotics and nasal sprays, applying heat, irrigating with
a bulb syringe, trying echinachea and Vitamin C, etc., it finally
occured to me to consult with an allergist.
My testing was done on November 23. My results showed fairly strong
reactions to 28 foods. I don't know if this is common or not. The
reactions were to things I would not have suspected (tea, wheat, milk,
peanut, pepper, grains, onion, cabbage, tomato, oats, yeast, cottonseed,
etc.) I have been on an Elimination diet for 8 days now, and am feeling
TREMENDOUSLY better already.
My head feels clear for the first time in ages and I have more energy.
My red, itchy eyes are not completely clear, but they have improved. My
drainage is green, but it is draining.
I also tested as allergic to mites, Greer dust (whatever that is),
grasses, dog, tobacco, grain smut, and some molds. The allergist
recommended that I begin taking allergy shots 2x per week for the
non-food allergies.
Today I saw a GP who said I have a sinus infection, and who prescribed
Levaquin and Nasacort AQ. He also said my left sinus cavity looks
"pretty blocked up" and that I might have polyps.
My question (THANK YOU ALL for your patience) is this:
Should I begin a two-year (or possibly longer) series of injections for
the inhalant allergies?
The allergist game me a shot of Kenalog (?) which he thought would bring
me some "immediate relief". He also suggested applying heat to the
sinuses and taking guaifenesin to help with drainage.
Answer:
I tried this, didn't help me, but everyone is different I guess. My own view is it's a waist of money, but that is just from my own
experience.
I've been getting shots for two years, and they've helped me with my dust,
tree, and grass allergies. Last spring was by far the easiest one I've had
in recent years. It's annoying to go to the allergist's office every week
for the shots, but other than that I have nothing but good things to say. There are advantages to seeing the allergist every week -- when my ongoing
sinus infections flares up, it's good to be able to see a doctor right
away. Soon I'm going to be going every other week, then once a month. You
might get to the every-other-week stage faster than me (I blew off the
appointments for a few months).
Same here - went on the 3-year cycle with the shots and had absolutely no
relief whatsoever - was a waste of my time and money. I tried allergy shots for dust, mold, mites, trees etc. I think I took them
for 4 or 5 years. Later on I has a new series of skin test and I showed
very little or no reaction to the allergens I had been treated for. The
problem was it did nothing to improve my sinus condition. My experience is
that the shots are more effective for people with seasonal allergies.
