Looking for Others Thoughts...

I have gone through the same thing for the last five years with my oldest daughter. She is now nine years old. My daughter is scared to death of needles, so the Dr. gave her the allergy serum in drops under her tongue. It's the same serum as the shots just administered in a different way. He said that they don't work for everyone, but that they do for most people. And when they do they are just as effective as the shots. It worked great for us!

C. A.

My daughter suffers from allergies, too. She is allergic to almost every tree and weed/grass we have in the area! Instead of allergy shots we were able to give her allergy drops - drops that are placed under the tongue. It is quick and painless - the best part is that we were able to do it at home and didn't have to go to the doctor every week.

Good Luck!

Hi Jaime,

I have a son that is 4yrs old and he has been on allergy shots for almost two yrs now. It has been very helpful. He has seasonal and food allergies. We were on singular..asthma meds, steriods and antibiotics all the time. Now he just takes his shots about every 3 weeks. Its tough at first because they have to go so often but gradually build up to three weeks or even monthly. I am glad that we decided to go with the shots. Hope this helps..good luck!

I know how hard it is to see your child sick all the time, especially with just day-to-day living. My Daughter use to have allergies and asthma. After lots of doctors and many different prescription drugs with their many side effects we looked for a better way for the body to help itself. We started her on an amazing liquid supplement called VEMMA and now she NO LONGER uses inhalers or other prescription drugs. I also know a young man on the West Coast that had Severe Environmental Allergies and he has had tremendous results also. Let me know if you would like some information about it.

We waited on the allergy shots until over the counter stuff just wasn't effective and that sounds where you are. This is an incrediblly difficult season and I too have suffured the most in our home with asthma attacks etc. We started our boy on allergy shots this fall and though it has taken a couple of months. we now seem free of ear infections, sinus infections and the mysterioius low grade fever he had suffered for almost a year.

Go to Shaklee and put him on Ocean Wonders Multi and also Optiflora. http://www.wellnessiseasy.com

T. :)

Hi J.,
When I was young, my parents brought me and my 2 sisters to OKC to the allergy clinic. Since we lived about 80 miles from OKC, and the roads were not what they are today, driving up once a week for shots was not an option, so they taught my parents how to give the shots and mailed them to us weekly. I was terrified. I would hide under the bed and ask constantly, "Is it Tuesday yet?" If your son's allergies are manageable and you can control them with over the counter meds, or even prescription meds, I would do that rather than have him subjected to the shots. I also have to say that when I took my son, (who also has those seasonal problems)to the allergy clinic here in OKC a few years ago, he was very scared (he was also about 4 years old) and the nurse we had was very abrupt with him. I had to speak to the doctor about her attitude with children (not just mine, but also another child who was in there at the same time we were that we observed her with). I would truly encourage you to try to manage his allergies with over the counter/prescription drugs and stay away from the shots if at all possible. If you need further information, please feel free to contact me.
C.

Before you begin allergy shots on a 4 year old you may want to consider taking the toxins out of your home which may be a trigger for allergies and asthma. My husband and I are on a mission to help families do this confidently and economically with a win-win for health and environmental benefits. Let me explain. Recently an executive order from Governor Jindal’s office was given seeking to improve energy efficiency and environmental friendly practices throughout the state. We feel we have found a simple, common sense approach for individual homes and businesses to employ that will ensure the health, safety and protection of our families, environment and resources. Our children will enjoy better health and safe, clean, abundant resources for generations to come.

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Independent Shaklee Distributor

Look for an ear, nose, and throat doctor that treats allergies. My son has a similar problem only the doctor gives drops instead of shots. He takes a drop of the medicine under his tongue twice a day for 2 years. It really helped with his allergies, only without all the pain of the shots.

Please don't go for shots, that's just going to weaken his immune system......it's very simple....any allergies can be eliviated with NETTLE TEA.......or if you live near any woods or field, go pick stinging nettles...they grow everywhere...just wear gloves when you pick them.....dry them hanging upside down in a dark place and make a tea concoction (one handful in a quart of water...bring to a boil and then steep for 10 minutes) Have him drink it with honey at least 2cups a day.....and he'll get rid of all those allergies.
F. Souverville C.C.E./midwife

Not only am I the proud mommy of a three year old girl with many of the "common" allergies I also suffer from allergies. We just started her on allergy shots two weeks ago and the improvement is massive! She is not coughing at night and the redness under her eyes is all but gone. She is also more active now..she was able to play in the leaves I had left over from fall last weekend and did not have a reaction to them.
I am a huge believer in modern medicine. If it will help my child get well than I am all for it. It has worked tremendously and I would suggest it to anyone who has children with allergies. So not only has the allergy shots helped me they are helping my daughter to be a normal child who is not plauged by allergies.

It seems that allergy shots have helped many people, but my DD took them for a couple of years when she was a teenager, and she is convinced that they made her worse. She has a friend who says the same thing. I would definitely try getting rid of the chemicals in the home, the chermicals in the food he eats if at all possible, and a good probiotic supplement. Also, try going to a health food store if you can and/or look online for some natural treatments. You can always resort to the shots if the natural methods don't work. Just my 2 cents.

A.
http://www.audreysallnaturalshoppe.com

Try taking him to a chiropractor. I take my 2 yr old son to a great one in Edmond. My son doesn't have alergies, but the Chiro helped an ear ache heal faster. If your son's neck isn't aligned correctly, it could prevent his ears from draining correctly.
I have an adult friend that I sent to my Chiropractor for allergies. She used to carry an eppa(sp?) pen every where she went. Now she doesn't have too... plus she can even eat the foods she used to be allergic too. She also had to use an inhaler & no longer uses it either. Let me know if you would like my chiropractor's information.

My mom is a nutritionist and she does a class on allergies. While she focuses on food-based allergies, the underlying processes are much the same.

Fortunately, there's a ton that you can do to improve his condition!

What I've learned from my mom is that it is astounding what some simple steps will do: get all of the chemical cleaners, everything, from toilet bowl cleaner to furniture wax to bleach, out of your home, and every chemical product, especially dryer sheets. Get rid of all of the perfumed stuff, like body care products, all of the shampoos, lotions, everything. Use natural products, instead. Some are more expensive, but some are nice and cheap, like Suave Naturals, or Pure & Natural bath soap. Beware of "fragrance-free" - that can mean that *more* chemicals were added to get rid of the smells of the other ingredients. For the cleaners, there are lots of websites that can show you what common household items, like vinegar, lemons, and baking soda, can work very effectively to sanitize and clean your home.

Don't just use chemical cleaners when your son isn't home. They're still on the surfaces that you cleaned, and in the air from the application. Plus, chemicals still leak out of the containers while they're in the cabinets, affecting air quality.

Doing this, you will probably see some improvement in just a couple of weeks.

Get an air purifier if you can, and tear out any carpets. We're doing that preventively for our baby, and simply staining and polishing the concrete below it. It ends up raising the value of the home overall because it looks so good! If you can't take on a huge project like that, just tear it out if it's in the room where he sleeps. You can then lay down a low-allergen rug for cold mornings.

Whether respiratory or food-based, all allergies can be greatly alleviated through a low-sugar, whole-foods diet. The chemicals in foods can really set off the immune system in general. You can get relief for him that lasts for years by doing a 6-8-week program of only plant-based whole foods, nothing processed, no dairy or meat (dairy can aggravate respiratory allergies, too, because it creates a lot of mucus), no sodas, sugary juices, etc. Short of that, you can just phase in more and more natural, whole foods. The closer to their form in nature, the better. And that will be good for your entire family!

Good luck.

L.

I did not get a chance to read what other responses you have received, but we use air purifiers in all of our bed rooms, and also use a nice air filter for our AC.

Has your DR. tried Singulair yet? My daughter had the same problems, she is now 5. She kept having problems, then her Dr. tried her on Singulair and it is so much better. Just my experience.

I have dealt with allergies my whole life. I had tubes, adnoids out and tonsils out at 4. I also had allergy shots as a child and to my knowledge they did help. I was pretty young (around 4 or 5) so the doctor's office taught my parents how to give them to me. My mom has told me I was more at ease getting them from someone I knew - although it was definitely not easy for her!
The other bit of information I wanted to pass along is, I started allergy shots again as an adult because I was forever dealing with a plugged nose, etc. I did the shots for about 2 years when my doctor retired. I started with another allergist & he told me that I should notice a significant difference within 6 months of starting the shots. If I didn't, the shots were not benefiting me enough to continue them. This doctor doesn't like medicating his patients - which I totally agree with. He likes to find the "root" cause and treat that. Through this doctor's help, I found out I have sleep apnea and have not had a plugged nose in 2 or 3 years! I do still deal with some allergies but can manage them with over the counter medicines. I'm not dependent on them like I used to be. I figure I live in OK, therefore chances are, I'm going to have allergies. They don't run my life as they used to though.
Good luck!

I have bad allergy's also and took shots for five years. The doctor was giving me a tablet called seldane once a day and it was taking away what the shots were susposed to be doing, as a result my allery's got worse and then I was diagnose with asthma. I was told by a doctor when your not treated properly your allergy's can develop into asthma. Debbie

My son, who will be 14 this month, was diagnosed with allergies when he was 5. At the time he was continuously sick with ear infections, sinus infections and sore throats. He was losing weight and had horrendous nose bleeds and rashes too. Actually it was his kindergarten teacher who told me to have him checked for allergies. We did and, basically, if it grows out of the ground - he's allergic to it. Out of 48 tests he tested positive for 46. We started out with oral medications and they helped some. It wasn't until he started the shots that he got better, in fact, the symptoms all but disappeared. He had 2 shots every week for three years then monthly for a year and a half. The last 6 months he was weaned off them slowly. I worried about the shots hurting but he said he never felt a thing and actually looked forward to going every week. He's been off the shots for 3 years now and is doing fine. He occassionaly has problems during "allergy season" but they're managed well with over the counter medications (Claritin works best for him). My sister who had severe allergies as a child never went the shot route and at 46 yrs old still has horrible problems with hers.

Oh girl I just moved to OK this place totally stinks for allergies, my kids (3 of them) and myself have always had seasonal allergies then we move here they turn out to be all year round. now i am allergic to oak trees cats dogs pecan trees and house mites and mold. there is somethign absurd like 80% of children in this state suffer from allergies that need to be treated with tubes and shots. I have thus far kept my kids away from the shots simply becasue we have our good days and bad days, but my little sister has had shots since she was 2 she is now 17! She also has had tubes since then, it seems like they could have done something different by now. just my opinion.

Well I skimmed over your responsed and the only thing I would like to add is that you might want to try a local honey like from a farmers market or healthfood store. this works much the same as the sshots but no pain and a natural sweetner all you do is take 2table spoons a day took it for yrs as a kid and also had to take the allergy shots(I was allergic to 36 plants and animals:( The shots helped a lot but I suffer less from my allergies when a am close to my uncle's it was his bees that we got the honey from well hope this offers you another alturnitive(?) Best of luck

My son has pretty bad allergies to oak, some molds, and grass. He has been on allergy shots for 2 years. It has made a HUGE difference in him. He had a little trouble with skin reactions when he first started the shot so his dosage wasn't increased as fast as normal. He went twice a week for about a year and then once a week and we just started every other week last month. He is currently off all of his meds after being on them for 5 years.

Hi J.!
I haven't been completely happy with our medical options in Oklahoma. My father is a family practice doctor board certified in anti-aging which basically means that he practices integrated medicine (both traditional and alternative). He believes strongly in preventative medicine. Unfortunately, he is is Austin, TX. There are many options for allergies besides "shots". It seems like doctors typically jump to extremes like shots, sugery, or anti-biotics these days. There are many alternative therapies that are much less invasive than a weekly shot that weakens the immune system. There is a doctor that is in Jenks that is a homeopathic (natural). His name is Dr. Michael Leu. I am not sure if he sees children, but he might be able to refer you to someone. If you can treat this naturally, using the bodies own chemistry, then why not? Give him a try!

My son like yours was tested for allergies not long after turning two. He was not allergic to any foods but did have a lot of allergies for the common grasses, molds, dusts, etc. He was also allergic to red ants. He received 3 shots a week and there was a huge improvement for him. He was also put on Zyrtec and a nose spray. We did the shots for about a year and then I stopped on my own. He had gotten an ear infection and was on a ton of medicine so I felt like I needed to give him a break. He has been off the shots for over a year now and is doing fine. He still takes his Zyrtec which is now over the counter so that makes it even better. My child's doctor did not plan on retesting him. Once my son would reach full strength he would not have to go as often. My doctor was concerned with a relapse for my son when I talked to him about no longer going but he has been doing great. We still get the occasionally runny nose or cough but can usually treat it with over the counter medicine. Perhaps talk to your doctor about Zyrtec or some other allergy medicine first. I have lots of friends that have their child on that instead of shots. Hope some of this helps.

My son has taken allergy shots since before he turned two. He is not quite 3 now and has been taking them for over a year. The first month or two months was really hard to take him to get his shot and hold him still. I didn't like doing it. But he is allergic to grass, trees, mold, dust basically anything outside. And he was constantly sick with a runny nose and cough (from drainage). His eyes would run constantly and be matted shut of a morning when things were in bloom. But since he has been taking a weekly allergy shot he is a different little boy. He feels so much better and he doesn't mind the shot so much. I wouldn't change a thing and I am definitely glad that my husband and I decided to have him tested. Trust me he will feel much better. It is definitely worth the time in our case.

I would check into getting the allergy drops that go under the tongue, which is what I had to start my daughter on just two months ago. It is an alternative to the shots. I took shots as a child, and they hurt. Of course that was 15 years ago, and maybe the mixture has improved over the years to alleviate the pain. But if you can find an allergy specialist who will do drops, I recommend it. There is less a chance of reaction with drops as well. Don't panic about the shots, but don't hesitate to ask if they are thick and will hurt, and if drops are available. Good luck, I know what it is like to have a child sneeze, cough, and itch...mine did it for 16 years before drops....

My sons use to deal with the same issues growing up, they are now teens and only one son seems to still be bothered with the allergies. shots were so uncomfortable for them and then the pediatrician put them on allegra it works better for him and is less painful. for everyone. Good luck.

C. Safford
www.momstakeaction.com
Moms Helping Other Moms to a brighter future..

I haven't tried it as of yet, but have been told by several dear friends that chiropractic works. One friend has not had to bring her children to a pediatician in 2 years!! I have children with allergies but not severe. They take prescription allergy medication during the high season for them. One used to have asthma but I believe has outgrown it. It doesn't hurt to try chiropractic. It may help. I wouldn't want to see any child have to go through weekly shots.

My 4 year old daughter has severe allergies and is sick a lot with asthma problems, too. We just started allergy shots about 8 weeks ago and have already noticed a difference. I'd say if your allergist/dr. is recommending it, try it out and see if it helps. If after a few months it doesn't seem to be helping, you can always stop! We found our insurance covers it pretty well and it's worth what we are saving in dr. visits and other medicines. Good luck - I know it's hard to live with an allergic kid!

Also, we use Dr. Haunschild at the OK Allergy and Asthma Clinic in OKC - he is wonderful and his staff is wonderful.

Hi J.,

You may want to look at common household chemicals in detergents/cleaning products and formaldehyde or mercury in soaps that may be causing or adding to the allergies as well. Children are more sensitive to these allergins than we realize. In the winter time while we are closed in, the pollutants in our homes are constantly being recirculated...they never leave the atmosphere. Our skin is like a huge sponge that takes all this in. My home is now completely chemical free because of my disabled son and being more educated about these issues. I also found a company that has exceptional and more economical products that I was able to switch my home over to. I also started a home business because they are so great!

K.
____@____.com
www.Health4URFamily.com

My son had constant runny noses pretty much since birth. Finally did the allergy test.. like your son.. everything outside. No food. He started on shots and it was been wonderful. He's been doing them for almost 2 years (he'll be 10 in May). He seldom takes his Zytec, unless he's been outside more than normal in the wind. Previously, we had been on Claritin, Singulair, one that starts with an H and on and on. We didn't have tubes, but we did have his tonsils out. He doesn't snore anymore.. or at least not all the time. The testing for allergies was heartwrenching, but the results have been great. Good luck.

My first grandson had problems similar to your little boy. The allergies were to common things and there was no way to prevent him from coming in contact with those things. Dr. Kent in LC advised my daughter to start allergy shots when he was 2 years old. They helped him tremendously. He is now 14 and no longer has to have the shots. Thru the years, the allergies changed and the shots were changed, but they did the job. His were so bad that he had developed asthma, which was severe at times. He has few problems now and is able to race his dirtbike on the dusty tracks with no problem. Prior to the shots, it seemed that he was always sick, but getting the allergies under control solved the problem. I know this has to be an individual decision, but thought this may be some kind of encouragement for you.
L.

I have a 3 yr old boy that started allergy shots in Oct 07 and he is doing a lot better, he also takes Zyrtec. We had our second set of tubes also less than a month ago. He has a skin condition also called eczema and is on a topical ointment. His heels, knees and ankles would get so bad in the winter they would crack and bleed but since we started the allergy shots I have not had to use the topical ointment as much and no cracking and bleeding this winter. He had an allergy test done but he was only allergic to dust mites. The dr said most people are not contrary to popular belief. He is a little apprehensive about the shots when we first get there but he says they do not hurt that much, the needle is so small. I can tell a difference when we have to skip a week if he is sick or running a fever. We will have 1 a week for 35 weeks (ending in June 08) and then start every other week to once a month for 2 years and then we retest his allergies. I do recommend them they have made a world of difference in my son. GOOD LUCK!!!

For 53 years of my life I have suffered the same as your son is now with "seasonal allergies". My parents did everything they could to help with the problems. Allergy shots were available, however, I was horrified of needles and my dad said he just couldn't put me through that. Now as an adult, I have taken the allergy shots and improved my quality of life. My allergist informed me had the shots when started when I was a child I probably would not have allergies today!! I say find a good allergist and go for it.