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From: ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.kids
Subject: Re: Allergies
Message-ID: <10623@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 13-May-85 14:53:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.10623
Posted: Mon May 13 14:53:40 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 02:49:06 EDT
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Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
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Xref: linus net.med:1339 net.kids:1200

After living for years suffering almost continuously from allergic
problems as a kid, I made the first trip to the allergist in about
7th grade.  I am allergic to Trees, Grass, Mold, Dust, and Ragweed.
Trees are my big killer are marginal (mowing the lawn bothered me
but it wasn't that uncomfortable).  I continued the shots about once
every three weeks after the initial work-up and weekly during the time
that trees and grasses were pollenating.  Prices were about $5. an
injection at the time.  I discontinued the treatment when I went off
to college.

> 
> Fundamental Questions:
> 
> 1.  Is anyone familiar with an example of an allergic person who has
>     used hyposensitization therapy and has actually improved?  Do you
>     know anyone who has been told (by their allergist) "Well, I guess
>     we can stop with the injections now"?

	Does this ever happen?  I suppose I may be a little better off,
	although I don't spend as much time outdoors as I used to.  I
	still get mild problems during the right seasons, but nothing
	that makes me want to go back to the injections again.  I don't
	get the miserable, runny eyes allergic problems I used to.

> 2.  Is the long-term usage of antihistamine preparations known to be
>     free of unwanted side-effects or is there some nastiness here I 
>     should be aware of?

	I've not found a whole lot of antihistimines that I can live
	with taking.  Actifed and Chlortrinitron zonk me out dead.
	The prescription Naldecon is better, but still not great.
	I use Sudafed when I have too, it's a pretty good dryer upper,
	and doesn't incapacitate me too badly.
	
> 3.  Have the methods of allergy testing advanced any?  What is the
>     current state of the science?  My testing took about three
>     weeks, involved some 180 varied Witches' brews and philters which
>     were injected subcutaneously into my inner forearm, 10 to 20 at a
>     time.

	I had the pock marked back treatment for the initial testing.
	After they had it narrowed down they did the same thing to
	my arm (since it was only a dozen or so).  Someone mentioned
	that they have some new testing method that they use to do
	the initial testing that narrows it down for the traditional
	tests.

-Ron