Allergy questions. Help!! (foods, pediatrician, kids)

[HappyTexan]

Yes, Austin is the allergy capital of the world. If you don't have allergies when you move here..you will within a few years.

[austin-steve]

Steve- suggesting cortisone for a child is not a Bandaid for allergy relief- it has several significant potential problems- especially for a growing child-weakens and slows bone growth in a child...

Woops, when I posted that I forgot we were talking about a kid.
Steve

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Ask the doctor for a cortizone shot and you'll be like new.

That's what I got and it did no good.

Originally Posted by Texanwannabe

Out of curiosity...why can't you get that shot every year?

My doctor told me regular doses of cortisone is the 2nd leading cause of osteoporosis. That's why he wouldn't recommend I get on a regular cycle of allergy shots. Even just a couple of times a year has a significant impact.

[Phisch]

In a local publication I read that some people have local wildflower honey to help them avoid or get over allergies. Not sure of the details but it sounds yummy if you don't have to worry about calories

Do those allergy shots not work too well?

[onegoodmom]

All of these posts are really helpful! I am going to call me allergist after Christmas and see what he has to say regarding all of the information that has been provided. Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to all!!

[readymade]

I'm pretty sure Bruce Lee became addicted to cortisone shots and that helped lead to his death. It's OK to get them once in a while, but I believe they weaken your bone structure. I read that Bruce was like an old man right before he died.

I have a friend who suffers from allergies. She does something kind of awesome that of course I can't remember exactly right now. I think she makes a tea with the stuff she's allergic to (or maybe she just rubs it on her or sniffs it... I'm not sure. probably depends on if it's poisonous or not). A very diluted version and just a little bit at a time. It helps her to build a tolerance for it. She said it's very similar to the shots allergy doctors give their patients. But it's much cheaper the way she does it. I'm sure there's probably info on the internet about how to do it.

Is there a main set of allergens that people in Austin are allergic to? I wonder if it would be helpful for people to start building tolerances to the allergies in advance... before they actually become allergic. Either with shots or weakened tea. Maybe if someone goes to an allergist they can ask and post it here!

[timfountain]

Ok, so I think there is some confusion here with the definition of allergy shots. Whilst I am no MD, shots like cortisone are steriod injections that can help but as some have mentioned, can cause side effects.

The other kind of shot is long term immunotherapy. This consists of a set of tests (typically 30+ scrapes on your back with allergens and then further injections of the allergens that you reacted to). Once the allergist has determined what you are allergic to then you start a long term (1-2 years) series of increasingly strong shots that build up your natural resistance to the allergens. For me it was well work it. I went from almost continuous allergic reactions (read cold and flu symptoms) to all the stuff we have here, to being essentially free of allergic reactions in 2 years. The early days are not much fun, 3 times a week with 2 shots on each visit, but I am down to 2 shots once a month.

I can recommend Austic Asthma and Allergy clinic (http://www.allergy-asthma-austin.com/) - no affinity, just a happy customer.

- Tim

[readymade]

Sorry, I was talking about BOTH kinds of shots. I should have differentiated between them.

I meant that my friend did something on her own that was similar to "immunotherapy". To build up her natural resistance without having to go to a doctor. Again, I think it's tea.

[Mareli]

In another post a mother said she went to HEB and got Local honey. She gave it to her children one teaspoon in the a.m. and one in the p.m.. The Local honey has been helping her children. The two she has bought was Roun Rock Honey and Goodflow Wildflower honey. Can't hurt. Feel better

[HappyTexan]

The local honey helps with the cedar fever (Nov-Mar give or take) when the pollen is at the greatest. I have not heard that the honey helps with any other kinds of allergies.

Even folks that don't have allergies can get cedar fever if the count is that high.