Scary day yestersay after allergy shots

[KylieEve]

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

And to think we were once at each other's throats.

I got allergy shots for over 20 years. Horrendous allergies. Any questions just shoot me a PM.

I don't tend to hold grudges so I really don't even remember that we were once at each other's throats

[DASWEETESTTABOO]

I have been getting immunotherapy shots for over 3 years. I had 4 incidents from the immunotherapy shots 3 was minor 1 was major, I ended up in the ER. It's just a reaction!, everytime you go in for your shot(s) and they see you haven't reported any reaction, the Doctor or RNs or Nurse Practitioner (Sometime wears scrubs in small offices and work at the receptionist desk) will "Up"your dosages. This why they ask for patients to wait 15 mins before leaving the office..because the really bad reaction usually happens within 5-10 mins after the shot(s). I always carry some Benadryl cream or it's pill form in my purse or my car. Next time pleeeeassee wait your 15 mins. I know I sometime get my shots and just leave after, but I always have my husband drive me just in case ... If you're allergic to all those different types of grasses as well as dogs and cats ect. like me just know you may have many more reactions, some minor and some major just be prepare at all time which this is very serious and may cause death. Be safe!

[wit-nit]

When you're getting shots they are shooting into your body the same thing you are allergic to, only in higher doses to build up your immune system. Some days your system is strong, some days not so strong. OP it was probably a down day and strong dose combo that gave you such a reaction. It's not a thing to worry about unless it lingers on for days.

[chaparrito]

I took allergy shots weekly as a kid. Haven't taken them in years and don't want to. People I know don't seem to get much relief from them. Me? I recently discovered Kenelog and I'm sold. One shot every six months and I am allergy AND asthma free. I have allergic asthma and own 8 cats, 15 sheep and 30 dairy goats. I load hay and clean pens daily and refuse to be crippled by allergies. Kenelog, a steroid, is cheap and for me has had NO side effects. I read all the hair-on-fire bad news reports about it online first and took it anyway.
GREAT STUFF.

[mshultz]

Nasacort nasal spray contains the same active ingredient as Kenalog, and is available over the counter as of 2014.

I tried allergy shots two different times with absolutely no benefit. The people I know also do not seem to get much relief from them, either. If you have been receiving allergy shots for 5 years, and still need glucocorticoids during the allergy season, it is time to admit the allergy shots are a failure.

[in_newengland]

I have severe allergies and have been on the shots for a few decades. If I get off them, the allergies start to come back.

I don't get the kind of shots that build up so there is no chance of having a reaction. Get the kind where they find your actual personalized dosage. They start your shots right out at your exact dosage, no building up. Also, no sitting around in the waiting room to see if you have a reaction.

That build up kind of allergy shot never worked for me either. I think they are too general, like "mold mix" (one size fits all) instead of testing you for each individual mold or at least breaking it down into several smaller mold mixes. The more individualized they can get, the better it is.

[eastcoastguyz]

Originally Posted by KylieEve

Yesterday I went to the clinic to get allergy shots I have been getting them since June and never had a problem. I'm allergic to pollen, ragweed, trees, grass, dust mites, mould, cats and dogs. I have been getting these shots at an allergist since June. I decided to have the serum transferred to a clinic that was closer. I have had 2 shots at that clinic. Yesterday a new guy gave me the shots and he wasn't dressed like a nurse, he wasn't wearing scrubs, he was wearing regular clothes. I often see him answering the phones so I thought he was a receptionist.
He gave me the shot yesterday. Before the shot I had this weird feeling and was going to ask him if he was a nurse but then decided not to offend him. I have never had a bad reaction to the shots. I left the clinic and my hands started itching. I assumed my skin was just dry. Within an hour my hands started itching intensely form the inside and I was getting the chills. Then my neck and face turned red and I broke out in hives on my hands and they began to swell.
I went back to the clininc and they had a Dr. look at me right away. They gave me a shot of bendryl adn checked my vitals. They were going to give me epinephrine but I didn't need it.
My question is why did this happen. Could the guy who was giving me the needle have given it in the wrong area of my arm? They checked the dose and supposedly it was right. I'm wondering if I should stop the shots altogether?
I really didn't expect to get an almost anaphylactic reaction to seasonal allergens or cat and dog. Any idea?
By the way my arms are still swollen and they hurts when I lift them and it hurts to open and close my hands. My left index finger hurts to the touch it feels like arthritis.

Sorry this happened to you. I always wait about 20-30 minutes after an allergy injection at the doctor's office in case of a reaction. Even though I have never had one, I wait anyway, because this is what the doctor's office tells me to do. Even when getting a flu shot, I do the same thing, I wait. I build this into my schedule so it isn't a burden.

In the future, request that the same person give you the injections or that someone of a certain qualifications do that. Say you don't mind waiting if the person you want to give you the injection isn't available. Better yet, schedule the time to get them when that person is going to be available. Again, stay in there doctor's office to make sure there is no rejection.

We all have our favorite allergists, but it's better to get your injection in the allergists office so they can deal with a bad reaction.