Seasonal allergies and allergies to pets can be tough. From sneezing to itchy eyes with many other annoying allergy symptoms, relief is hard to find. Allergy shots are a treatment for allergies that you need to check out.
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Allergy shots are proven to be an effective treatment for seasonal allergies and a wide range of other conditions, including Asthma. Do allergy shots work and are they worth the effort and cost? Keep reading to discover my experience with allergy shots.
If you suffer from allergies, you’re familiar with the constant congestion, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and other hay fever symptoms that always spring up as springtime rolls around. Or maybe your symptoms plague you all year long because of ever-present pets, mold, and dust. Perhaps your allergies have become so bad that you have allergy-induced asthma.
The answer to ending the misery of seasonal allergies is allergy shots but are allergy shots worth it? Do allergy shots really work? Over a year ago these were the questions that I had about allergy shots before I started my allergy shot treatment plan. I have been receiving allergy shots for two years and I am happy to say that allergy shots work. Read more about my allergy shots treatment here.
Side Effects Of Allergy Shots ~ Common & Uncommon
I have been receiving allergy shots for two years, so I have a wealth of information about the allergy shot treatment plan. I think the most common question that people have about getting allergy shots is What are the side effects?
I know that my biggest concern about allergy shots was what side effects would I experience. While the doctor gave me a pamphlet about the side effects of allergy shots, it did not answer all of my questions. In fact, I was scared about some of the side effects that were mentioned in the pamphlet, like anaphylaxis and death.
I am still alive so I am happy to say that I did not die from allergy shots. I have only experienced an anaphylaxis reaction to allergy shots once, this was due to adding a new mold allergy shot serum to my existing allergy shot treatment plan. Thankfully Benadryl worked and I learned that I have to do the mold shots separately from my seasonal shots.
Side effects of allergy shots can include
+ Skin irritations such as redness, swelling, stinging, and itching.
+ Mild nasal stuffiness or a runny nose
+ Sneezing
+ Cough
+ Itchy or red eyes and ears
+ Itchiness or tightness of the throat
+ Hives
+ Asthma
+ Anaphylaxis - a rare side effect
+ Death-a rare side effect
The above is a list of side effects that I read about from the information that I received from the allergy doctor. These are the side effects that most people who are receiving allergy shots experience. From this list of allergy shot side effects, I experienced skin irritations, coughing, asthma, hives, and Anaphylaxis.
The time when my arm was swollen for three days!
Then there were side effects that I experienced that were not on the list. I guess my allergies were so severe that I experienced symptoms that were uncommon, so they did not make the list.
Uncommon Side effects that I have experienced from allergy shots
+ Fatigue
+ Stomach issues like gas and diarrhea
+ Brain fog
+ Inside stomach itching
+ High blood pressure
+ Shaking
The above uncommon side effects mostly happened during the build-up portion of my allergy shots. The most unusual side effect that I experienced was the stomach issues. This side effect only happened during my mold allergy shot build-up treatment plan. I would get my allergy shot and 30-40 minutes later, my stomach would start cramping and I had to use the bathroom. I would then experience gas the rest of the night. My gas was so bad that my husband would ask me, before I went to my allergy shot appointments, if I was getting the fart shots or the coughing shots.
The side effects that I experienced from allergy shots
Side effects from allergy shots are expected as one is getting a dose of their allergens injected into their body. Most side effects happen during the build-up phase of allergy shots, as the shot serums contain the things that you are allergic to. So your body is reacting to the allergens.
Most side effects occur up to 30 minutes after you receive the shot but some may last up to 24 hours.
The side effects that I experienced were
+ Intense stinging in my arm ~ This lasted about 5 minutes after the shot
+ Asthma attack ~ I would have an asthma attack 30-40 minutes after the shot
+ Breathing problems ~ I would struggle with breathing several hours after the shot
+ Coughing ~ I would cough for several hours and until the next day
+ Stomach Issues ~ This would only happen after my mold shots
+ Swelling in my arm ~ The injection site on my arm would be swollen for 3 days
+ Arm itching ~ My arm would itch for several hours after the shots
+ Stomach itching ~ This happened a couple of times and lasted for 15 minutes
+ Fatigue ~ I would be super tired for several hours
+ Tightness in the throat ~ Happened once and was a result of my asthma issues
+ Anaphalxisis ~Thankfully this only happened once and a double dose of Benadryl took care of it
+ Shaking ~ Related to the Anaphalxisis
+ High blood pressure ~ Related to the Anaphalxisis
Side effects may happen during the maintenance build-up phase
Once your allergy shot treatment is in the maintenance build-up phase, side effects can still occur but for most people, they are less severe. The plus side is the side effects will get better or subside as you progress in your allergy shot treatment program.
I am on maintenance for both of my allergy shot treatments. I get my mold shots one week and then my plants and pet shots the following week.
For both shots, the side effects that I still experience are
+ Stinging in my arm ~ a couple minutes after I get the shot
+ Coughing ~ 30 minutes after my shots and several hours afterward
+ Swelling in my arm ~ goes away the next day
+ Fatigue ~ several hours after the shots
I am happy to report that the side effects of the allergy shots are lessening as I get further along in my allergy shot plan. My body is getting used to the allergens in the allergy shots and my allergies are getting better.
For the past two years while receiving allergy shots, I could not enjoy being outside as I was still reacting with allergy symptoms from the plants that I am allergic to. The allergy shots are working as I can now sit outside in my yard and enjoy my water fountain.
Check out some additional articles for allergy shot information
13 comments:
Whew that is a lot of side effects. Crazy. I am glad they are lessening for you at least so you can be more comfortable.
I have recently noticed my eyes watering when I go out in the morning. Maybe I have seasonal allergies? I don't think it's bad enough that I would consider an allergy shot, but that's good to know about the side effects.
Good to know about these side effects. It's crazy to see so many of them up there though. At least you'll know what you could possibly expect though, so that is always good.
It's good to know everything beforehand whenever you are going to take a shot like those side effects. Being prepared makes it sail as smoothly as possible and lessen one's anxiety
It's great to hear that the side effects are manageable and that the shots have made a real difference for you.
I do have a little allgery issue at the beginning of spring when the pollen is dropping like crazy but nothing to bad and I count myself lucky for sure. I am glad that you are finding ways to help manage the issues for your self and love that you are still gardening!
It's good to know the side effects of allergy shots. I like that you list both the good and bad.
This is a great post. My oldest have allergies and she had a bad reaction once to an allergy shot.
It helps to know about side effects. I'm glad to hear you survived!!
Glad you're feeling better. A friend of ours gets allergy shots too but I didn't know about all those side effects.
With any type of medication there are side effects, But it is best that we know what they are. But I am glad that you are feeling better. And you have survived through all of this.
I got allergy shots when I was younger. They seemed to help a bunch. But now that I’ve been diagnosed with RA, getting allergy shots is out of the equation. I just take a daily Zyrtec and use Flonase if needed.
Awww, I'm sorry to hear about your side effects. Is your allergy that severe that you have to take the shot? Im just curious. Hope you get better
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