"Environmental allergies affected me year-round throughout my childhood. Animals, plants, dust, pollen - all of these things would make me sick to the point of barely breathing. While other kids were playing outside, I would opt to stay in my room because the impact of my allergies felt like getting the flu on a daily basis. I tried different medications - over-the-counter and prescription - with minimal success."
"The allergist I saw did a test on me that felt like getting bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes. She administered about 40 tiny shots of different allergens and measured my skin's reaction to determine how allergic I was to each thing. It was no surprise to me when I saw my skin react negatively to just about everything. It was an uncomfortable process, but the thought of a life where I could spend Spring days outdoors in the grass was too much to forgo."
Severe year-round environmental allergies caused frequent, flu-like symptoms and restricted outdoor activity throughout childhood. Multiple over-the-counter and prescription medications provided minimal relief. Parents could not pursue long-term immunotherapy during childhood, so immunotherapy began in college. Skin testing involved about 40 tiny allergen injections showing strong reactions to many allergens. The prescribed immunotherapy required about five years, starting with bi-weekly injections for months and four shots per visit, with a 30-minute observation period for reactions. Consistent treatment produced substantial improvement, enabling closer contact with animals and eventual ownership of a cat.
Read at Business Insider
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