New to this - allergies and immune problems!!!

Hello, I'm new to this forum.  Just found it today.  Looks great!!

I have severe allergies : Dust, Grass, Mold, and Dogs.  I also have an immune deficiency.  they tested me after giving me the booster shots for tetanus, pnu, and others I can't remember.  After 5 weeks my results were supposed to triple but most didn't even double.  Doctor told me that my immune system is messed up.  She said that I would need to either be on antibiotics for the rest of my life (like they would work if I took them that much) or do the IVG (?) thing which cost about $2000-$5000 a month.  UGH!!!  So, I just suffer with them.  It makes me have sinus problems all the time.  Have had the sinus surgery a few years ago but it just made my allergies seem worse but cured the sinus infections for about a year maybe.  They came back. 

What do you take for your allergies?  I have tried everything.  I take benadryl when I'm sneezing or stuff and sudafed when it is congested.  Otherwise - nothing seems to help (not even that stuff most of the time).

I also suffer from arthritis and lymphedema of the ankles/lower legs.  I take lortab for the pain.  I have started walking (slowly and short time) to try to lose some of the weight (lots) for the edema and knee pain.

Thanks for listening.  I just needed to see what other people do for their allergies.  Oh, I use an inhaler when I am stressed/exerting/etc. 

Thanks!!!

rfbocritter

Thanks for responding.  I am not for sure what the allergy doctor called what I have.  Just that my immune system doesn't make the anti-bodies it should to fight off the problems.  Great, huh?  I have tried everything prescribed.  I have had clartin (when prescribed not otc), allegra, allegra-d, flonase, zrytec (when prescribed not otc), singulair, rhino stuff (can't remember name).  I haven't tried Astelin.  Is that a new one?  I asked my doctor about a month or so ago about any new meds out and he said no.  It was my regular doc though.  I don't see the allergist anymore.  All she wanted to do was make me take antibiotics forever (reg doc said that it would just make me immune to them if I take them forever).  She wanted to do the IVG (interavenous stuff) and that is just too expensive for me.  My insurance will pay for all of it after the first $2000 but I can't do the first $2000.  I'm on a fixed income (disability).  Sooooo, I just take stuff (benadryl,sudafed,antibiotics) when it gets too much and live with it.  :)

Red_34 said...
Hi, welcome to HW :) Hmm seems you're in a pickle for sure! But it seems that your body is confused lol. I was under the impression that allergies were immune based meaning that your body mistakes the allergen for a foreign invader causing the normal symptoms - sneezing, congestion, itchy/watery eyes etc. But if you have an immune deficiency, wouldn't that make the allergies better? I'm just wondering aloud here :) What about prescription allergy meds? Have you tried Singulair yet? I can't take normal prescription or even otc decongestents because they make my heart race so I'm stuck with Allegra for the time being. I'm thinking of switching to Zyrtec though. I'm also on Singulair which has helped me tremendously with my allergy symptoms. What about nasal allergy meds such as Astelin?

My Naturopath says immune deficiency states can lead to hypersensitivity reactions because the body is trying to over-compensate for the antibody deficiency via the alternate immune pathway (i.e., the non-antibody immune pathway). If I were you, I'd try to get the IVIG treatments, because it may balance out your immune system and reduce the reactions. Http://www.pparx.org may provide you with information on how to reduce the out-of-pocket expense of IVIG.

Take care,