Can allergy shots actually increase sensitivity in some?

Hi, thanks for reading my post...

In May I underwent skin testing for molds, pollens, house dust, etc. I also did blood testing for food allergies. It was discovered that I'm extremely allergic to all things outdoors and I have a high sensitivity to molds and house dust. Through my own detective work I have found that any exposure to mold & dirty indoor air puts my system over the edge and gives me symptoms, which for me are inflammation in my inner ear - which leads to temporary hearing loss and some dizziness. The official dx is Meniere's Syndrome, but my allergy doctor's analogy for my case is that I have asthma of the inner ear.

Once I discovered that unclean indoor air, mold spores are my biggest enemy, I did everything to improve my indoor environment and avoid any indoor or outdoor mold situations. I bought a purifier for the bedroom, HEPA vacuum, started using N95 masks for cleaning, etc. The doctor put me on allergy meds: singulair, allegra, zyrtec, etc. After 2 years of suffering (probably longer) I got better! After this, whenever I had an attack, I could trace it back to an exposure - usually something that involved mold. Other than the occasional exposure I became reliably better for a month and half. This is while pollen counts are high. I think the allergy meds have kept reaction to those allergens at bay.

Meanwhile the doctor put me on allergy shots for the molds, house dust, dog dander, etc, which we started at the end of June. Due to my immune system being on overload, we decided to wait on the outdoor allergy shots until late fall/winter, when those allergens go away.

So, I've been getting the mold house dust allergy shots for 2 1/2 months. I have noticed that for the past month it has been tougher and tougher to get a good day anymore. I seem to have become more sensitive to indoor allergens. I have determined that in the last month and half I've become sensitive to the A/C system in my office. I do better when I work from home. We have replaced the air filters at work, which gave me short-term relief. Now, I'm basically having chronic symptoms. Earlier this summer, I had no symptoms at work.

My question is this: Can allergy shots actually create higher sensitivity for some people?

I cannot think of anything else that has really changed in the last couple of months, other than me getting allergy shots each week. I'm concerned, because the last thing I need is to become more sensitive to these things with winter coming and my time indoors increasing substantially. Has this been the experience of some folks on here? All you ever find on the internet is how allergy shots will make you less sensitive over time.

If they have made me more sensitive, am I screwed at this point, or would discontinuing the shots roll back my sensitivity to where it was before?

I should mention that I have discovered food allergies too and I have been on a strict food rotation diet for this entire time. I'm also gluten, dairy, yeast, sugar free.

Thank you so much for reading this long post and providing me with any personal experience you may have with allergy shots.

Mike

Thank

When I started my allergy shots I got reactions to them. They had to reduce the concentration because I was so sensitive. It took a long time to build up to my peak tolerance, and even then I had to reduce the volume of the shots because they were hurting too much.

I'm doing very well now!!! I no longer react to molds, pollens, grass ... My two weekly shots are lots better than running for an antihistamine all the time. It's reduced my sinus infections too.

I don't go to the doctor's office for the injections. My husband gives them. When I forget and he goes off to work I just give them to myself in the thighs.

Thank you all for the replies. Sorry I haven't checked back in awhile.

I have become even more hypersensitive to inhaled indoor air offenders. I'm set off so easily. I'm nervous about turning the heat on here in a couple of weeks. My doctor last time said that it is due to my immune system being on overload from the fall allergies. Makes some sense, except the pollen counts are getting pretty low now, so I don't think pollen should be having a big effect at this point, yet I'm still having problems.

Alcie, I should have mentioned that I have not had a reaction yet to any of the shots given in the past 3 months or so. Does it make sense that I can become more hypersensitive to the allergens even though I haven't had any reactions after the shots are given? I guess on paper that doesn't make sense, does it?! If I'm more hypersensitive because of the shots, I should not have been able to progress this far with the dosing. Then again, there are thousands of mold species and the shots only cover a small range. It might make sense that one's sensitivity could increase to mold species not included in the shots, just due to getting a regular weekly exposure to similar molds. Now, that does make sense to me. I have heard/read that allergy shots for molds are only moderately effective, and this could be why - there's just so many species out there, you can't cover them all.

Joan I will take your advice and tell the allergist that I feel worse over the last few months and that my gut is telling me to stop with the allergy shots. I'll see what he says to that. I really need to hear something that is confidence boosting to continue. Almost everything else he has done for me has been helpful in my recovery. I've been very hopeful about the shots as well, but I may be one of those exceptions to the rule.

Any chance you remember one of the three people who told you about allergy shots making them worse? Maybe I can contact them and get their story.

Thank you,
Mike

The post you found is an old one. It would be great if you would start a new thread and introduce yourself. I'm glad you found us!

When I first started on the shots I reacted to them. The lowest dose they usually give was too strong for me! It took me several months to get up to the dose I currently take. The reaction to too high a dose should be a skin reaction - red wheal, itching.

They might have to start with just a few things in the shot, not everything you are allergic to in one shot. I get two a week in opposite arms. I reacted to each shot differently. I also had a lot of pain with the 5ml shots. My allergist allowed me to cut down to 3 ml, which is working fine.

I'm so glad I stuck with it! I have NO allergy symptoms from dust, mold, grass, tree pollen now.

I suffered terrible allergies this spring and developed asthmatic bronchitis twice.  I was fatigued and had no energy to do anything. When I tried the gym my lungs felt like they were being squeezed when I attempted cardio.

 I felt so much better in mid-June was allergy season was over and decided to start on allergy shots so I wouldn't have to go through that again.  My first appointment was late June and a week or so later my ears started to hurt but I just thought it was due to my chronic wax build-up in my ears so I got my ears cleaned.  My ear pain got worse and I was put on drops but that didn't cure anything.  Went back to ENT and he said my ears were fine but I was most likely suffering from allergies and had inflamed Eustachian tubes.  I decided to stop getting the allergy shots because since starting them, the fatigue has come back and I've developed the sharp ear pain which has since stopped since I stopped the shots.  I am still VERY lethargic though.

Does anyone know how long it takes for the effects of the allergy shots to get out of your system?