Hayfever update

It feels like it has been ages since I wrote an update on how I’ve been doing with my hayfever. By now it’s been almost 2 years since I’ve been getting shots to battle my hayfever. This form of immunotherapy should  wipe away my hayfever in the course of 3 – 5 years. The first results should be noticeable within the first year and so I thought it would be a good moment to write an update. How am I doing? Do the shots work? Is there any difference compared to previous years? Curious? Then read the rest of this post.

Source: weheartit.com

First of all, I am doing great. I had a few bumps in the road this year that were hayfever related (you can read about it here and here if you’re interested), but those were not actual bouts of hayfever. It’s just that after years of suffering from hayfever my air ways have become a weak spot so instead of just getting the flu like a regular person I get hayfever induced illnesses such as infected lungs and vocal chords. It’s related, but it’s not actually caused by a reaction to pollen.

In fact, so far a really bad reaction to pollen has not happened yet this year. Last year around this time I was a complete and utter mess. I was on 4x the allotted the medication, 2 different nose sprays AND eye drops just to get me through the day and that only alleviated my problems somewhat. Now, however, the worst I’ve been suffering from hayfever related symptoms is when I forget to take my meds for too long or right after I received my shots.

That’s right: I forget to take my meds, because I’m barely bothered by my hayfever! I can go as long as three days without taking any meds and still be fine, provided the weather is cooperating. But even when the weather hit a very sunny spell a few weeks ago, nothing major happened. I’m used to having to take meds 2x a day every day and to only up that when things get worse, but now, I find myself using less meds and still feel fine. Oh and did I mention I can eat apples again fine? No more cross allergy for me! YAY!

The shots I get means an extra influx of pollen so it’s important to take my meds and maybe a little extra on those days. I definitely notice an increase in symptoms when my immune system isn’t working very well or when I have just received a shot, so it is by no means over, but I guess the process is well under way. It looks pretty promising, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed. Winter came late this year, so many plants and trees may decide to blossom a little later than usual. However, since I haven’t had anything major happening yet, I’ve got good hopes that this year will mean the start of more air, less itching and more time spent outside.

If you would like to know more about immunotherapy then I have posts pertaining that subject here and here. I also wrote a post on easy hayfever remedies that can help you without medical intervention.

Do you suffer from allergies? If so, which ones and what do you do about them?