Strange reactions to allergy shots... So frustrated I just want to scream...

It sounds to me like you have severe allergic reactions and your doctor is not qualified to be administering the shots.  The throat tightness and tongue swelling are very serious side effects that need to be monitored and could be life-threatening.  I would consider traveling to another city to see another doctor.

I really feel for you, reacting like you are to these allergy shots.  You know, this is a very specialized field.  I would not want to rely on a GP, especially with the reactions you have had, and his attitude with blowing off the reactions.  I drive 2 1/2 hours to get to my allergist, but he works WITH my GP and for the allergy shots, I drive 25 miles, one way.  The only other place here locally to get the shots, is with a PA at our local clinic.  I don't like him so figure I would rather drive 50 miles twice a week than deal with him.  

 

I had Kenalog injection in May 2007.  Within two days I was running fever, chilling, aching, visual problems, and totally out of it, and took a month to get over it.  Researched and learned others had same reaction.  It's something they use as a preservative in the Kenalog solution.  Which makes me very cautious about anything injectable now.   I think it set me up for the response I had in September to Plum I had eaten that was undoubtably treated with some sort of preservative or insecticide.  I have been tested at Allergist office but chemical testing would need to be done in Denver.  I haven't pushed for that.  Singulair, Zyrtec, Nasonex is what they put me on.

After seven months, found the Zyrtec is why I was sleeping 10 to 12 hours every night, but I also was fuzzy and sleepy all day and lacked motivation and focus.  GP took me off Zyrtec and put me back on Allegra, which I must take in a.m. as I can't sleep if I take it at night.  It's all a matter of how you feel when you take whatever they think you need.  If the reaction is worse than the allergy symptoms then why bother?  

 

My allergies symptoms were much worse when I recently went to MO/IA where pollens I react to are much worse.  I started taking Benadryl at night.  I feel like a walking medicine cabinet but I am feeling much better than I have for years and years!  I find when I am outside very much, the allergy symptoms are worse.  I'm still doing the allergy shots and will not stop until I either get relief or get very sick from them.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

Hi Ohsoallergic,

 

I am a board certified allergist out of Chicago and nearby suburbs. It is very unfortunate your experience with allergy shots was so complicated. I think it is very important to have allergy shots supervised by a board certified allergist. Allergy shots may be life-threatening when a severe reaction occurs. It is therefore important to get allergy care from skilled providers.

 

Accredited allergy training focuses on the importance of a detailed history and physical exam. The history and physical exam findings allow the allergist to properly interpret allergy skin test (or blood test) results.

 

In addition allergists are trained on:

 

-How to initiate allergy shots (important decisions must be made on dose and concentration as well as what allergens to use)

 

-How to increase the doses (with consideration of quantity to be given each time in addition to interval of time in between shots)

-How to monitor progress and make adjustments if there are problems

 

-How to prevent the progression or recurrence of local or systemic reactions

 

-How to approach high risk situations that may arise (for example: addressing new drugs ordered by another doctor that may increase the risk of a severe allergic reaction; considering other medical problems that may impact allergy shots; advising what to do if pregnancy occurs)

 

-How to decide whether allergy shots should be stopped when of the risk of injury out-weighs the potential benefit.

 

A minimum of two years is required to qualify for board certification in allergy and immunology. A board certification exam must be passed in order to achieve certified status.

 

I advise you to get a full evaluation from a board certified allergist. You can locate one from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology website. It will be worth the money spent on gas. Good health and avoidance of potentially fatal reactions are invaluable.

 

Many allergists will allow infrequent visits to their office by sending extracts to the primary doctor's office (with explicit instructions on how to proceed with shots). The allergist supervises any adjustments that may be required as allergy shots are given. We send hundreds of vials to doctors in Illinois and surrounding states that are more conveniently located (their offices are closer to the patient) for giving weekly to monthly allergy shots.

 

If you are in an HMO or similar insurance entity you will require a referral. Otherwise you may be able to go to a specialist without a referral. Call your insurance provider to clarify whether a referral is needed.

 

You may also have oral allergy syndrome and chronic urticaria and angioedema which are discussed on this web site (click on the hyperlinks).

 

You really need to see a qualified allergy specialist ASAP.

 

I hope it all works out for you,

 

J. Thompson, MD

You are not alone. My daughter had similar complaints after pollen allergy shots. She took them for about 2 years and always ended up with a hard, hot solid bump at the site of the injection for several days after the shots. She also complained of joint pain, swelling, and tiredness. As she was an athlete, it took a while before she could definitively say it was the shots and not her activities, and she finally stopped the shots. My husband sometimes wonders if the shots sensitized her to more things or if they helped stop them from getting worse. She has since tested very allergic to all fresh fruit, raw vegetables, and tree nuts. You may still be feeling sick because you are also allergic to related allergens hidden in your food that you don't realize are there (look at all the food groups associated with birch, ragweed, grass, mugwort). Our daughter has always complained about a lot of different foods, but I thought it was just being a picky eater. It depends on how the food is cooked as to when the allergens in the food get destroyed(e.g., celery is bad no matter how cooked, onions vary). I now realize the symptoms are not just swelling, itchy throat, trouble breathing, flushed skin,coughing, but could also be stomach upsets, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and general queasiness. It is important to get a good allergist. Our daughter is away at college now in a small town with no board certified allergists so she sincerely empathizes with you. Luckiy, her allergist at home responds to e-mails and she schedules appointments with him when she is home during breaks. We are still discovering new things every day. Hope you find the source of your problem. Good Luck.

I took my 4th shot and the next day I had a weird reaction, I felt as if I took the thing I was the worst at being allergic which was a cat and I felt as if I rubbed a cat all over my face my eyes were swollen shut and itching, the back of my throat was itching bad and I sneezed and sneezed, and my face swelled up and I could not get my jewelry on.  Then I got a really bad sinus infection and had to go to the doctor, that was 2 weeks ago and I am still sort of miserable. So I opt not to take the shots for awhile.

It sounds as though you may a other problems in addition to allergies.  Sun sensitivity and rosy cheeks are symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or "lupus") which is an autoimmune disease in which your body is allergic to itself.  In addition to being evaluated by a board certified allergist, you also need to be evaluated by a board certified rheumatologist.  There are a number of tests that can be done to diagnose lupus, but even if your labwork all comes back negative, you may still have the disease. 

 

There are a whole host of autoimmune diseases, so if you do not have lupus, you may have a related illness.

 

I have had a lifelong struggle with severe allergies and other symptoms.  My new allergist recently referred me to a rheumatologist who began treating me for lupus.  I have had lupus symptoms since age 11, but my labwork always came back negative, so the doctors would just blow off my case.  Now it seems that many people with lupus have negative labwork.  So find a doctor who will treat your symptoms, not your test results.

 

Lupus can manifest with a number of symptoms that come and go because the disease tends to have flareups then go into remission for awhile.  Do some online searching at www.webmd.com and other reputable websites, including the one for the Lupus Foundation.

 

Good luck!  I hope you get some answers and some relief!

I had shots as a kid, but my asthma and allergies got out of control again last year when we got a cat.  I never was allergic to cats that I know of.  My mom and sister always were, but not me.  Now, I break out in hives every time I brush against a cat.  Today, I got my allergy shots (I get two; one for cats, one for pretty much everything else you can think of) and my left arm is swollen, red, hot and hard to the touch.  It's itchy and uncomfortable, but none of these things are nearly as annoying as my TONGUE!  My tongue is too big for my mouth!  This is not the first time I've had this allergic reaction, but it's the first time I've had it to the shots.  I don't know if they gave me the wrong dose, or if playing volleyball tonight (strenuous exercise can supposedly bring about a reaction) that made these things happen, but I hope I never experience this again.  I sound like Sylvester the Putty Tat!!  I'm hoping this was just a reaction to playing volleyball after the shots, but I'm definitely telling my doctor about this tomorrow morning so they document it and make sure I get a smaller dose next time.  I feel for you if you have gone through this more than once.  The tongue thing is super annoying!!  Good luck to you.

Sounds like the shots triggered an autoimmune response. Many Lupus patients get rashes when they are in the sun for even a minute. Maybe you should see a rheumatologist. 

I have been getting allergy shots for over a year now (I'm allergic to every grass, tree, and weed in my area) and I've encountered some strange reactions that we seem to share.  I've had joint pain (sometimes very severe), fatigue, and itchiness in my armpits and my groin area.  My latest experience happened just this week.  On Monday I got my allergy shots as per usual, and by Tuesday afternoon my arms were covered in red, itchy bumps that spread quickly.  I went in to see my allergist today and he said there was no way it was related to my allergy shots.  He said it could be anything from chicken pox (I've already had this, and been vaccinated against it) to poison ivy to bug bites.  He prescribed me a steroid cream, but I just didn't feel right so I made an appointment with my PCP (primary care physician).  My PCP said that it was definitely an allergic reaction to something and after I told him about the other incidents he suggested that perhaps it is serum sickness.  He prescribed me a very powerful antihistimine (which is working wonderfully, thank God!) and suggested that if things weren't better by tomorrow, I should come by and get a shot of Cortisone.  I find it very disturbing that my PCP is more concerned about my allergic reaction than my Allergist is!!!  He was also concerned about the method of treatment.  Instead of slathering cream all over my arms and thus becoming a sticky mess, he made sure to give me pills.  I will be having a long, long discussion with my allergist next Monday (my 6 month checkup appointment) about serum sickness and my reactions to these shots.  If he doesn't give me satisfactory answers, I'll be taking my business elsewhere! 

Remember everyone, you are not forced to see just one person.  If you're not happy with your treatment, find someone you are happy with.  It may cost more, but your health is so much more important than money.  Since allergy shots can become extremely dangerous, you want someone who will take you seriously and who is concerned about your symptoms, not someone who dismisses them as bug bites!

I feel so bad for you, and I think your doctor is HIGHLY irresponsible. Allergy treatment is nothing to take lightly; especially when you are treating a highly allergic individual. I think you need to get treatment from a BOARD CERTIFIED Allergist.

 

I am having similar problems, except they believe me, since I have had two anaphylactic reactions while receiving shots. I have numerous severe allergies including several food allergies.  I am forced to drive a 5 hour round trip every week for 2 shots because there is nobody in my area who is willing to give me shots due to my high risk. I don't even get a shot from all of my vials each week because I have 4 vials and a limit of 2 shots per visit. To make matters worse, they shoved me WAY back on my venom and will only give me 1/2 a dose. I was told by 2 board certified allergists that if I should get stung by a bee, I will likely not survive. I work in paleontology and am in the field most of the summer. It all has been very discouraging.

 

My whole ordeal began last December when my asthma just went bonkers over the holidays. I was really sick, and we were 1,600 miles from home! My GP sent me to the University Hospital for testing. I had an anaphylactic reaction during testing--they think it was from the bee. The skin test for bee is only 1/1000 of a bee sting.

 

Anyway, the symptoms you have described are nearly identical to mine. It takes a whole day to get my shots, and I am in bed for most of the following day with flu symptoms and SEVERE joint pain. I lose two days every week to allergy treatment. Turns out, my joint problems from the past 5 years have been caused by allergies--who knew???

 

I can totally relate to your situation. I am also concerned for your safety; it imperative that you avoid any medical personnel who does not listen to you or take you seriously. It could be fatal.

 

I would really like to talk with you more--just for the mutual support and validation. Not sure how to pull that off.