We are considering moving due to our son's severe allergies. He turned 3 in December and has already had 4 surgeries due to chronic ongoing sicknesses (3 sets of tubes, adenoidectomy, and tonsillectomy). Due to the chronic otitis media with effusion (ear fluid), he had a severe speech delay by 18 months. He went through subcutaneous allergy testing at 20 mos. only to find he was moderately allergic to 23 things (the biggies are molds, dust mites, and some weeds)--no foods. He started taking 3 shots/week and 3 meds./day in Sept. 08 and is now at maintenance of one shot/week and 2 meds/day (Zyrtec & Nasonex). Despite all of this, he's been sick a full 14 times since mid-August. (I myself have been getting shots for 20+ years and the only allergy "relief" I've found was the 4 yrs I spent in Muncie, IN, attending grad.school.)

We have looked all over the map to find a suitable more allergy friendly place to live and last summer traveled around Oregon and Colorado. (We specifically sought out OR and WA states b/c they are the only states exempt from ragweed.) Narrowing our search yet further, we traveled in January to Bend, OR, which is dry high desert with only 10 inches/rain/year and cold nights even in summer. Translation: the allergist we met with there told us there are essentially NO molds and NO dust mites there. There are few grasses and pollens, with the main one juniper (which seems tolerable at 3-4 weeks/yr).

Louisville is humid, hot, and gets 44 inches rain/year so mold and dust mites thrive indoors year-round. :( Still...it's a huge deal to uproot our family and move across the country. So based on everyones' experience, here are our questions:

1.)  At what point do we give up on the hope that allergy shots will help our son? (He's been on them faithfully for 18 mos.)

2.)  Does anyone have experience with relocation and, if so, is this a realistic option to improve his quality of life (given his specific allergens)?

We are really struggling with this dilemma and are extremely grateful for any info. anyone can share on this topic.  Thanks!!

Leslie