Wednesday, August 20, 2008 SLS asks

Q: What medicine should I take to control my severe allergies to animals? I am a Vet Med student.

Hello! I am currently in school for Veterinary Medicine. It has been my life long dream. I have been severely allergic to animals my entire life. My eyes swell shut, I sneeze uncontrollably and my throat swells. My first internship resulted in an ER visit for an esophagal infection, asthma attack and sinus infection. I had the sinus infection the entire internship, along with trouble breathing. Allegra, Benedryl, Claritin, Singulair, Advair, rhino-somthing(sprayed up my nose) and prescribed eye drops to control the swelling barely did anything to control the symptoms. I felt ill and drowsy from the meds. Aside from the allergy shots, what else is there? I CAN NOT stop doing what I love and what I was born to do. Thank you for your opinions and help!

SLS

Answers (4)

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Kathleen MacNaughton

8/21/08 6:58pm

Hi SLS,

I hate to tell you this, but I think you need to be realistic about your life choices, including careers. If you are severely allergic to animals and the allergy shots you're taking haven't reduced your sensitivities sufficiently, then you need to know that you are putting yourself at severe risk of anaphylaxis (allergic shock) and even death by continuing in this vein.

Of course, you may want a second opinion from an allergy specialist, but perhaps you need to start thinking about an alternate career. I'm sure there are many things you could do in the world of animals that wouldn't involve direct, hands-on exposure to them every day of your life.

Good luck,

Kathi

labmom

9/ 5/09 11:56pm

have you tried Nasalcrom? it coats the inside of the nasal passages thereby stopping the allergens.

Sicunder

11/30/09 8:37am

i am a medical student, hard to break it to you but the medicines you said you used were never gonna work as your exposure is constant and your allergy is chronic and systemic. these drugs are for mild allergies or accidental exposures only. your only option is periodic allergen desensitisation procedure- it's now time for you to say goodbye to your general physician or whoever you are consulting (chest,ENT specialists etc.) and getting an appointment with an experienced immunologist (who are available commonly in developed countries unlike mine not so developed one) you will sure in a reputed hospital probably a professor-in case you are not considering a career change.

if you really want to serve the cause of protection of animals then you should know this- your career choice will never actually is going to give you any real power ever to change things - at the best you will end up treating dogs and cats of rich brats who are soon going to get bored of their present pets or in a government job or as a consultant to some big firms - where you will tell them what is more cost effective - treating the ill animal or just culling it for saving some bucks.

Sicunder

11/30/09 8:58am

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN OFFER SOME SUBSTANTIAL HELP TO THE GREATER CAUSE OF ANIMAL PROTECTION IS IS BY JOINING PETA/ WWF etc. they will definitely favour someone with your qualification and you will not have to be in direct contact with the animals. but one thing is for sure that you can not teach or practice your profession if THE DESENSITISATION PROCEDURE FAILS TO AFFORD RELIEF. meeting with an immunologist is a must.

Q: What medicine should I take to control my severe allergies to animals? I am a Vet Med student.

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