Hi there,

I can feel your frustration, and I have to say, it doesn't sound as though you've had a whole lot of satisfaction with your daughter's allergy/asthma treatment. While your doctor's advice to avoid her known triggers is sound, it's also not always completely possible NOR enough.

I think it's time for you to take control of your child's health and act as the advocate you have the right to be. You don't have to wait for your pediatrician to suggest an allergist. Every person with severe allergies and/or asthma should benefit from at least a consult (if not ongoing treatment) from an allergist.

An allergist can offer you a more expert approach to treating your daughter's allergies, including the possibility of allergy shots. You should be able to get her symptoms under control. Allergy shots can be used when traditional treatments are not achieving control. They can also be used when people with allergies want to eliminate, or at least reduce, the amount of allergy medicine being used. But the allergist can help you figure out if allergy shots are the right approach for your daughter, and if so, when to start them.

Best,

Kathi