4 ms·

Is this effective and available for milder chronic hayfever and runny,partially blocked nose, generally speaking?

RamblingCTO 2y ago
Yes it is: https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/koerper-psyche/haut-und-allergie/desensibilisierung-endlich-allergiefrei/ https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/koerper-psyche/haut-und-allerg... I heard that you can choose between pills every day for a prolonged period OR three injections over a year. Not sure how accurate this is, but every "allergologe" provides this in Germany.
ad700x 2y ago
I visited my local allergist for this (in the USA). Basically the treatments available to me were either shots or eyedrops. The shots required visiting the office almost daily, then weekly, then less frequently. The eyedrops can be self administered. I was told both treatment options are not permanent and need to be basically done in perpetuity. The cost was a couple thousand dollars per year (basically no insurance coverage). Seems like the treatment options are evolving pretty rapidly and these options aren't available everywhere. Or this is what I was told.
- jorvi 2y ago
  > I was told both treatment options are not permanent and need to be basically done in perpetuity You were told wrong. Shots have a ramp-up period and then a five year maintenance period where you get one shot a month. Afterwards, you've effectively been cured.
  - morsch 2y ago
    A friend just started the shots and there was no ramp up, he's getting the shots every four to six weeks from the start. When I looked into it ten years ago, you had to come in weekly for a long time, which discouraged me from doing it.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
mrguyorama 2y ago
Yes, my girlfriend gets allergy exposure shots for cat dander. It's stupid expensive and time consuming. You will meet your insurance deductible for several years. The outcome is only somewhat good as well.
olau 2y ago
My hayfever is mild. Since some years ago, I chew some grass ends, mostly at the beginning of the season. I do seem to get much reduced symptoms compared to what I used to get. But of course I can't be sure it's causal. I have completely stopped taking antihistamines.
spacebanana7 2y ago
I've heard that consuming honey from your local variety of bees can help - but the evidence base isn't great [1] [1] https://www.honeyshoney.co.uk/blogs/news/local-honey-and-hayfever https://www.honeyshoney.co.uk/blogs/news/local-honey-and-hay...
- simonswords82 2y ago
  This is nonsense. It doesn’t work.
- OJFord 2y ago
  I think this myth might stem from people not getting hayfever, moving away from where they grew up, and then suddenly getting hayfever and attributing it to where they moved to. But the truth is it just can be (frequently is I believe) adult onset (20s very typical I believe). At least, that was my experience, I blamed Cambridge, then moved back or even when I visited before that had it just as bad in the town I grew up in. (Cripplingly painful eyes, sometimes migraines. Nose generally fine, but steroidal nasal spray is the best I've found off prescription for my eyes. Eye drops only really seem to help by way of lubrication for me (even though they are active), and pills (best I've tried is fexofenadine) don't give that instant relief.)
  - supertofu 2y ago
    The only time in my life I've ever had hay fever was when I was 15 taking a summer program in Oxford. I'm from California. Never had hay fever again. I think I'm just allergic to England.

Yes it is: https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/koerper-psyche/haut-und-allergie/desensibilisierung-endlich-allergiefrei/ https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/koerper-psyche/haut-und-allerg... I heard that you can choose between pills every day for a prolonged period OR three injections over a year. Not sure how accurate this is, but every "allergologe" provides this in Germany.

ad700x 2y ago

I visited my local allergist for this (in the USA). Basically the treatments available to me were either shots or eyedrops. The shots required visiting the office almost daily, then weekly, then less frequently. The eyedrops can be self administered. I was told both treatment options are not permanent and need to be basically done in perpetuity. The cost was a couple thousand dollars per year (basically no insurance coverage). Seems like the treatment options are evolving pretty rapidly and these options aren't available everywhere. Or this is what I was told.

jorvi 2y ago
> I was told both treatment options are not permanent and need to be basically done in perpetuity You were told wrong. Shots have a ramp-up period and then a five year maintenance period where you get one shot a month. Afterwards, you've effectively been cured.
- morsch 2y ago
  A friend just started the shots and there was no ramp up, he's getting the shots every four to six weeks from the start. When I looked into it ten years ago, you had to come in weekly for a long time, which discouraged me from doing it.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

mrguyorama 2y ago

Yes, my girlfriend gets allergy exposure shots for cat dander. It's stupid expensive and time consuming. You will meet your insurance deductible for several years. The outcome is only somewhat good as well.

olau 2y ago

My hayfever is mild. Since some years ago, I chew some grass ends, mostly at the beginning of the season. I do seem to get much reduced symptoms compared to what I used to get. But of course I can't be sure it's causal. I have completely stopped taking antihistamines.

spacebanana7 2y ago

I've heard that consuming honey from your local variety of bees can help - but the evidence base isn't great [1] [1] https://www.honeyshoney.co.uk/blogs/news/local-honey-and-hayfever https://www.honeyshoney.co.uk/blogs/news/local-honey-and-hay...

simonswords82 2y ago
This is nonsense. It doesn’t work.
OJFord 2y ago
I think this myth might stem from people not getting hayfever, moving away from where they grew up, and then suddenly getting hayfever and attributing it to where they moved to. But the truth is it just can be (frequently is I believe) adult onset (20s very typical I believe). At least, that was my experience, I blamed Cambridge, then moved back or even when I visited before that had it just as bad in the town I grew up in. (Cripplingly painful eyes, sometimes migraines. Nose generally fine, but steroidal nasal spray is the best I've found off prescription for my eyes. Eye drops only really seem to help by way of lubrication for me (even though they are active), and pills (best I've tried is fexofenadine) don't give that instant relief.)
- supertofu 2y ago
  The only time in my life I've ever had hay fever was when I was 15 taking a summer program in Oxford. I'm from California. Never had hay fever again. I think I'm just allergic to England.