MY ANOSMATIC LIFE

It’s been three months since I started getting allergy shots. No, they haven’t made a bit of a difference yet. It would be great if my smell came back at the snap of my fingers, but that’s not the case.  Allergy shots can take 3-12 months to work. It’s hard to be patient when it comes to your health, especially after 10 years, two surgeries, countless appointments, $$$, and various medications. But I’m trying and waiting through some not-so-fun experiences.

If I didn’t believe that allergy shots could possibly bring my sense of smell back, I would’ve passed on them. Because what I experienced yesterday was ridiculous. I’m in the build phase where I get injections 1-2 times a week and the injection dose increases every month. Last month, I had to start getting hydrocortisone cream on my arms right after the injection because they’ve been itchy and getting hives on the site afterward.

Back to yesterday, I had an allergic reaction when I got home. I was itching all over. Haven’t had one like this in a long time. Like, I took two Benadrayl’s, and put on Cortizone-10, and it still took a while to kick in. It felt like the allergy test x 10.

I was not expecting that kind of reaction. So, I called my allergist’s office this morning and was told to take either Zyrtec or Benadryl before the injection to avoid a future reaction. I’ve never taken Zyrtec during the day, but it helps me sleep at night. Benadryl knocks me out real quick. Guess I’ll try Zyrtec, have a seat for 30 minutes like I’m supposed to, and pray I won’t ever have another reaction again.

So, how are my allergy shots going? It’s going. I have no idea when they will start kicking in. This is no quick fix, but I’m hoping for some improvement soon.

Note: Since this post, my dosage has been decreased and I’m limited to one allergy shot a week. 🙄