My doctor said it just happens sometimes, randomly, and I let it go at that. Now that I am feeling better however, I'd like to know more about what happened. Even if it is just random, there has to be a medical description of why my body did that? Any comments are welcome.... My symptons were breaking out in hives, turning red all over my face chest and hands, extreme itchiness, congestion & difficulty breathing, and eyes swelling shut. It wasnt too much fun. They gave me a benadryl shot that eventually brought me back down....
2006-07-28 13:00:41 · 8 answers · asked by mcslain 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Wanted to add that I've been getting these shots for about a year now. So this wasn't the first time and BAM... it was completely out of the blue. I've never had anything worse that a slight bump where the shot was before this. Also, I'm well aware of the concepts behind the shots... but was more curious as to what went wrong. Thanks for all the answers so far though.
2006-07-29 11:11:53 · update #1
I have had shots for many years. It happens sometimes. The doctor will lower the dosage for your next few shots. I hope you stay the recommended 20 minutes after the shot. Your reaction was fairly severe. It might be that you ate something that compounded with your shot or you didn't take your medicine as you should have.
For example, I should not eat dairy. Usually I can have a tiny bit but NOT in fall when the ragweed count is high.
2006-07-28 13:50:07 · answer #1 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Allergy shots are not shots of antihistamines!
You probably had a round of allergy tests done a while back, skin-scrape tests to determine what you're allergic to. Then the allergist that did this (it is an allergist, right?) checked the results, and concocted a cocktail shot with those allergens in it. That's right, they are injecting you with the very things you are allergic to. They're supposed to be very small doses, however you may have been more reactive to one of the items than they initially thought based on your skin scrapes, so your next shot should go a lot smoother (remind them about your reaction when you go back).
OK, so you know that a flu shot contains an actual (dead, but actual) flu virus in it. Well, this is the same concept. The idea behind allergy shots is to dose your body with them regularly, over time, to make your body get used to te allergens and stop reacting to them. So you should always expect some kind of a reaction when you get a shot, and it should be less each time you get it. It may take several years to build up a complete immunity.
I've heard you can help it along by eating a tablespoonful of locally-produced honey every day.
Good luck!
2006-07-28 13:13:57 · answer #2 · answered by agentdenim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My four year old son takes weekly allergy shots and before he had his first shot I was told that some people have a severe reaction to the allergy shot because the injections, from what i understand, is low doses of medication to get your body use to what you have the allergy to.. That was my understanding.. After every shot I have to stay at the office for 30 minutes just in case he has a reaction!!
I really feel bad for you because I know what my 4 year goes through with his allergies and you can't even take the shot!!
2006-07-28 13:09:41 · answer #3 · answered by DeeDee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You basically developed a severe allergic reaction to whatever it was you were injected with. All of these responses are based upon histamines, prostaglandins, and other inflammatory messengers that your body produces when it believes your body is under attack.
This is the same sort of thing that happens to people who die from getting a bee sting, only to a lesser degree--as you mentioned, you had difficulty breathing; people who die from allergies (such as bee stings) die because their throat swells shut, and they cannot breathe. This condition, incidentally, is known as anaphylaxis.
Benadryl, an anti-histamine, removed your symptoms because it convinced your body that the foreign substances (whatever you were injected with) were no longer there. Thus, your system backed off of "red alert" mode and stopped producing the nasty conditions from which you were (temporarily) suffering.
2006-07-28 13:05:06 · answer #4 · answered by madsci565 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get your best answers by going to either.
www.medscape.com or www.webmd.com
Usually though there really is not a medical answer for a reaction like you described. Your doctor was right it does just happen randomly, I have a reaction to sulfa drugs, but there is no answer as to why. It is just that every person is different on how your body reacts to any medication.
2006-07-28 13:09:30 · answer #5 · answered by Kali_girl825 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't imagine how you could be allergic to an antihistamine shot. Hmmmmmmmm, yeah, I'd ask for more clarification. Sometimes doctors think they can get away with anything, and with no explanation. That happened to me once, but it was a reaction to Naproxin.
2006-07-28 13:06:51 · answer #6 · answered by Nani 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
alergys are what they are dont do agin what caused the alergy and its good you now no what it is your alergic to benadrill is good tohave on hand for bug bites and stuff iam alergic to somestuff to drs can do tests that will tell you other stuff you are alergic to
2006-07-28 13:06:05 · answer #7 · answered by polkahaunis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would sue those quacks!
2006-07-28 13:03:37 · answer #8 · answered by St. Anthony of Y!Answers 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋