Academy Allergy Asthma & Sinus

I went to this practice for the first time today. Sadly, Dr. Patterson doesn’t know what is causing my hives, BUT I want to say the office staff is pretty amazing. From making my new patient appointment to the check out, everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming.

I moved to Indiana from Michigan in ’98 and quickly suffered sinus infection after sinus infection. Like, I would be on back to back courses of meds. After a few years, my doctor suggested I might have allergies so I tried to self-​medicate. That worked until a disastrous trip to meet my fiancé’s extended family ended with me suffering an awful sinus headache from being outside so much.
A few weeks later, I was off my meds and at Academy for allergy tests. Unfortunately the first round of tests didn’t show much. I was disheartened until I found out that, basically, after the age of 25, we have been exposed to so much that the lower dose in the first round of testing doesn’t show much. BUT, if I were to have an extreme allergy, a higher dose would have caused an unwelcome reaction.
Reluctantly, I pressed on, paying out of pocket because this went towards my deductible. The second round of testing involved approximately 60 shots, applied on both arms. Thankfully the nurses kept me talking about whatever we talked about. They weren’t normal shots, per se, but they did sting. Finally, I had results. I have allergic rhinitis, non-​allergic rhinitis and allergies to a few types of grass and mold.
After changing my meds and adding some nasal sprays didn’t bring about the desired results, the nurse practitioner recommended allergy shots. Oh what a difference! I am on maintenance now (and very well could be for a few years) and, although I take claritin twice a day, use my nasal sprays and take another med, I am at least functional. I can be outside with minimal side effects. Yes, I still feel it if I am outside for a prolonged period of time, but it’s an annoyance now, not debilitating.
If you think you have allergies, I urge you to seek out the services of an allergist. It is a long process but it is so, so worth it to be relived of the suffering I felt for so many years! (And that includes going on a cruise while covered in arm bumps from the testing!)