Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    
    I don't have the name of a good allergist for you, but I know that
    one of those new drugs that doesn't make you drowsy is called Seldane
    and that I could get it from my "regular" doctor if I asked for
    it.  (He knows that my hay fever symptoms are getting worse and
    worse as time goes on...)  Di you have a general, all-purpose doctor?
    
    CQ
    
    

    If you belong to HCHP, feel free to get in touch with me - I can
    recommend someone excellent.
    
    -Jody
    

    If she's still practicing...
    Catherine O'Brien in Winchester.
    sorry, don't have the #
    
    deb
    

    
    re: .1
    
    Actaually I don't have a GP because up until last fall I was a
    Tufts student and used the health service there.  But if you know
    of a good one who can help, that's be great.
    
    re: .3 I'll look it up in the book. Thanks.
                                          
    
    I had allergy tests a few years ago that basically said I was allergic
    to everything under (and including) the sun.  I hope if I go to
    an allergist, he won't make me take scratch tests again. I nearly
    fainted last time.
    
    Roberta

    The last time I went to my GP they gave me Seldane (sp) I believe, 
    to use for my allergic headaches. I tried it about five times and
    found it to be ineffective (for me anyways). I have gone back to
    my over the counter Sudafed nondrosey formula. For me it works.
    
    Steve

    I recommend Allergy Immunology Associates, with an office in
    Chelmsford as well as Nashua.  The Chelmsford office is just
    a few minutes from Tewksbury.  Drs. Beaucher, Farnham and Melamed
    are all excellent.
    
    I use Seldane, but its effectiveness is limited to reducing
    symptoms such as itchy eyes, etc.  Other antihistamines are
    more effective, but usually make me drowsy.
    
    One combination product I tried that really worked well for me and
    DIDN'T make me drowsy was Naldecon.  I was surprised because its
    antihistamine is one that usually knocks me out, but it doesn't.
    
    It is important to understand the distinction between an antihistamine
    like Seldane and a decongestant like Sudafed.  They do different
    things.  Sometimes you need one and not the other, sometimes you need
    both.
    
    An allergist is well trained in the different types of symptoms you
    have and what medications are effective.
    
    				Steve

    My husband has being going to the allergist at Acton Medical
    for years (even tho we moved away). He has gotten really
    excellant treatment there. If Acton is close to you, write
    to me and I'll the Doctor's name from Don.
    
    Bonnie

    
    I second Steve's recommendation; more precisely, Dr. Farnham.
    
    - Beckie

    
    Thanks for all the good info and referrals. I didn't know Sudafed
    made a non-drousy formula, but like you said, I may want an
    antihistamine, not a decongestant. I will definitely get an opinion
    from one of the doctors recommended here. I find otc antihistamines
    make me drousy (numb is more like it), and I would prefer to avoid
    taking shots for years, if possible.
    
    Thanks again all.
    
    Roberta
                                        

    
    I've also heard great stuff about the place/people mentioned by
    Steve.  I've also heard that scratch tests are history, that the
    testing is now done on your blood after it's taken out of you by
    the normal method.  (Could be wrong here, but maybe someone else
    knows more.)
    
    I don't know if I "have a GP", but the doctor I go to whenever I 
    need to see a doctor is Dr. Way at Acton Medical (263-1131).  I 
    can't say enough good things about him.  He also sees patients in 
    a Littleton office; perhaps the other Acton Med. doctors do, too?
    
    CQ 

    "Sudafed" is a brand name for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,
    a decongestant.  It does not cause drowsiness.  The standard
    packaging is small red coated tablets that contain 30mg each
    of the drug - two tablets is the usual dose.  There are many
    store-brand equivalents - buy whatever is cheapest.
    
    Like with most cold and allergy remedies, various combination
    drugs are available.  I think that the Sudafed brand is called
    "Sudafed Plus", and it contains the decongestant along with an
    antihistamine (most likely clorphenarimine maleate [my spelling
    of the chemicals may be a bit off])  This antihistamine,
    the active ingredient in the "Chlor-Trimeton" brand, is definitely
    one to make you drowsy.
    
    But simply buying the "non-drowsy formula" isn't enough, because
    you may NEED an antihistamine.  Seldane was the first antihistamine
    that did not cause drowsiness in the majority of the population.
    There are others now, I believe.
    
    There is a side-effect to Sudafed as well - too much can make you
    jumpy and your heart start to palpitate.  I cannot take the
    120mg "time release" version of Sudafed for this reason.
    
    
    As for Drs. Farnham, etc. - I have seen all three of them, but admit
    that my favorites are Beaucher and Farnham.  But you won't go wrong
    with any of the three.
    
    				Steve

    I HIGHLY reccomend dr Kaplan , who has offices in Lowell, as well
    as closer to boston, etc (Lowell on thrusdays, till 7 pm).  He has
    treated me for over 3 years, and my secratery (& her family) for
    a long time (she'd kill me if i said how long).
    
    He has seen me through basic allergy problems (sinus trouble, headachs,
    ect..) to acute asthma.  He is always willing to talk, and listen
    to my problems.  He is the only doctor i know of to admit that the
    patient might actually be able to know what is wrong with themself,
    and as a doctor , will trust me if i tell him i'm having an infection,
    and not 'just sinus troubles'.  He's given me unlimited refilles
    of the regular 'script's that i'm on,  just wants me to tell him
    what i'm taking if i deviate from my regular regime.  (other doctors
    have made me wait several days for tests to come back that i'm having
    an infection, before allowing me to start an anti-biotic treatment)
    Of course, he didn't start out this way with me,  but only after
    he could see that i HATE  to take medicine,  and will only put myself
    on it if absolutely necessary.
    
    anyways,  He is great,  and more to the point,  so is his nurse,
    claire,  who usually gives me the shots if i don't need to see the
    doctor.
    
    his offices in lowell, by the hilton, is very accessable to  tewksbury.
    
    
    good luck,  from someone who also suffers from allergies.
    mary
    
    ps.  i get shots every week,  but rarely do i have runny noses,
    headaches, anymore...  the shots are worth it,  to not have to
    walk around with boxes of cleanex anymore
    
 

    
    Thanks for all the good advice, via notes and mail. I will have
    to sort through the replies and figure out who to call. They all
    sound like excellent choices.
    
    Roberta

Does anyone know of an allergist who will let the patient give herself a shot?

My previous allergist let me give myself shots off and on for eight years. He's
retired now, and I have a new allergy. (Actually, it's not new, but I'm in an
environment where it's more apparent--mold.)

For my money, shots are the way to go, and the only way to be symptom-free. But
I hate the thought of having to drive to some doctor's office to get shots when
I can do it myself.

So--does anyone know of anyone in the New England area?

Vicki Meagher

    Sure, most of them will let you do your own shots once you stop having
    bad reactions to them (if you're going to keel over afterwards, at
    least get the doctor to give your serum to the DEC nurse if your
    facility has one - I did that for several years, too).  I do my own
    shot every Wednesday morning before work, and, you're right, for the
    people the desensitization shots work for, it is great - I have almost
    no symptoms.  And I only have to drive to the allergy clinic when I run
    out of serum, which is about 2 1/2 months, or if I want a small vial of
    it to take on vacation (since the stuff needs to be refrigerated for
    long-term storage, which isn't always practical on vacation).
    
    I go to Dr. William Adelson, at the Sudbury Medical Center.  Phone
    481-0735.
    
    Some people hate shots so much that they just can't bring themselves to
    do it themselves even when they don't get a bad reaction to the serum
    anymore.  My husband is one of them.  He kept driving to the clinic
    once a week (not being able to schedule his local health office to do
    them), until I finally convinced him that *I* would give him his shot
    (he is allergic to different stuff than I am, and gets a much bigger
    dose of a different mixture).  He still can't bear to watch!  But it
    saves oodles of time this way.
    
    /Charlotte