Annie,

Like everyone else I was very sorry indeed to learn about your
Doctor's decision/recommendation not to treat but in truth the
doctor's decision is probably not made on the basis of scientific
fact but rather of medical ignorance. The immune system is highly
complex and the connection between your skin condition and having an
allergy to stinging insects is almost certainly not proven. I had a
number of doctors say I was too dangerous a patient to treat but the
danger was really their own fear of the unknown. Having pushed it
myself, unable to face the restricted life which hyperallergy
implies, I got through it fine. Once again the reluctance was based
on fear and not on knowledge.

It is a very tough call but there is to my knowledge no work done on
the connection between LyP and venom immunotherapy - so why would
the doctor reduce the quality of your life substantially based on no
proven evidence? Perhaps a second medical opinion at the least
might help confirm a decision one way or the other.

Insofar as Clarityn is concerned - this is an anti-histamine which
can help reduce the level of mild allergic reactions eg skin rashes
and marginally improve the symptoms of major allergic reactions.
But it takes time to get into the system by which time a severe
allergic reaction would be life threatening.

However, it is a pretty harmless anti-histamine, does not make you
drowsy and would help those who have reached maintenance dosages
minimise their reactions to some degree. Like others, I itch like
mad when I have my injections and Clarityn does help improve
matters. However, it would not make the initial sting feeling any
the less painful, I don't think.

Finally, all the past messages can be accesed from the front page by
clicking the relevant link either calling up all the messages or by
clicking the monthly messages left. I must sort out a better
picture for the front page too!

All best wishes to everyone and thank you for writing,


David