Desensitization questions.

[catsliva]

I was wondering have you or anyone else that you might know gone through treatment to desensitize their peanut allergies? Was it effective? How long did it take? Did they experience any side effects during the treatment?
I am currently going to an immunology in order to desensitize my peanut allergies and I am in my second month of treatment. I am more than happy to answer any questions about taking the treatment.

[twinturbo]

Are you part of one of the clinical trials or is this a private practice? Most of the clinical trials should provide you with risks, outcomes, side effects. If this is a privately practicing immunologist may I ask how has the treatment been established? Food challenge, then SLIT or OIT? Viaskin patch? Forgive me if you're already stated this elsewhere I'm not able to recall. I'm very interested in how it's been for you firsthand.

[catsliva]

Well it's an established Immunology center where I live. So I believe it would be a private practice. Well my fist visit was the 27th of August, I had previously gone to other allergy doctors for my allergies and I had done a blood test this year so all of my previous medical records were given to this doctor. On the 28th I returned to the center and I had done the food challenge. I am not too sure how other food challenges are given as far as what is given orally, but they had given me a mixture of grape juice with peanut powder mixed. Every 15 minutes the dosage was increased through a syringe they had given me orally. Once I had signs of a reaction the food challenge and from that my doctor determined how much of the solution I would start off with. I take a specified amount of this peanut solution every day twice a day. Once with my breakfast and once with my dinner. I was instructed to make sure I have consumed food before I take it. So far the treatment has been going well. I go every Tuesday morning with my mother and they give me a new increased dosage and I wait there for about a hour so they can monitor my premature, heart rate, blood pressure and make sure my body can handle the new amount. My doctor told me that he's had many patients in where the treatment has been successful, but I have yet to talk to someone who has actually gone through the entire treatment and hear about their experience. The only thing I can complain about it the taste of the peanut in the mixture I take. Its horrible! I absolutely hate the taste, and the past two weeks that the dosage has increased about an hour after I take it I feel very nacreous and I have stomach pains as well. They go away after a while but it is a big pain and bother during my day. Tomorrow I am going again to see if the dosage will be increased. I am not too sure how my body will handle another increase to be honest.

[Macabre]

Yes--a couple of people here.  One with Wasserman in Dallas (which insurance often covers). One here at the practice in Connecticut. 

Oh--there's also one near Portland, OR, but we don't have anyone doing it there.  We, frankly, had hoped to. 

Wasserman used to be my son's allergist when we lived in Dallas.

Neither of the children I mentioned in above (Dallas and Connecticut) has had side effects that I am aware of.  I do know some have developed EE, but it's apparently quite rare. 

[Macabre]

Please see this thread about desensitization that is quite long: 
Desensitization Programs in the US

Also, this blog:
http://allergynotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/oral-immunotherapy-oit-for-food-allergy.html

[hedgehog]

My DS went through desensitization recently.  Here's the thread:
Re: PA treatment study

If you have any questions, I would be happy to try to answer them.

[catsliva]

Thank you very much I appreciate it!