Re: Reasons for Desensitization

[Guest guest]

Having read the note from Blake and from ,

Here's why I did the desensitization:

1. To be able to take aspirin if if is needed for some legitimate reason.

This is especially pertinent if you're somewhere, on a vacation somewhere

remote, where you don't have access to something which isn't ASA or an

NSAID, eg., something like Tylenol.

I am certainly able, now, to take aspirin (or Advil, or Ibprofen) whenever

I feel like it for any reason, and I have no reaction to it.

2. To avoid inadvertant reactions to things I don't know about.

Eg., before I understood what was going on with Samters, I had a

near-hospitalization experience with Alka Seltzer, which as I found out

later, has exactly one dose of aspirin in each tablet (325mg ASA).

Now, after desensitization, I have no concerns about such accidents.

3. To avoid reaction to salycilates in foods.

Before desensitzation I was supicious that certains brands of beer, which I

drink regularly, and certain Gins, which I drink frequently, would trigger

an asthma thing. I also suspected other foods, because the episodes would

very often follow a meal.

Since desensitization, these post-drink, post-meal episodes have disappered.

4. To reduce other symptoms.

Since desensitization, I am demonstrably less dependent on the pulmonary

inhalers that I had been taking before, ie., budenisole, an

antiinflammitory, and formeterol, a broncho-dialator.

It has not been as successful on the nasal side -- still some rhinitis, and

probably still polyps, although this has yet to be confirmed,

After 25 days, I'm still waiting, hopefully, for my sense of smell to

return.

5. To avoid surgery.

Given all the notes to this group telling of how polyps returned so quickly

after surgery, I've decided not to do that unless there is absolutely no

other choice. It remains to be seen whether the aspriin regime will help

me avoid surgery.

Yes, the daily aspirin is a nuisance, but once you are desensitized, it is

no longer a risk, and it has real (but not necessarily total) benefits,

both for Samters issues, and for other things, eg., cardiac health.

Hope this helps.

regards,

Ken West

From: " Konkle " <tmiller@...>

Reply-samters

Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 09:07:10 -0800 (Alaskan Daylight Time)

<samters >

Subject: Re: Digest Number 121

Hi All,

I have to admit I too am confused why anyone would want to take something

daily that they are allergic to. Maybe it is the degree to which that

person has the allergy?

I'm with Dave, 'been there, done that, not returning'. But then I don't

understand all the surgeries either. Right now I am full of polyps, but I

know I haven't been sticking to 'the food list' and so have earned them. I

can live with the idea I have limited foods and if I eat them, there are

going to be problems. Sometimes it is worth the problems. But the flip side

is I know that when I stick to the food list, I do get my sense of smell

back. Not always for very long, and not always when I want to smell

something but I think if I would stop cheating, I might actually see some

good results.

My goal at the moment is to stay on the diet for at least 2 weeks without

cheating. I've been sneaking mayo and hot dogs all summer without too much

problems but the ice cream has just about closed my nose. So...time to get

my act together ..again.

Another thing I have discovered, that by staying off the allergy foods and

then cheating big time, my hiatus hernia really kicks in and I have acid

reflux for days. Anyone else notice anything like this, or is it not

related?