I developed really bad allergies when I was 18. Watery eyes, constant sneezing, runny nose, the works. It was Very. Bad. I was allergic to almost everything they tested me for. I got the shots for 10 years.
I started with two vials (meaning two shots each time) but at the 5 year mark my allergies went nuts again. They retested me and found out I had developed a new allergy (to the one thing I had not reacted to the first time) that they needed to add to my serum. This brought me up to three vials, and I had to begin the process again with three shots each week.
I say begin the process again because here is how it works: you begin by getting your shot(s) once a week, and then after a while you move to two weeks, then three, then finally once a month. I was supposed to be done after about five years, but that's when I developed the new allergy so I had to go back to once a week and start again. Cats, dust mites, molds, pollens, grasses, trees...and something else, I think? So it took ten years.
Did I mention that I hate needles? Since I was getting three shots I had to use both arms. But you get used to it. Just turn your head, close your eyes, and relax your arm. I got my shots in the upper arm. It hurts more if you're tensing up.
When you get the shot you have to stay at the doctor's office for 20 minutes in case you have a bad reaction and stop breathing. Then the nurse will look at your arm, and then you can leave. I never stopped breathing, but my injection sites always developed hard, red, swollen, warm bumps that were about the size of my palm. And they itched. This happened every time and so I had an EpiPen that I was supposed to carry on injection days. I guess you're not supposed to grow itchy red balls on your arm.
Oh well, I never needed it. (Maybe everyone gets the pen; I don't know. But the spots on my arms always raised some concern.)
Anyway, it was totally worth it. I still have to take Zyrtec if the pollen count is high or whatever, but it is just SO MUCH BETTER than it was. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.
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"Not every ejaculation deserves a name" - George Carlin