Allergy Treatment: It’s Like Driving a Car
Treating the cause of your allergies with allergy drops is like learning to drive a car – it takes time and consistency through different phases to really conquer it.
Allergy drops are custom to each patient and slowly introduce the body to the specific allergens that cause their symptoms. Over time, the body learns to tolerate them so you don’t react when exposed in real life.
Phase 1: Driver’s Education
When you decide it’s time to learn to drive a car, you start by signing up for driver’s education classes. You meet in a classroom with an instructor and learn the laws of the road, and it’s the shortest part of the process.
The shortest phase of allergy drop treatment is also this first phase, where initial oral tolerance begins. Because drops are placed under the tongue, the first three months of treatment may be a bit of a learning curve. Your body may respond with mouth itching, but that means it’s learning to tolerate your problem allergens.
Phase 2: Behind the Wheel Lessons
After you pass driver’s ed, you get your permit and start learning how to drive with the help of an instructor. It’s a very exciting time, and you may start to feel the confidence that you could drive on your own. But even when your confidence grows, it’s important to keep practicing with trusted help.
The second phase of allergy treatment is symptom relief, and it lasts from month three to two years. The body starts taking steps toward allergy tolerance, and at some point in this phase, you start to feel fewer symptoms. You may feel like you can “drive” on your own, but it’s key to keep taking your drops for long-lasting results.
Phase 3: Getting You License and Beyond
You get your license, and you take the open road by yourself. Even though you’ve passed all the tests and have your official documents, the first few years of driving are key to learning. You make mistakes, experience new situations, and learn a lot by simply “doing.”
In the last phase of treatment, from years three to five, the body learns to not react to allergens, even when you stop taking treatment. It’s the phase that promotes life-long learning — just like how you learn the most about driving a car while doing it confidently. Your provider will continue to monitor your treatment until they find your sensitivity to allergens has been lessened or eliminated, and you no longer need treatment.
Starting therapy
To get started with allergy drop immunotherapy, find a provider near you that offers allergy treatment following The La Crosse Method™ Protocol. Your clinician will conduct allergy testing, as well as a thorough history and exam, to determine your specific level of sensitivity to allergens and create a personalized allergy drop prescription. Custom allergy treatment is sent right to your door, and you get started with the three phases of treatment that can help you reach your final destination – no more suffering.