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I have had the severe reactions to Samter off and on for about 6-7 years now. Since starting the Xolair shots bi-weekly for almost two years I am able to stop taking the Allegra. I still take hydroxizine for itching but that is minor to me. I was told by one of my doctors after my last surgeries in April and May that I could stop taking the Advair but it seems that I wheeze and cough a lot more without it so occasionally I still have to use it. The ENT that I have now knows a lot more about Samters than the one I had previously and I feel so much better after this surgery. It may be that I am more enlightened from this group as what to expect from Samters. Either way I am so happy to feel better. It would be super nice if my sense of smell would return. I would love to smell my grandchildren. When we are out and about my daughters get so many compliments about how good they smell and I feel that I am missing something really great even if Sterling is a boy and we don't

expect him to smell great after the age of two.(smile) The Xoliar has helped me with my allergies to dogs too. I can tolerate my husbands large dogs that are outside and I have no problems with my small dogs that live inside with us. I understand what you mean by loving your horses. They are beautiful animals and they can bring so much joy. We owned a horse when I was a little girl, that was a long time ago but I remember the good times we had with BC. I hope you continue to feel better. I have taken up boxing to help get some of my weight off and maybe that will help with the Samters too. Take care. Keefer <jkeefer@...> wrote: Interesting thought, but I for one know I have actual allergies. I have known I was allergic to horses since I was 2. And I was allergy tested many years before being diagnosed with Samter’s and the things I wasn’t allergic to then (like my dogs) I am still not allergic to. However, I either don’t seem to have as bad of Samter’s symptoms as other people or I caught it really early and nipped it in the bud. Don’t get me wrong, if my sinuses get stuffy, my asthma kicks in. My sense of smell has a mind of its own and wanders away for no apparent reason. But my asthma has never put me in the hospital (knock on wood!) and since my last surgery in December for the most part I can breathe normally. However, come pollen season, my

allergies kick in and without my antihistamine I am itchy and stuffy. Heck, without my drugs I cannot spend time at the barn with my horse without getting stuffy, wheezy and itchy (yes, I am allergic to horses. Horses are in fact an addiction. I have loved them since I was old enough to know what one is and have been riding for over 20 years and owned my horse for over 18 yrs. Allergies have not stopped me for one second in my pursuit of horsey happiness.) Of course, most of my allergies seemed to have come about as I got older, or maybe because I moved to NC, I don’t know which, and maybe that was the start of Samter’s. My husband is still not totally convinced it is a real disease. It would be nice for more people and esp. doctors to know more about it. My cardiologist definitely does not understand the extent of my sinus troubles! She is still trying to get me to stop taking my Singulair and Allegra to see if that is

causing my tachycardia. I dropped my Allegra my 60 mg for 2 days and couldn’t smell, couldn’t breathe, and itched like crazy. So that is sooo not happening during grass season! Anyway, I think I am rambling a bit now. K. -----Original Message-----From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of

SaidelSent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 7:29 PMsamters Subject: Allergies Still on my rampage through the archives - mid October now ('s trip to Scripps).I've always had a personal theory that everyone is reactive (fill the room with enough smoke and anyone will start to cough and wheeze) but that I (WE) are just more sensetive. The more I learn about the arachidonic acid cascade, lukatrimine production, and eosinophil cells, the more it seems like my theory is right.I was thinking. Do you

think that WE even have allergies? Isn't it more likely that because our immune system in in a constant state of alert that ANY antagonist is going to result in a reaction? Has anyone done pre- / post- ASA desen allergy tests? ie __________________________________________________