A new member's Xolair experience

[Guest guest]

Thank-you to everyone who has shared their experiences using Xolair. I

am from Central Ontario and have been using Xolair since last June. I

have allergies to trees, grasses, ragweed, cats, dust; and anaphylatic

allergies to natural latex rubber, kiwi, mango, gelatin; and oral

allergy syndrome (hives in my mouth, face, etc. from eating fresh

fruits/vegetables in the Birch, Grass and Ragweed families) which

increased my asthma attacks. I was taking flovent, ventolin,

predisone, reactine, nasonex, and pantonol daily.

I started having reactions to predisone when I took a full prescribed

dose in one sitting.

My allergist recommended Xolair. My insurance company would only pay

up to the first $5,000 then I was on my own for the balance.I sold my

house and moved to afford the drug. My insurance now covers the

injections fully.

I haven't regretted taking Xolair.

I haven't required predisone for almost a year now, no anaphylatic

reactions, and I don't have hives everyday from eating. The only

asthma attacks that I have had in the last year have been with viral

infections and a bout of pneumonia. My other drugs have decreased in

volume as well.

The only negative side effects that I have experienced was migraine

headaches when I was on an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection.

The doctors believe it to be a drug interaction between the two.

The positives outside of the respiratory systems has been:

I had to use braces for my joints due to Elders-Danlos Syndrome to

prevent hyperextension. The joints such as my knees have improved so

much that i haven't need the braces or my cane or walker for over six

months. My arthritis symptoms have lessened to the point that I now

longer require medications for it.

The other benefit has been that my husband, kids and I feel some

freedom. Our quality of life has improved. Because of the Oral Allergy

Syndrome effecting the asthma, we all lived on an overly scheduled

menu plan to rotate the fruits and vegetables to lessen the effects. I

still follow the rotation diet but have cheated for social functions

and have had very mild or no effects. I have been able to exercise

with them as well. I can now go on the hike through the marsh or

forest trail without worrying about an asthma attack.