SUCCESS AT LAST!

After a year of searching, in February 2003 we have finally determined upon a method of treating me which, whilst not risk free, offers me a serious chance of ridding me of this frustrating hypersensitivity.

I shall be starting a course of immunotherapy treatment in February 2003 under the watchful eye of the intensive care team to make sure that in the event of an allergic reaction then medical assistance is there to get me through the anaphylactic shock. The treatment consists of very small but increasing doses of wasp venom until eventually I reach two wasp stings and am desensitised and able to tolerate wasps as well as the next man! The treatment will take place under intensive care conditions and I will have to stay in the Intensive Care Unit for 24 hours after the injection. Remember that if you are going through immunotherapy yourself the great probability is that you will never need these type of precautions - so don't let my experience in any way put you off immunotherapy which does work for the great majority really well!

We went to visit the intensive care unit in January 2003 to get a taste of what is to come. Whilst it is hugely impressive and gives my wife and I enormous confidence that I should walk away from the treatment, there is no doubt that it is a scary place. Various tubes and wires will be attached to me as I lie in bed surrounded by lots of bleeping and flashing machines - it will be no picnic and the stress of waiting to see what is going to happen will be very unpleasant. If there was ever a time to start smoking.....!

Click here for the weekly hospital diary!

If things go well then I will visit hospital for an injection every week for what we estimate will be between 25 and 40 weeks - a long time, but by the end of the Autumn 2003 we will have won the battle. If I suffer another anaphylactic reaction during the treatment then that is that insofar as immunotherapy is concerned. Treatment will stop. I will just have to face life as hypersensitive to wasps which would be a bitter blow because it does have serious implications on life style and the quality of my life as well as my family's.