Asthma: One Patient's experience

47 year old patient suffering from severe hay fever, 14 longs of long-acting steroid injections; 90% improvement on immunotherapy.

"I have been a hay fever sufferer for over 20 years. After I was 27 it got progressively worse; the season went on from April to November; it was terrible; attacks might last 2-3 days; my nose was running; I was sneezing constantly; I couldn't sleep and finally couldn't work. The GP prescribed all the over-the-counter drops and sprays. They made some difference, but not enough. In the end he realised that I was not an average case; and he prescribed corticosteroid injection in April each year, which would last until July,
then again in July. The treatment was effective on the same day and was welcome. That lasted for 11 years. In summer 1997 I had had the July injection and was playing with the children in the park. I began to limp. I didn't take much notice. But it went on for 2-3 weeks and got worse. I went to the doctor in August and he said wait, it might be a muscle sprain. When it hadn't cleared by December we began to realise that it was the side effects of the steroid treatment. I was diagnosed with a vascular necrosis. Nobody admits it.
Nobody accepts. They say the dose I was getting is not big enough to cause it. But the accumulation must have been a factor.
Now I have a vascular necrosis. Both my hip bones are damaged. The right is at stage 5, total collapse and needs replacement. And a vascular necrosis is now present in the left hip bone .I was referred to the orthopaedic department at a hospital in London in April 1998. I still go there. I am putting the operation off as long as possible; I don't want to have a series of hip replacements over the years.
Then came the problem with what to do about the hay fever. They referred me to the Allergy Clinic at Addenbrooke's. They gave me skin tests and began desensitisation.That was 4 years ago. It seems to work. Yesterday (30 May) I sneezed once. Today is fine. I've known nothing like it before.
I have friends from France. In 1992 they said that desensitisation was commonly
available in France; and they were surprised that I couldn't get treatment. I wish it had been available from Day 1. I have missed work and all this could have been prevented."

Comment: Delayed referral for 14 years despite desperate quality of life in the summer. Serious life-long side-effects of inappropriate treatment and failure to refer to an allergy clinic.