Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We offer a "cash pay" discount - please discuss with one of our staff.

We accept numerous insurance plans, please click here to see the list. Please also discuss with a member of our staff.

We generally call to verify your insurance coverage about one week prior to your new patient appointment to verify benefits and as a courtesy we will file with your insurance. Remember though, ultimate responsibility for payments falls to the patient or responsible party.

An allergist is a specialist physician who is Board Certified in Allergy and Immunology. Most allergist see people with nasal allergy, as well as food, medication and skin allergy, immune disorders, recurrent infections and asthma.

If you or a family member may have one of the above concerns then an allergist may be able to help.

Please fill out the patient and insurance information forms and bring them with you this will save time at your appointment. Bring any currently prescribed allergy, asthma or eczema medications.

If you are on an antihistamine (Allegra, Benadryl/diphenhydramine, Claritin/loratadine, Zyrtec/cetirizine or other) try and stop using those for at least 7 days prior to the appointment. If you are unable to hold or advised not to hold by your doctor that is fine, but this may delay the performance of allergy skin testing.

• You will be greeted at the front desk by one of our administrative staff who will review your new patient paperwork as well as ask for copies of your insurance card and driver license.
• You will then meet one of our medical staff who will take you to an exam room to obtain more information about your visit.
• Dr. Meiser will then discuss your medical history, perform an exam then make recommendations for testing (allergy, respiratory or other). The test results (if done at the visit) will be reviewed with you and then a medical plan will be customized to best treat your condition.
• A typical new patient visit can vary from 1 to 3 hours (or rarely more).

Allergy testing is used to detect your bodies reaction to IgE (allergic antibody) that is associated with your reaction to allergens that you are exposed to. Typically allergy testing is done by skin testing or by blood (RAST) testing.

Not everyone who is allergic will need allergy shots. Some can improve with avoiding the cause of the reaction and possibly with medications. Some peoples' symptoms are so severe or do not respond well to medications that allergen immunotherapy or "allergy shots" may be recommended for better long term control of allergy and asthma.

It slowly changes the immune response that your body has to your allergies - making you less reactive or even not react to future allergy exposure.

Two options to increase your immunity and "build up" your allergy shots:

• Standard Allergen Immunotherapy - Injections are given weekly for the first 6 months, moved up to every 2 weeks (3 times), every 3 weeks (3 times), finally to every 4 weeks (or about once a month) and continued.  Allergen immunotherapy is given for 3 to 5 years for long term improvement.
• "RUSH" immunotherapy - Advance your allergy shots rapidly, moving you approximately 3 months ahead (or half way) vs. standard allergy shots. This requires pretreatment with additional medication and is done over the course of 6-8 hours in our office. Allergen immunotherapy is given for 3 to 5 years for long term improvement.

• You may come in during normal office hours (see home page for details) but an appointment is preferred to help make your allergy shots more efficient
• If you are well (no cold or asthma flare) then you are given an injection (1 to 4 are typical depending on the patient)
• To increase your safety, we ask you to wait 30 minutes in our office after your injection(s)
• After 30 minutes, schedule your next injection and we will see you the next time

Outdoor or seasonal allergens:

• Spring trees
• Summer grasses
• Fall weeds and molds
• Winter trees

• Cat, dog, and dust mite

Typically it takes 6 to 12 months (or one season cycle) to see improvement.

Yes, these can be discussed at your visit with Dr. Meiser.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory (swelling and mucus) disease of the airways. It can come on gradually or suddenly at any age. The greatest trigger for asthma is a cold or upper respiratory tract infection but allergy exposure can cause asthma to flare as well.

It is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheeze, breathlessness, cough, and chest tightness.

As long as your asthma is well controlled, exercise can you help your overall conditioning.

Yes, up to 80% of childen with asthma may be allergic, and up to 40% of children with allergies may have asthma. Adults with asthma also are more likely to be allergic and vice versa.

A substance (usually a protein) that can produce immediate hypersensitivity ("allergic reaction") in those who are susceptible.

Allergy shots can help reduce your reaction to substances you are allergic to and therefore reduce your symptoms of asthma. It also appears that if done in children allergy shots can reduce the chance that your child will develop asthma.

They have never been adequately studied by the Food and Drug Administration and can have significant side effects (increases in heart rate and blood pressure).

Dr. Meiser sees patients of all ages - infants to adults. His residency and fellowship training included patients of all ages