Allergy Tests
The issue of testing for food allergies is always tricky. Allergists usually administer the skin prick test and the blood test. Food allergy specialists generally agree that the only conclusive test is a food challenge... wherein the subject is given a small amount of the food to see if it causes a reaction.
But as most food allergy parents know, there is a whole host of alternative tests out there.
I found this article on Amazon, written by the co-author of Food Allergies for Dummies, called "Debunking Alternative Food Allergy Tests and Therapies."
Wondering if anyone in our community has had experience with these tests and/or treatments.
But as most food allergy parents know, there is a whole host of alternative tests out there.
I found this article on Amazon, written by the co-author of Food Allergies for Dummies, called "Debunking Alternative Food Allergy Tests and Therapies."
Wondering if anyone in our community has had experience with these tests and/or treatments.
Tags: allergy, food, tests, treatments
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Amy E. Tracy on -
This year I've had both the skin prick tests and a blood test through ImuPro. The way my GI doc explained it to me is that the skin tests are "true" allergies, where as the blood test is more like an intolerance. I'm allergic to wheat, soy, dairy, corn, etc., and intolerant or sensitive to foods like asparagus, pineapple, vanilla, and nutmeg, and eggs. I also have celiac disease. I've been suffering for nearly 7 years and now the doctor tells me my intestine is permeable (leaky gut syndrome).
This past week I started an elimination diet. I am only eating some vegetables, fruits, wild game, and wild fish. It's really hard! And I can feel my body going through withdrawal symptoms. However, today is day four and my GI symptoms are great! I try to rotate the foods so I won't develop any new allergies. After 12 weeks, I'll start adding foods and testing them. I'll eat rice for two days and if there are no symptoms, I'll add another food. It's a long process.
I will check out the article you posted, Ria.
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Permalink Reply by Ria on -
Amy,
I know some people who, even though they have IBS or leaky gut or wheat intolerance, think it's harder to do what you are doing vs. suffer the symptoms.
So I have to give you props because you are up to the challenge and doing what's best for your body, even though it is a long and challenging process.
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Permalink Reply by Amy E. Tracy on
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wow, thank you for the kudos and encouragement . .. I can use all I can get! The positive side is people are already noticing the weight loss! :) I'm one of those who gained weight due to celiac and food allergies.
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Permalink Reply by Sue on -
Hi Amy. Good luck with the elimination diet. I give you a lot of credit. I've never had to do anything like that - I'm sure it's not easy.
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Permalink Reply by Amy E. Tracy on
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Thank you, Sue! Do you or a loved one have allergies? In retrospect, if I had been diagnosed earlier, I probably wouldn't be in such bad shape today. I went to three docs before anyone mentioned food allergies and that was a nutritionist who I met for five minutes. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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Permalink Reply by Sue on
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Hi Amy. My oldest daughter (3 1/2) is allergic to dairy and my youngest (2) has a soy intolerance. Both suffer from acid reflux disease. So I know how hard it is, just not from the first-hand perspective. Although I have developed lactose-intolerance because it's few and far between when I do have it anymore.
I feel your frustration on the diagnosing front. We have thought my oldest out grew her reflux from infancy when she was taken off the Zantac at 8 months. But at 18 months when she was diagnosed as failure to thrive - her new feeding therapist was the one who figured out that she STILL had reflux - it just "changed" to silent reflux where she didn't complain but she wouldn't eat anything. Very frustrating!
I just saw a nutritionist for my youngest (now in feeding therapy). It was over the phone since I am in NJ and she is in Maryland. But she is the one who said she has an intolerance to either soy or wheat since those two foods make up her diet (when she will eat). After 3+ weeks of some new supplements, a custom made vitamin and no soy, she is actually eating. Now we have to work at building up her diet and the next step is trying to get her off Prevacid.
Good luck - I'm glad the nutritionist figured things out for you. It's awful not feeling well and to live with that chronically is just awful and frustrating! What were your symptoms?
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Permalink Reply by Sue Jeffries on -
I also have been through the testing- have allergies all year long with the added asthma factor. I think I tested postive for almost every food. Not to mention trees, grasses, weeds, sagebrush, dust mites, cockroach, anaimals. I cannot walk down an aisle where they have lawn fertilizers or chemicals- that about kills me. Oh, and I am allergic to bees, so what do you think happened when a friend gave me bee pollen? Wasn't a fun experience nor an inexpensive one. Good luck with your plan. I need to do more of that.
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Permalink Reply by Lara Green on -
hello all,
Good for you for sticking it out, I had no idea those diets were so long! I had only heard of doing a rotation diet for 10 days to 2 weeks before.
Can you please give me more information about what it entails? My sister is quite sick right now, and I have had many GI issues myself. Thanks in advance.
live a clean life.......air purifier
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Permalink Reply by Janeen on -
Ria,
I have no experience with these tests or treatments other than what others tell me. I've had two people SWEAR to me that they have friends who have children that were anaphylactic to several things and these children were cured by the following: http://www.osteomed2.com/AllergyElimination.html. I have not looked into this nor have I done any research myself on it. Although the stories make it very tempting. Oh if only my child could be cured of his allergies. How wonderful that would be. But even if I took him to this place, would I give him wheat to challenge it? NO! I'd be too scared to try it.
Sometimes when I think about this I'm torn. What if I take him and try this and it works? What if I don't take him and it really would "cure" him? My head tells me that it doesn't work and that it is just another way of extracting money from desperate parents. But my "mother's heart" wants to believe. And according to my best friend "she works with a lady who's son was cured" and my cousin "has a friend who's son was cured" so it is tempting to believe.
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Permalink Reply by Lynn on -
I have had allergy testing by the skin prick test. It is not that bad, kinda itchy. I'm not allergic to any foods but grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites are my culprits! I think my allergist left something out when I got tested because right now something is causing me misery. I am thinking it may be Privet
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