Testing for allergies

[iris lilies]

I’m starting this thread because I have interest in it for me.


Several of you have talked about testing for allergies.


My foster dog had a blood test for allergens. It was very interesting, and it’s the first veterinary result I’ve seen and studied. She is not highly reactive to a lot of things. When she came here she has itchy skin but I figured it was grass until recently when it seem to be triggered by food. But anyway, the test shows there are lots of things she can eat, no problem.

But let’s talk about humans. Tell me how these tests are conducted. Are they blood test? I thought they were skin test. My physician is pushing these tests and it’s good timing for me because I’m having trouble.


Tell me about your Allergen tests.

[ToomuchStuff]

When I was 14, I was breaking into severe asthma attacks, going up two flights of steps. I was tested on the arm with just a skin test, for initial reaction, and based on that, we came back for a battery of tests, where my back was marked off and I believe we did skin pricks after putting substances on my back to see reactions.

[Yppej]

I am starting to figure what else could be behind the periroral rash I have triggered by mask wearing. So far I have read fluoride can be a culprit and bought a fluoride free toothpaste.

In terms of diet I have heard only eat BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) and add a new food every few days watching for reactions so you can find the culprit.

In high school a classmate of mine was hospitalized for a week while they ran all sorts of tests to determine which allergies she had. I can't imagine the cost of that so I personally would DIY.

[iris lilies]

I am starting to figure what else could be behind the periroral rash I have triggered by mask wearing. So far I have read fluoride can be a culprit and bought a fluoride free toothpaste.

In terms of diet I have heard only eat BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) and add a new food every few days watching for reactions so you can find the culprit.

In high school a classmate of mine was hospitalized for a week while they ran all sorts of tests to determine which allergies she had. I can't imagine the cost of that so I personally would DIY.

This makes little sense to me because “toast “is usually wheat. Yeah, I wouldn’t be doing any analysis based on what I have heard on the Internet.

I have had contact allergies, I mean plant allergies, all my life but only in recent years have they kicked in in a way that interferes with my life. I don’t think I have food allergies.

[Tammy]

I had a skin prick test which covered the underside of both arms. It tested for plants trees weeds, foods, and animal allergies.

I think the cost was 500? Insurance paid most of it.

Based on the results I then started allergy shots. Tiny needle just under the skin. I went twice a week for a few weeks, then once a week for a few months, hen every other week for about a year, then monthly for several years.

Every year or two we repeated the skin prick test to see if my reactions were less than before. And adjusted dose of shots based on continued reactions.

Each shot requires that I wait in the lobby for 30 minutes before leaving and have my arm checked before I go. They are ready with epinephrine if someone reacts. I never needed treatment for that. I did have itchy red arms for a day afterward half the time. (Shots are given in back of upper arm.)

You can’t take Benadryl or a few other meds for a few days before the skin prick test.

You can put Benadryl cream on your arms after the shots and it helps a lot.

Some docs give under the tongue drops. My understanding is they are less specific to the patient and less effective. I figured if I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do it completely.

Allergy shots cost about $30 per visit. Insurance was paid about 2/3.

[Teacher Terry]

I have had allergy tests 3 times. It’s a skin test on your back and arms. I have no food allergies but am allergic to anything that grows. Mine keep getting worse. I had the shots in Kansas and they didn’t work. I now take drops made specifically for my allergies. My nose runs year round but spring and fall are the worst. Without the drops I feel sick for months. Even with them I sneeze a lot. I have also developed a dog allergy. So far I am okay with my 2 Maltese. Petting a cat is a trip to the ER.

I am severely allergic to neomycin and now some pain medications. Fun times-not!!

[iris lilies]

Isn’t it interesting that the veterinary world uses a blood test to identify allergens? I wonder what that means, and why that technique is not used on humans.

[Tradd]

When I was 6-7 (mid 1970s) I got the skin allergy tests on my back. Lots of patches for things being tested for.

5-6 years ago my GP had me get blood tests for allergies. I was chatting with the young gal (mid-20s) drawing my blood and told her I was amazed you could do blood tests for allergies. Told her about how I was tested for allergies in the mid-70s. She was shocked and said it was “barbaric.”

:D

[Tammy]

Interesting!

[Tammy]

I think I read or heard from my allergist that sometimes blood tests don’t show an allergy but skin tests will. I think the skin tests are more sensitive?

[iris lilies]

I think I read or heard from my allergist that sometimes blood tests don’t show an allergy but skin tests will. I think the skin tests are more sensitive?

Ahhhh, that’s what I suspected. The skin tests are more tedious to carry out but they yield more accurate results.

[happystuff]

I had the skin testing done on my back many, many years ago. I remember that the test was done on a Monday, they had me back to "read" it on a Wednesday and saw nothing. However, I'm chalking it up to a slow metabolism that I reacted by Friday in 3 different areas. Since the patches had been removed, they could only "guess" what the reactions were from. So, I have allergies, but don't know exactly to what. LOL.

Have been thinking about getting retested again, as there have been some severe reactions to some things lately.