Has anyone undergone allergy testing recently?

**ajrsmom** · #1 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 06:12 AM

I've been putting it off for a long time but I think that the time has finally come that I need to be tested for allergies. I've lived in NC for almost 4 yrs and it seems that my allergy problems are getting worse each year. This year has already been terrible!!

If you've recently undergone testing, what do they do to test you? Is there a "list" of allergies that they test for or how do they know where to start?

Thanks for any information that you can give me!

Tami

kathymac · #2 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 06:24 AM

Tami, both of my DD's have been tested for allergies. They had their tests done on their backs. The doctor fills a bunch of "needles" with allergens, a separate one in each "needle". They basically just scratch the surface of the skin. Each "needle" is numbered as is your back. They pick allergens that are common to where you live - plant species, etc. They were also tested for dogs, cats, mold, dust, etc. After applying the allergens to your skin, they wait about 10-20 minutes. Then they measure any bumps that have emerged. The bigger the bump, the more you are allergic to that particular allergen. The allergist will come up with a plan of treatment from there.

I hope I explained that clearly?

Kathy

**ajrsmom** · #3 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 06:38 AM

Thanks Kathy!

Were your DD's able to see their family doctor for this or did they have to go to a specialist?

debknechtel · #4 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 08:41 AM

tami here in Canada we are sent to an allergist to have testing done. Mine was done on my arms. They make a grid and thenmake a little prick with the serum on it. You the wait 5- 10 minutes and they start looking at which ones have a reaction. You can not itch any spots during the testing. You can not have taken allergy meds for 48 hours beforehand. I met with the doctor before testing and through a series of questions he determined what I should be tested for. It did not tkae long and afterwards we sat and discussed my options....I tried allergy shots but I had lots of troubles with them. I reacted and they could never get me up to dose...I am very allergic to beech and birch trees. To give you and idea a small red raised bump at the testing site means you have an allergy my entire arm swelled from these two trees. I am going to go back and now get food tested since they have since diagnosed me with severe asthma to see if food products may be partly responsible. I also have oral allergy syndrom...you can look it up online...basically because I am so allergic to birch and beech trees certain foods from that family I can not eat as they cause an anaphalactic reaction. They do not show in an allergy test....we found out when I ate cherries and my lips started to swell and then my throat started closing off. I can not eat any fruit with a pit or seed in a raw form. I can eat them cooked or processed. Some peolpe it is some forms of vegetables. I miss picking up a nice juice apple or peach and eating it.

Good luck with the testing...then you will know what your allergies are too and what to avoid

Hugs dEbbie

cau · #5 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 11:22 AM

I had my testing done by an allergist, recieved the shots for about a year with meds. I switched drs and had to have myself retested. They used my arm also and told me as the were doing it what each one was. I have problems with common dust(of course), mold and animal dander. I'm on meds and and inhalers for it. I also devolped asthma a few years ago but it is controlled. I had a reaction last week so may be time to be tested for foods

dval · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 08:24 PM

I was tested by an allergist on my arm. It wasn't that bad. It was worse when I was tested for a bee allergy a couple of years ago. That one took a couple of hours.
I go to my allergist every 4 wks for shots. It sarted out every week and now I'm up to 4 wks. I also have asthma and I see the same allergist for that.

ncjeepster · #7 (**permalink**) 04-07-2008, 05:39 AM

Hey,
I'm from NC too and yes, mine have been terrible too. It's the price of all the great trees and flowers along with all the weather, of course you know that.
I went to Duke and they tested my back. They used needles of all types of allergins, from pollen to trees to animals. The needles don't hurt just a stick. But make sure you know that is does take about 20 minutes and if you are allergic to any thing you may experience some itching, which seems to be worse that since you cannot scratch. But you could compare the experience to having to go to the bathroom and it ends before you know it.
They printed out a list for me when they finished. Just make sure you let your doctor know if you are taking any other meds and include vitamins and pain relievers. Some of the new medicine has had side effects with certain vitamins and medications.

Good luck, Just think when you finish you can actually get something to relieve those terrible headaches, itcy eyes and nose.

ncjeepster · #8 (**permalink**) 04-07-2008, 05:42 AM

Opps, forgot one thing. Make sure you are not having bad bronchitis or other problems. My daughter was tested for allergies and many things trigger her's, but she seemed to get bronchitis every year and we recently found out that she has asthma.

Good Luck

**bluebird** · #9 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 08:40 AM

My kids have had skin tests, allergy shots. Dd is highy anaphyaltic to peanuts, tree nuts and seeds. She can never have skin testing done again. She has had the blood test too. We know what she is allergic to but it is still a struggle keeping her safe.

**ajrsmom** · #10 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 09:03 AM

Connie, why can't she have the skin testing done ever again? How old is she? It must be very rough on her sometimes to be that highly allergic.

I made it through the testing and have been taking the shots - one in each arm- for a year now. I have been going just about every other day to get them so that I could shorten overall length of time of the shots. I've only had one bad reaction to a shot. The area around the shot on my right arm swelled up quite a bit but it was nothing that sent me to the hospital. Thankfully it went away within 2 days but my arm was sore and stiff for about a week.

It is making a difference! I'm still using Omnaris and taking one pill for it daily. I still get headaches at times, especially if I'm outside for a long period of time but at least I can breath now!

I tested positive for pollen, ragweed, indoor and outdoor mold (especially in the wood chips and pine needles that everyone in NC is so fond of!), dust, cat and dog dander and one other thing that I am forgetting.

My only regret is that I didn't get tested when I was younger so that I wouldn't have had to suffer all that time.

I'm having my son tested next month. He seems to be affected by a lot of the same things that I am. He's already had a sinus infection this spring. He also really allergic to some type of poison oak or something along that line. Our family doc. told us to find out this way.

Thankfully, my DD seems to take after my husband and is not bothered by any of it.

A sudden onset of Asthma is what put the ball in motion for me. My Mom and sister have had Asthma since birth but until last year, I was never affected by it. I had a sinus infection that turned into Bronchitis and then I had an Asthma attack that they said they think was brought on by allergies. Boy, that was a scary situation. We take breathing for granted every day--until the ability is almost taken away. Scary!