Food Allergies

[epcotprincess]

If you suspect you have food allergies, what do you do? Go to your regular doctor first or call an allergist directly?

I have reason to believe I have some kind of food allergy. I'm still trying to pin point what it is as it really just dawned on me, but my first suspicion is nuts. I have sneezing fits that last for a few hours at a time along with a runny nose and a swollen, itchy throat. For years, my docs have just said they're environmental allergies and prescribed the typical stuff which never really helped.

When I read that those who suffer from asthma and eczema are prone to food allergies, that's when my ears really perked up as I suffer from both.

I'm thinking I'll have to undergo some testing to figure out what's causing this very annoying issue. Anyone with experience know what steps to take, and what they'll do for diagnosis?

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I went directly to an allergist. (I also have a PPO and did not need a referal).

The allergist did a skin prick test at my first appointment. Basically, a nurse uses a device that scratches your skin (they did my back) with protein from different common allergens. After 15 min, the doctor came in and looked at how big any bumps were on my back (from the allergens). This tells the doctor how severe your allergies are and to what. The nurse then cleaned off my back so that the itchy/irritating bumps went away (They sometimes take more drastic measures depending on how severe your allergies are).
Then the doctor will tell you what steps (if any you need to take).

It's really simple and isn't bad at all. I hate pain, needles etc and I'd do it again.

FWIW, none of my doctors believed me when I said I thought I had a food allergy. (I was pretty sure I knew what food it was too). After visiting the allergist, I found out that not only was I right about the one food, I had several others that were moderately-severe. So, trust your gut and see an allergist!

 

[epcotprincess]

I went directly to an allergist. (I also have a PPO and did not need a referal).

The allergist did a skin prick test at my first appointment. Basically, a nurse uses a device that scratches your skin (they did my back) with protein from different common allergens. After 15 min, the doctor came in and looked at how big any bumps were on my back (from the allergens). This tells the doctor how severe your allergies are and to what. The nurse then cleaned off my back so that the itchy/irritating bumps went away (They sometimes take more drastic measures depending on how severe your allergies are).
Then the doctor will tell you what steps (if any you need to take).

It's really simple and isn't bad at all. I hate pain, needles etc and I'd do it again.

FWIW, none of my doctors believed me when I said I thought I had a food allergy. (I was pretty sure I knew what food it was too). After visiting the allergist, I found out that not only was I right about the one food, I had several others that were moderately-severe. So, trust your gut and see an allergist!

Thank you so much for taking your time to post this! I am going to call for an appointment tomorrow-- probably should have done it years ago!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

When I suspected food allergies I just kept track of what was triggering a reaction, and then figured it out through trial and error, and a whole lot of benadryl. Never been to a doctor for my food allergies, but I am allergic to latex, so my kiwi and avacado allergies are related.

 

[turkeymama]

Yep, I agree with everything Katie's Butterflies said.

DD has a severe dairy allergy. I will reiterate that sometimes docs are skeptical when you say food allergy. Even with a confirmed DX through blood testing, skin testing, and obvious violent physical allergic reactions upon ingesting dairy, I still had some docs look at me as though I was crazy when I said "food allergy". Very frustrating.

Let me just add one thing. It may not be a bad idea to keep a food journal/log recording foods you have eaten along with any symptoms of an allergic reaction. I realize you may have a pretty good idea of what the culprit is, the doctor may not be as easily convinced. The food journal will back up your claims.

And if you can skip the GP, go straight to the allergist. That's where the GP will send you anyway, more than likely. Good luck. Managing food allergies can be exhausting at first, but it gets easier with time.

 

[disfan07]

I will give you a warning that I learned the hard way and that my allergist has told me.....It might take a little while to find an adult allergist that believes that you have a newly developed food allergy. I went through 5 adult allergists who were all convinced that adults (I was only 17 at the time!) don't develop new food allergies. I am now seeing a pediatric allergist (until I'm 23) and she was the first one to believe me, test me, and treat me. She said that the general thinking for many adult allergists is that they don't believe that food allergies can show up later in life.

Good adult allergists seem to be hard to find and I am dreading the day I have to leave my ped. allergist. My derm. has no good allergist recommendations, my internist only has 1 that she recommends and my current allergist only has 1 as well.

Asthma, Allergies and Eczema are called the allergic triad. I have severe steroid dependent asthma, severe eczema (I'm on immunosuppresents for it) and severe allergies (multiple foods, chemicals and environmental). If you have asthma, eczema and allergies, you might want to get your IG levels tested...especially your IgE. It is a very good idea to know that number because that plays a significant role in all 3 diseases.

 

[Christine]

I will give you a warning that I learned the hard way and that my allergist has told me.....It might take a little while to find an adult allergist that believes that you have a newly developed food allergy. I went through 5 adult allergists who were all convinced that adults (I was only 17 at the time!) don't develop new food allergies. I am now seeing a pediatric allergist (until I'm 23) and she was the first one to believe me, test me, and treat me. She said that the general thinking for many adult allergists is that they don't believe that food allergies can show up later in life.

Good adult allergists seem to be hard to find and I am dreading the day I have to leave my ped. allergist. My derm. has no good allergist recommendations, my internist only has 1 that she recommends and my current allergist only has 1 as well.

Asthma, Allergies and Eczema are called the allergic triad. I have severe steroid dependent asthma, severe eczema (I'm on immunosuppresents for it) and severe allergies (multiple foods, chemicals and environmental). If you have asthma, eczema and allergies, you might want to get your IG levels tested...especially your IgE. It is a very good idea to know that number because that plays a significant role in all 3 diseases.

That's a shame. They seem to be easy to find and willing to test where I live.

OP, just go right to an allergist. As another poster said, you can pretty much figure it out for yourself, but if you do, indeed, have a dreaded nut allergy it can get worse with time. You need to have that documented and then you need to have the allergist prescribe you an epi-pen that you can have by your side. Hopefully you will NEVER have to use it but if you do have the allergy and it worsens over time (even if you are avoiding the food), you can accidentally ingest some and then get into trouble.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree with the above....

It's not just general doctors, but many allergist fail to fully recognize food allergies and take them seriously...

IMHO, it really takes somebody who will take it seriously, do thorough testing, both skin prick, and blood tests... and then have to avoid the suspect foods, totally and completely, for a given time frame and then do a re-introduction test.

I to feel like I KNOW I have food allergies/sensitivities...
But, unfortunately have not pursued additional testing as finding a good Dr. is hard, and costs can be

 

[msjprincess]

When I suspected food allergies I just kept track of what was triggering a reaction, and then figured it out through trial and error, and a whole lot of benadryl. Never been to a doctor for my food allergies, but I am allergic to latex, so my kiwi and avacado allergies are related.

I wouldn't advise that if she suspects a nut allergy. They can get worse over time and she should carry an epi-pen.

 

[kirbydog48]

A good way to determine food allergies/sensitivities is to do an elimination diet of the most common allergens for a week and see how you feel. No sugar, wheat/gluten,corn,eggs, soy, nuts and dairy, Then gradually add back one at a time and see if you have a reaction. There are lots of great resources to tell you how to do this. I highly recommend "The False Fat Diet" by Elson Haas and "Ultrametabolism" by Dr. Mark Hyman.

 

[disfan07]

That's a shame. They seem to be easy to find and willing to test where I live.

OP, just go right to an allergist. As another poster said, you can pretty much figure it out for yourself, but if you do, indeed, have a dreaded nut allergy it can get worse with time. You need to have that documented and then you need to have the allergist prescribe you an epi-pen that you can have by your side. Hopefully you will NEVER have to use it but if you do have the allergy and it worsens over time (even if you are avoiding the food), you can accidentally ingest some and then get into trouble.

Where in Northern Virginia are you? That's where we lived when we couldn't find a good allergist. We ended up at Hopkins for an allergist and dermatologist. We couldn't find a competent derm. or allergist in Northern Virginia. We went through 5 allergists and 8 dermatologists in 4 years. Now I'm at Cedars in LA and I have the best allergist ever.

 

[Christine]

Where in Northern Virginia are you? That's where we lived when we couldn't find a good allergist. We ended up at Hopkins for an allergist and dermatologist. We couldn't find a competent derm. or allergist in Northern Virginia. We went through 5 allergists and 8 dermatologists in 4 years. Now I'm at Cedars in LA and I have the best allergist ever.

I am in Woodbridge but my son sees a pediatric allergist in Fairfax but we've recently found a new one (regular/adult) in Woodbridge that also retested him for everything and took it all VERY seriously. I use a dermatologist in Alexandria and I am extremely happy with their practice.

 

[disfan07]

I am in Woodbridge but my son sees a pediatric allergist in Fairfax but we've recently found a new one (regular/adult) in Woodbridge that also retested him for everything and took it all VERY seriously. I use a dermatologist in Alexandria and I am extremely happy with their practice.

We were in the Herndon/Chantilly area. It might really be the age thing. I was 17 before I developed allergies and they all said it wasn't possible. But I was also 15 when I developed asthma and 15 when I developed eczema...so I'm just a little late to the game..lol

I think for derms for me it was that my case was so complicated and so unusual that they derms would kind of hit a wall and stop trying anything new and I would get worse again. We had a couple that seemed great to begin with but after about 6-8 months and I was getting worse, not better they would throw their hands up and say they didn't know what to do. THAT is very frustrating

I'm glad to know that there are actually good allergists and derms in Northern Virginia...After my experience (and the experience of a few others I had talked to) I was beginning to doubt that.

 

[Christine]

We were in the Herndon/Chantilly area. It might really be the age thing. I was 17 before I developed allergies and they all said it wasn't possible. But I was also 15 when I developed asthma and 15 when I developed eczema...so I'm just a little late to the game..lol

I think for derms for me it was that my case was so complicated and so unusual that they derms would kind of hit a wall and stop trying anything new and I would get worse again. We had a couple that seemed great to begin with but after about 6-8 months and I was getting worse, not better they would throw their hands up and say they didn't know what to do. THAT is very frustrating

I'm glad to know that there are actually good allergists and derms in Northern Virginia...After my experience (and the experience of a few others I had talked to) I was beginning to doubt that.

Things have probably improved.

When my son was being diagnosed, it was about 14 years ago. We had to go to Springfield to find an allergist and he was pretty much the only one around. My son had eczema real bad too and we got no help there. In the last 5-6 years, there have been more options for specialists and that has made things easier.

 

[book_junkie]

Depending on how strongly you react to things and what type of things you react to, you might have to do what I call a "tasting" as well as the skin test depending on what the doctor says. My brother had to go through that to determine exactly what was going on with his "milk" allergy- turns out all this time his shunning of cheese was actually an allergy to however they age it.

Mine turned up highly allergic to bananas on the test, and through experience I know that I have violent reactions to cherries and caspian peppers (neither of which are available in the standard battery of tests)...

Good luck!

 

[princessnoelly]

My dd6 has an egg and dairy allergy, she also had acid reflux as an infant so we kept making her sick and thinking it was the acid reflux acting up. We figured it out when we gave her a bottle of formula and she threw up like the exorcist. I called her dr and they did a blood test.

We found out she is allergic Penicillin when she got a terrible rash (think Mini Mouse's dress on a 15 month old).

DD7 is allergic to bee's. First sting she blew up!

We have epi pens and benadryl on us at all times.

I would see your general Dr and have them give you a referral to an allergist they like. We were lucky there are only two pediatric allergists in town. We go once a year now and get her tested.

The last test she got has a funny story with it. We got her tested on a Friday afternoon. I was having my hysterectomy on Monday AM. They had to poke Alea 4 times to get blood, she was well behaved- sat still and said, "excuse me please, that hurts. Please stop. Don't do that arm again". I had tears running down my face as she sat in my lap. Monday AM she went to daycare and showed the class her "pokies" and was very proud to tell everyone she didn't cry. The daycare teachers asked her why she had her blood drawn and she said to check and see if I have aids allergy (she couldn't say EGGS...said Aids for it!). The director was so upset and wouldn't talk to MIL who picked her up, as it was a family issue. My husband went in the next day very worried cause MIL was so worried only to find out they weren't listening!
She also told my mom once during a fire drill they made her sit on the turd....curb.

 

[southern_redhead]

Princesnoelly - that is hysterical. Literally, out of the mouths of babes!

OP - our primary care physician tests for allergies. He tested both my YDS and my DD. YDS had severe allergies to several things and had to do allergy shots. DD was barely allergic to anything, mold basically, and was put on Singulair. I understand not all PCPs do testing but I'd call and ask. My kids were VERY receptive to having their favorite doc test them, I am thinking of going myself as I have terrible problems with eczema lately.

 

[monorailsilver]

My son has food allergies & I suspected it at his 9 mo visit. We then made an appt for the allergist when he turned about a year old & have been going to the allergist for his food and seasonal allergies ever since.