What Is The Best Way To Identify Food Allergies?

[acod]

Our 12 year old son was diagnosed in November 2006 with celiac disease. He had positive blood tests and 8 biopsies that showed a complete atrophied intestine. We went gluten free on December 1, but unfortunately, his main symptom, intense intestinal pain, has not changed at all since going gluten free. We have worked very hard at getting gluten out of his diet and do believe that he is gluten free because his titers for TTg and EMA are coming down! (yea), however, his symptoms are not changing. The wild thing about all of this, is that he was normal up until October, when he got a bad stomach virus, that slowly escalated into a myriad of disabilitating and discouraging GI, emotional, and physical symptoms, all leading us to find out that he has celiac disease. It is has been so incredible to see symptoms in him, that I now read about from all of you. He has peripheral neuropathies, extreme iritability and depression, brain fog, and sore feet and legs.

We think we have a good nutrionist and we are trying to support his malabsorption and constipation issues through diet and supplements, but our real question now is....might he have other food allergies in addition to having celiac disease?

We are lactose/dairy free, and don't eat or use soy products, but we have not cut anything else out from his diet.

Before starting an elimiation diet, and putting him through yet more diet based changes, we wondered what are some ways of determining allergies. I know that there are blood tests. which are the best? why? We have done muscle testing, but nothing came up except what I mentioned above.

I guess the other issue is time. Perhaps we just haven't waited long enough....it is just so difficult so see your son, or anyone you love, in so much pain, and completely out of their normal life.

We would really appreciate your feedback.

[nama shivaya]

Hi acod:

Wow, as a mom, I know how hard it is to watch your children go through problems like your son's. I have 4 kiddos ranging in age from 16 -- 24. My 24 year old just got back from doing a year tour in Iraq! Talk about daily angst.

I can't address your question as I'm in the process of diagnosing what's going on with me, so don't have any experience as of yet. But I noticed no one had responded to your question and wanted to at least reply and let you know you're not alone!

Have you done a search on this site for related topics? I've done that with much success.

I wish your son and family well and am sending positive healing thoughts your way!

Hugs,

Nama

[StrongerToday]

I really think the elimination diet is your best bet. Blood tests aren't foolproof, are expensive and I think the only 100% way to tell is the diet.

[kookaburra]

I started with bloodtesting my son for allergies. They are considered poor for accuracy. Some doctors I know have sent in double blind challenges (the same blood under two assumed names) and gotten back very different answers. It might be worth doing some poking around to check about the lab's accuracy before you settle on one.

That being said...

We have found the blood tests to be so incredibly helpful. We tested our son for both IgE (immediate) and IgE (delayed) allergy for the same items. When one was positive, usually both were. I don't necessarily think this is a rule of thumb (anyone know?), but it helped us feel more confident in taking that food out of his diet where he got two hits. It's interesting, but if you read the posts here about celiacs other food sensitivities, that's probably not a bad guide as to what to select to test. (I'm assuming you don't want to test everything, due to money). Dairy, soy, egg, legumes in general and the solonaise family (potato especially white and tomato) seem to come up a lot.

I found that after we identified/ruled out a few of the biggies we could better see when he was reacting to somehting else. Also, just eliminating additives so you can rule them out in general was super helpful (food colorings, sorbitol, preservatives, stuff in a lot of medicines unfortunately).

Good luck, and I hope this more helpful than confusing.

[Michi8]

Allergy testing is hit or miss for accuracy. Your best bet is to do a thorough elmination diet.

Michelle

[acod]

thanks folks

The suggestion to research the lab is a really good one and I have been researching them whilst hoping for replies. I also like the double allergy test. Good ideas. All food seems to bother him. Or his system is just in bothered mode. Having a starting place is what we need. What is the best way to start an elimination diet?

We are thinking that perhaps it is an acid issue, and figuring out how to minimize that would be really good.

He is just recently starting to have problems with reflux. What was probably confined to his gut has risen up to his throat which has been really burning and he hasn't slept because of this for the past three nights.

we were taking magnesium for his constipation, or complete lack of bowel movements, but his doctor thinks that because it is a muscle relaxant, the sphincter to his esophagus has relaxed, which may be why he is getting the acid up in his throat now, and never before. so, we are going to take a break from the magnesium first to see if that calms down.

We are cutting all acid inducing foods in order to help minimize this too. He really doesn't eat much of them, but he is now triggered.

each day it is a new task, and progress is slow

i know you all can relate

thanks again and wishing calmness and health for all of you