"allergy" Testing

[conniebky]

I think I've decided to get tested. However, I have been back scratch tested twice for "foods" and those have all been negative.

I asked the lady to test to see if I'm allergic to coffee and you know what she told me "it's not legal for us to test for coffee right now" I said HUH????? she said sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't and right then, it wasn't.

I saw a blip somewhere on the forum about going to an immunologist. What can they do for me that another doctor can't?

[lynnelise]

I was tested for a coffee allergy today actually. I've been having weird tingling in my lips and mouth when I drink it, turns out I did show a reaction. I'm in WV so maybe there is a difference between what they can test for here as opposed to KY.

[Lozfl]

I am quite confused, I am awaiting blood results as my dr's think I have celiac due to my body not absorbing calcium and leaving me with severe osteoporosis . since I have seen the Dr I tried re introducing Milk and yoghurts, unfortunatly I seem to have gone like a balloon it's so confusing I am trying to help my body n now this. I just about (uncomfortably) fit into my clothes, I can't win my meds cause problems for my bowels as they are strong pain meds. I really don't know what is going on anyone got any ideas?

[heatherjane]

  On 6/3/2010 at 4:39 PM, conniebky said:

I think I've decided to get tested. However, I have been back scratch tested twice for "foods" and those have all been negative.

I asked the lady to test to see if I'm allergic to coffee and you know what she told me "it's not legal for us to test for coffee right now" I said HUH????? she said sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't and right then, it wasn't.

I saw a blip somewhere on the forum about going to an immunologist. What can they do for me that another doctor can't?

I live in Kentucky and got tested for food allergies a couple of months ago. Don't know what the legal issue is, though, unless it has something to do with what your insurance will cover. (They tested me for coffee which came back negative.) The problem is that skin tests aren't always accurate. I tested positive for a ton of food allergies, but my Immunologist thinks that it could be a false reading due to the extremely sensitive nature of my skin. Basically, he told me to eliminate foods one at a time to see what helps.

It's pretty frustrating.

[burdee]

  On 6/3/2010 at 4:39 PM, conniebky said:

I think I've decided to get tested. However, I have been back scratch tested twice for "foods" and those have all been negative.

I asked the lady to test to see if I'm allergic to coffee and you know what she told me "it's not legal for us to test for coffee right now" I said HUH????? she said sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't and right then, it wasn't.

I saw a blip somewhere on the forum about going to an immunologist. What can they do for me that another doctor can't?

I took the ELISA (blood) test for over 100 commonly eaten foods. Coffee bean is included in that test. I don't react to coffee, but I'm sensitive to caffeine per se. So I don't drink any caffeinated beverages.

Scratch or skin tests don't diagnosed delayed reaction (IgG or IgA) antibody mediated allergies. They only eliminate which substances do not cause IgE reactions or indicate skin sensitivities. We don't put food under our skin when we eat. So blood tests for food allergies are more accurate.

SUE

[GFinDC]

  On 6/11/2010 at 12:28 PM, Lozfl said:

I am quite confused, I am awaiting blood results as my dr's think I have celiac due to my body not absorbing calcium and leaving me with severe osteoporosis . since I have seen the Dr I tried re introducing Milk and yoghurts, unfortunatly I seem to have gone like a balloon it's so confusing I am trying to help my body n now this. I just about (uncomfortably) fit into my clothes, I can't win my meds cause problems for my bowels as they are strong pain meds. I really don't know what is going on anyone got any ideas?

Celiacs often have problems digesting milk sugar. The tips of the villi are where the lactase enzyme is made, so when they are damaged the lactase is gone. You could eliminate dairy for a few months and see if the bloating recedes. That's the best way to test IMHO.

You said you are waiting for blood tests? I assume you mean celiac antibody testing. Just be aware that you have to keep eating gluten until all the testing is done, or the results will be void. Often a follow-up to the blood testing is an endoscopy to get biopsy samples from the small intestine. They look at the biopsy for damaged villi.

[Lozfl]

  On 6/14/2010 at 12:12 AM, GFinDC said:

Celiacs often have problems digesting milk sugar. The tips of the villi are where the lactase enzyme is made, so when they are damaged the lactase is gone. You could eliminate dairy for a few months and see if the bloating recedes. That's the best way to test IMHO.

You said you are waiting for blood tests? I assume you mean celiac antibody testing. Just be aware that you have to keep eating gluten until all the testing is done, or the results will be void. Often a follow-up to the blood testing is an endoscopy to get biopsy samples from the small intestine. They look at the biopsy for damaged villi.

I had my results today and they said I am negative for celiacs, what do i do now, i hardly eat wheat anyway as i allways bloated after so I just dont know what there is can be done, I cut out all wheat after the dr took the blood and at the time i didnt know about the milk problem, as i have osteoporosis i thought i would be pro active and drink more milk and eat yoghurts. which bloated me up again so i have cut out milk again and yesteday i forgot about the wheat in mini cheddars had a couple of packets whoosh bloated, but today I got told I have been tested as negative... even more confused now

[Skylark]

Listen to your body, not the doctors! There are forms of gluten intolerance that don't show up very well on celiac tests but you still feel miserable when you eat wheat. There are even milder cases of celiac where the blood tests are fine, but when they do an intestinal biopsy there are some abnormalities.

[GFinDC]

  On 6/15/2010 at 4:05 PM, Skylark said:

Listen to your body, not the doctors! There are forms of gluten intolerance that don't show up very well on celiac tests but you still feel miserable when you eat wheat. There are even milder cases of celiac where the blood tests are fine, but when they do an intestinal biopsy there are some abnormalities.

Right, the celiac tests are not perfect 100% accurate answers. Stay on or start the gluten-free diet and eliminate dairy, and soy for 3 months. You need to eliminate wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats also. Your body is the best test device available, much more accurate and reliable than a doctors test tube.

Think about eliminating all processed foods and cooking all your meals at home from scratch/basic whole ingredients. Check or eliminate all vitamins and medicines that you cannot confirm are gluten and dairy free. Don't use any spice blends, only use single ingredinet spices. Don't eat out at restaurants. Don't eat junk food.

After 3 months if you stick to this diet you should be able to tell if a new food you introduce is affecting you negatively.