Food Allergy Testing

[Roda]

I was hoping to hear from anyone who has experience with food allergy testing. I am having my almost 6 year old retested for allergies since we switched allergists. He has had chronic rhinosinusitis since about two months old and had horrible reflux till about 10 mo. He also had reactive airway problems as a baby due to the reflux and was on nebulizer meds till age 3. He was allergy skin tested and blood tested at 14 months with all results negative. The allergist at that time said at that age it was not all that reliable. We got him better and had him restested (skin) at age 3 1/2 with the skin testing negative. Allergist still felt he had significant allergic response but we were managing it with nasal steriods and zyrtec. I changed doctors in July and he went over his history. I'm having him retested next week. Should I also have them to the ELISA blood testing also? I like the new doc he is very much down to earth approach. They are going to draw blood anyway for venom allergy(bees specifically) so would the blood testing for food allergies help? He was my problem baby and I had to eliminate lots of foods while I was breastfeeding. Dairy would aggrivate his reflux and would cause him abd pain, oats and rice would cause eczema on his head, and pecans once caused hives so I didn't eat those things. He does eat all those things now with no rashes, belly aches or hives but his sinus problems are continuing and he has those nice little raccoon eyes. He is moody and it affects his behavior. I don't think it is celiac, but more of an allergy going on. The new doc believes that he probably didn't "outgrow" those problems just that the reactions are different and could possibly be causing most of his chronic sinus issues. He also is going to prescribe us an epi pen (ped refused) for his potential yellow jacket allergy. He has been stung twice once around a year old and had a normal reaction that went away in a few hours, to last year getting stung and had his entire foot/ankle swell up and last for over three days. He feels that there is enough of a risk that he could have a worse reaction next time. Did I say I like this guy?

I may have put this in the wrong place. It maybe would be better in the "other intolerences" section. Sorry!

[ravenwoodglass]

Have you had him tested for celiac or tryed him on the diet? Sometimes the inflammatory reaction from celiac can cause problems like he is having. If you haven't tested him yet it might be a good idea and then when testing is done give the diet a try with him.

[Roda]

He has been tested for celiac in 2008 after my diagnosis. They only did the tTg. I can't get hubby on board to do gluten free with the kids without a diagnosis! I think I will ask for all the tests again just to be sure.

[missy'smom]

I'm not sure what kind of advice you are looking for but I would still pursue those food allergies. Sounds like you've been through a few allergist's already but it makes a difference when you find one that you can be on the same page with. We are told that food allergies can be ditched with avoidance. Not always, but sometimes they can be re-intriduced and tolerated again if they are strictly avoided for a year, 2 yrs. something like that. Our allergist re-tests the food every year. We are up for re-testing soon so we'll see if we are still reacting after a short period of avoidance with some and longer for others. Then we can reasses the situation and leave some out for a longer time and see if we can ditch some.

When I re-intoduced the food I had tested pos. to last year, after a period of avoidance, the vast majority of my symptoms were GI, and the most noticeable improvement when I had all of them out of my diet, was GI. With a few I had classic allergic symptoms, like tingly lips, mouth.

Hope that helps. Keep advocating for what you think is right.

I'm adding this on because I re-read you post and something stands out. The sinus issues and dairy-in my experience,GI symptoms or not, dairy really fills up my sinuses. Knowing what I know now, that would be and was enough for me to ditch dairy and keep it out. At one point, I went dairy-free for a year and to my suprize I could breathe SO much better, that was motivation to keep it out. However I played around with it several times until recently. I've had issues with it my whole life and symptoms varied and sometimes seemed to be absent. Had multiple tests to figure out what part of the dairy is bothering me but recent allergy test came back pos. for casein. I would keep you little one off dairy.

[Roda]

I think dairy would be hard for him. He does not drink much milk and never did like it when I weaned him. He so does like cheese though. As for cooking/baking that's no problem since I like almond milk. He does do milk on his cereal but won't drink what is left. He goes tommorow for his appointment. I just hope we can get some answers. I will do whatever I need to to get him some relief. I've had him off his allergy nose spray and the zyrtec since last week and he looks pitiful. The bags under his little eyes look terrible and the sinus drainage is making him cough.

[missy'smom]

I hope the testing gives you some answers and direction too. We've found that so many things contribute to our nasal issues. We seem to be wired to react that way in this family. We both are latex allergic and that causes nasal congestion too. Very dustmite allergic and that contributes to the load too, or diminishes it when managed well. I always seem to get stuffed up when I'm allergy tested too.

As for the milk, I love my cheese too and miss it. Coconut milk works well as a dairy substitute. I use it in pumpkin custard that I make for kiddo. The So Delicious coconut milk beverage is very neutral in flavor so would work well with your kiddo's cereal-it's not coconutty flavored, at least the unsweetened version that I've tried.

Just be aware that dairy allergy in young ones is thought to possibly trigger autoimmune diseases. I'm investigating the possibility that I may have autoimmine diabetes and if so, my dairy allergy, which has been ignored most of my life, could be a culprit. Google T1 diabetes and casein if you re intrested.

[Roda]

Well all of his skin allergy testing was negative again. I am happy, but still no answers. The new allergist did say that maybe he still has an intolerence to something and also wants to recheck him for celiac. He was going to research and find out what the latest and best tests to order. He mentioned the Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) Antibodies so he does know that he needs not just one test. He never had the AGA tests in 2008. He wants us to see how he does on a new antihistimine and singulair combo to see if there is any improvement. He wants to try and keep him from developing the allergies. He told me if we don't keep things under control then eventually he would have an allergic response. He is also wondering if he is even absorbing the meds to begin with. There isn't any problem with his growth, just the occasional complaint of his tummy hurting. He has complained off and on since June about that. One minute he is complaining his belly don't feel good, and the next he is playing like nothing was bothering him. So who knows.

To any moderator who may read this topic it may need moved to a different category. Thanks!

[Roda]

Went Mon. for blood work for venom allergy testing and the celiac workup. The NP, upon hearing his symptoms (his symptoms have progressed and has been taking xyzal, nasocort, singulair and astepro since last Wed. after testing. Having more of the same, post nasal drip and a horrible cough) wanted to check his IgG, IgA, IgE, and IgM to see if he had enough to fight whatever he has. I told him that given another week he would have a full blown sinus infection. So I am unsure if they are checking the total of all of those or using them for blood allergy testing which was also mentioned. We go back in two weeks. My poor child has battled recurrent rhinosinusitis, reflux, RAD and MARSA in his tonsils. He started having issues when he was around two months old. The lingering thing has been the rhinosinusitis. It just keeps him down and I don't like having him on so many antibiotics. I think if any part of his celiac tests come back positive I will forgo the endo and go straight gluten free and hubby is on board with this. He also does not want him to have the biopsy if his tests are inconclusive. He agreed to trial him and see how he does! If I do that with him I am going to trial my oldest son at the same time. He has alot of allergies that he does allergy shots for and was diagnosed with asthma. The good thing about his asthma is that he doesn't take any meds for it and only mildly acts up upon extreme exercise. On a side note, my 5 year old still occasionally asks for some help after using the restroom. Today he asked for some help and I noticed fat floating in the water. I noticed this once before several months back and just thought he ate alot of "fatty food." Hmm, now I'm not so sure, especially since he has been complaining off and on since June about random tummy aches.

[Roda]

He is officially going gluten free in the morning. He had a positive tTG.

Here is a post of what we found out.