I'm Getting Allergy Tested!

[saintmaybe]

Hey guys. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I've been reading "Dangerous Grains," and the authors recommend a full allergy panel if you suspect Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. I've never had one done, so how do you go about finding a good allergist, and what tests do you ask for? Still been getting sick, especially last week. I WAS eating whole milk with my cereal (I only did it ONE time *whines*), but I think that was a mistake. I don't regularly consume soy, but I'd like to not have to completely quit dairy. What kind of test would a dairy intolerance test show up on? Or should I just quit it? *Shrugs* I've been doing this mostly sans medical advice, since my GP has been less than helpful, but my mom really wants me to see some specialists to make sure I'm doing the right things allergy and nutrition-wise.

[New Community Member]

Hi there. I've been thinking of getting tested for other intolerances/allergies, too. May I ask how long you've been gluten free? I've been gluten free and dairy free for 2 months now and am still having bouts of sickness...

Also, people who have celiac are usually lactose intolerant also (which is found in all dairy products) until the intestines have healed. Might try cutting that out.

I know it's so frustrating. Hope you get some answers soon. Tell us how it goes.

[captaincrab55]

but my mom really wants me to see some specialists to make sure I'm doing the right things allergy and nutrition-wise.

Let Mom know that allergy testing can be mis-leading.. I've had 2 rounds in as many years and one round did confirm I had a dust issue of 2 on a scale of 10.. I did have 2 other enviroment issues, but neither were really any day to day issue or of a higher scale to worry about.. One round was completed at a HOPKINS Clinic.. Neither round of tests showed any food related issues.. I've had an issue with lactose intolerant for 20 years or more.. I've since attempted to eliminated all dairy and I feel better.. I may need to give up my daily 2" slice of a home made G F pizza.. Beware of the hidden dairy in processed foods and our trusted medications...

[StephanieL]

Please know there is a huge difference between allergies and intolerances. They are NOT the same and they should not be lumped together.

Allergy testing for foods is 50/50 with accuracy for a positive result. If it's negative, it's 92% (or something like that) that it's accurate. The "gold standard" for food testing is a food challenge (eating the food at the Dr's office or under the guidance of the Dr.) and seeing if you react.

Intolerance testing is sketchy at best. Most of the time they look at the reaction of WBC's to a substance. THe science behind it isn't that sound by my view thought many people do believe in it.

[Reba32]

Open Original Shared Link

allergy vs. intolerance

[sandsurfgirl]

If you have only been gluten free a short time you need to give it more time. I was very sick at diagnosis and it took me a full 6 months to get better. Things improved right away but healing was slow.

You may be getting glutened and not know it. Make sure you have thrown out all plastic and wooden cooking utensils. You can't get the gluten out of them. Double check ingredients on things.

Change your soaps, shampoos etc if they contain wheat. It ends up in your mouth by running down your face in the shower or being on your hands when you eat or prepare your food.

Allergy testing probably won't help you, but go ahead and get it done. They have standard panels of what they test for. Allergy is a histamine response. Your body produces histamine to an allergen and gives you the hives, itching, runny eyes, etc. Celiac is NOT an allergy. It's an autoimmune reaction where your body perceives it as a poison and attacks your small intestine. Allergists often don't know much about celiac. If you are already gluten free you cannot be tested for celiac because you won't have the antibodies in your system. Do NOT let a doctor convince you to go back in gluten to get tested if gluten makes you sick. It's not worth the damage you are doing to your body. Go on the diet, call yourself celiac and tell everyone you were diagnosed by blood tests. Nobody will know the difference.

The only way to accurately test for food intolerances is to eliminate them for about 3 weeks and then slowly add one food back in every 4 days and see if you react.

Because of damaged intestines, celiacs are often intolerant of other foods. Many of us were able to put those foods back in after awhile. I was able to add dairy and nightshades back but not soy.

Cut dairy and soy. Eat a clean simple diet for about a month. See if it helps you heal.

Be careful about reading too much stuff that is extreme right now. You are going to get all frazzled and run yourself in circles. Then you will try so many things at once you won't know what is doing what to your body. You may not have to cut dairy forever. Just cut it for now and see if your body heals.

[Celiac Ninja]

I got tested a couple of times but both were by some uh-hem wacky natural paths. The test consisted of plastic bottles being held up to my body where certain organs were and pushing down on my are which I was to hold straight out in front of me. If the arm easily pushed down then the bottle that was held next to my heart or whatever organ was the culprit (body supposedly senses the material through the plastic bottle and knows it isn't good to ingest)?? The second time I went for an allergy test, the lady had all this "bottled" information in a laptop. So to test me she velcroed a strap around my arm (similar to a blood pressure reader) which hooked into the laptop by usb cable, and again tested for weaknesses in my outstretched arm.

I left those two doctors, learning that I'm better off figuring my allergies out for myself through small trials. I also learned from them that they think I am allergic to (drum roll please): salt, sugar, cucumbers, bell peppers, some meats, milk, gluten, appricotes, plums, almonds, brewer's yeast, beans, apples, and much much more.

Ignoring all of that was difficult, most my diet would be gone. A grown woman can't live on WATER and AIR. > So I did leave those two wacky people and saved lots of money doing so. Prices seemed to get higher the more I went.

I do know from two authentic blood tests that my IGA white blood cells are sky high when I have gluten in my system. I also know grom eating foods and getting sick that black pepper makes me choke. Fun stuff. Also my vitamins make me choke or throw up (with or without food). Sometimes it's not so bad, other times it's worse.

The key to know about celiac disease is this: when you body is having epsidoes (as I call a gluten reaction) everything could be an allergy. The white blood cells are on high alert, they are lookig for enemies and other foods could be targeted and make you have allergic reactions. So if say I were all healed up inside, no gluten absolutly for months, I would not be allergic to the same foods/substances as I would with damage and alert white blood cells. Some foods yes would totally be bad for me with or without gluten in my system, but not deadly (unless you have a peanut allergy) so those I feel better about testing in small amounts in between meals.

This is what I've learned and am doing. I recommend getting a blood test that measures your IGA and IGG white blood cells, usually is a 5 vial amount (five tubes of blood) but is very accurate. The hospital's lab is where I had mine done. Worked great!

Sorry this is so long.

[DonnaMM]

If you are really concerned about being lactose intolerant I suggest asking your GI doctor to check it out. There is a lactose breath test that can be performed. It's pretty simple if I remember correctly you just drink something and at certain intervals they will have you breath into this machine and it checks to see if you are lactose intolerant. Not sure how accurate it is, but it may give your mother some piece of mind.