Should I Go To An Allergist Next?

[Guest DanceswithWolves]

Well, as you all know, I wasn't too thrilled with the Gastro doc I went to.

He brushed me off with a "IBS" excuse and I'm suppossed to eat whatever I want and gain weight until he sees me again in October.

I have been eating bread again and drinking milk. I tried eating some Tastycakes which I am sure are loaded with Gluten, and I was belching right away on even a little bite. I tossed them in the garbage. Over the weekend, I drank Guinness (which I absoloutely LOVE) played golf and ate a burger and fries at Bennigan's afterwards. It felt great to just be out and enjoying myself with a friend again.

My weight still changes by the day. Either I go up two pounds or I drop two pounds.

I was 121 now I am back down to 118.

My question is this: Should I just go to an allergist next and get one of those scratch tests done or continue to eat "whatever I want" and get re-tested for celiac disease?

I have an appointment with my regular doctor next week, so I am going to bring up that question with them.

I know this time of year is very bad on my allergies, so I am unsure if it is that or the gluten causing my reactions. I get REAL congested at night and in the morning when I wake up. Mucus in my throat, eyes watering, the works. This is every night around a certain time, and when I wake up. The other night I was driving home with the window open and as soon as I turnd the corner for my housing development, I started to get congested and my eyes teared up. We have a ton of different trees and bushes in my area. I read that PA is very bad for people who suffer with allergies.

I've had allergies all my life, basically. I realise that allergies would not cause weight loss, but if it was all just anxiety and IBS that caused my weight loss, maybe I just have many allergy sensitivities???

Any members on this board, really sensitive to pollen and other nasties in the air?

Mold?

Dust mites?

I read that's a big cause too.

Any members live in Arizona? What's it like out there for allergies?

[kabowman]

I have so many allergies that it is easier to list what I am not allergic to. I have been doing shots now for 3 1/2 years with, finally, great success. I keep taking my meds most of the year, only use the nasal sprays (plural) in the spring, and the eye drops about 8 months of the year. Most people see enourmous improvement within one year.

I did my allergy testing in the late winter because you have to be off ALL antihistamines for 7 full days and they will provide you with a list of all meds to avoid. Now, when I have to go back in for additional testing, they put me on steroids for 7 days so I can survive the allergies. I imagine most docs could do that too...

Now, I tested negative, both times, for a wheat allergy or any other food allergy. My dx is formally, by GI, PCP, and allergiest, food intolerance. I have been dx with IBS for years, I have GERD, etc but no formal dx for celiac disease.

I went gluten-free, hard core, no cheating, to see if I felt better; I did. After all the gluten was elimited from my diet and I felt better, I was able to identify all the other foods that I cannot tolerate. I now, rarely, get sick. I have been able to finally gain weight and actually, wouldn't mind losing some again since I now know what I can and cannot eat.

[skbird]

I tend to have more airborne mold allergies than pollen so my allergies are usually worse in fall, and I sometimes have problems in libraries and used book stores. I am 95% sure I am allergic to a mold called aspergillus which on it's own can do bad things but is used "safely" in foods like fermented soy/tamari, miso, tofu, seitan, and is used to make the food preservative citric acid. It is also in Lactaid and Beano. It is very common on leaves in the fall which would explain why I have a hard time in the fall.

In Arizona, I wouldn't know at all. I am in California and not any kind of desert climate (though it gets very hot here in the summer, 110 for a week or two straight this year) and not much rain.

I have been given the impression that allergists aren't very helpful in this area. I know you are having an unsatisfactory experience with your gastro but maybe continuing with your food challenge and going back for re-test is the best thing at this time. I have tried calling allegists and gastros both before to ask questions about my reactions and been told to see the other, not them. Sigh.

I envy you for the Guiness! We have one in my fridge that neither my husband nor I are touching at this point, me for obvious reasons, and him for alcohol reasons. I have seen him drink a couple recently and seriously had to fight the urge to just take a taste. I don't know what it is about dark beer...

Take care

Steph

[frenchiemama]

I'm allergic to dogs, tree pollen and two kinds of dustmites (who knew there was more than one kind?)

I get sinus problems, weepy eyes and a sore, scratchy throat from the tree pollen and the dustmites. I get hives from contact with dogs.

[frenchiemama]

Oh yeah, I'm allergic to latex and nickel too. I also can't use any scented detergents, fabric softener or lotions.

[nogluten-]

I would insist on being tested for Celiac and I would go to an allergist. I didn't test as allergic to wheat on the scratch test, but I definately have Celiac. Your gastro should give you an endoscopy and the gene testing, imo. If he won't, I'd switch doctors. If it was his health, I'm sure he wouldn't be taking his time about it.

Remember too that dairy increases mucus production. I know, it sucks.

[skoki-mom]

OMG, I'm so lame, I just am dying with jealousy that you ate a BURGER!!!!!!

Seriously though, I totally sympathize with the allergies. Basically one side or the other of my nose is totally blocked with swelling every day of my life. I'm a total mouth breather and people are always asking me if I have a cold. I'm worse when it rains, probably due to spores or something. I also have a terrible time at work and my sinuses are often completely swollen shut there, I have no idea what nasty allergens are going on there, and it is a NICU which is pretty scary!

Have you ever had skin testing done?? I did, it's not fun, but it gives you some useful information. Unfortunately for me, I did 5 years of shots and when I was done I tested more sensitive than when I began, so that sort of sucked. I just kind of live with it and treat the symptoms. I'm sort of hoping that now I know I have celiac disease and am eating gluten-free they might get a little better.

[jenvan]

i have had horrible allergies since i was a kid--mold/mildew, dust, cats and some outdoor trees/pollen. i was constantly on antibiotics and nearly had to have the dreaded sinus surgery. shots were a huge help to me. i got them for quite a few years and it made all the difference in the world. and is better therapy than constant meds. my brother and his friend rave about flonase--that is literally gets rid of their allergies, so there's something else to look into if you go that route.

[ravenwoodglass]

Well, as you all know, I wasn't too thrilled with the Gastro doc I went to.

He brushed me off with a "IBS" excuse and I'm suppossed to eat whatever I want and gain weight until he sees me again in October.

I have been eating bread again and drinking milk. I tried eating some Tastycakes which I am sure are loaded with Gluten, and I was belching right away on even a little bite. I tossed them in the garbage. Over the weekend, I drank Guinness (which I absoloutely LOVE) played golf and ate a burger and fries at Bennigan's afterwards. It felt great to just be out and enjoying myself with a friend again.

My weight still changes by the day. Either I go up two pounds or I drop two pounds.

I was 121 now I am back down to 118.

My question is this: Should I just go to an allergist next and get one of those scratch tests done or continue to eat "whatever I want" and get re-tested for celiac disease?

I have an appointment with my regular doctor next week, so I am going to bring

up that question with them.

I know this time of year is very bad on my allergies, so I am unsure if it is that or the gluten causing my reactions. I get REAL congested at night and in the morning when I wake up. Mucus in  my throat, eyes watering, the works. This is every night around a certain time, and when I wake up. The other night I was driving home with the window open and as soon as I turnd the corner for my housing development, I started to get congested and my eyes teared up. We have a ton of different trees and bushes in my area. I read that PA is very bad for people who suffer with allergies.

I've had allergies all my life, basically. I realise that allergies would not cause weight loss, but if it was all just anxiety and IBS that caused my weight loss, maybe I just have many allergy sensitivities???

Any members on this board, really sensitive to pollen and other nasties in the air?

Mold?

Dust mites?

I read that's a big cause too.

Any members live in Arizona? What's it like out there for allergies?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My allergies definately wer intensified by Gluten. The only thing I did not test positive for was beech trees! I would definately see and allergist and make sure to ask him to guide you through an elimination diet. Food intolerances do NOT show up on skin testing, they are not a histimine reaction. The elimination diet can be a bit of a pain but when you are through with it you will know for sure what your body is sensitive to. Good luck, and wish I could have had a sip of that Guiness but will have to pop open a Woodchuck instead.

[Carriefaith]

My question is this: Should I just go to an allergist next and get one of those scratch tests done or continue to eat "whatever I want" and get re-tested for celiac disease?

I think that it is a good idea to get allergy testing done, just to amke sure that you don't have any onther major allergies that may be causing your symptoms. But if you want to get re-tested for celiac disease, it is a good idea to stay on gluten for a good solid 3 months, and then get tested again.

Any members on this board, really sensitive to pollen and other nasties in the air?

Mold?

Dust mites?

I read that's a big cause too.

I had the skin prick test done and I was allergic to every pollen that they tested me for and I also found out that I was allergic to dogs, cats, wheat, yeast, some types of mold, dust, and dust mites.

[drewsant]

My allergies definately wer intensified by Gluten. The only thing I did not test positive for was beech trees! I would definately see and allergist and make sure to ask him to guide you through an elimination diet. Food intolerances do NOT show up on skin testing, they are not a histimine reaction. The elimination diet can be a bit of a pain but when you are through with it you will know for sure what your body is sensitive to. Good luck, and wish I could have had a sip of that Guiness but will have to pop open a Woodchuck instead.

I'm going to an allergist next Wednesday. When I went to the doctor originally about the Celiac, he suggested I go to an allergist to see if I have any other food allergies. And according to him, he had been having a lot of stomach problems, so he went to this same allergist, and he did the skin prick tests, and my doc is allergic to soy. (Said his arm swelled up "like a toad" were his words!) So I'm assuming that food allergies will show up on skin prick tests, just not the intolerances?

Someone mentioned that having this test done was not fun. I've never had this done, so my question is, how bad is it, and what do they do?

[Guest DanceswithWolves]

Someone mentioned that having this test done was not fun. I've never had this done, so my question is, how bad is it, and what do they do?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Wandering Hermit]

Someone mentioned that having this test done was not fun. I've never had this done, so my question is, how bad is it, and what do they do?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is not that bad at all. I would rather have 100 of these tests than have that horrible endoscope rammed down my throat.

[skoki-mom]

Someone mentioned that having this test done was not fun. I've never had this done, so my question is, how bad is it, and what do they do?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's been years since I had it done, but I personally didn't enjoy it much. They prick your skin then put the allergen on it. That is not the painful part, just a tiny prick. But if you react, like I did, the itching is horrible. and of course you can't touch it because you might transmit the allergens between poke sites or even worse, get it in your mouth or eyes or something. However, I do remember the response being fairly short lived and my arms were red but not itchy the next day. Not very helpful, sorry. I found the endoscope to be nothing really, I didn't feel a thing and I don't remember anything.

[Guest DanceswithWolves]

I had this crazy idea of asking my parents to be tested for celiac disease, since mine came back negative. Has anyone done this with their parents?

My mother thought it would be a good idea...not sure if my dad would take the time to do it, but it may explain some stomach issues he's had all his life.

[skbird]

I've been trying to get my brother tested because we are very similar and have had some of the same anxiety and sugar issues. But he is in the middle of getting married and I don't want to freak him out further or his fiancée (who is being wonderful - she hasn't picked a restaurant yet in SF for their engagement dinner for 30 in part because she wants to choose a place I can eat! WOW! and yes, I told her not to worry about that, I'll be fine... just give me the name in advance and I'll call them myself). But he still eats gluten so it would be an interesting test result.

Stephanie