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skin allergy test
- Thread starter MOME2RT
- Start date
saveferris2009
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ehtansky21</b></i>
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote></div>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote></div>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
saveferris2009
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ehtansky21</b></i>
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote></div>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote></div>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
saveferris2009
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ehtansky21</b></i>
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote></div>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote></div>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
saveferris2009
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ehtansky21</b></i>
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
blessings,
missa</end quote>
There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
saveferris2009
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ehtansky21</b></i>
<br />
<br />Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />blessings,
<br />
<br />missa</end quote>
<br />
<br />
<br />There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
<br />
<br />I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
<br />
<br />Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
<br />
<br />There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
<br />
<br />You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
<br />
<br />Is there a difference between doing the back scratches and just doing a blood test?????
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />blessings,
<br />
<br />missa</end quote>
<br />
<br />
<br />There is a general IgE level blood test that simply tests if your body is currently responding to any allergen. It's a pretty useless test - I know so many people who have false negatives.
<br />
<br />I have RAGING allergies and when I do a general IgE test nothing shows up.
<br />
<br />Like Nightwriter said, there are some specific IgE blood tests that can be done that are useful. Something like aspergillus specific IgE can be pretty accurate according to my research.
<br />
<br />There are many things you can do to control exposure in your home like HEPA filters, dust might treatment for the carpet, dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows, removing down in pillows or comforters, etc.
<br />
<br />You guys know where to find more info on my blog <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />But yes, those skin tests can be time-consuming (sometimes they're given on the arms, BTW), but if you can stand it, even if it's just for a few allergens, it's good to know so you can start controlling the environment.
Nightwriter
New member
I will clarify. What I said was this: It is important to get an IgE level done. It is not useless at all. My doctor finds this extremely valuable. My doctor will get patients who literally have all kinds of things wrong with them and they go from doctor to doctor with symptoms like IBS, rashes, severe asthma where they are in the ER every week, bronchitis or pneumonia exacerbations from various res'piratory diseases, severe sinus problem with multiple surgeries, migraines...people on rounds and rounds of antibiotics and on and on...an no relief. Yet they keep searching because NOTHING seems to help.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
Nightwriter
New member
I will clarify. What I said was this: It is important to get an IgE level done. It is not useless at all. My doctor finds this extremely valuable. My doctor will get patients who literally have all kinds of things wrong with them and they go from doctor to doctor with symptoms like IBS, rashes, severe asthma where they are in the ER every week, bronchitis or pneumonia exacerbations from various res'piratory diseases, severe sinus problem with multiple surgeries, migraines...people on rounds and rounds of antibiotics and on and on...an no relief. Yet they keep searching because NOTHING seems to help.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
Nightwriter
New member
I will clarify. What I said was this: It is important to get an IgE level done. It is not useless at all. My doctor finds this extremely valuable. My doctor will get patients who literally have all kinds of things wrong with them and they go from doctor to doctor with symptoms like IBS, rashes, severe asthma where they are in the ER every week, bronchitis or pneumonia exacerbations from various res'piratory diseases, severe sinus problem with multiple surgeries, migraines...people on rounds and rounds of antibiotics and on and on...an no relief. Yet they keep searching because NOTHING seems to help.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
Nightwriter
New member
I will clarify. What I said was this: It is important to get an IgE level done. It is not useless at all. My doctor finds this extremely valuable. My doctor will get patients who literally have all kinds of things wrong with them and they go from doctor to doctor with symptoms like IBS, rashes, severe asthma where they are in the ER every week, bronchitis or pneumonia exacerbations from various res'piratory diseases, severe sinus problem with multiple surgeries, migraines...people on rounds and rounds of antibiotics and on and on...an no relief. Yet they keep searching because NOTHING seems to help.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
Nightwriter
New member
I will clarify. What I said was this: It is important to get an IgE level done. It is not useless at all. My doctor finds this extremely valuable. My doctor will get patients who literally have all kinds of things wrong with them and they go from doctor to doctor with symptoms like IBS, rashes, severe asthma where they are in the ER every week, bronchitis or pneumonia exacerbations from various res'piratory diseases, severe sinus problem with multiple surgeries, migraines...people on rounds and rounds of antibiotics and on and on...an no relief. Yet they keep searching because NOTHING seems to help.
<br />
<br />My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
<br />
<br />You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
<br />
<br />If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
<br />
<br />Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
<br />
<br />If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
<br />
<br />Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
<br />
<br />Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
<br />
<br />My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
<br />
<br />I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
<br />
<br />What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
<br />
<br />I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
<br />
<br />You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
<br />
<br />My doctor starts with asthma testing, skin testing, and IgE levels. You can be mostly negative to both skin testing and have a normal IgE level like me -- yet I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. But for someone like me it was very difficult identifying triggers. Now I pretty much much know what brings on exacerbations. I used to think they came out of the blue when I was sick all the time.
<br />
<br />You can be positive to both tests, identifiable allergies and high IgE -- when my doctor sees this she knows that there is a good chance of allergies AND chemical sensitivities. So this is good, because there may lots of room for improvement.
<br />
<br />If someone is negative for allergies, they can also have a very high IgE level. Again, this may point to chemical sensitivities. Especially in conjunction with their symptoms. And there is not much in the textbooks, so most doctors don't even consider chemical sensitivities, but once you become aware of what makes you sick, it is really like a lightbulb went on. I see it here all the time in parents' posts. Many parents will know exactly what made their child sick, only to be dismissed by the doctor.
<br />
<br />Some people on this site are put on Xolair if their IgE level is high. My doctor does not prescribe Xolair for a few reasons.
<br />
<br />If my doctor suspects chemical sensitivities, particularly with the tests, examination, and history, she and the patient do what she calls detective work. Sometimes it is surprisingly easy to find.
<br />
<br />Sometimes it takes some digging. But it's there. And once identified, and treated by methods I have described up above, they stop going to the emergency room, the rashes go, the IBS improves and even can disappear. People with bronchiectasis (I also have CF) and other respiratory diseases like myself start to improve.
<br />
<br />Some examples: My doctor has had patients who are sales people in their cars all day, exposed to truck exhaust, not realizing the impact. She had a very sick patient who is a flight attendant, -- lots of exposures there including that they use insecticides on the planes that go international. She had one very sick patient who was allergic to salt -- that was it! That one was simple. There are tests for spices, but no one had ever bothered. She had a patient who had built a new house that was environmentally correct, but was getting really sick. The woman found out she lived near a factory that had something to do with coal that was emitting noxious fumes into the air.
<br />
<br />My doctor has had kids diagnosed with ADD and ADHD and she treats without drugs. She had one 6 year old who was kicked out of school and couldn't sit still long enough for my doctor to examine her. After cleaning up her environment and diet (no preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc) the child went from F's to A's as she calmed down. The letter from the parents is on my doctor's wall.
<br />
<br />I can literally give you dozens of examples of how chemical exposure acting as a sort of an allergen in the way that if you are sensitive, it raises the inflammation in the body. As you know, many of you say, when your child is on Cortisone, they get better. It reduces inflammation. But other than a daily inhaled steroid, it is not great to be on oral steroids every day.
<br />
<br />What I also said is (to my best knowledge) there are blood tests they can do specific allergy testing instead of skin testing. To my knowledge, it is extremely expensive and most people opt not to do allergy test this way.
<br />
<br />I gave you those examples because these were not CF people. Imagine how much inflammation we have. Sometimes what you think are unrelated problems all stem from inflammation. And inflammation can be caused by allergies, irritants, and chemical sensitivities.
<br />
<br />You don't need a doctor to clean up your environment. If you or your child are getting sick over and over, and you feel frustrated, it may be time to seek other opinions, but in the meantime, like everyone else said so well, "allergy proof" your home and your lives starting today. And if your doctor doesn't want to explore these avenues, get another opinion.
crickit715
New member
we just went thru this....the blood (rast) test came back saying she was allergic to EVERYTHING!!....but there was no way that was correct. so we had her skin pricked and my daughter is severly allergic to peanuts and eggs that arent cooked throughly (she can eat a fried egg because it changes the protein in the egg). it wasnt pleasant but she tolerated it with a few tears and squeels and i am glad i found out sooner than later (especially in regards to the peanuts).
crickit715
New member
we just went thru this....the blood (rast) test came back saying she was allergic to EVERYTHING!!....but there was no way that was correct. so we had her skin pricked and my daughter is severly allergic to peanuts and eggs that arent cooked throughly (she can eat a fried egg because it changes the protein in the egg). it wasnt pleasant but she tolerated it with a few tears and squeels and i am glad i found out sooner than later (especially in regards to the peanuts).
crickit715
New member
we just went thru this....the blood (rast) test came back saying she was allergic to EVERYTHING!!....but there was no way that was correct. so we had her skin pricked and my daughter is severly allergic to peanuts and eggs that arent cooked throughly (she can eat a fried egg because it changes the protein in the egg). it wasnt pleasant but she tolerated it with a few tears and squeels and i am glad i found out sooner than later (especially in regards to the peanuts).
crickit715
New member
we just went thru this....the blood (rast) test came back saying she was allergic to EVERYTHING!!....but there was no way that was correct. so we had her skin pricked and my daughter is severly allergic to peanuts and eggs that arent cooked throughly (she can eat a fried egg because it changes the protein in the egg). it wasnt pleasant but she tolerated it with a few tears and squeels and i am glad i found out sooner than later (especially in regards to the peanuts).
crickit715
New member
we just went thru this....the blood (rast) test came back saying she was allergic to EVERYTHING!!....but there was no way that was correct. so we had her skin pricked and my daughter is severly allergic to peanuts and eggs that arent cooked throughly (she can eat a fried egg because it changes the protein in the egg). it wasnt pleasant but she tolerated it with a few tears and squeels and i am glad i found out sooner than later (especially in regards to the peanuts).