Allergy / intolerance tests, any good or a waste of time?
Discussion
As per the title really.
For probably around the last 20 years, I've suffered weekly / biweekly allergy attacks, and despite me trying to find the cause, nothing seems to be adding up for me.
I need to try and get to the bottom of it because I have little quality of life now for about 50% of my life. When I have these attacks it feels like severe hay fever / flu, terrible sneezing fits, zero energy, just feel weak and achy, sometimes blotches / hives etc. I even did a thread about it.
In the beginning I used to bounce back within a day or so but now it's easily 3 days recovery time. It's really grinding me down now.
I'm back on the beconase again which I may end up having to take long term / for the rest of my life, but I want to give one last try into finding out possible causes for it.
So I was wondering if anyone has had any success with these test kits you find online or whether they're a waste of time?
For probably around the last 20 years, I've suffered weekly / biweekly allergy attacks, and despite me trying to find the cause, nothing seems to be adding up for me.
I need to try and get to the bottom of it because I have little quality of life now for about 50% of my life. When I have these attacks it feels like severe hay fever / flu, terrible sneezing fits, zero energy, just feel weak and achy, sometimes blotches / hives etc. I even did a thread about it.
In the beginning I used to bounce back within a day or so but now it's easily 3 days recovery time. It's really grinding me down now.
I'm back on the beconase again which I may end up having to take long term / for the rest of my life, but I want to give one last try into finding out possible causes for it.
So I was wondering if anyone has had any success with these test kits you find online or whether they're a waste of time?
I will follow this as I’m pretty similar, and getting worse with age.
Personally I’ve done most tests, online ones I didn’t find useful but don’t imagine they are any different to in-clinic ones.
As well as other stuff, I have developed Tree Pollen allergy, which hits from January through to May, only relief was Kenlog injection but being heavily advised against having yearly injections. I take 4 Clarityn a day which helps but doesn’t get rid of it.
I generally feel a hungover type feeling most mornings (not from alcohol!) and just generally ‘meh’ but think I just have to get used to it…
Personally I’ve done most tests, online ones I didn’t find useful but don’t imagine they are any different to in-clinic ones.
As well as other stuff, I have developed Tree Pollen allergy, which hits from January through to May, only relief was Kenlog injection but being heavily advised against having yearly injections. I take 4 Clarityn a day which helps but doesn’t get rid of it.
I generally feel a hungover type feeling most mornings (not from alcohol!) and just generally ‘meh’ but think I just have to get used to it…
peekay74 said:
I will follow this as I’m pretty similar, and getting worse with age.
Personally I’ve done most tests, online ones I didn’t find useful but don’t imagine they are any different to in-clinic ones.
As well as other stuff, I have developed Tree Pollen allergy, which hits from January through to May, only relief was Kenlog injection but being heavily advised against having yearly injections. I take 4 Clarityn a day which helps but doesn’t get rid of it.
I generally feel a hungover type feeling most mornings (not from alcohol!) and just generally ‘meh’ but think I just have to get used to it…
It's a right pain in the arse isn't it? Personally I’ve done most tests, online ones I didn’t find useful but don’t imagine they are any different to in-clinic ones.
As well as other stuff, I have developed Tree Pollen allergy, which hits from January through to May, only relief was Kenlog injection but being heavily advised against having yearly injections. I take 4 Clarityn a day which helps but doesn’t get rid of it.
I generally feel a hungover type feeling most mornings (not from alcohol!) and just generally ‘meh’ but think I just have to get used to it…
I kinda feel like I know deep down people are probably going to tell me it's a waste of time, but I guess you never know. I have tried monitoring it, but it doesn't seem to follow any clear pattern.
Dust definitely sets me off, but I know that probably isn't the only thing. I used to think it was tiredness, but I've suffered even after getting a great sleep. I used to think it was alcohol, but I've cut down, and it happens on days when I've not touched a drop.
Even keeping a food diary has not thrown up anything obvious.
Frustrating. I might just have to keep taking the beconase. My local pharmacy suggested a daily antihistamine and a saline spray, but that's made bugger all difference, but then they also wrongly told me I couldn't take beconase with my blood pressure tablets, which I looked into, and this advice appears to have been b
ks.I went through a phase of some pretty horrible attacks, never got to the bottom of it, over 2 years.
At first I thought I was having stroke like symptoms, my doctor said next time it happens, go to A+E.
A great doctor then at A+E (after I’d been there for four hours and completely recovered), knew it was allergy, it was attacking my lips / mouth and creating the slurring etc.
Sent me back to the docs with her eyes rolling and gave me some monster antihistamines.
Huge relief, but then had a series of varying attacks (symptoms and intensity) over the next couple of years so went back to the doctors (I’d moved house in the meantime).
Not sure how bad the attacks would have developed without the tablets as wasn’t risking it!
New doctor very dismissive. Despite my wife wanting to call an ambulance as I ballooned up, I knew I’d be OK in an hour and left it under the proviso I went back to the doctors for a follow up.
The doctor wouldn’t submit me for allergy testing and asked me to try and isolate the causes.
When I outlined I had and there was no correlation, she then said it might be atmospheric, had I done anything or been anywhere different (over those 2 years).
Incredulous I just asked for the test, felt I was getting fobbed off. She outlined it would be rejected as I hadn’t “narrowed it down enough”.
Came away thinking I’d go private on the “next” attack but touch wood been clear for a while now.
Mine had gastric side effects and I wonder if you like possibly me have become more or less tolerant to certain foods or particles over the past few years as allergies can appear from no where.
I’d swear blind my attacks started after a big concussion playing football, driving back that night I could have torn my skin off it itched so bad and my face ballooned up.
Had 3 episodes similar episodes before I finally went to the doctors as above but only then as I thought they might be early stroke symptoms.
I now carry the highest over the counter anti histamines available with me everywhere but still would be interested in having a private medical test…
At first I thought I was having stroke like symptoms, my doctor said next time it happens, go to A+E.
A great doctor then at A+E (after I’d been there for four hours and completely recovered), knew it was allergy, it was attacking my lips / mouth and creating the slurring etc.
Sent me back to the docs with her eyes rolling and gave me some monster antihistamines.
Huge relief, but then had a series of varying attacks (symptoms and intensity) over the next couple of years so went back to the doctors (I’d moved house in the meantime).
Not sure how bad the attacks would have developed without the tablets as wasn’t risking it!
New doctor very dismissive. Despite my wife wanting to call an ambulance as I ballooned up, I knew I’d be OK in an hour and left it under the proviso I went back to the doctors for a follow up.
The doctor wouldn’t submit me for allergy testing and asked me to try and isolate the causes.
When I outlined I had and there was no correlation, she then said it might be atmospheric, had I done anything or been anywhere different (over those 2 years).
Incredulous I just asked for the test, felt I was getting fobbed off. She outlined it would be rejected as I hadn’t “narrowed it down enough”.
Came away thinking I’d go private on the “next” attack but touch wood been clear for a while now.
Mine had gastric side effects and I wonder if you like possibly me have become more or less tolerant to certain foods or particles over the past few years as allergies can appear from no where.
I’d swear blind my attacks started after a big concussion playing football, driving back that night I could have torn my skin off it itched so bad and my face ballooned up.
Had 3 episodes similar episodes before I finally went to the doctors as above but only then as I thought they might be early stroke symptoms.
I now carry the highest over the counter anti histamines available with me everywhere but still would be interested in having a private medical test…
That sounds rough. I think unless you suffer these allergy attacks yourself, it's difficult to fully appreciate how debilitating it can be or how ill it can make you feel. Half my weekend and most of today has been an utter write off.
I wonder if the private medical insurance (Bupa) at work would entertain doing a test...
I wonder if the private medical insurance (Bupa) at work would entertain doing a test...
I will follow this as I’m pretty similar, and getting worse with age.
Personally I’ve done most tests, online ones I didn’t find useful but don’t imagine they are any different to in-clinic ones.
As well as other stuff, I have developed Tree Pollen allergy, which hits from January through to May, only relief was Kenlog injection but being heavily advised against having yearly injections. I take 4 Clarityn a day which helps but doesn’t get rid of it.
I generally feel a hungover type feeling most mornings (not from alcohol!) and just generally ‘meh’ but think I just have to get used to it…
Personally I’ve done most tests, online ones I didn’t find useful but don’t imagine they are any different to in-clinic ones.
As well as other stuff, I have developed Tree Pollen allergy, which hits from January through to May, only relief was Kenlog injection but being heavily advised against having yearly injections. I take 4 Clarityn a day which helps but doesn’t get rid of it.
I generally feel a hungover type feeling most mornings (not from alcohol!) and just generally ‘meh’ but think I just have to get used to it…
I went through the NHS a couple of years ago hoping for some kind of resolution for my constant blocked nose which started about 10 years ago. Did the arm/blood tests, showed very positive for dustmite allergy. Was expecting some sort of further action from the Dr in charge of the head/neck Dept at Macc hospital...I don't know maybe something to do with immunology or injecting me with live dust mites. What did I get then? Change your carpets, yes it's worse in your bedroom because you sleep there, if you keep using nasal spray it'll shorten your life. Now, off you go... Great thanks Dr.
Completely fking useless. Absurdly pathetically fking useless.
Completely f
king useless. Absurdly pathetically fking useless.popeyewhite said:
I went through the NHS a couple of years ago hoping for some kind of resolution for my constant blocked nose which started about 10 years ago. Did the arm/blood tests, showed very positive for dustmite allergy. Was expecting some sort of further action from the Dr in charge of the head/neck Dept at Macc hospital...I don't know maybe something to do with immunology or injecting me with live dust mites. What did I get then? Change your carpets, yes it's worse in your bedroom because you sleep there, if you keep using nasal spray it'll shorten your life. Now, off you go... Great thanks Dr.
Completely fking useless. Absurdly pathetically fking useless.
My son went to macc too!Completely f
king useless. Absurdly pathetically fking useless.Hard floor in his bedroom. Make a point of using the screwfix hoover (louder than a jet engine, equally powerful) and not just the dyson.
He's much better for it.
Doctors can't be expected.to hoover / dust your house. You have a thing and it sucks, but don't point your frustration at people just trying to help.
Some Gump said:
My son went to macc too!
Hard floor in his bedroom. Make a point of using the screwfix hoover (louder than a jet engine, equally powerful) and not just the dyson.
Bought a new Hoover with all the filters, bells and whistles and it made no difference. I can't change to a wooden floor in the bedroom, 1. It has new carpets and 2, I can't afford it.Hard floor in his bedroom. Make a point of using the screwfix hoover (louder than a jet engine, equally powerful) and not just the dyson.
Some Gump said:
He's much better for it.
Good.Some Gump said:
Doctors can't be expected.to hoover / dust your house. You have a thing and it sucks, but don't point your frustration at people just trying to help.
My frustration was/is directed at a medical expert who was offhand and mildly patronising and he "wasn't just trying to help" FFS it was his paid job! He's not a samaritan he's an expert in his field who should offer better solutions than doing more housework. I'm glad your son found some resolution, but to go on a year long journey of appointments, scans etc to be told there's nothing they can do is a bit pathetic I feel.NB I am not anti-NHS, they are very good at saving lives, as they did with mine. I don't habitually wear blinkers though and with a lot of stuff the NHS is completely useless.
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