Food Allergy Test

[Panic1971]

Hi folks

I have had a very bad day today with anxiety etc and had a thought that I may have a food allergy. I have started eating Shredded Wheat for my breakfast each morning and my anxiety/panic at work as been really bad this week. It might just be a coincidence, but I just wondered if anyone had ever had a food allergy test and where do you go, how reliable are they etc???

It probably isnt an allergy - but you never know!!!

Any advice or tips on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Southern_Belle]

Hi,

I have had serious food allergies as well as my son. Now I know I live in the USA and it might be different but thought I would give my input. I went to an allergist and they tested my back with little bitty needles 10 on a block and I believe tested us on 70 different items, perhaps more. You then had to lay there for 30 minutes to see how you reacted. We then received allergy shots for 5 years. It helped my son tremendously who was 5 at the time. Alas, it didn't help me at all as I was an adult but I did find out all the foods I was allergic to and had no idea that I was. I just got ill all the time and had no idea why! My symptoms were as random as severe gastro problems, migraines and sometimes rashes. I don't think some of these allergies developed until I was an adult so do go get tested if you think you could be allergic to any foods. Of course, I'm also allergic to mold, dust and just about anything green outside, lol. Good luck!

Laura

[mirry]

Ann if your on about the blood test you send off for then I personally wouldnt do it, I paid last year, hoping it would sort out my dermatitis and anxiety.
It came back as I am intollerant to yeast so I gave it up and ate like a saint for 6 months and it made no difference at all, complete waste of money.

But I do know a cheaper way of doing it (a bit naughty) but if you put the food in liquid form on your arm THEN prick your arm with a needle thru the liquid, if you are truely allergic it will come up in a hive.
Its basically what the hospitals do, but do not do it if you feel you have a serious life threatening food allergy.

good luck

[Quirky]

Hi there,

I have had quite a few allergy tests in my time.

The first ones I had were as a teenager and they were the skin prick tests (which many doctors believe to be the most accurate way to test generally). I've also had anti-allergy injections to try and desensitise me to things.

I have also had the blood tests in recent years which I sent away for myself, although there is some controversy over these - they were investigated on tv and shown that some people can get a different result every time so not necessarily that accurate.

Another way to test for food allergies is with an elimination diet ie you cut foods out and then reintroduce them slowly one at a time - best done with help form an allergist or nutritionist though.

You say you feel panicky after shredded wheat - is it a sugary shredded wheat? If so it could be the sugar as sugar can cause panicky feelings.

If you really think you may have an allergy see your gp and ask to be referred to an allergy clinic/centre/specialist - allergy clinics in this country and few are far between but it's worth a try and the best way to get tested properly and safely.

I would not recommend testing yourself with food and a needle, that could be very dangerous as you don't know for sure what you might react to if it gets into your bloodstream, not to mention having to make sure the needle is totally sterile etc and making sure the skin is sterile beforehand too! When skin prick tests are done at allergy clinics they have the equipment to deal with a serious reaction to an allergen (or a mild reaction) - not that most people have serious or any reactions that are harnful to a skin prick test, in fact it's rare but it's risky doing it at home and needs a trained professional to be able to analyse the results too ie if you get a skin reaction they measure the red mark that you get on the skin etc to give an idea of how allergic you are. There's actually alot more to interpreting the results than what there seems.

I feel bad saying what Mirry suggested is wrong (as I panic if I say something controversial or that might upset someone on here) but I had to say something as I feel that could be really quite dangerous to try. I know she said don't do it with serious food allergies etc which is right, but you just never know what you may react to and it may be something you totally don't expect to react to. I'm not saying this to scare anyone, just to make sure you stay safe as I know alot about allergies and how it all works and it's not something to be doing at home. Sorry Mirry, no offence meant mate

Anyway just my opinion from experience,


Good luck,

Lisa

[mirry]

thats ok Lisa, me and hubby have always done it only cos the lady who done our sons skin prick tests told us you could actually do it yourself cos its safe to do. My son has the highest allergy score that has ever been recorded at proffesors allergy clinic , he has peanut skin pricks and it has never hurt him despite being seriously allergic to it.
My hubby , skin pricked himself and found out he reacts to milk, its only the tiniest prick , like you get when sewing.
But a nicer way of doing it is this, just simply place the suspected food on the inside fold of your arm and leave it there for 15 mins, (just like you do for a hair dye) if you have a high allergy to the food it will show up as a rash.

[Panic1971]

Thanks very much for the replies.

Dont think I will be doing my on skin prick test - scared off needles.

To be honest I may be clutching at straws anyway. I have had anxiety/panic for a long time now - and am desperate to find out what is making it carry on. I know it is my thoughts/feelings etc but thought it could possible be my diet - who knows.

Can food allergies start at any age then?

I suffer from hayfever - would that make me more prone to have food allergies - does anyone know???

[Quirky]

Thanks for explaining that Mirry. I still think it sounds very dangerous to be doing it at home though but I am only going on what I have been told/read etc. In your case you've been told it's ok so that's fine but I don't think it's generally a good idea for people to be doing this themselves without expert advice. In your case you have had the advice and been shown how though. I however was told it's very dangerous to self test and have any skin allergy test done without a doctor being present because there is always a rare risk of a serious reaction any time a skin prick test is done. Anyway I am happy to agree to disagree lol.

Panic1971 - I guess you can develop allergies at any age but food allergy's are much more common in children or more common that they start in childhood anyway. Many people think they are allergic to things when in fact they are intolerant instead which is obviously less serious but can still give unpleasant symptoms. This is why proper accurate testing is essential to say what is what.

I too suffer hayfever and other allergies, I think I am just an allergic person!

It's natural when we suffer from anxiety to want to find something that is causing it so that we can eliminate it easily, food can play a part but I think it's rarely the sole cause of anxiety. If you are concerned though or wonder if you have allergies or intolerances ask your gp, they are best ones to advice here.

Diet can help with anxiety though even if it didn't cause it, things like cutting out caffeine, alcohol, sugar and eating a healthy diet can make a huge difference (if you're not doing all that already). A bad diet can definitely make anxiety worse too.

Take care,

Lisa