Allergy testing

[Guest guest]

This same link I posted yesterday has CAP-RAST information on it.

It is a reprint from Food Allergy News, written by Dr.

Schicher up at Mt. Sinai, on Food Allergy Testing. You can view it at:

http://www.pride-net.com/aac/gi007.htm

I just want to mention---I co-moderate another list on Onelist called POFAK

(parents of food allergic kids). It has been operating since last September,

is growing steadily, and has over 100 members now. It is a very active list,

if you are interested in subscribing I recommend the Digest option so you

will get one or two digests per day instead of 40-50 messages. We have

started putting together some shared files and we have uploaded over 150

bookmarks to sites with food allergy information which are open to POFAK

subscribers. If you are interested in subscribing, you can go to:

http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/POFAK

The list is a support and information sharing group, much like this list.

Lynda

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/31/99 6:44:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

transcription@... writes:

<< in the end, it doesn't really matter what skin tests say or what blood

allergen testing say because the mechanism of the disease is unknown. The

only thing that matters is what foods cause SYMPTOMS and/or what foods cause

an increase in eos. >>

THis is true - Dr. did tell me last week that he wants Clayton to have

skin testing for certain foods - about 10 - including - eggs, wheat, fish,

shellfish, peanuts, legumes, soy.etc. Milk we do not even need to test for

as we knoe that causes EG in him already. He only wants the skin testing

because it will tell if he could have a possible anaphylactic reaction to a

certain food. Foods that you will have an anaphylactic reaction to will show

up in skin testing. After we have the skin testing done we can then feed him

some of the prohibited foods - one new food a week. Then we will scope him in

early November - he will have been on food for 6 months at that time. Also he

needs to be exposed to a food for a little while since he still does not eat

much orally - only 300 calories a day on a good day.

Love,

Sharon

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/31/99 3:14:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

jsferrazza@... writes:

<<

I do not want to treat the symptoms. I want to find out what is his

allergic to besides peanuts. Why does something that sounds so simple in

theory be so hard to find out?

>>

I'm sorry the endo wasn't so good. Is he going to have ferther food allergy

testing? Has he had a ph probe to cheek for reflux?

Cathy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/31/99 6:27:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

SDidinsky@... writes:

<< we do not even need to test for

as we knoe that causes EG in him already. He only wants the skin testing

because it will tell if he could have a possible anaphylactic reaction to a

certain food. Foods that you will have an anaphylactic reaction to will show

up in skin testing >>

Sharon,

dose this mean that since skin tested poss. to some foods, that even

though he has had only GI type reactions in the form of reflux symptoms and

eos. that he could have an anaphylactic reaction if he eats his alergic

foods? Do I need to worry about breathing in foods or touching where allergic

foods were? He dose have an epi, but I wasn't really concerned until I read

your post. I'm glad Clayton is eating somewhat. I myself eat probably700

calories a day at the most. I wish I could eat more, but my body can't

tolerate it.

Cathy

[Guest guest]

Oh ,

You have just hit the nail on the head. This disease is so unusual and so

" new " there are many more questions than answers.

Have you tried just intermittent prednisone? Short term the risks are low.

My oldest was successful with this, about 6 weeks on, and then months

without problems.

For the rest of us, an elemental diet cleared it all up.

Also, FLONASE, FLONASE, FLONASE. No reason NOT to try it, easy, no side

effects. Simple, simple, simple. Wipes out eos in the esophagus. Amy

Drawe is one parent on this list for whom this was a complete cure for.

They cant even " prove " that it is food that triggers the disease. We found

we had to completely eliminate all proteins for months, then start adding

one food very slowly at a time to find the culprits. They were all

culprits, except for chicken with one kid. All other foods with the rest of

the kids caused symptoms eventually. I have also found, though, that small

amounts of some foods can be tolerated sometimes.

in the end, it doesn't really matter what skin tests say or what blood

allergen testing say because the mechanism of the disease is unknown. The

only thing that matters is what foods cause SYMPTOMS and/or what foods cause

an increase in eos.

I should warn, you, however, that we now believe that if left unchecked

eventually the esophageal damage is irreversible (as in my case). The

worry, of course, is that this damage will ultimately end up with dysplastic

changes in the biopsies. That is the reason we are so aggressive in

treating this disease and keeping the inflammation under control. It is a

tough balancing act.

Frustrating, frustrating, frustrating. I FEEL your pain.

(eos esophagitis/GT, former TPNr)

(Mom to 5 with EE/GTs; , , Korey, Kody (TPN), Killian

[eosinophilic gastroenteritis] allergy testing

>

>

>Hi

>Is anyone familar with an allergy test called Basil Histimine Assay?

>We are looking for new and perhaps more accurate ways to test for

>allergens.

>

>Dan's last endoscopy unfortunately was not as good as we had hoped. I

>will not put him on predisone. Good news is that the ulcers in the

>esophagus are gone, no stricture, lower eosinophil count but still very

>irritated. He has not had any attacks since last November. (Food gets

>stuck in his esophagus)

>

>I do not want to treat the symptoms. I want to find out what is his

>allergic to besides peanuts. Why does something that sounds so simple in

>theory be so hard to find out?

>

> Mom to Dan Aged 17 EE

>

>

>---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

Just quickly, I took Luke to the Allergist/Immunologist today. She did

a skin prick test. Luke was the most allergic to white potatoes, then

milk, eggs, wheat, chicken, pork,and then after that he was mildly

allergic to soy,, apple, and peanut. He showed no allergy to corn,

beef, tomato, chocolate, oat, and a few others. They are going to run

additional prick tests next week. Here's my dilemma. Luke appears to

have no reaction to pork, apple and wheat aside from the prick test. My

husband says we should avoid it and so does the allergist. I guess I

should, huh? You all are probably cringing that I would consider giving

him one of those after the test revealed a positive allergy. His stool

had no blood in it and the fact that his soy test only came back at a 1

(with 0 being no reaction), the allergist felt we could introduce it

again. He must be outgrowing the soy allergy because it was soy formula

that he was on last year when the intestinal bleeding was discovered.

She was kind of hurried and didn't talk about his high EOS much.

Course, a full blood workup hasn't been done in quite sometime. I don't

even know where his EOS is right now. If anybody has any thoughts.....

Kathy

[Guest guest]

BJ has allergy testing next Friday. His allergist only did skin testing on

other than food allergies last time because he said that he did not think

that letting us know what foods he was tested positive to would attribute to

his EG. He also goes to see Dr. Friesen Tuesday the 29th. I am curious

what our plan will be now. I just know something has to give, BJ can't keep

on this roller coaster.

Dawn

[eosinophilic gastroenteritis] Allergy testing

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> Just quickly, I took Luke to the Allergist/Immunologist today. She did

> a skin prick test. Luke was the most allergic to white potatoes, then

> milk, eggs, wheat, chicken, pork,and then after that he was mildly

> allergic to soy,, apple, and peanut. He showed no allergy to corn,

> beef, tomato, chocolate, oat, and a few others. They are going to run

> additional prick tests next week. Here's my dilemma. Luke appears to

> have no reaction to pork, apple and wheat aside from the prick test. My

> husband says we should avoid it and so does the allergist. I guess I

> should, huh? You all are probably cringing that I would consider giving

> him one of those after the test revealed a positive allergy. His stool

> had no blood in it and the fact that his soy test only came back at a 1

> (with 0 being no reaction), the allergist felt we could introduce it

> again. He must be outgrowing the soy allergy because it was soy formula

> that he was on last year when the intestinal bleeding was discovered.

> She was kind of hurried and didn't talk about his high EOS much.

> Course, a full blood workup hasn't been done in quite sometime. I don't

> even know where his EOS is right now. If anybody has any thoughts.....

>

> Kathy

>

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>

>

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

I understand completely! If he has no symptoms on it, then I'm not sure

what you're gaining by avoiding it. The GI's don't feel there even IS an

allergic connection to EE anyway. The unreliability of skin testing is well

known. It's more important if you have a " true " allergic reaction (itching,

swelling, wheezing, rash) to a food that is skin test positive.

Steph.

[eosinophilic gastroenteritis] Allergy testing

>

>

>Hi everyone,

>

>Just quickly, I took Luke to the Allergist/Immunologist today. She did

>a skin prick test. Luke was the most allergic to white potatoes, then

>milk, eggs, wheat, chicken, pork,and then after that he was mildly

>allergic to soy,, apple, and peanut. He showed no allergy to corn,

>beef, tomato, chocolate, oat, and a few others. They are going to run

>additional prick tests next week. Here's my dilemma. Luke appears to

>have no reaction to pork, apple and wheat aside from the prick test. My

>husband says we should avoid it and so does the allergist. I guess I

>should, huh? You all are probably cringing that I would consider giving

>him one of those after the test revealed a positive allergy. His stool

>had no blood in it and the fact that his soy test only came back at a 1

>(with 0 being no reaction), the allergist felt we could introduce it

>again. He must be outgrowing the soy allergy because it was soy formula

>that he was on last year when the intestinal bleeding was discovered.

>She was kind of hurried and didn't talk about his high EOS much.

>Course, a full blood workup hasn't been done in quite sometime. I don't

>even know where his EOS is right now. If anybody has any thoughts.....

>

>Kathy

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Shop the web for great deals. Save on Computers,

>electronics, Home furnishings and more.

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__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Steph,

I really feel you know your stuff and appreciated your (fact based)

opinion on this. I think my ped would agree with you. Ultimately, we

are the ones who have to figure out what to do aren't we? You get one

doc telling you one thing and another doc telling you something else. I

realize the immune system is so complex. This is what really throws me

off, when I was in the waiting room at the Allergists office, this woman

was telling me she had the skin test and showed allergic to orange and

something else, but the allergist told her that if she didn't have any

symptoms to keep eating them. IT was a different story when she saw

Luke, she tells me to avoid those things I told her he had no reaction

to. Maybe she felt since he was just a toddler he couldn't tell me if

he was reacting, and I suppose that may be true, but, generally, he

doesn't appear to be uncomfortable. The only thing he does that

concerns me is he is real fidgety when we hold him. Like he's either

playing with our hands or wringing his own hands.

Kathy

Steph wrote:

>

>

>

> Kathy,

>

> I understand completely! If he has no symptoms on it, then I'm not sure

> what you're gaining by avoiding it. The GI's don't feel there even IS an

> allergic connection to EE anyway. The unreliability of skin testing is well

> known. It's more important if you have a " true " allergic reaction (itching,

> swelling, wheezing, rash) to a food that is skin test positive.

>

> Steph.

> [eosinophilic gastroenteritis] Allergy testing

>

> >

> > Here's my dilemma. Luke appears to

> >have no reaction to pork, apple and wheat aside from the prick test. My

> >husband says we should avoid it and so does the allergist. I guess I

> >should, huh?

>

[Guest guest]

Donna

You can take in some goats milk and have them test it. But, my allergist and specialist told me that goats milk (as with any other animal milk) has proteins that are so similar to cows milk that you should avoid those as well. But, it is worth a shot at having him tested!

Trish

Allergy Testing

Hey Guys,Does anyone know if they do a separate test for cow milk, and goat milk?I've never heard of it, and I would have thought my allergist would havesaid something. I know some people can't tolerate cow milk, and can tolerategoat milk, but since it still has the same sugar, and proteins as cow milkthat wouldn't be considered an allergy would it? The problem I see with thisis, unless it can be tested, you don't always know if it's a lifethreatening reaction until it is, and you have a dairy allergy, why wouldyou drink goat milk?Thanks,DonnaShane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.Minnesota

[Guest guest]

Donna

You can take in some goats milk and have them test it. But, my allergist and specialist told me that goats milk (as with any other animal milk) has proteins that are so similar to cows milk that you should avoid those as well. But, it is worth a shot at having him tested!

Trish

Allergy Testing

Hey Guys,Does anyone know if they do a separate test for cow milk, and goat milk?I've never heard of it, and I would have thought my allergist would havesaid something. I know some people can't tolerate cow milk, and can tolerategoat milk, but since it still has the same sugar, and proteins as cow milkthat wouldn't be considered an allergy would it? The problem I see with thisis, unless it can be tested, you don't always know if it's a lifethreatening reaction until it is, and you have a dairy allergy, why wouldyou drink goat milk?Thanks,DonnaShane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.Minnesota

[Guest guest]

Donna

You can take in some goats milk and have them test it. But, my allergist and specialist told me that goats milk (as with any other animal milk) has proteins that are so similar to cows milk that you should avoid those as well. But, it is worth a shot at having him tested!

Trish

Allergy Testing

Hey Guys,Does anyone know if they do a separate test for cow milk, and goat milk?I've never heard of it, and I would have thought my allergist would havesaid something. I know some people can't tolerate cow milk, and can tolerategoat milk, but since it still has the same sugar, and proteins as cow milkthat wouldn't be considered an allergy would it? The problem I see with thisis, unless it can be tested, you don't always know if it's a lifethreatening reaction until it is, and you have a dairy allergy, why wouldyou drink goat milk?Thanks,DonnaShane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.Minnesota

[Guest guest]

Thanks Trish,

It wasn't for me, it was regarding a dairy allergy for a girl on another list, and I'm so paranoid about reactions after what happened to Shane last time. She had said," unless it's life threatening." And my response was,"you don't always know it's life threatening until it is." I tend to believe milk is milk, I don't care if it comes from a camel, why chance it.

DonnaShane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives. Minnesota

Allergy Testing

Hey Guys,Does anyone know if they do a separate test for cow milk, and goat milk?I've never heard of it, and I would have thought my allergist would havesaid something. I know some people can't tolerate cow milk, and can tolerategoat milk, but since it still has the same sugar, and proteins as cow milkthat wouldn't be considered an allergy would it? The problem I see with thisis, unless it can be tested, you don't always know if it's a lifethreatening reaction until it is, and you have a dairy allergy, why wouldyou drink goat milk?Thanks,DonnaShane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.Minnesota

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ziva!

I'm still new at this allergy thing, and didn't want to really answer this girl unless I had facts about it. So much I don't know.

DonnaShane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives. Minnesota

Re: Allergy Testing

Our allergist told us that in a study done, 24 out of 26 kids with a dairyallergy tested allergic to both cow and goats milk. So he didn't think itwas necessary to test separately. Personally I figured it was worth a shot,so I gave Elisha goats cheese and goats milk happily for four days, andthen bam! We had hives everywhere. I called the allergy clinic and admittedmy sins. having said that, yeah, why not test? A prick test can be done for prettymuch anything, I think, but you might have to provide the substance yourself.-ZivaAt 01:34 PM 2/2/04 -0600, you wrote:>Hey Guys,>Does anyone know if they do a separate test for cow milk, and goat milk?>I've never heard of it, and I would have thought my allergist would have>said something. I know some people can't tolerate cow milk, and can tolerate>goat milk, but since it still has the same sugar, and proteins as cow milk>that wouldn't be considered an allergy would it? The problem I see with this>is, unless it can be tested, you don't always know if it's a life>threatening reaction until it is, and you have a dairy allergy, why would>you drink goat milk?>Thanks,>Donna>Shane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.>Minnesota>>>>> >>>

[Guest guest]

oh, me too - we've only been doing the allergy thing since November! But

I'm a compulsive reader - I don't feel secure unless I've read everything

I can get my hands on.

-Ziva

At 02:16 AM 2/3/04 -0600, you wrote:

Thanks

Ziva!

I'm still new at this allergy thing, and didn't want to

really answer this girl unless I had facts about it. So much I don't

know.

Donna

Shane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.

Minnesota

Re: Allergy Testing

Our allergist told us that in a study done, 24 out of 26 kids with a dairy

allergy tested allergic to both cow and goats milk. So he didn't think it

was necessary to test separately. Personally I figured it was worth a shot,

so I gave Elisha goats cheese and goats milk happily for four days, and

then bam! We had hives everywhere. I called the allergy clinic and admitted

my sins.

having said that, yeah, why not test? A prick test can be done for pretty

much anything, I think, but you might have to provide the substance yourself.

-Ziva

At 01:34 PM 2/2/04 -0600, you wrote:

>Hey Guys,

>Does anyone know if they do a separate test for cow milk, and goat milk?

>I've never heard of it, and I would have thought my allergist would have

>said something. I know some people can't tolerate cow milk, and can tolerate

>goat milk, but since it still has the same sugar, and proteins as cow milk

>that wouldn't be considered an allergy would it? The problem I see with this

>is, unless it can be tested, you don't always know if it's a life

>threatening reaction until it is, and you have a dairy allergy, why would

>you drink goat milk?

>Thanks,

>Donna

>Shane - asthma - allergic to dairy, eggs, pickles, and olives.

>Minnesota

>

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> >

>

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