Debbie - I replied to your post in my sleep gone crazy thread. I wondered also about allergy testing. What does it involve exactly? Is it just a terrible process? As I said in the other post (in response to you), the meds are mostly working but it's the side effects we can't handle. Isn't that crazy?! An allergist might know better what to prescribe based on side effects?

By Kaye on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 01:00 am:

We did allergy testing when my dd was 9 months. It was the best thing we ever did. She only had a few mild allergies, but since they were things she was in constant exposure to, removing them changed her health. (soy and corn). Anyway for us they used this plastic thing, they applied the allergens to it and then pressed it to her back, we did 3 racks. We had to keep her from touching her back (laying down, etc). But 5 or 10 minutes later they came and read the results.

Our whole ordeal started with a blood test (i want to say and ig series). After the testing we went 6 months of radical food changes and rynatan daily. By the end of that time she was very healthy. She is 13 now and we can still see that she is sensitive to corn syrup, sometimes she will get a rash, but mostly it crops up in behavior still. She hasn't been on allergy meds since she was 2.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 01:20 am:

I had allergy testing once and while I did get all the needle pricks, for my test, I don't remember it being all that bad. Probably the worst part is that the whole process took a few hours. The needle-prick part of it was just a small part of the time.

By Debbie on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 09:38 am:

It was exactly as Kaye described. They used a plastic thing, and ran it over his back. He said it didn't really hurt. It was more like little pricks. He didn't cry at all. Now, he did say that it itched while he waited. But, it wasn't too bad. He was actually allergic to almost everything they tested him for! Thankfully, his indoor allergies are mild, except for dog, which was really bad. He just has MAJOR outdoor allergies.

Based on his results, she didn't feel we were being agressive enough with his allergy medication. So, she switched him to Extendryl junior tablets. She felt this was, in turn, causing the flare ups with his reflux(all the drainage) He gets major post nasal drainage when his allergies flare. She also changed his asthma medication, but we haven't had to use it yet! A good sign.

Our allergiest doesn't usually do the blood testing. She said that it is already established, with the kids that come to her, that they have allergies. If blood testing comes back positive, you usually have to do further skin testing to see exactly what they are allergic too, and how severe. So, she would just rather do the skin testing first, and know all the answers.

I really wish I would have pushed sooner to do the testing. Ds has been feeling great since he started taking his new meds last month. Basically, with his allergies, he will have to be on meds year round. But, the good thing, is that with the change he is now just on 3 meds, where before he was on 5!!! We are hoping that in the next 6 months or so, we can cut him down to 2, just the allergy pill, and reflux pill. That would be great for us!

By Reds9298 on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 10:04 pm:

Thank you all for the info! That doesn't sound bad at all. I'm going to ask at our well-child visit, which will hopefully be this week. I think it's best if we know what we're dealing with.