Blood tests and allergies

Kayl06

I'm not looking for medical advice, just want to know if it is actually possible to have a blood test to determine food allergies.

I'm just sick of being ill after eating most foods, i've tried changing my diet but it hasn't done anything and i can't cope with feeling like this for much longer. Just want to find a solution!

Any ideas? Have done a quick search on google but it just came out with how they're often wrong. I don't care about that, willing to try anything right now.

brook2jack

Have you seen your gp as there are so many other things that are likely to cause problems other than "food allergies".

There is wide misunderstanding about the difference about intolerance and allergy and the prevalence of food intolerance and alllergies in the general poulation. On the back of this a massive quack industry using various tests including blood tests has evolved. This has resulted in people spending massive amounts of money and unecessarily eliminating food stuffs from their diet.

See your gp and seek referral for your stomach problems if necessary. It will save you money and more importantly you will get a correct diagnosis and equally necessary the correct advice to control your symptoms.

Kayl06

I've seen two about it so far. The first didn't believe a word I said and made me feel really stupid.
The second refuses to do anything about it unless I follow a 'normal' diet, i'm lactose intolerant so that is never going to happen, he doesn't believe that either as i haven't been tested since i was a baby.

I do know the difference between allergies and intolerances, just thought it was easier to put allergies in the title.

mr_rush

If you are truely allergic to something, your mast cell tryptase levels will be up shortly after taking the substance.

Of course you will be in A&E severely unwell.

For intolerances there are no valid blood tests.

faithcecilia

I have Oral Allergy Syndrome, which is caused by allergic reactions to fruit and veg, as well as pollens. After 2 anaphylactic shocks in 8 days I was referred for skin tests and blood tests, none of the skin tests came up at all and the blood tests were inconclusive. However, from reactions to the food, I KNOW I am allergic to raw celery and kiwi fruit, and have some reaction to both pineapple and strawberries. It is fairly common to get false results, especially with OAS, as most people only react to the raw food, and the processes to make the test destroy the enzymes that patients react to:rolleyes:. 'Thankfully' my reactions are so severe that I know immediately an allergen gets into my mouth, so can spit it out rather than letting it get further into my system. I have only had to use my epipens about 5 times.

Intolerances are different - bloating, tummy upset, tiredness etc, and from what I know exclusion diets are a way to find out what doesn't agree with you, but can be very hard work as at the beginning there are so few foods you can eat.

bills_2

Keep a food diary so you can at least pin point what may be causing you to be ill. But I would defo go to ur doctor as he will probably refer you to a specialist for tests, it could be a number of things, wheat intolerance etc or stomach ulcers, IBS. I see you have been too two docs and they haven't done much I would demand they refer you to a specialist infact. Or try and see a nutritionist or dietician.

Bubby

I suffer from IBS and had terrible problems going back and forth to the doctors and then I saw a great doctor who recommended trying "york test" which is the only testing centre recommended by the british allergy foundation. It was pricy but the test revealed several things I am intolerant to and I have to say since cutting them out my IBS has been much more under control. Read their website, they are also recommended by the doctor on gmtv I think. Before anything else though I would go back and speak to your gp about it, they may just recommend an elimination diet.

hth

nappentass

Advice on keeping a food & symptom diary is a good idea, but even then the true cause may not be and obvious food or food group.
I have intolerances and have slowly worked them out for myself over the last 20 odd years - in all that time the best website resource for information I have found is by Sue Dengate www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info about food additives & sensitivities

FWIW intolerances can cover a vast range of problems and varying sensitivity to the trigger(s) which can also vary over time depending on levels of those substances in the body.
I have intolerances that cause me severe behavioural and/or emotional problems as well as others that cause more physical problems.
J

Bubby

nappentass wrote: »

FWIW intolerances can cover a vast range of problems and varying sensitivity to the trigger(s) which can also vary over time depending on levels of those substances in the body.
I have intolerances that cause me severe behavioural and/or emotional problems as well as others that cause more physical problems.
J

I couldn't agree more, having suffered from severe post natal illness and recovered I never quite felt like I was returning to normal (a forever black cloud hanging over me) but it would appear that my intolerances were causing this and lethargy. I was told though in my paperwork and from speaking top the nutritionist attached to the test that your intolerances can change over time.

nappentass

Bubby wrote: »

I was told though in my paperwork and from speaking top the nutritionist attached to the test that your intolerances can change over time.

I have never been 'tested' having worked it out for myself which was quite difficult back then but now (even with sympathetic Drs), with the advent of the internet, there is lots of very good information from all over the world accessible and intolerances are thankfully becoming more known about.
Often through accidental events I Know I have some intolerances that have changed, but some haven't.
J