I took my son to an allergist when he just was struggling to sleep with all the coughing. The pediatrician advised not to go the allergist route till we just could not go on with the current quality of life for him. We knew he was allergic to milk and peanuts, but the milk allergy did not show up. He had skin scratch tests, about 20 to 30 needle scratches across his back with the allergen rubbed into each scratch to see if he would react. We got false positives and negatives, but I guess it helped the doctor diagnose. He was given medications to help with the symptoms that were far better than what the pediatrician prescribed. Also, he had a long series of shots on a monthly or bi monthly basis, and they seemed to help for a year or so initially. We finally quit them as it seemed unending and we did not see any further change but for a sore arm and doctor bills.

I have terrible allergies. The testing done on me started out with a grid drawn on both inside forearms and a pin prick in each square of some common allergen (dust mites, pollen, molds, pet dander, etc.) plus saline to act as the control. My allergies were so bad when the testing was done that someone had to continually mop up my watery eyes because I was not allowed to move my arms during the testing. No pain whatsoever other than the indignity of someone having to blow my nose for me because of my watery eyes. :-)

Results: nothing, no indication that I had allergies at all. But it was obvious to everyone around (including the gal wiping my swollen, weepy eyes), that I had allergies so I came back another day and had interdermal testing done.

Interdermals. A larger grid was drawn, this time on my back. The same allergens and control saline were then injected under the skin. A little discomfort, not bad.

Results: a red, hot, itchy, back with round wheals of swollen skin around 80% of the injections.

Final results: 8 allergy shots a week for five years.

I noticed the shots working fairly quickly (within 6 months or so) and 20 years later am only occasionally bothered by severe allergies issues (like the last five days ... ugh).

Jodi-

I had it done a few times and it really isn't bad. Pinpricks on my forearms as previously described. I am allergic to dust, molds, dandelions and a few other things. I didn't get weekly shots.

Allergies can be so tricky as they seem to change with weather, food, dust etc. I guess the trick is to get some sort of testing done by a medical person that is familiar with the area you live in and your medical history. For example, one DD is extremely allergic to cats, yet she grew up with them. After pregancy, her eyes water etc worst now. Other DD is very allgeric to poisen oak, but not until she worked with State Parks cleaning trails. She breathed to much of it at one time. Now she has to watch as she gets it inside and outside. Same DD is very allergice to smoking and cilantro, but grew up eating Mexican food. So, guess what I am trying to say, again you might be allgeric to something today, but not next year. Here in the midwest, many are allgeric to Cottowood trees, grain dust, and now with the oil fields new chemicals around. Son in law is very very allergic to black flies which have put him in the hospital several times. Yet he was in the service for over 20 years all over the world without a problem.
Go to Web Md for additonal help or the Mayo Clinic site.
Good luck

I've had the pinprick test on my back and another where blood was drawn and tested. Neither was that bad, just uncomfortable. The blood one was easier, but much more expensive, but my insurance covered most of it.

My friend has bad allergies, but they don't manifest them in the usual ways (sneezing, itchy watery eyes). She gets little sores around her mouth-looks similar to cold sores. She always had them off and on and never knew what they were, just figured they were part of life. Once she got tested and stopped eating the certain foods, they went away. Her allergist said people react in many different ways.

Jodi-I wonder why your first batch of testing showed nothing??

I was so bad, with sneezing and total congestion that I developed nasal polyps. That would get infected 3 or 4 times a year. Plus sinus infections and both ears infected. I was finally sent to an allergist. I told them, give me antibiotics for the polyps, once they are under control if you can keep me from sneezing the polyps won't be a problem. The ENT wanted to do surgery immediately. I refused. My mother had it done twice, and they grew back. The 2nd surgery was awful.

Anyhow, two rows of 20 shots on each forearm. Then 30 more shots on each upper arm, really high, almost on my shoulder.

Typical allergies, cats, dogs, mold,dust, damn near every plant that grows outside! haha I started getting 3 shots, twice a week. that was about 3 years ago. Have it down to two shots once every 4 weeks.

They also put me on Allegra (not with D) Astelin, Rhinocort and advair inhaler.

That woman gave me my life back. Do it,, the relief is truly amazing.

Good luck!

A number of years ago I had the environmental allergens done. I wasn't expecting to have the test done that day so when they brought in the tray with all the pinprick needles, I about fainted. Think there were over 200 pricks on my back. Got through that only to them have them bring in a tray with about 20 regular needles - those were the ones that I had a mild reaction to, so they give you more to see if you are allergic enough to need it in the serum. That really shocked me. I ended up taking shots for 11 years - did really help with the itchy eyes and stuffy nose, scratchy throat. This summer is the first one that I haven't had the shots - have had more trouble than previously but not too bad.

This last March I had food allergy testing done cause of some reactions in my mouth and facial swelling. Turns out I am allergic to a number of things - on a scale of 0 to 5, most were 2's and 3's. I avoid most of the foods - some I never ate anyway and the others I only eat a little of or make sure to take my Allegra. Food allergies usually manifest the symptoms in stomach problems anyway.
I was prepared to have that test done - 120 pricks - about a dozen injections. Didn''t seem as bad this time around.

Its not fun but its done quickly and if you have someone to put cortaid on you afterwards to help calm the itching, you will get through it okay.

My husband had hay fever all his life, was allergic to cats. I always owned cats, and didn't want to give up my cat when we got married. He went for allergy testing, a bunch of scratches, and they found he was allergic to cats and dogs, milk, wheat and gluten. He radically changed his diet and got shots for animal dander, first once a week, then every 2 weeks, then monthly. It cured his cat allergy, we've been married 31 years and I've always had at least one cat. He did it cause he loves me. He's a gem.

I had the pricks on my back and arms. It was not bad at all! I laid there and read a book for 2 hrs while they poked away. I was actually kind of bummed when it was over; it was the most peaceful afternoon I had had in a long time! lol

The allergen-specific IgE antibody test is a blood test used to screen for an allergy to a specific substance or substances if a person presents with acute or chronic allergy-like symptoms. This is especially true if symptoms are recurrent and appear to be tied to triggers, such as exposures to particular foods or environments, and if other family members are known to have allergies.
It must be helpful information

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