sporadicname - we are back from the tests now so just come back to let you know that the results show up while you are there. We are going back next week as there were too many things to test all at once. Of no suprise to me the whole egg, egg yolk and egg white all came up but we also had house dust mite come up too. Oh poo - there goes my lax attitude to cleaning!

We have been seeing the consultant at the hospital for about 18 months now. When it was just the egg allergy that was apparant he was going to wait until DS turns 4 to do the tests. The reason he gave was that it was obvious that there was an allergy based on the information I had given him (a great relief after the ignorance of my GP). When it became apparant that sheeps milk was also a problem he said he'd bring it forward to when he turns 3. Now that even more things have come up he has said that he would bring it forward to now, partly because of the known latex one and partly because of the unknown causes on other occasions. I don't know what will happen about results but I will come back and let you know.

DS consultant basically said to start with that because he might grow out of it as he gets older AND the information I gave him left him in no doubts about it being an allergy he would wait to do the testing. He then said he was bringing it forwards because the addition of other allergies made it less likely to be something he would grow out of.

mychildrenarebarmy, thanks for your post. I am glad you got somewhere with your GP, it is so frustrating as a parent to know what your child needs and to have to try and convince someone else of it.

TBH, although he would still be wrong, I think I would have found the GP's reaction less annoying if he just felt that it wasn't necessary but for him to be totally unaware of the availability of allergy testing

How do you even begin to argue with such ignorance?!

Hope you don't mind me asking, but how long have you had to wait for the skin prick tests and how long for your results? Good luck with them.

My sons reactions have been very similair to yours. My GP's reaction also was very similair. Using the argument that 'he won't be allergic to eggs because you are still breastfeeding him'. 15 minutes of me refusing to leave his surgery and repeating myself over and over again about which reactions he had had to what was met with the response 'well Mrs MCAB I can see that you are determined about this so I will make the referal but I find it HIGHLY unlikely that they will find anything. In the meantime I suggest you keep giving master MCAB things with egg in every so often and see if he gets used to it' (in the absence of a 'you moron' smiley) I ignored his parting advice and what do you know Consulant paed took everything I told him very seriously and perscribed piriton for reactions with epipens as a just in case because each time the reaction had got worse. How much did I want to go back to that GP and say 'excuse me but you owe me an apology'. Maybe I will wait for the skin prick test results. Push for it, don't tell him you want to be referred for allergy testing, tell him you have concerns about you son having allergies and want to be referred to the relevant consultant at the hospital. If he still argues tell him that you are going to speak to the practice manager and ask to see a different GP within the practice.

Thanks tatt, that's a good idea. Will look into that today so that when we go back, at least we know who we should be referred to!

Good to hear that someone else had more luck with a different GP.

Can I suggest that you find out who does allergy testing at the nearby hospitals and then ask for a referral to Dr ... Then if you get the same sort of response you can get them to speak to the consultant. If you wan tto post your nearest large town I'll try and find a name - but I'll probably be too busy tomorrow.

It isn't the first time I've heard of that sort of response, unfortunatley, but they did get a referral from another gp in the practise.

Although money is important to gps sometimes its just that they've never had any decent training.

Thanks London, We are hoping to go next week.

Hopefully we will have more luck then. It is Doctors like this that have made me really wary of them and it is such a shame as there are some really good ones out there.

How did you get your private tests organised? I am hoping we won't need to go down this route, but after today it is looking more likely.

That doctor is patently trying to save money for his practice and not thinking about what's best for your child.
You need to demand a second opinion from a pediatrician at the very least. Keep a food diary and note the reactions that he's had. This is ridiculous that you're not getting support. Hopefully he doesn't have another severe reaction but if so, definitely give piriton straight away (haven't seen it in sachets, unfortunately).

My DD has had milk and soya allergy diagnosed - but only after I insisted on a referral to a pediatrician who then sent us to an allergy specialist. It took 10 days of gastroenteritis (incl. 2 visits to A&E), 2 months on soya formula, 5 days on lactose free and then a month of almost continuous appointments before my suspicions were confirmed.

We are lucky enough to have private healthcare but it still took a month to see the specialist.
Had skin prick testing which all showed up as negative and blood tests which also were inconclusive but allergy specialist (Professor, no less!) said that this is quite common in babies and she should grow out of it by the age of 3-5.
The reason for this long story is that you should not be put off - see another gp and demand a second opinion at the very least!!!!

Good luck!

Update

Well, DH took DS as we managed to get an appointment, but I was at work.

DH was very assertive, and told him the reactions DS has had so far and asked for allergy testing.

Doctor said there was no such thing

All they could test for was skin reactions such as cat hair and, more randomly, horse hair!

DH calmly explained, several times, that we had looked into it and there WAS SUCH A THING!

Doctor remained adamant that he had tried to refer before and the hospital wouldn't 'allow' him to as there was no tests currently available.

Needless to say we are going to back again next week and ask if there is a Doctor at the surgery who knows what he is talking about has some training in this area.

I am horrified, we thought DH would have a bit of a battle on his hands, but we didn't expect this kind of stupidity response.

Thank you all, I have wondered about the piriton, do they have such a thing as piriton sachets like the calpol ones?