Anyone been to Breakspear Medical in Hemel Hempstead, or seen another Environmental Medicine doctor

[Walnutblossom]

There's the Breakspear in Hemel Hempstead, and also a small list of environmental practitioners here www.bsem.org.uk/pages/14-practitioners

I'm interested if you've been to any of these places or anything similar, whether good or bad experiences. (If you're sceptical but have never actually been there or made enquiries with them, I'm not interested and this is not the thread for you).

I live in London but it seems like the Breakspear is the most specialist hospital where they have the most help available, or at least the most detail about them that can be read online, so I'm wondering if it's worth several train journeys to Hemel Hempstead. All the London doctors on that list are in the Harley Street area so presumably they'll be extremely expensive.

I'm fed up of being allergic to everything. I've already seen an allergy specialist who was no help. My GP is not interested. I honestly feel like I've had some kind of chemical injury. It's causing me numerous health problems.

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Hi Walnut. Have you found any FB groups around your health issues? I've found these are the best way to share information about symptoms, treatments & practitioners.

I haven't used The Breakspear, but have read mixed results from others. Pretty expensive has been the feedback which is great if it works for you. Not if you don't get results obviously.

Also heard the same about The Burghwood Clinic, Surrey. Dr Econs also practices in London I hear, if this is more convenient. No personal experience with either of them though.

Have you looked up Dr S Myhill online? She has masses of free info online around functional medicine & diet etc. She isn't an allergy specialist, but many people with allergy & fatigue issues have improved following her advice.

Best of luck. So frustrating dealing with chronic illness that the NHS can't help with. Like following a long piece of string.......

Thanks. I've tried joining allergy groups before but they all seem to be full of people with food allergies. I can't find anything for people with allergies to perfume and artificial chemicals etc.

I don't mind it being expensive if it's for a specific number of appointments like 2 or 3, but I met someone recently who knows someone who kept going to one of these doctors for months on end, appointment after appointment and that's what I'd like to avoid.

I hear you. I've heard that too & am also very reluctant to spend £ & precious energy on someone/thing who won't help.

How about MCS? (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) They have a FB group that might help. If you do have that, there can also be a crossover with MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome).

Just a thought

I just wish I knew hours to get diagnosed with MCS or MCAS or whatever it is that I have. I went to an allergy specialist and he refused to do patch testing as he thought it wouldn't work.

Join the FB groups of both MSC & MCAS & research hard to see if you think you have the symptoms/ would be diagnosed. Just meeting others in the same boat is really useful.

I don't have a diagnosis of either but definitely have some of the symptoms, along with a load of others.

Yeah. Allergy Testing is still quite unreliable unfortunately & there are many private practitioners out there who won't be able to help.

I would do it. Allergies can seriously affect your entire life and lifestyle.

I had the tremendous good luck many years ago to have had a GP in Dublin who transitioned to environmental practice. He diagnosed DD1's allergies quickly and painlessly (dairy and beef, anything related to the cow, basically) and also my Dsis's many allergies ( food and other).

Have you read the book, published many years ago now, by Doris Rapp MD, called 'Is This Your Child?' It is a vast compendium of allergy symptoms, causes, and what to do about them. Dr Rapp was one of the pioneers of environmental medicine.

I paid a lot of money for this allergy specialist as well! Things are getting worse. I honestly feel like I've had some kind of chemical injury. I was told by a GP that if I wanted toxicology tests I'd have to go to A&E. I didn't go as I know they'd say no and it's not an emergency and I don't want to be taking up space there.

I did years ago. A family friend swore by them so I went for help with my nut and sesame allergies. They diagnosed me with lots of other sensitivities and started me on a really intense regime to desensitise me to the less bad allergies to begin with. Tbh it was very expensive and I didn’t see that much of a difference and I stopped after about 6 months. The doctor was very genuine there and I did like them but it was such a slow process and I couldn’t really afford to keep it up (especially at the snails pace). They did give me some good allergy tablets to take before taking an allergen. I don’t know if I would recommend it or not tbh but if you’re at the end of your tether (which I totally get) maybe it’s worth a visit? Sorry not to be more helpful.

Would you be willing to say how much money you spent, or send me a PM if you don't want to say it here?

(In the low thousands)

But that was say 12 years ago. I can’t comment on their fees now.

If you’re ok with spending some money have you seen an actual allergy consultant privately? I used to go to the London allergy clinic? Might it be worth trying there before Breakspear?

Yes I have. It was a private allergy clinic and they refused to do patch testing.

In the last few weeks I've become allergic to my bedding. I don't know how it happened but now every time I go to bed I get spasms and tightening in my private parts. It's like it's trying to shut off, you know how your throat closes up when someone near you is wearing perfume, now I feel like other parts of my body b are doing the same. It's causing me to have lower abdominal pain. I just don't know what to do. I can't imagine my GP will care.

I'm actually in physical pain. It eases off during the day a bit then starts up again b when we go to bed. I've tried washing the bedding numerous times. We removed the mattress protector in case it was that, washed the other undersheets, turned the mattress over and hoovered it but it still hasn't reduced the problem.

I would try Breakspear then. That is the kind of thing they helped our family friend with. Good luck.

I just wonder if the doctors in London can provide the same amount of tests and treatment, or if it really is necessary to go to Hemel Hempstead. It seems like it's the place to go but it might be just because they have a better website. I really don't know.

Dr Franzisca Meuschel at Biolab in London has done wonders for a friend of mine with multiple severe allergies. A fair wait to be seen though.

The train takes about half an hour from Euston and then it's a 25 minute walk according to Google Maps.

Biolab might have other practitioners who could help too.

Yes, several of the doctors in that link I posted are at Biolab. Maybe I should call a couple of them and find out what they can offer.

I haven’t heard of this, but recently saw Professor Till who is a consultant allergist. I can highly recommend him. He does research and teaches as well as seeing patients