First visit to Allergy Specialist ........

[EvaAnna]

I have the first visit to an allergy specialist with my DD2, 4 this evening. She has shown some severe reactions to dogs. She also had a very high positive to nuts and sesame seeds on her RAST test which the GP sent her for. She also have very bad eczema for which she sees a dermatologist. She constantly looks ill, with red eyes, pale skin. Otherwise she is in good health!

I'm just not sure what to expect frome the visit, what questions to ask etc? I was wondering if anyone had any advice?

Thanks.

Thanks nottirednow and pixieonaleaf, I have made a note of all the questions.

I was going to ask about the epipen, but not sure if they just prescibe them without first having suffered an anaphylatic shock. I hope they do, as I soooo worried about her at nursery/childminder etc.

She isn't asthmatic, her dad is so it is something I am always looking out for. She is the loudest snorer I have ever come across I don't know if that is connected!

Unfortunately she had 2 doses of piriton yesterday as she looked so poorly and she was scratching really badly. I just didn't know that this would affect the skin prick tests.

GP didn't give figures for RAST test, other than to look shocked and say 'Oh, very allergic to mixed nuts, she needs to see a specialist'.. don't think they are very clued up on allergies. Disappointing.

I am pinning all my hopes on this appointment so I'm so happy for all your suggestions of what to ask, as I don't want to forget anything, or think 'oh, i should have mentioned that'.

Thanks again to both of you.

Thanks PixieOnaLeaf. I've just jotted down everything from the previous emails. Forearmed is forewarned!

I will let you know how I get on!

The visit went very well. The consultant was fantastic. He covered all my questions without me having to ask them!

No skin prick tests, he went through her RAST test results in details, which noone had done before. She showed 4's on her allergies to mixed nuts, sesame seed, chick peas, which according to him was the highest, so he prescribed epipens straight away without me asking for them, then the nurse came in and we got a demonstration on using them.

He advised to be kept away from dogs completely, but no reason to test for this as obvious she is allergic to it, which is fair enough I suppose.

I feel so relieved that I have the epipen and he is also writing to the school and they will have one also.

I don't feel that they need to test for other allergies, I already know that eggs, tomatoes and strawberries make her skin worse so we stay away from them.

Feel so relived, thanks nottirednow and PixieOneLeaf for all your help and support.

xxxx

He was very good . Thanks again for everything.

We are now just on the scary road of trying to make sure she doesn't eat any nuts etc! It is very hard, as kids parties, playground etc. She wanted to share someones ice cream yesterday and promptly advised me it had no nuts as her friend who is 3 said it hadn't!!!!

We are going to see the nurse at the clinic on Tuesday and they have given us a trainer pen so we'll see what happens then. They look like scary things tho, I hope I never have to use it .

You can buy trainer pens - i bought one so that my mum and any other family members could have a go. I also have a practice on an orange when they expire as others have said!

Oh thats good to know. I have one, but it would be helpful to give them out to childminders etc. Childminder is off for training today, bless her so she is taking it very serious, which is good [hsmile]