Allergy Referral Advice please

[sylvm]

I posted a while back about 14 yr old DD who has been experiencing sinus pain, headaches and lethergy for a long time, having been down the nose spray and antibiotic route with no improvement. She then started getting stomach aches after certain meals which we then pinpointed as when she had eaten dairy. After taking her off the dairy, there was also a dramatic improvement in the sinus/head and she had bags more energy.

Any way GP sent her for a Rast Test which was when I posted for info on its reliability. The result has now come back negative for cows milk allergy but with a high level of non specific allergy.

GP wants to refer her to a paediatrician with an interest in allergy. I am wondering whether this is a cheaper option than referring her straight away to an allergy clinic as I have noticed that he seems to be very keen to save money wherever he can. Does anyone know if this does cost less or not?

I am also wondering whether for someone who is now almost 15, it is an appropriate referral as physically she is an adult. Obviously a paediatrician who deals with a lot of allergy referrals will have plenty of experience with younger children. I am happy to go if it is likely to prove worthwhile but I don't want to waste several months waiting to see this guy and he just refers us on again. Help ......!

sounds like the paed is the best bet - I don't know what you mean by 'an allergy clinic' but if he is a paed with an interest in allergies, that's who you would probably have seen in 'an allergy clinic' anyway (in fact, you may not have even seen a consultant there).

15 is still a child

hope they get to the bottom of it - quite interesting her allergy results! It might be an idea to keep a food and symptom diary before you go (and note down any other common allergens that she may be in contact with like cats, dogs etc.)

Thanks for that - the NHS is so complicated. I have already kept a food diary etc. and will also do it for a couple of weeks before we go. Last night she ate one mouthful of flapjack which had been made with butter by accident and she had a tummy ache immediately so there is obviously something going on!

I'm always suspicious of these tests as you can see an obvious pattern. Am waiting for lactose intolerance breath test myself so currently on dairy free diet. Maybe it will be better when you can speak to this doctor in person. Make sure you write down all the questions you think of to ask before you go or you'll forget them and then have to wait ages to see someone again (or that's what always happened to me!) plus the food diary is invaluable because otherwise you see the consultant and they're like, come back in 2 months after starting a food diary. It cuts out a step in the process!

Sylvm, DD saw Dr Raffles whi is a paed at QE11 for a similar thing plus unexplained stomach pain.

Her IEG is 3600 when a normal is around 36. We had to take her off wheat and dairy for a while and then bring it back gradually. She has had a nut allergy since 11, and is allergic to our cats!

It is one of the reasons she left Owen's and went to SAHS, due to lack of pastoral support at the former)

I saw him privately and NHS., because to see him was an eternal wait. Private - the same week.

Thanks everyone - hi Alibubbles- must say the High School have been brill with all DDs little quirks over the years. Funny your DD had a similar thing. I think I shall see what happens re getting a date to see this paediatrician. If we don't get a date fairly quickly we will have to go the alternative route, I think.