OK, got the referral - what do I expect/ask? PS V quick referral!!

[Jackaroo]

I wrote on here a while back about my son having a test for egg allergy and coming back with a marker/level of 100.. and you helpfully said I should push for an allergy specialist.

Due to a couple of admin issues it's taken a while, but actually, when I spoke to their hotline (this is the paediatric allergy service at the Evelina Children's Hospital at St Thomas' London)..... they said it would take a couple of weeks!

So, now it's done, what should I expect? They said be ready for RAST tests, x-rays etc, sounds lke a few hours might be spent there. Should I take food, toys etc?? or would that be overboard? Oh, DS is 22months..

Many thanks

Take snacks and toys better to be over prepared. Good luck with it.

do not take food, take only water to drink. In an allergy clinic you get a wide range of allergic children so anything you take may be a contamination risk to another child there. Give them a snack before you go in and wait until you come out. You will probably be there a couple of hours as they wait for skin test results then do RAST tests.

Avoid giving your child antihistamine for at least 2 days, a week if possible. RAST tests are not affected, skin prick tests may be.

Toys are useful, good clinics have a few books/crayons/toys.

First thing they will do is measure/ weigh your child. Most allergy clinics do skin prick tests. They should have antihistamine cream to relieve the itching afterwards, take your own if you have it and liquid piriton to give after the tests.

Never had x rays for allergy , can't comment on that but its not easy getting a 22 month child to stay still for them.

thanks - esp. re: not taking food - duh - how stupid am I?!
I did wonder if the advice was a bit generic (hence mention of x-rays), but will let you know if something intriguing comes up...
Was worried I was being a PFB mother, but after the last week in France of having some kind of alert everyday, I'm just relieved there might be someone taking it seriously...

we didn't think about the food issue either until we saw the sign on the cinic door, then it becomes obvious . Let us know how it goes.