So angry for with GP re. allergy testing

[Sandi102]

I feel so so guilty today. ds is 5 and has had eczema, since 3 months. He was on SMA until 12 months, and we changed onto normal cow's milk, but he had a reaction to it virtually straight away. So I went to see my GP (Dec 2000) and he gave SMA Wysoy. Why didn't he give me this before I don't know. ds was on that for another year. When ds turned 3 we took him off that and started giving him normal cow's milk. He didn't react straight away, but his eczema is still present. This summer was pretty bad, and so I went to the GP and asked whether ds could undergo allergy testing and requested a referral. My GP said there is no such thing as allergy testing. so I left the surgery feeling a little embarrased, until i went to my local health food shop. They saw ds ezcema, which is only on his creases and sometimes his back. But his itching is the worst. He is constantly scratching.They suggested testing for allergies and food intolerance and gave me a no. for someone who does it privately. She is now coming on the 22nd Nov to test.

I cannot believe I didn't have this testing done sooner. I feel like I've let DS down in such a big way. Is there anything or anyone that can help with his itching? I'm hoping it is related to certain foods, which i can then eliminate, but I've always just put it down to dry /bad skin.

edam where do youget the probiotics from? It sounds promising and worth a try. I'm going to the GO this evening at 6, so I'll let you all know how it goes. Thanks for all your posts.

My son had all in one sleepsuits, including mittens to help stop him scratching. We were taught by a nurse how to wet wrap him. We also found that if we scratched for him it was soothing for him and we weren't so vigorous as him.
He is v. allergic to soya (was prescribed soya milk from 3 months until he was 5). A locum GP referred us to Addenbrookes who do have an allergy clinic. Tom is allergic to al nuts, milk, eggs, soya, pollen grass, house dust mites and pet fur. At least we know what we're dealing with. Tom is 13 now and his eczema is really good. His asthma is another story.

finally, my GP has referred ds to a specalist. Can you believe he said "it is very common in Punjabi's". And? What is that supposed to mean? We all know it's not related to race or culture. What was he trying to imply? I said I needed further knowledge and understanding to be able to cope and treat his skin condition. He said the specialist is only going to prescribe more creams. He fobbed me off as if this referral isn't going to help. Well at least I'll be talking to someone who knows his stuff on the topic, and would hope to be treated like any other patient with ezecema. (sorry for the rant!)

Sandi, it was Tatt who mentioned probiotics. I use ABDdophilus because my ds is just one, don't know which would be good for a five-year old I'm afraid but there have been LOTS of threads on the allergy boards about probiotics, do a search and you'll find them.

Sandi can't say I like the sound of your g.p. - why don't you change? (once you get your first appointment with the specialist of course!). Congratulations on getting somewhere.

Be careful who you are getting to do allergy testing. If I were you I would change GPs and ask for a hospital test. There are a lot of unqualified practitioners out there.

Basically agreeing with Edam et al. I should read the thread before I post, eh?

the specilist may well just 'perscribed more creams', but he can work out what is more suitable for your sons skin. the 1st time the dermotologist saw my dd1, he said the creams perscribed were all wrong and changed them. it helped greatly.

exactly misdee. I hope it won't take long. Yesterday i gave him an oatmeal and dead sea salt bath. I'm hoping that will work. I've been using 50/50 liquid soft parrafin on his body to moisturuse, but it's not workng any more. I've sent for the SK cream, but in the meantime will use Bepanthan by Roche.

Hi

I've managed to get my ds allergy tested in two ways which you might consider if you can't get it done on the NHS. I became increasingly frustrated by the docs response to my ds's eczema which was basically - he'll grow out of it & in the meantime keep putting this steriod cream on his face (even though the info on the packet says not to use the cream for more than 7 days at a time). There was no attempt to explore the cause of his problem at all. So I went to solve the problem privately. Firstly I took him to a kinesiologist (£35 a session) who gave me a whole list of foods to avoid as I was still breastfeeding and his eczema seemed to improve. She also gave me some probiotics & various tinctures which I gave him. I'm a fairly cynical person and when the kinesiologist was doing her thang I thought it would never work BUT although his ezcema didn't go away but he had some clear days & it cleared up completely on the back of his legs & forehead which was much better than before. I then went to see a paediatrician at the london allergy clinic after my ds came up in hives and his lip blistered from tasting his first bit of formula. She carried out some skin prick tests on him and confirmed that he was allergic to dairy, egg and wheat. I had hoped that his ezcema would clear up after this as I've now stopped bf and he's taking a formula (he's nine months btw) called neocate especially made for babies with multiple allergies but I guess its not as simple as that.

Sandi whe you see the specialist ask him/her re the oatmal and salt thing. As a kid in hospital they used to use tubular bandages stuffed with oatmeal to rub on the skin in the bath. I think they don't do this anymore but can't remember the reason why.
Also remember salt baths (suggested by a homeopath) but as a kid I hated them - incredibly painful, especially if there are open sores.

his execema, is like a prickly red spotty rash..its not weeping and not red raw..most of it now scattered around his back, shoulders and torso..places where he'd never had it before. i'm getting so down about it..haven't felt like this since he was 6 months..

Sandi you have my symapthies but at least you're trying everything you can.
Sometimes 'stress' is enough to set it off, so all that you can do is to try to manage it as best you can. At 5 just the responsibility of being at school could be enough.
Don't hold out too much hope on the allergy front as the results are often inconclusive.
Assume you've looked at washing powders? I would recommend persil original non bio for all his clothes and sheets and no fabric conditioner.
Plenty of water to drink seems to help too.