Allegy testing...please tell me what happen's.

[LynetteScavo]

Most importantly does it hurt?

I now have an apt' for DD, but don't want to put her though more discomfort than she needs.

She has been randomly swelling up, but I suspect allergy testing wont actually find the cause.

Is it really horrid?

Sorry aobut the rogue apostrophe.

skin prick tests are nothing to worry about. ds (nearly 3) had them for the 3rd time and they have never bothered him so obviously don't hurt.

Thet drop some of the allergen on the skin and prick throuh it with a needle thing then ewait to see if any reaction

If blood tests then I think they use anaestetic cream beforehand so it doesn't hurt. Have seen kids in waiting room with it on.

sorry for poor typing as bfing DD!

Thankyou - we've have the blood tests already...with the anaethetic cream. Didn't stop DD screaming, wriggling, and needing to be held down by 2 adults.

She's not very good at being the patient, and I'm not very good at being the patients Mum!

Will try to stay positive, though.

And how long does it take?

I have had allergy tests which is the skin prick test for years, when i lived in Canada they just put tiny drops of allergen. and then they prick the skin and ya wait.. if it swells or reddens your allergic, if not your not, i remember when i was younger i had it on my back, bigger space,, but as i grew older i had it on my inner arms.
Since coming to UK they dont do it here as routine so havent had it done but my daughter is having it done soon. but she had them done in Canada also.

So if the apt is for 11.40am, will we be finished in time to pick up DS from school to 3pm? Or are most reactions instant? I've seem to have spent so long just sitting around hostpitals lately I'm worried it will take ages.

I would think so, DS had skin prick tests a few weeks ago - appt was at 11.45, he was back at school by 1.30 (and we're a half hour drive from the hospital). They only ask you to hang around for 15-20 minutes after the test to see the reaction, and after that it depends on how long you need to talk the results over with the doctor.

Excellent! Thank you all so much!