Allergy testing - is it accurate?

[Moonberri]

I have inflamed turbinates in my nose and am resisting an ENT referral as I know the consultant and he will want to do surgery. I'm happy to have surgery as a last resort but if I can fix the problem without surgery that would be even better.

I can't find a reason for the inflammation other than I get tree pollen hayfever but that ended months ago. I get a blocked nose but no mucus and the most horrendous pressure feeling all around the bridge of my nose which extends into my face/eye socket area. Nothing relieves it. I've tried all the steroid sprays, antihistamines, salt rinses, steam etc and nothing relives it for more than 10 minutes.

I'm wondering about paying privately for full allergy testing but worried whether it is actually accurate. And how do I go about finding a reputable place to get it done? I'm in the SE with access to London.

It would almost certainly be a waste of money as allergy testing is prone to false positives and clinical history is more important. It doesn't sound like hayfever.

My child had a non IgE allergy to wheat which caused this sort of issue. Skin prick style allergy testing did not show it up. Food exclusion and detailed food diary identified it.

I could try food exclusion but it could be pollen/dust/mould/animal allergy as well.

It doesn't sound like an IgE allergy response though.

Could you explain? I'm not sure I understand.

Allergy testing usually picks up IgE medicated allergies so those that cause a reaction within an hour. Non IgE medicated reactions can happen upto 72 hours after being exposed to an allergen. Sounds like you have a non IgE medicated allergy.

It might be worth getting tested for dust mites , environmental allergies etc x

Had a long allergy appointment this week. Allergy testing usually picks up ieG allergies, not guaranteed. Skin prick tests and blood tests are mainly reliable but... People are weird and history is important.

Internet intolerance tests are not worth doing.

Sorry can I ask how old your child is and if s/he has been tested for Coeliacs? Thanks x

An allergic reaction is a specific type of reaction which is typically the result of IgE antibodies. Things like hayfever are a result of IgE antibodies to a specific pollen/s. Or you might get hives after ingesting or encountering an allergen, some asthma is IgE mediated, or you might have anaphylactic reactions.

The inflammation you describe does not sound like an IgE mediated allergic reaction. And non-IgE triggers cannot be tested for (though tests are sold for IgG they are junk science).

Thank you. But why doesn't it sound like an IgE reaction? What do you think it could be?

Is it worth doing eg dairy free diet?

I don't know what it might be, I just don't think it sounds like an allergic reaction.

The Allergy U.K. website is very good and they have a helpline.

If you want to try dairy free, do it in stages.

1. go lactose free for about ten days to two weeks. Nice and easy just replace milk with lacto free and read labels obsessively, buy a block of lactose free cheese.

2 reintroduce normal dairy for two weeks note what happens if nothing happens try a full dairy free for two weeks. It is generally quite obvious if dairy is the problem. Try not to exclude things unnecessarily.

@scoobybooby my child tested negative for celiac. The issue was identified at a time when I could relatively easily control their diet.

@Moonberri I know this is an old thread. I'm having similar issues so wondered if you made any progress with this. Thanks

ige is hives/ breathing difficulties/anaphylaxis, non ige covers all other symptoms but it not picked up in testing

I would try going toxin free, no fragrance, unscented soaps, washing powders everything for now. Deep clean for dust mites and go from there before looking at foods

I tried a few different things, including an antihistamine diet in case it was MCAS but it didn't make a difference (except it was so awful and boring I lost weight and got depressed!).

It's actually a lot better now as my GP has given me high strength fexafenadine (180mg) on top of the other antihistamine I was using (azelastine) and a steroid nasal spray. I forgot to use the fexafenadine the other day and the sinus/nasal pressure came back.

So I think what is happening is that if my nasal passages get inflamed (mainly through hayfever) it touches on a nerve on my nose because I have a deviated septum, therefore causing the pain.

Also worth noting that a few days after I posted the OP I got really bad covid and was in bed for 2 weeks so I think it must have caused the nasal swelling I was having at that point!