If you had allergy testing on NHS, how?

[TigerWhiskers]

I've been having recurrant sinus infections, allergy symptoms and sinus pain for a couple of years now.

At the moment allergy tablets have been helping to reduce the allergy symptoms but every week I still have at least 2 days where my sinuses ache and feel inflamed...but I don't have any mucus or congestion in my nose.

I guess I'm allergic to something but I don't know what. I was referred to ENT a while ago. Do you think ENT would do allergy testing? Or should I speak to GP about that?

Thanks

@KennaThomas

Not having treatment but knowing what to avoid would be amazing!! I hate not knowing what it is. I hate feeling like I could just make a slight adjustment in my house which would make even a slight bit of difference to this sinus ache. I can't really explain through text how awful the pain is and how much it effects the quality of my life. On the days I don't have sinus ache I'm like a different person...I actually have energy and want to do things.

@StuntNun I've cut out milk from my diet as I've read that that makes sinus issues worse. I'll have to look into what I eat that has wheat in it. I'm willing to try anything at this point.

If you are concerned that it is something in the house. Have you ensured that there are no plug in air fresheners, reduced highly perfumed Laundry detergents and softeners. Basically got rid of any chemical type smells and perfumes.
www.allergycliniclondon.co.uk/household-chemicals-that-you-could-be-allergic-to/

@chocolatenutcase thanks for the link I'll take a look.

Don't use plug ins, use non bio detergent.

I have a cat though 😭 for the last few weeks I've not let her in my bedroom and I don't stroke her.

I've also got a feather duvet.... I should probs get rid of that.

Allergy tests are not fool proof like the previous poster mentioned due to IgE and non IgE mediated allergies and false positives and false negatives. There are also a limited amount of things that can be tested for.

But I can understand it's having a major impact on your life. Speak to your GP and see what they recommend.

Hang in there!

Ha yes get rid of the feather duvet.

You might want to try a different antihistamine as well to see if that works better- my fav is fexofenadine (more pricey than cetrizine, but that didn't work well enough for me which is interesting as cetrizine is the one that works best for my mum).

A nasal douche also with warm salty water: this one is my favourite:

NeilMed Original Sinus Rinse Kit with 60 Premixed Sachets https://amzn.eu/d/hWOqs5T

I just mix salt with water after the sachets ran out. It does the same!

The problem with avoiding allergens is you probably have loads.

I've never been tested but know I am triggered by feathers, horses, several varieties of pollen, dust, various perfumes and household cleaning products.

Some of these eg horses are pretty easy to avoid. Some you can reduce- my asthma was bad, I looked at a pollen calendar and realised I was allergic to a tree in my own garden. Bye bye tree.

And some are just around in the air. I tried giving up my anti histamine in December because what could be the problem then? Well something was so now I just have it every day.

Definitely pursue it. I found out I was dairy-intolerant after 40 years of suffering "perennial rhinitis" for which the only treatment was nasal cauterisation and lifelong antihistamine use. Turned out I just had to stop drinking milk!l and now my nose and sinuses are clear. I'm okay with cheese but I have to limit cream and yogurt. And at least now I know that if I treat myself to a latte or hot chocolate or milkshake then the nasal congestion will come back for a few days then go away again. My BIL had awful psoriasis that cleared up when he went in an exclusion diet. It really can be life changing. If you're worried about dust or cat allergy then try and get blood testing done as these can be picked up. There are loads of things that you can do in these cases to reduce the allergen burden on you. I have quite a few allergies but feathers are okay so don't get rid of your duvet straight away. Could you try a sheet and blanket for a couple of weeks instead to see whether it makes a difference?

I was just about to say the same. I very much doubt they’d refer to allergy clinic for rhinitis/hayfever. Patients who have had anaphylactic reactions to things are often refused a referral lately due to the shortages of immunologists.

You’d probably be best off looking at getting skin pricks done privately. Has you GP tested your IgE levels?

I did via the urticaria clinic but I was covered in hives from head to toe almost daily for the best part of 25 years!
My allergy is actually to heat and exercise

@Anonym00se no he hasn't tested anything. He has prescribed me a lot of things over the last two years....many rounds of antibiotics for all the sinus infections,oral steroids, nasal steroids, antihistamines. Now I'm on dysmista and OTC antihistamines and I do a daily nasal rinse. I've not spoken to GP much about allergies really. He's referred me to ENT as he thinks it's worth me getting a sinus x-ray.

@StuntNun that's interesting that you mention psoriasis as I have always had that on my arms and I've never even attempted to treat it.

@TigerWhiskers - appreciate that I am very late to this thread (nearly a year late - I came across it when I was looking for something else) but there is an article in the paper today that might help to guide you on next steps if you haven't had any help in the interim:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/10/hay-fever-misery-20-tips-doctors-allergy-experts

@BlossomWood Thanks for the Quercitin tip, I have just ordered some in the hopes that it will help as I feel I have tried everything else.

Nettle capsules helped a bit for a while but i just have a permanent runny nose which drives me crackers with a tissue up my sleeve all the time!

Also itchy nostrils and occasionally itchy eyes and it is year round, even when i go on holiday and the only time i dont have a wet nose is when i am lying down in bed so am feeling hopeful it may help.

The GP referred our DC for a pediatrician blood test, but specifically for cats and dogs after he had a reaction with swollen lips and asthma attack at a friend's house with a dog there. We assumed it was the dog as he'd only really seen them for shorter periods inside or outside before that and the mum said he'd kissed the dog, and they did cat test too as they're often linked. They sent back a serum level for both with a grading on severity.
Was just a blood test.
I'm not sure how they'd go about it when you don't have a guess at the cause though, you may have to go private for a larger range of tests?

I use vaseline round my nose and eyelashes, do nasal & eye rinses and use some red light diode things that go up the nose. Much hilarity as these make you look like Rudolph the red nose reindeer but they seem to help.

I paid to see an allergy specialist and even then it would have taken months but I took a cancellation. I’ve had to go to hospital twice and even then I couldn’t get properly seen on the NHS. I’m waiting for contact allergy testing as the specialist reckons I’m allergic to something I’m putting on my skin too.

DH had severe refractory anaphylaxis to an unknown trigger requiring a long stint in A&E, he was referred by A&E for allergy testing and they are still investigating.

DD2 was referred by her GP to the paediatric allergy clinic because of her breathing difficulties at a young age along with reactions to foods.

My DNiece is prescribed fexofenadine by the GP for her environmental allergies, you can get 120mg over the counter but for bigger doses you need a prescription.