Interpreting E95 Food Panel results

[jschwab]

I would not agree with previous statement broadly against board certified allergists administering, interpreting and diagnosing with IgE testing. It's an art for the experienced and many of their patients deal with objective symptoms of allergy at any time potentially resulting in anaphylaxis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. Many who hang their shingle out as a food allergist should not, and even then some are not up to date on best practices, and yet others under treat. But they are a far, far cry from a naturopath E95. IgE is one data point along with SPT, neither trump history or IOFC. Any of the board certified would be unlikely to tinker with something like diabetes, most won't even touch GI issues that are better off with a GI specialist. Even with asthma some go to a pulmo.

Most allergists are not cavalier, and as we face an initial establishment appointment we do so having already had a surprise anaphylactic episode. At that point IgE and SPT are used to confirm an allergen, and if that testing does not bear out a likely cause only then would the average allergist suggest performing an IOFC. Having a true allergy is bad enough. Living like you have one when you don't is worse, trumped only by having a real underlying medical issue misdiagnosed as an "allergy".

In the hands of a fool the best tests can be harmful, yes. But I would not say most allergists are fools, rather the distinction of an up-to-date food allergy and anaphylaxis expert is a newer breed resulting in the epidemic rise in rate of IgE-mediated allergy.

I was saying nothing against allergists (although I did have a board-certified highly regarded one who was a complete dud who could have killed me because he relied solely on skin tests over history of reaction). I was just pointing out that no matter who you are - whether you have a real food allergy or just a nasty intolerance - there is no failproof test when it comes to food. The only failproof test of reaction for anyone when it comes to food is history of reaction.

[twinturbo]

OP is owed a central amount of objectiveness regarding allergy testing. E95 is not a valid allergy test regardless of who, how or why administered. IgE is a legitimate test. When we want to hold strong to do no further harm we do need to keep in mind that not all reading this have had the years of experience of dealing with allergists and testing. There is ample room and time for the anecdotal but when it comes to comparisons with the junk science of pseudoallergies and treatments people have died.

Contextualization and differentiation is key at some points. This is one of them.

[rebekahc]

Everyone has given pretty good info on the E95 test, naturopaths, etc. so I won't add to that, but I did want to let you know I have food allergies and psoriatic arthritis.  I haven't found foods to effect my flares, but I do think taking Vit. D3 has really helped.  I still have swollen fingers and toes/feet when I wake up and have trouble walking first thing in the morning, but I have much fewer joint flares.  The Vit. D has also helped my IBS type symptoms.

[jschwab]

OP is owed a central amount of objectiveness regarding allergy testing. E95 is not a valid allergy test regardless of who, how or why administered. IgE is a legitimate test. When we want to hold strong to do no further harm we do need to keep in mind that not all reading this have had the years of experience of dealing with allergists and testing. There is ample room and time for the anecdotal but when it comes to comparisons with the junk science of pseudoallergies and treatments people have died.

Contextualization and differentiation is key at some points. This is one of them.

I get what you are saying but I do think telling someone to go get legitimate allergy tests just for the sake of seeing a legitimate practitioner (as was suggested above) when there is no legitimate reason for allergy testing confuses even further. I was merely pointing out the only way for anyone to know if they are reacting to a food for sure is to monitor their diet. Nobody gets a free pass on monitoring their reactions, not even people with "real" allergies. It's just usually more immediate and obvious with a true allergy.

[CMdeux]

Everyone has given pretty good info on the E95 test, naturopaths, etc. so I won't add to that, but I did want to let you know I have food allergies and psoriatic arthritis.  I haven't found foods to effect my flares, but I do think taking Vit. D3 has really helped.  I still have swollen fingers and toes/feet when I wake up and have trouble walking first thing in the morning, but I have much fewer joint flares.  The Vit. D has also helped my IBS type symptoms.

Great tip.