Food Reaction, Testing Time, New Allergist

[jenavy21]

I have a question for everyone.

I called primary today to get referral going and called one of the allergist in the area.  They said there is NO set time needed between reaction and when they can test.  This is the exact opposite of what allergist in NY told me and my children's pediatrician said.  Also said that pregnancy hormones and breast feeding can't mess with the results.  Again told different before. 

3 years ago blood positive soy, sesame, peanuts
My son is 14 months old (still nurses at night/trying to ween him)
They did skin testing in NY about 3 to 4 months ago no reactions....   Told because just had baby and reactions interfere.

New allergist is wanting to get me into clinic and do a bunch of testing now.....   But last reaction was Sat night...

If results will be valid I am all for it.  But if not then I don't want to do, it's a waist of time to be left with oops we are sorry this aren't valid because......  so still don't eat anything...  No reassurance that way. 

Thoughts?!?!?!

[twinturbo]

Just wanted to say saw it, read it. I'm not sure. I do know on some level hormones may interfere but I really have no idea if prolactin would.

I would think for blood it wouldn't have an effect because even antihistamines have no effect on IgE blood testing. If it were me I'd get established because you need the allergist no matter what and getting a follow up once established is much easier than a rescheduled intake.

[jenavy21]

They had just said that it takes 2 years from pregnancy for hormones to go back to normal.  And then had said a reaction makes blood test invalid for 6 weeks.   It was just exact opposite of the last, surprised me. 

[twinturbo]

Well, it's important that I 'fess up and say I don't have an answer on the hormone with regard to testing. I do know you can still do the intake because those often take forever to schedule. The only other option is do nothing.

How about call a third office as a tie breaker?

[rebekahc]

This was several years ago, so it may have changed, but when DD had her big reaction, the allergist wanted to wait 6 weeks to test her.  Maybe just to be sure all the steroids were fully out of her system?.

[CMdeux]

I know that major anaphylaxis can cause a temporary but large IgE spike-- or at least that is the conventional wisdom.  It doesn't seem to be true for my DD, but who knows?

The only restriction that I'm aware of is with skin testing-- with that, you gotta have sufficient reactivity to respond to positive controls, and you won't necessarily if you have either antihistamines or steroids on board at the time, and modern non-sedating anthistamines are quite slow in terms of clearance times-- many allergists want 7-10 days without them.

[jenavy21]

Thank you everyone. 

[joanna5]

When my oldest was an infant, he had severe anaphylaxis to milk.  We see one of the top docs in Boston and were told 2 weeks after the reaction due to the meds he was given in the hospital.  I'm not sure about the hormones, but D was nursing at the time.  The results were very clear.