Negative Allergy Testing
I have had horrible allergies all my life. I went though testing and got shots for 5 years until insurance changed and it was too expensive. My allergies got super bad again and I went to a new doctor a few years later with new insurance and went though testing and started the shots again until insurance changed again. I was allergic to trees, grass, cats, dust mites, you name it. Fast forward to this year. Went though testing again, stopped allergy meds 2 weeks before testing and now they say I don't have any allergies except for dust mites. I can't walk outside in the summer without sneezing my head off. Went to ENT, had surgery, tubes put in but still not any better. Is it possible the test was no good or another medication I am on blocked the test? I have so much congestion and ear pressure all the time. I know allergies can change over time, but to completely go away almost? I can't even be in a house with a cat or my eyes will smell shut, and the cat didn't show up on testing. Any suggestions would be great.
I wish I had some spot on advice for you,
, but I don't.
My middle son has a similar allergy profile to yours (but he's not allergic to cats). We have had trouble helping him get his allergies fully under control. He also has had tubes in the past.
Listen. Tests are helpful, but if you know something is up within your body, odds are you are right. After all, you are the expert on your own body. So trust yourself. I don't know if you are able to seek a second or third opinion. If you had the standard prick test or patch test, you can request more in depth testing. Perhaps blood tests or Interdermal testing. You can read a bit about allergy testing, including the ones I mentioned, here -- https://allergies.net/diagnosis. Also, perhaps your meds were still surpressing some of your allergic responses, even though you stopped them well before testing. It's hard to say.
Allergies can change over the years, but I am a little suspicious that you seemingly dropped at least three allergies all of sudden. That seems . . . fishy.
Do any OTC meds help with your allergy outbreaks or are they so severe that those products don't really help? I would definitely keep a journal or log of your symptoms and the timing to show your doctor/allergist. Doctors like hard evidence and that may help them take your concerns seriously. There are even a couple of allergy apps, if you would prefer to track things on your phone.
All this rambling to say, "don't give up." If you're feeling poorly and you suspect your allergies are as active as ever, tell your doctor and don't take no for an answer!
You have the right to be as healthy as possible!
Good luck!
Best, Erin, Team member.
