Re: Allergy Testing

[Guest guest]

Hi Ali:

What is the ELISA test? and how is it different from other allergy testing.

I have had a few tests in the past and some said I have some allergies and some said I had no allergies.

Thanks so much

Dianna N

[Guest guest]

I put it in for a google search and got these:

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en & ie=UTF-8 & oe=UTF-8 & q=+test%2BMultiple+Sclerosis & meta=

http://www.agrobiologicals.com/glossary/G1618.htm

http://users.erols.com/mslnda/msandme.htm

http://www.mstherapycentre.com/diet/

From:

evilangl22@... [mailto:evilangl22@...]

Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004

6:40 PM

low dose naltrexone

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] Re:

Allergy Testing

Hi Ali:

What is the ELISA test? and how is it different from other allergy testing.

I have had a few tests in the past and some said I have some allergies and some

said I had no allergies.

Thanks so much

Dianna N

[Guest guest]

yup - you're right. RAST testing is bloodwork. blood is drawn,

labeled and sent away to a lab where they do some fancy scientific

stuff to expose it to various allergens and determine if and how

allergic you are to each thing. RAST testing is not 100% accurate,

although neither is skin testing.

unless your ENT has a plan to make you less allergic to molds (like

allergy shots, which are probably a NO GO with your history), i

don't see the point. perhaps s/he has a plan that he didn't explain

well enough or at all that makes this whole thing make sense? mold

is not something you can control....and if you could (like in your

house) you'd likely make sure its not there regardless if you're

allergic or not.

i, along with several others here, have long-term sinus issues (i

forget the term addy uses). mine are definately related to

allergies, but also due to a chronic inflammation issue. i've found

nebulized antibiotics have worked wonderfully for stubborn sinus

infections. do you do a sinus rinse? other " tricks " my drs have

tried are giving me the pnemovax, as it protects against one popular

strain of sinus infection also. i also take biaxin daily (for 4+

years) to help reduce the inflammation in my sinuses. because of

the constant biaxin, i can no longer use anything in that family of

drugs for infection. my primary dr freaks out a bit about it, but i

much prefer that than the constant bounce b/w various antibiotics.

between the xolair, biaxin, sinus rinses and pnemovax, i get only 3-

4 sinus infections a year....

fortunately, my ENT and allergist chat about me, more often when i

have issues that cross over b/w their two domains so they come up

with a plan that makes everyone happy.

keep us posted on the ENTs great plan! feel better!

heather

> > Hi to all (and a Happy Holiday Weekend to all too!),

> >

> > For the past 2-3 months, I seemingly have and 1 continuous

(except

> > my Dr.'s say it has cleared up 3x) Sinus Infection. As you may

know, I

> > have had a difficult time locating an ENT who realizes what a

problem

> > like a sinus infection can mean for my asthma (I have tried and

failed

> > 3 ENTs and am now starting with a 4th). I had been seeing an ENT

for

> > about 10 years but her practice decided to not accept my

insurance

> > anymore. Anyway, this newest ENT specializes in 'allergic ENT,'

so I

> > figured he would be good. I have only actually seen him once,

spoke to

> > his nurse on the phone once, and have another appointment with

him

> > scheduled in 2 wks., this doctor kind of confused me, and I

didn't

> > totally understand what he was talking about until I was home (of

> > course).

> >

> > I've had allergy testing multiple times, and my allergist

says

> > that I can't have skin testing anymore because of my high risk of

> > anaphylaxis (to things so minor it's incredible). I am on Xolair

as

> > well as a host of other meds including antihistamines and

Prednisone.

> > Now this new ENT kept talking about this new kind (more types I

guess)

> > of mold RAST skin testing, and doing this testing on me. When

the ENT

> > mentioned this I immediately said " um, no, " but this Doctor was

> > persistent that this type of testing would be a good thing.

> >

> > After running it by my allergist this week, he agrees with

me

> > (he actually got quite angry (protective of me, I think) at the

idea).

> > My allergist also said " Good for who? You're on the max dose of

> > Xolair, what can he add? " So at this point, I'm quite confused, I

> > trust my allergist (who I've seen for years) WAY more than this

new

> > ENT, and I know how bad an anaphylactic reaction can be (I've

almost

> > died more times than I can count), and at this point I would

flat out

> > refuse ANY allergy skin testing.

> >

> > Can anybody think of ANY reason why this ENT would want to

do

> > more skin testing? I am going to ask the ENT at my next

appointment,

> > but quite frankly at this point, even the suggestion of skin

testing

> > seems so dangerous that I am (and my allergist and my family,

even if

> > they're not saying it are all) beginning to wonder if this ENT

is the

> > doctor I should be seeing. I'm just looking for a fresh

perspective at

> > this point (ie: does this sound so absurd to all of you), any

help

> > would be greatly appreciated.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Meagan

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I'm sorry, I was more than a bit confused while writing my last

post. I got my allergy tests all jumbled up; this new ENT wants to do

allergy skin testing, and my allergist will only agree to RAST blood

testing. To answer your question , yes I do use a sinus rinse

(although I can't use it right now because with this latest sinus

infection, I have an ear infection also - and apparently you can't

rinse when you have an ear infection b/c your ears will explode or

something).

I have had an anaphylactic reaction to allergy shots (I managed

to freak out 2 dr's and a nurse with that one - I think I was the

calmest person in the room and I was on drugs lol). I do get a flu

vaccine every year, but not a pneumonia one, and I didn't know that it

protects against a strain of sinus infection too, I will def ask my

MD, thanks. A few years ago a dr. mentioned the idea of daily

antibiotics to help with the sinus issue, and I was on Ery-Tab

(erythromycin everyday, 3x day for a few years) for my lungs (my pulmo

said it kinda jump-started the Prednisone), and come to think of it I

didn't really have too many sinus flares while on it (I no longer am

on it though for various other reasons), and a daily antibiotic is

definitely better than this bouncing around with Vantin, Clinda,

Zithromax and now Levaquin - so I will ask my ENT and allergist about

a daily antibiotic. This group makes me think of options, thank you

all so much, I truly appreciate it.

Meagan

> > > Hi to all (and a Happy Holiday Weekend to all too!),

> > >

> > > For the past 2-3 months, I seemingly have and 1 continuous

> (except

> > > my Dr.'s say it has cleared up 3x) Sinus Infection. As you may

> know, I

> > > have had a difficult time locating an ENT who realizes what a

> problem

> > > like a sinus infection can mean for my asthma (I have tried and

> failed

> > > 3 ENTs and am now starting with a 4th). I had been seeing an ENT

> for

> > > about 10 years but her practice decided to not accept my

> insurance

> > > anymore. Anyway, this newest ENT specializes in 'allergic ENT,'

> so I

> > > figured he would be good. I have only actually seen him once,

> spoke to

> > > his nurse on the phone once, and have another appointment with

> him

> > > scheduled in 2 wks., this doctor kind of confused me, and I

> didn't

> > > totally understand what he was talking about until I was home (of

> > > course).

> > >

> > > I've had allergy testing multiple times, and my allergist

> says

> > > that I can't have skin testing anymore because of my high risk of

> > > anaphylaxis (to things so minor it's incredible). I am on Xolair

> as

> > > well as a host of other meds including antihistamines and

> Prednisone.

> > > Now this new ENT kept talking about this new kind (more types I

> guess)

> > > of mold RAST skin testing, and doing this testing on me. When

> the ENT

> > > mentioned this I immediately said " um, no, " but this Doctor was

> > > persistent that this type of testing would be a good thing.

> > >

> > > After running it by my allergist this week, he agrees with

> me

> > > (he actually got quite angry (protective of me, I think) at the

> idea).

> > > My allergist also said " Good for who? You're on the max dose of

> > > Xolair, what can he add? " So at this point, I'm quite confused, I

> > > trust my allergist (who I've seen for years) WAY more than this

> new

> > > ENT, and I know how bad an anaphylactic reaction can be (I've

> almost

> > > died more times than I can count), and at this point I would

> flat out

> > > refuse ANY allergy skin testing.

> > >

> > > Can anybody think of ANY reason why this ENT would want to

> do

> > > more skin testing? I am going to ask the ENT at my next

> appointment,

> > > but quite frankly at this point, even the suggestion of skin

> testing

> > > seems so dangerous that I am (and my allergist and my family,

> even if

> > > they're not saying it are all) beginning to wonder if this ENT

> is the

> > > doctor I should be seeing. I'm just looking for a fresh

> perspective at

> > > this point (ie: does this sound so absurd to all of you), any

> help

> > > would be greatly appreciated.

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Meagan

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Meagan,

Your anaphylactic reaction to allergy shots is why your allergist

will only agree to the RAST blood tests. The skin testing could

cause you to have an anaphlactic reaction. It's rare, but given your

experience with the shots, it is a more likely event for you than

most.

Addy

> > > > Hi to all (and a Happy Holiday Weekend to all too!),

> > > >

> > > > For the past 2-3 months, I seemingly have and 1

continuous

> > (except

> > > > my Dr.'s say it has cleared up 3x) Sinus Infection. As you

may

> > know, I

> > > > have had a difficult time locating an ENT who realizes what a

> > problem

> > > > like a sinus infection can mean for my asthma (I have tried

and

> > failed

> > > > 3 ENTs and am now starting with a 4th). I had been seeing an

ENT

> > for

> > > > about 10 years but her practice decided to not accept my

> > insurance

> > > > anymore. Anyway, this newest ENT specializes in 'allergic

ENT,'

> > so I

> > > > figured he would be good. I have only actually seen him once,

> > spoke to

> > > > his nurse on the phone once, and have another appointment

with

> > him

> > > > scheduled in 2 wks., this doctor kind of confused me, and I

> > didn't

> > > > totally understand what he was talking about until I was home

(of

> > > > course).

> > > >

> > > > I've had allergy testing multiple times, and my

allergist

> > says

> > > > that I can't have skin testing anymore because of my high

risk of

> > > > anaphylaxis (to things so minor it's incredible). I am on

Xolair

> > as

> > > > well as a host of other meds including antihistamines and

> > Prednisone.

> > > > Now this new ENT kept talking about this new kind (more types

I

> > guess)

> > > > of mold RAST skin testing, and doing this testing on me. When

> > the ENT

> > > > mentioned this I immediately said " um, no, " but this Doctor

was

> > > > persistent that this type of testing would be a good thing.

> > > >

> > > > After running it by my allergist this week, he agrees

with

> > me

> > > > (he actually got quite angry (protective of me, I think) at

the

> > idea).

> > > > My allergist also said " Good for who? You're on the max dose

of

> > > > Xolair, what can he add? " So at this point, I'm quite

confused, I

> > > > trust my allergist (who I've seen for years) WAY more than

this

> > new

> > > > ENT, and I know how bad an anaphylactic reaction can be (I've

> > almost

> > > > died more times than I can count), and at this point I would

> > flat out

> > > > refuse ANY allergy skin testing.

> > > >

> > > > Can anybody think of ANY reason why this ENT would want

to

> > do

> > > > more skin testing? I am going to ask the ENT at my next

> > appointment,

> > > > but quite frankly at this point, even the suggestion of skin

> > testing

> > > > seems so dangerous that I am (and my allergist and my family,

> > even if

> > > > they're not saying it are all) beginning to wonder if this

ENT

> > is the

> > > > doctor I should be seeing. I'm just looking for a fresh

> > perspective at

> > > > this point (ie: does this sound so absurd to all of you), any

> > help

> > > > would be greatly appreciated.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > > Meagan

> > > >

> > >

> >

>