It was quite an interesting test/experience. The tech had a box of 80 oils; each one containing one form of allergen. She dipped panels of "needles" (10 needles per panel, 8 panels) into the oils and placed them on my back. This isn't the same panel she used, but you get the gist.
It took her about 10 minutes to place the 8 panels on my back, and then I had to wait about 20 minutes for them to do their thing. The first one started to do its thing almost immediately as she saw a reaction starting right after placing the first set of needles. There was nothing painful about the test however it was a long time to lie there without moving (and tipping the needle panels over), especially after the reactions started and things got slightly itchy. She came back in twice to check on me and then again to read the results.
The little dots that are just dots show where the allergen was placed, but do not show a reaction. For example, the very last panel (bottom left in this picture) shows little to no reaction. Anywhere that has a blotch or red that goes beyond that little dot shows a reaction. The tech noted each one and the level of reaction.
The reactions are rated from 7-13, with 7 being a reaction but the lowest and 13 being the highest. The results showed that I am allergic to 49 out of the 80 allergens tested. No foods, some animals (including some reaction to dogs), but the reactions I had most were to trees and grasses. So while I'm thrilled I don't have to stop eating cheese (I was worried about dairy being a culprit) or give my dog away, the bad news is I have no control over environmental allergens as they are everywhere.
I feel for you! I am so lucky that I have light seasonal allergies.
ReplyDeleteThanks. That's what I've been used to most of my life. An annoyance more than anything. She said that allergies can get worse as one gets older, which would seem to be my circumstance.
DeleteWhen I was in my early teens, they gave me one of those tests and it showed that I was allergic to about a dozen things including dust, feathers, grass, etc. Living on a farm where we raised chickens, one would have thought I wouldn't be able to survive but I have gone over three decades since that test and really don't show any signs of allergies. I also haven't done anything special in my life to avoid those things that I am supposedly allergic too as well. I now think what they did all those years ago was not accurate at all. I'm sure things have improved greatly since then and I hope you are able to use your results to your advantage but trees and grasses will be hard to avoid. Perhaps head for the desert?
ReplyDeleteYa know, it's funny as I was very similar as a kid. And I was told, "You'll probably just grow out of them." And I think that that I did. I had a lot of years as an adult that I didn't deal with them. But they reared their ugly head in the last few years, this year being THE WORST. Whether or not they are the same or new ones, I'll never know. I don't know how different the test is compared to what it was, but I've been reading about it, and it's quite interesting. The "solution", which I will post about next time, is quite interesting too.
DeleteInteresting and I appreciated the visual of your back and the explanation of the results. I never really knew how this was done.
ReplyDeleteI never had allergy (or sinus) problems as a child, but both (allergy in particular) surfaced as an adult and have gotten worse with time. I can guess that most of mine are trees/pollens and grasses, so there's really not much I can do about it beyond what I already do.
I'm glad you don't have to find a new home for Rigby!!
Boy, you aren't kidding. I was very worried about Rigby and cheese being the culprit.
DeleteAs I mentioned above, the doctor did say that as one gets older they can get bad. The environmental ones are the hardest because they are everywhere. When I asked if I needed to check that I didn't have any of these types of plants in my yard, she chuckled because even if I didn't have them in my yard my neighbor might, or the people down the street might, etc. You can't really get away from them. After hearing about the allergy testing, many of my friends said that going out the of the country might be good, just to get away from it. Funnily enough, Scotland has A LOT of grass and A LOT of trees, and I blew my nose constantly for 2 whole weeks. Literally, I can not get away from them. :)
I will share the "solution" in the next post.
It may seem nuts but if you can do that test a few times. You see I think things like your dislike of fish has a basis in an allergy. And I think all that's going on this year is your capacity to withstand was overcome. Or to put it another way, your tank is almost full all the time and this year sent it spilling over the top.
ReplyDeleteBut at least you have a doctor that's willing to help.
If your insurance will cover it you might go to a dietitian, and do some exclusions. It might well be that something basic isn't in itself causing the problem but in combination might be very toxic.
What do all the numbers mean.
DeleteYes, I do like this doctor a lot. I'll post more about what I'm doing about the allergies in another post.
DeleteThe numbers on the report? Those are the items I'm allergic to. I believe it's the length or size of the reaction -7 being the smallest but still a reaction and 13 being the most reaction.
I've always found these tests so interesting. I'm fortunate in that I don't have many allergies, but I like with someone who does, so I definitely understand!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a very interesting process for sure. A lot of time to get there, but now at least I feel like relief is on the way! :)
DeleteReally interesting. I was told I had allergies as a child and chronic sinus problems. And what do you know, when my parents finally quit smoking when I was in high school, it all got better! No wonder I coughed and hacked all the time!
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion about a dietitian, or a nutritionist, might not be a bad idea. I'm
not much on chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. but I do think there's something to be said for holistic medicine. Even if you're not allergic to a food as such, I understand giving up certain foods like sugar, wheat and dairy for only a period of time -- not permanently -- can give your body the chance to heal itself. (Kind of like the "Whole 30" plan).
Glad you are better!
That's funny you mention that. My mom forbade my dad to smoke in our new house when I was maybe in the 4th grade, saying that everything smelling of smoke couldn't be good for my allergies. I don't remember if allergies were impacted, but I had far less asthma related issues after that.
DeleteSmoke is so rare here these days, that when I'm around it I can really tell the havoc it wreaks on my sinuses.
Grass and trees make my eyes so sore too! I am glad you are feeling better!
ReplyDelete