Well now I'm on a research kick! Lol
I have an appointment to see an allergist in about 6 weeks. (In the mean time, I'll send off my Enterolab sample and get the results back before I go in).
My question to you all is this: what should I be asking an allergist? I mean, is it even worth going? I'm not finding much online to help me out. I think my doctor just referred me to shut me up! I am not reacting like I have allergies. My D has settled way down now that I have come off the cymbalta and cut out diary mostly along with the gluten. So, now I am second guessing myself. Should I go? What do I ask him? What tests should I be asking for? Thanks for the help!
Blood tests
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Stephanie
will going to the allergist cost you out of pocket?
most allergist use blood tests as a means of determining allergies - and this has not been effective for MC'ers that have gone done that path.
In my opinion the money could be better spent with other things like acupuncture, or kineisology muscle testing to test for triggers....
will going to the allergist cost you out of pocket?
most allergist use blood tests as a means of determining allergies - and this has not been effective for MC'ers that have gone done that path.
In my opinion the money could be better spent with other things like acupuncture, or kineisology muscle testing to test for triggers....
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
if going is no cost to you - then if you have the time go and listen to what they say....
My experience is the type of inflammation reactions MC'ers have to their triggers, and the inter-relationship with Mast Cells etc, Not many practitioners are familiar with this.
My experience is the type of inflammation reactions MC'ers have to their triggers, and the inter-relationship with Mast Cells etc, Not many practitioners are familiar with this.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Stephanie,
To add to what Gabes said, the antibodies that allergists are trained to detect and analyze/treat are IgE-based and IgG-based antibodies found in the skin and in the nasal passages, mouth, bronchial tubes, and esophagus. And of course they're familiar with the mast cell reactions triggered by those antibodies. IOW, they are familiar with the antibodies and mast cell reactions associated with classic allergy symptoms.
While a few of us here are also affected by reactions of this type (in addition to our gut reactions), unfortunately the antibodies that lead to the production of the T-cells that cause MC are found in our intestines, and antibodies and mast cells in the intestines are not even on the radar of most allergists.
That said, there are a handful of allergists and GI specialists who have received special training (mostly by Dr. Mariana Castells at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA) who do understand mast cells in the gut. Many of those experts are on our list of qualified specialists, but other than going by the list, the odds of encountering one of these experts in the real world are extremely slim. You can see the list I'm referring to here.
That said, it never hurts to be aware of any classic allergies, because allergies can make MC symptoms worse. So in that sense you might receive some benefit from a consultation with an allergist. Just don't expect any of the foods determined to be a problem by an allergist to be have a direct effect on your MC. And vice versa, don't assume that any foods declared to be safe for you by an allergist might actually be safe. Rely on your EnteroLab results instead, because they trump all other tests when it comes to MC.
Tex
To add to what Gabes said, the antibodies that allergists are trained to detect and analyze/treat are IgE-based and IgG-based antibodies found in the skin and in the nasal passages, mouth, bronchial tubes, and esophagus. And of course they're familiar with the mast cell reactions triggered by those antibodies. IOW, they are familiar with the antibodies and mast cell reactions associated with classic allergy symptoms.
While a few of us here are also affected by reactions of this type (in addition to our gut reactions), unfortunately the antibodies that lead to the production of the T-cells that cause MC are found in our intestines, and antibodies and mast cells in the intestines are not even on the radar of most allergists.
That said, there are a handful of allergists and GI specialists who have received special training (mostly by Dr. Mariana Castells at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA) who do understand mast cells in the gut. Many of those experts are on our list of qualified specialists, but other than going by the list, the odds of encountering one of these experts in the real world are extremely slim. You can see the list I'm referring to here.
That said, it never hurts to be aware of any classic allergies, because allergies can make MC symptoms worse. So in that sense you might receive some benefit from a consultation with an allergist. Just don't expect any of the foods determined to be a problem by an allergist to be have a direct effect on your MC. And vice versa, don't assume that any foods declared to be safe for you by an allergist might actually be safe. Rely on your EnteroLab results instead, because they trump all other tests when it comes to MC.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.