Question:

In article <3A419DF6.11F1F…@home.com>, Stuart Harris <stuarthar…@home.com> wrote: > Steve, > I’ve tested negative three different times – About a year ago I finally > started allergy shots anyway and they’ve made an incredible difference . > . . I only wish I had proceeded ten years ago after the first negative > test.

Hi Stuart,   Let me ask you the same thing I asked Steve: did you have intradermal tests as well as scratch tests? Steve says he had negative scratch tests on two occasions, but does not tell us if he had complete skin testing.    Larry —

Response:

On Thu, 21 Dec 2000 05:05:36 GMT, Stuart Harris <stuarthar…@home.com> wrote: >Steve, >I’ve tested negative three different times – About a year ago I finally >started allergy shots anyway and they’ve made an incredible difference . >. . I only wish I had proceeded ten years ago after the first negative >test.

Are there really "standard" allergy shots – what would be in them?  

Response:

"Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:[email protected]… > On Thu, 21 Dec 2000 05:05:36 GMT, Stuart Harris <stuarthar…@home.com> wrote: > Are there really "standard" allergy shots – what would be in them?

Allergy serum typically contains the allergens that you tested positive for during the skin test(s).  I don’t know what you mean by "standard" since everyone reacts differently to any given series of allergens. The allergist normally evaluates the degree of swelling from each allergen tested on the skin and uses that parameter to determine the severity of the allergy to that particular allergen and if it should be included in the serum.  The purpose of allergy shots is to gradually desensitize your body to the substance(s) that you are allergic to.  You start at a very small dose and eventually build up to maintenance in time for the corresponding allergy season. Michael M

Response:

On Thu, 21 Dec 2000 09:50:58 GMT, "Michael Muloin" <mmul…@home.com> wrote: >"Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message >news:[email protected]… >> On Thu, 21 Dec 2000 05:05:36 GMT, Stuart Harris <stuarthar…@home.com> >wrote: >> Are there really "standard" allergy shots – what would be in them? >Allergy serum typically contains the allergens that you tested positive for >during the skin test(s).  I don’t know what you mean by "standard" since >everyone reacts differently to any given series of allergens.

I agree.  It was the original poster who referred to taking "standard allergy shots"  even in the absence of positive skin tests and I was basically making the same point you make.  You do make it more fully though. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->The allergist normally evaluates the degree of swelling from each allergen >tested on the skin and uses that parameter to determine the severity of the >allergy to that particular allergen and if it should be included in the >serum.  The purpose of allergy shots is to gradually desensitize your body >to the substance(s) that you are allergic to.  You start at a very small >dose and eventually build up to maintenance in time for the corresponding >allergy season. >Michael M

Response:

Steve, I’ve tested negative three different times – About a year ago I finally started allergy shots anyway and they’ve made an incredible difference . . . I only wish I had proceeded ten years ago after the first negative test. My doctor says that about half the people that have symptoms but test negative get relief from allergy shots.  Says he was appalled as an intern when the doctor he was working with would "fudge" the tests so he’d be able to proceed with shots if he felt they would help . . . then was amazed that most people seemed to get better after testing negative. Regards, Stuart – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Steven D. Litvintchouk" wrote: > I have all the symptoms of mold allergy.  Every time we get a thaw here > in Massachusetts, I start sneezing repeatedly–my asthma cough acts up > too.  I’ve been sneezing all day ever since the thaw started–but I’m > sure it doesn’t feel like a cold.  I know from my own experience that > mildew makes me cough too. > I had recently seen my ENT (otolaryngologist) for sinus trouble.  He is > CONVINCED I do have > allergies, because of what he called my "hypersensitive and > hypersecretory mucosa" that he viewed thru his nasal endoscope. > But I had the skin scratch tests for allergy–twice.  And each time, the > tests were negative.  (Except for a "very slight" reaction to Alternaria > that my allergist said was insignificant.) > How can this be?  Has anyone else had allergies even though the skin > tests were negative?  Any ideas would be most appreciated!  TIA! > — > Steven D. Litvintchouk > Email:  s…@mitre.org > Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed > herein > are not those of my employer.

Response:

If you’ve taken antihistamines within 5-7 days of the testing, you’ll get false negatives. My allergist makes you stay off of them for this time.

Response:

In article <16337-3A3D6212-…@bsg-storefull-1112.public.svc.webtv.net>, js…@webtv.net (J Slkw) wrote: > If you’ve taken antihistamines within 5-7 days of the testing, you’ll > get false negatives. My allergist makes you stay off of them for this > time.

This is a good general guideline, though a bit absolute. Since a positive skin test is a miniature of the whole-body allergic reaction we can expect that if antihistamines have completely suppressed all symptoms, they will suppress the skin tests to the same degree. If one is taking antihistamines, yet continuing to have symptoms, it is likely that skin tests will not be completely suppressed. I have often heard that people cannot be tested during their active allergy season, when they find it a necessity to take frequent antihistamines; this is not so.    Larry —

Response:

I have negative skin and blood tests too, but each spring I sneeze and my sinus infections become more frequent. My GP says from her experience she thinks lots of people have allergies that don’t show up in skin tests, but the ENT doesn’t have much to say about this! Like you, I did show up a small (and delayed) reaction to a mould (Fusarium?), but it was one that is not supposed to be common around here. However, I guess all of this tends to support the Mayo Clinic theory that we are locally allergic to moulds residing in our noses. I am hoping to persuade my ENT to do a biopsy. Ann In article <3A3D0F2C.3B181…@mitre.org>,   "Steven D. Litvintchouk" <s…@mitre.org> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have all the symptoms of mold allergy.  Every time we get a thaw here > in Massachusetts, I start sneezing repeatedly–my asthma cough acts up > too.  I’ve been sneezing all day ever since the thaw started–but I’m > sure it doesn’t feel like a cold.  I know from my own experience that > mildew makes me cough too. > I had recently seen my ENT (otolaryngologist) for sinus trouble.  He is > CONVINCED I do have > allergies, because of what he called my "hypersensitive and > hypersecretory mucosa" that he viewed thru his nasal endoscope. > But I had the skin scratch tests for allergy–twice.  And each time, the > tests were negative.  (Except for a "very slight" reaction to Alternaria > that my allergist said was insignificant.) > How can this be?  Has anyone else had allergies even though the skin > tests were negative?  Any ideas would be most appreciated!  TIA! > — > Steven D. Litvintchouk > Email:  s…@mitre.org > Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed > herein > are not those of my employer.

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Response:

I have all the symptoms of mold allergy.  Every time we get a thaw here in Massachusetts, I start sneezing repeatedly–my asthma cough acts up too.  I’ve been sneezing all day ever since the thaw started–but I’m sure it doesn’t feel like a cold.  I know from my own experience that mildew makes me cough too. I had recently seen my ENT (otolaryngologist) for sinus trouble.  He is CONVINCED I do have allergies, because of what he called my "hypersensitive and hypersecretory mucosa" that he viewed thru his nasal endoscope. But I had the skin scratch tests for allergy–twice.  And each time, the tests were negative.  (Except for a "very slight" reaction to Alternaria that my allergist said was insignificant.) How can this be?  Has anyone else had allergies even though the skin tests were negative?  Any ideas would be most appreciated!  TIA! — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Email:  s…@mitre.org                 Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

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