I haven't done much reading on this yet -- according to my Dd's preliminary bloodwork, she has elevated IgE and other markers that indicate allergies of some kind. She was tested for the most common food allergies at the same time (wheat, dairy, egg, peanut, and shrimp, I believe) and they were all negative.
The reason she was having these tests done is because of regular recurring bouts of nausea and stomach pain that has no obvious cause. Every two to four weeks, for two to four days, she's completely out of commission. At this point, I - and our PCP - are thinking its probably abdominal migraines (and this pattern began with a doozy of a migraine this summer) but we are still in the process of testing to rule out everything else and waiting to see the GI dr. That is what her symptoms fit to a T, she's like a textbook case.
This positive result for allergies has kind of surprised me, as I thought that was something that we just had to rule out to move on to the next phase - I had no idea it would show anything there. And if it did, I assumed it would be a food allergy of some kind, even though a food log didn't really show anything there.
I just spoke to the nurse over the phone about the results, and honestly didn't even know what questions to ask. My first concern is that if her problem is NOT allergies then this is kind of a red herring that might mean that we pursue the wrong course of action for her.
I am not well versed in allergies, as it's not something I've dealt with. Are there allergies that cause symptoms like my Dd's? Wouldn't it be more consistent, and not these "flare ups" that last for a few days and then she's FINE for the few weeks in between bouts? I'd think that her exposure to whatever allergens was either more consistent than that, or more infrequent than that. And I'd assume that her allergic symptoms would be in reaction to contact with the allergen... but there's nothing she's coming into contact with before the bouts of vomiting and pain that she's not pretty much exposed to every day. We live fairly predictable lives.
I just find it confusing that she has markers for allergies in her blood, when she doesn't have any symptoms that match those in my life who do have allergies. The people I know who have stomach problems from allergies, are allergic to one or more foods. Perhaps that's just my limited experience. I'm hoping someone here can shed light for me? Are there false positives with this kind of test, is it simply a screen that says "investigate more" but gives no real, definitive info? Do some allergies work this way, with sporadic, acute, life-altering episodes and zero symptoms other times?
We're going to be also seeing an allergist now, in addition to the GI specialist. But in the meantime... any thoughts from those who know a lot more about this than I do?
The reason she was having these tests done is because of regular recurring bouts of nausea and stomach pain that has no obvious cause. Every two to four weeks, for two to four days, she's completely out of commission. At this point, I - and our PCP - are thinking its probably abdominal migraines (and this pattern began with a doozy of a migraine this summer) but we are still in the process of testing to rule out everything else and waiting to see the GI dr. That is what her symptoms fit to a T, she's like a textbook case.
This positive result for allergies has kind of surprised me, as I thought that was something that we just had to rule out to move on to the next phase - I had no idea it would show anything there. And if it did, I assumed it would be a food allergy of some kind, even though a food log didn't really show anything there.
I just spoke to the nurse over the phone about the results, and honestly didn't even know what questions to ask. My first concern is that if her problem is NOT allergies then this is kind of a red herring that might mean that we pursue the wrong course of action for her.
I am not well versed in allergies, as it's not something I've dealt with. Are there allergies that cause symptoms like my Dd's? Wouldn't it be more consistent, and not these "flare ups" that last for a few days and then she's FINE for the few weeks in between bouts? I'd think that her exposure to whatever allergens was either more consistent than that, or more infrequent than that. And I'd assume that her allergic symptoms would be in reaction to contact with the allergen... but there's nothing she's coming into contact with before the bouts of vomiting and pain that she's not pretty much exposed to every day. We live fairly predictable lives.
I just find it confusing that she has markers for allergies in her blood, when she doesn't have any symptoms that match those in my life who do have allergies. The people I know who have stomach problems from allergies, are allergic to one or more foods. Perhaps that's just my limited experience. I'm hoping someone here can shed light for me? Are there false positives with this kind of test, is it simply a screen that says "investigate more" but gives no real, definitive info? Do some allergies work this way, with sporadic, acute, life-altering episodes and zero symptoms other times?
We're going to be also seeing an allergist now, in addition to the GI specialist. But in the meantime... any thoughts from those who know a lot more about this than I do?
