allergy testing

[mom2ck]

I want to get my son tested for allergies or intolerances. I know of the pin/scratch test. I am considering this but not sure how he will react as he is very sensitive to being hurt. However, I talked to another friend and she said her son did them as he has many environmental allergies and he described it as a little prick. He said it didn't hurt. Not sure.

Are there other tests. I have read about IgE and IgB I think. But again my friend said those won't give you good results as they show it differently. Didn't really understand it or ask too many questions as I was dealing with a sick daughter when we were talking.

My husbands cousin saw a chiro, I think, who did some sort of test by placing the item under the tongue and then having him try to lift his arm. She said when they did corn, his arm wouldn't move. He couldn't do anything. She said this isn't painful and done in Columbia, MO where they live. She said she would set up an appt if I wanted to make the 3 hour drive. It's a thought.

Plus, there is a blood test, right?

What do you recommend and can I get it done without a dr. or allergist?

[Caryn]

We did the ALCAT IgG test, which was a blood draw and measures delayed food intolerances. I believe it was two vials but only one needle (he just quickly changed tubes).

My son did not find it traumatic at age 4 but the experienced lab technician was very cagey about doing it from his own personal experience.

I don't have any experience with the tongue test. Tell me more about it as you get info, sounds interesting.

I have personally had the skin testing done (at the age of 22, and it was VERY uncomfortable for me-- and takes much longer than the blood draw). My back and arms erupted in major welts and I was very itchy afterwards. The skin tests are different than the IgG as they measure immediate histamine reactions. Some folks will test allergic on the IgG but not the IgE and vice versa. Some folks who have kids with tics see a benefit to using benadryl (which is an antihistamine, as you know), so there must be some merit to both tests. For us the IgG was the best test we did, as our son never had heavy metals and didn't need chelation. He simply had a severe case of gluten intolerance and corn allergy and suspected celiac. His symptoms slowly cleared up over time and now he maintains a tic free or very mild ticcing (after an exposure) that goes under the radar. He has no vocals and does not have multiple tics when he does get small exposures to his allergens. For example, he will just start a mild shoulder shrug that may occur a couple of times in the morning or at night for a couple of days and then it will subside. He is still very reactive to chemicals and so we keep him on the Feingold diet too (but we eat salicylates).

Hope this helps.

[mom2ck]

After searching on the internet last night, I found out the test my cousin spoke about is some form of applied kinesiology where they see how the muscle reacts. I also read about A/Cert and NMT and NAET as well. But those are the treatment for allergies aren't they and not really the tests?

Thanks

Christy

[faith]

We have also used the Alcat test for food sensitivities. I think it is a good first step in exploring what your child might be reacting to, if you cannot figure it out absolutely yourself. We did this about two years ago, and while I did feel it helped initially, it is a little hard to keep some things out absolutely, especially when it is big ticket items like wheat/gluten and corn. But eliminating corn and especially things with high fructose corn syrup helped alot. With us, there are other sensitivities and it has been an up and down game, but I still think this type testing is a good tool to help get a handle on that part. Also an environmental testing with an allergist or DAN doctor is good too. I think muscle testing with kinesiologist is probably just as good a tool as any other, but your own testing and experimentation with elimination of the offenders will be the real proof in the pudding. NAET is a lengthy and expensive endeavor, so that is a good step for those who need more after not having success in other ways. I believe my son has alot of things that he is intolerant to, and am currently looking into NAET. I'll give feedback once I get some.

 

Faith