Question On Allergy Testing

[Gina]

Hello All,

 

I have a few questions on Allergy Testing. I had my son tested for environmental allergies (weeds,trees,molds etc.) That was done by a prick test on his back. (not a fun experience) I have decided to look into food allergies and I know that there is a few different kind. 1. Skin pricks, 2. IgE (Is that the same as RAST?)and 3. IgG. I think both IgE and IgG are both blood tests but I am not sure what the difference is between them. Does anyone know what that might be?

 

Thanks

Gina

[Claire]

IgE is immediate reaction (allergy)

IgG is delayed reaction (sensitivity)

 

 

Unfortunately, the two don't seem to overlap. IgG is closely aligned with tics--I recommend this one.

 

Claire

[Helen]

Claire,

 

I keep seeing IgG test for kids with tics. Is this a simple blood test that basically test on a lot of different kinds of food that one may be allergic of? My 6 yr old daughter has different types of tics on and off. She's seeing a pediatric neurologist but he didn't really have any suggestions in terms of food elimination or other testing other than EEG. I'd like to do some kind of test on her. Can I request for an IgG test done on my daughter from her regular pediatrician, her pediatric neurologist? Or do I have to bring her to see a differnt type of specialist? It seems like a lot of parents are bringing their kids to see environment doctors. I don't know where to find a good one. Any advice will be very helpful.

 

Helen

[Guest Guest]

Helen,

 

There are multiple ways to test for food sensitivities. Our doctor like the IgG blood test. Your mainstream doctors (pediatrician or neurologist) could indeed order the tests. A good lab that checks 120 or 150 foods for $300 is www.elisaact.com. It is just that many of those doctors don't believe in delayed food sensitivities (IgG) vs the more understood immediate allergic reaction (IgE). This is why we seek other doctors who specialize in looking at the immune system.

 

Many people here have gone to naturopaths and MD who are environmental or DAN doctors (lists on the thread at the top of the forum).

 

The remarkable thing is that a number of us have done this testing and treatment over the past year and our kids have turned out to have so many overlapping immune system issues. This type of doctor looks at the immune system and corrects imbalances through supplementation.

 

Insurance usually covers this, but these doctors are usually (not always) 'out of network'.

 

If you look at the newcomer's thread I started, you will see a list of common underlying issues that can be tested for and treated. Food sensitivities turn out to be very common on this board, but are only one part of the puzzle.

 

As for your TV question on the other thread, I would invest in an LCD TV (only 15") and see how much that helps. I would experiment with how much she can handle.

 

They are not more sensitive to screens when you take it away and reintroduce it. It is just that their baseline is lower so for some kids you can better identify the reaction. (This is similar to removing foods and then challenging with them). You are not taking it away permanently, just long enough to treat the immune system. My son can now watch unlimited TV/computer on an LCD screen (not that I let him), and he hasn't had a tic in over a year, and only a handful of times in the 2 years before that once we discovered the screens correlation. However, for a time, he had no screens at all. I think that was needed for him, but every child is different. And every parent manages this differently. Some just have the TV 'break' and transition their kids to board games and book tapes. I never felt my son was deprived, nor did he until near middle school, and by then we had healed his system well enough to tolerate it.

 

In early elementary, most kids don't even notice tics. Certainly by middle school the other children are more observant. I personally felt that the positive social aspects of no tics--a relaxed face and manner too--far outweighed the lifestyle change. I also think that it is much easier to change something in early elementary and that their immune systems heal quickly. I did find that our son's sensitivity to screens didn't decrease, if anything, they got worse with age. It wasn't until we healed the immune system that he got less sensitive.

 

If you read my Tv/computer thread, you will see that I recommend no screens for one week. After that you will know exactly what a difference it makes, and be better able to make your plans. I used to recommend multiple things at once, now I think one at a time is less disruptive to your child, and better allows you to assess the impact of each.

 

Good luck.

 

Claire

[Helen]

Claire,

 

Thanks for your reply. I didn't let my daughter watch any TV today but her tics seem to be worse than yesterday. I'm taking my daughter to her pediatric neurologist on Monday for the EEG test and I'll ask him re. the IgG test.

 

Thanks.

[Claire]

Helen,

 

Good luck with the doctor.

 

FYI, If you read my threads on this, it takes up to a full week to see the effect of no screens (not just no TV, some kids view computer or gameboy or big screen movies). For almost anything you will try, it takes more than a day to notice improvement. e.g. food elimination.

 

Claire