Allergy testing, seeing an allergist -- questions

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animalcrackers
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25 Aug 2014, 7:42 pm

What happens when you see an allergist? I have been referred for allergy testing (hopefully nothing else that I didn't understand...that happens sometimes).

What are allergy tests like? Do they just prick your skin with suspected allergens and wait a bit to see what happens and then either way you get to home?

Do they have to examine you?

What sort of questions do they ask you?


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trollcatman
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25 Aug 2014, 8:31 pm

I was tested as a kid around 20 years ago, so I don't know how it goes today, but this is what I remember: they prick the skin on your lower arm multiple times with some sort of metal clip, then put in different drops of fluids. Then I needed to wait a while to see if allergic reactions occured. If you are allergic to one or more (I think people are usually allergic to multiple things) then the that area becomes red and starts to itch. I had to sit still so the drops wouldn't pour over into another cut, but of course I failed so they had to re-do some of the tests on my other arm. Sitting still is probably easier for adults.
From what I've seen from some googling is that they can do it on the skin of the back as well. It can also be done by blood testing but that appears to be more expensive.
Anyway, it wasn't that bad, and this is coming from someone with a huge fear of hospitals and anything medical. One thing to keep in mind though: allergies can change over time. Since I've taken the allergy test some allergies have lessened and I've got some fresh new allergies.
They will probably ask why you came for the allergy test, since you probably know already that you allergic to something.



CockneyRebel
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25 Aug 2014, 10:48 pm

I've been thinking of getting allergy testing done for quite a while now. I want to know which things I'm allergic to, so I can adjust my diet accordingly.


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animalcrackers
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26 Aug 2014, 2:06 pm

trollcatman wrote:
I was tested as a kid around 20 years ago, so I don't know how it goes today, but this is what I remember: they prick the skin on your lower arm multiple times with some sort of metal clip, then put in different drops of fluids. Then I needed to wait a while to see if allergic reactions occured. If you are allergic to one or more (I think people are usually allergic to multiple things) then the that area becomes red and starts to itch. I had to sit still so the drops wouldn't pour over into another cut, but of course I failed so they had to re-do some of the tests on my other arm. Sitting still is probably easier for adults.
From what I've seen from some googling is that they can do it on the skin of the back as well. It can also be done by blood testing but that appears to be more expensive.
Anyway, it wasn't that bad, and this is coming from someone with a huge fear of hospitals and anything medical. One thing to keep in mind though: allergies can change over time. Since I've taken the allergy test some allergies have lessened and I've got some fresh new allergies.
They will probably ask why you came for the allergy test, since you probably know already that you allergic to something.


Thanks for responding! I am also terrified of doctors.


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animalcrackers
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26 Aug 2014, 2:10 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
I've been thinking of getting allergy testing done for quite a while now. I want to know which things I'm allergic to, so I can adjust my diet accordingly.


I had thought about allergy testing for a long time before I remembered to ask about it.


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