Allergy symptoms but no allergy?

[Susan]

Last week I went to my doctor the second time this year because I was sure to be allergic to something. When I went the first time (in spring) my doctor wanted to wait until the "pollen season" is over. Since I still have the same symptoms now that it's winter I visited her the second time.
She tested my IgE, did a Prick-Test, an x-ray of my lung and auscultated it. I'm obviously not allergic.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be healthy.
But - I still wake up every morning with a running nose, itchy wet eyes and hurting lungs (my lung is ok on x-ray). It feels as if I had spend the night in an smoke-filled pub (which I haven't ;)) Sometimes I wake up in the night coughing and it won't stop over extended periods of time. The problem is especially annoying while doing sports, I can't breathe through my ever-running nose when running and sometimes have a hard time breathing when biking or swimming, because my lung somehow feels blocked.

My doctor had no explanation to this and I felt hypochondriac in the end (which I don't think I am, I visited the doctor the described two times in the last 5 or more years).

I am at a loss. While I AM happy to not be allergic, I would like to feel that way, too. :confused:

[Crankin]

Asthma?

[Susan]

Wouldn't this show in one of the examinations? Do the described symptoms fit Asthma?

[OakLeaf]

How many allergens did your doctor test you for? Did you do a symptom diary to try to choose which antigens to test? What about exercise-induced asthma?

You might try putting allergen-blocking covers on your mattress and pillows. Some of them aren't super expensive, and they rely on a high thread count plus a thin coating, rather than the thick crinkly noisy covers they used to have. It's made a big difference to me.

I would think any food allergies would've shown up on the serum IgE - which I think tends to have a lot more false positives than false negatives - but you might still try a challenge diet, as well.

If your doctor isn't an allergist, I think it's definitely worth seeing a specialist.

[Susan]

I can't tell exactly, the test was done on my forearm, I'd say about 20-something allergens. I think it was some kind of standard-test, because I didn't do a symptom diary or anything and she was using an adhesive tape with numbers on it to mark the spots for the according liquids she used to do the Prick-test (I want to say it looked like some kind of readymade "set" to test certain allergens).

The doctor is a medical specialist for lung-diseases and allergies.

I was thinking about using those bedcovers too. I just wasn't sure if it would make sense now that I'm officially tested as "non-allergic".

[indysteel]

Have you lived in your home for a long time? Has anything in your home or working environment changed? Beyond having allergies myself, I'm not an expert, but is it possible there's an environmental contaminant or irritant that's bothering you rather than an allergen?

[Eden]

It is also possible to have allergy like symptoms, especially a runny, stuffy nose without having an allergic reaction. It's called (creatively...) non allergic rhinitis - most of the same symptoms, just without an immune response. It has a number of causes from hormones to mechanical irritants.

more info here - http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/nonallergic-rhinitis

It is quite surprising that your allergy doc wouldn't know about this though...

[TsPoet]

Is your pillow (mattress/bedspread...) down? Feathers do it to me, and I don't have an 'allergy' to them.
Also, an irritant, so dog/cat hair or dust/dust mites all can be irritants... sterilize your bedroom.

[Desert Tortoise]

How about an air purifier with a HEPA filter? That and regular dusting helped me out a lot.

I know the dusting part sounds stupidly simple but I am not very good about dusting. Especially around the headboard area. I have a good gap between the headboard and mattress so dust collects down there. I vacuum that every few months and dust my bedroom regularly, plus use some of the allergen blocking things mentioned above.

I can always tell when I'm late on my cleaning by how I feel in the morning.;)

[indysteel]

Out of curiosity, are you taking ,or have you taken, any allergy meds? If so, do they provide any relief? Or have you tried something like a neti pot?

[withm]

If you have ever had any leaks in ceilings or at windows you probably have mold in the walls or in the attic. Mold can cause symptoms like this.

[Crankin]

Asthma can cause runny nose/itchy eyes. The reason I asked, is that allergies alone don't cause your lungs to hurt. You can have allergy induced asthma, as well as exercise induced asthma. You said a couple of things that raised my suspicions...
I have both, but maybe you should have a pulmonary function test, just to make sure. I rarely wheeze with asthma, just feel chest tightness, unless I am very sick, like with bronchitis. It took me awhile to et tis under control, and it's been years since it's bothered me.

[Susan]

Ok I'll try to answer all your questions :)

I have been living in my home for 10 years. Nothing has changed very much regarding my home or my workplace lately. I do however live in a city that is known for poor air quality.

My pillows/mattress etc. are quite new. I already try to keep my bedroom as clean and dust-free as possible. Before the Allergy test I was quite sure to be allergic to dust or dust-mites, and therefore tried to eliminate as much of the problematic stuff (old pillows, feathers, carpets etc.) as possible.
I will look into air purifiers. As far as I can tell they come in a very large price range, I will have to do a research on that matter.

Allergy meds: On my first visit, the doctor prescribed me a package of Anti-Histamin (I don't know if this is the correct english term for this kind of medication?) because she was quite sure that I was allergic to something. I took it for about one month and didn't notice any difference. I don't know what a "neti pot" is? :)

Crankin, I understand what you mean. I forgot to mention, that she did a pulmonary function test. She said that the values where "almost normal". I asked what she meant by "almost" and if they shouldn't be "perfectly" normal and she told me that I reached 100% in most aspects of the test and only one value was 80% instead of 100%, which shouldn't worry me.
But now I AM worried... she didn't seem to be incompetent and I had the feeling that I was throughoutly examined but now I wonder... shouldn't she herself bring up the possibility of Asthma or other possibilities that where mentioned here? Especially because I was telling her that I had problems while running, biking and swimming, which would fit "exercise induced Asthma" if I understand it right...

I'm not sure now how to proceed... maybe I should get another opinion. On the other hand I'm not sure if I am just overreacting because everything WAS tested and if a doctor thinks everything is ok, then maybe I should just leave it?
It just seems strange to me that she didn't even consider anything but an Allergy and after the test pretty much sent me away without doing anything. Hm.

[tulip]

It just seems strange to me that she didn't even consider anything but an Allergy and after the test pretty much sent me away without doing anything.

She's an allergist. It's like asking a surgeon for advice on a knee problem--he or she will automatically look to surgery first. It's just a matter of their training.

You might want to check with a doctor who takes a more holistic view. If you aren't satisfied, shop around and see what else you can find out.

[Blueberry]

Tulip has give you good advice.

You have symptoms but no cause. The doctor you saw doesn't have a cause within what she treats. Go to another doctor who may have other ideas about a cause. There might not be one, but I don't think you're to that point.

[indysteel]

A neti pot is basically a sinus irrigator or rinse. You essemtially pour warm salt water through one nostril (while leaning over a sink or in the shower) and it comes out the other. It helps clear your sinuses of congestion and irritants.

As for allergey meds, antihistamines do nothing but make me sleepy. They certainly do nothing for my allegries. So, I wouldn't assume much from the fact that they didn't help you.

That said; Tulip is right. It's time to tale a step back and approach the problem with a fresh perspective. Good luck!

[Crankin]

Go to a pulmonary specialist who specializes in asthma. They know about allergies, too...

[ny biker]

Go to a pulmonary specialist who specializes in asthma. They know about allergies, too...

I agree. There is often an allergy component to asthma, but not always.

[Susan]

Thanks for all your answers and advice.

I will look for another doc, at least if he/she also can't find anything wrong with me I'll have the reassurance of a second opinion.

[abejita]

I had the same experience. Couldn't breath through my nose, I could only sleep on one side at night or I couldn't breath. I also had to use nose spray all the time. I also had an allergy test done that showed only very mild allergies, nothing to warrant the reactions I was getting. Turns out that I had a deviated septum. I diagnosed it myself after my (ex) pcp had looked up my nose a million times and hadn't said a thing. I made an appt with an ENT and he confirmed what I had suspected. I had surgery to correct it and have had no problems since. Also, if antihistamines make you sleepy and are not giving you relief, try a steroid nose spray like flonase (Fluticasone) or rhinocort (budesonide) Before I had surgery, the rhinocort and netti pot type thing made breathing much easier.