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.

[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?