allergy testing? Coping w/ no antihistamines?

[Becky]

A quick search here revealed that several folks have had allergy testing done. Maybe y'all can help me...

I have my testing scheduled for Wednesday, have been off the Zyrtec since Thursday night, and am absolutely miserable! I've been using my neti pot twice a day (it does help), those Breathe Right nose strips, and I broke down this morning and used some antihistamine eye drops before I clawed my eyes out.

Anything else I can try that won't interfere with the test? I don't want to go through this for nothing.... Help!

Also, what's the testing like? What can I expect?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[OakLeaf]

You can take Singulair, since it blocks leukotrine only, not histamine. Hopefully they'll call you in a scrip. That period of time before the test can be awful, but it's much better with Singulair.

My allergist does the testing on my upper arms; I think some practices still use the back (more space to work with but a bit more hassle for the patient). This is how they've done it for me for years. I don't know if other places do it differently.

A tiny amount of each allergen is injected just below the upper skin layers, you'll wait a few minutes, and then they'll look whether a wheal was raised, and if so, measure the size of it.

They'll start with a single injection of histamine just to make sure that you're reacting.

Then, they'll inject you with each of the allergens you're being tested for. (Hopefully you completed a history so that they know what your potential triggers are, but if you have symptoms in every season, it may be a very long list.) They'll write on your skin to identify the allergen and the concentration.

It's been a long time since my very first test, and I don't remember specifically, but have to guess that they start with the weakest dilution of each. (On a re-test, they start with the dilution that worked on the last test.) After you've been injected with everything, if you react to something at that concentration, IF there's a weaker dilution they'll try you with that (but as I said, with your first test, there may not be). If you don't react, or if you react very weakly, they'll try the next strongest dilution. They'll keep going until you've either gotten to the strongest dilution without a reaction, or until they find the dilution that gives you a wheal of a particular size. (I believe it's 6 mm, but not sure.) They'll go past that one dilution just to be sure. The whole thing will take 2-3 hours.

So you'll wind up with a matrix of prick marks, itchy wheals, and pen writing. You'll have to avoid heavy sweating or washing the area for 24 hours so the writing doesn't come off (that's why doing it on your back is more hassle ). You won't be allowed to put anything on the wheals to relieve the itching. The next day, you go back to the allergist's office so they can check the wheals and make sure you didn't have a delayed reaction to anything.

Once the testing is done you can have your first shot. They'll start at a very weak dilution of everything, and build you up gradually until you've reached your therapeutic dose of each allergen. After each shot, especially when they're building your dose, you'll have to wait around the office for about 20 minutes to make sure you don't have a severe reaction. My allergist's office does shots twice a week while I'm building my dose up (at a full dosage, it's every 5-7 days). Yours may limit you to once a week. How long it takes to build you up varies, but it's usually about 6 to 10 weeks.

Once you're on a stable dose, your allergist MAY let you give yourself your own shots. Not all of them do...but it makes the process WAY more convenient when you don't have to go to the office every week.

HTH. Good luck!

[Pax]

I had 140+ pricks, seems they tested me for everything they could think of. I remember that night as being pretty uncomfortable but after that it was fine. I ended up with shots, singulair, allergy pills, an inhaler, and a prescription nasal spray...stayed on all of that until I reached maintenance dose of my shot and now only use singulair and the shots.

Good luck with your testing, mine changed my life.

[Becky]

Thanks ladies! This is good info!

I am currently on Singulair, and that's keeping the wheezing down. Not doing much for the faucet nose, and itchy eyes and skin. Strangely enough, I'm feeling better now that I'm at work. I can only assume that I need to do a better job of cleaning the house!

I've been keeping notes like crazy these past few weeks about what seems to bother me, and they did send me a detailed form to complete. They failed to mention that whole "no showering for 24 hours before we reinspect you" thing....but I assumed that the night after the test would be awful. Good thing I kept my calendar clear for the day after. How long after testing before I can go back on an antihistamine?

Oak Leaf, how often do they re-do the testing (e.g., how many more times do I have to go through this )? Good info about self-administering shots. I'm hopeful that they'll let me do that- I'll make sure to ask.

I'm actually looking forward to having some answers about what triggers my symptoms and formulating a comprehensive plan of attack.

[OakLeaf]

I usually get re-tested every 2-4 years. Just whenever it doesn't seem like my shots are controlling my symptoms the way they should. Supposedly some people will reach a point where they can be on shots for about 2 years and then have 2 years where they don't need shots, but it's never worked that way for me. I think there was ONE allergen I didn't react to on my last test that I had reacted to before. But my level of sensitivity to different things definitely varies over the years, and that's why I get re-tested.

You can go back on your antihistamines as soon as they've checked your wheals for a delayed reaction.

+1 on changing my life!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Becky - all the best with the testing and trust you get some relief asap once done.
I haven't had testing done for years (I think I was about 11 or 12???) but my hayfever is always predictable and for years I ingested antihistimine tablets.

I did try a course of injections in the arm one year, and I also tried homeopathic alternatives - injections in the back and cream to rub on the face.

When pregnant I asked for a topical alternative and got eyedrops and nosesprays which occasionally needed "topping up" with tablets.

However, at 43years, I can safely say that I am "growing out of it". This season I have not needed to take any tablets, I have not had what I term as a "bad day" (where I don't venture outside at all). I am using nosespray and eyedrops, but I would say my biggest 'defence' against hayfever is sunglasses - I wear them all the time if outside - even if driving in the evening I wear non-dark glasses. Within about 15mins of not wearing my sunnies, I have itchy eyes and my nose is beginning to run.

Some days I forget to take my spray/drops, but wearing my sunnies all day means I have very little hayfever effects.

All the best... and to all of you with seasonal allergies, may you grow out of it soon