Allergy Test & Follow-Ups - your experience

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

DD had her 12mth needles today and we agreed to do the allergy testing... i knew it was going to happen but she had a reaction to one of them.
I will get the results as to which product in 1-2wks, then we get a FREE follow-up with an allergy specialist... glad it's free, if we did it ourselves and got a Dr's referral would have cost over $300... CRAZY
I am assuming it's egg as she seemed to have a reaction last week..

Ok so what i want to know is who else has been through this, how long did it take for results and what should i ask at the specialist, are there certain things i should know before going?

Chances are we wont get in until Jan/Feb (great #2 will be here then.. fun fun fun) and it's about 4hrs at the Royal Childrens putting her through tests... poor girl.

So NO NEW FOODS for Ava until possibly Jan/Feb, she eats a wide range of things but she wont get the joys of peanut butter or nuttela just yet!

So glad we found out now...

Thanks in advance everyone!

[CrystalBoo]

4hrs sounds like a long time for testing. I think our whole specialist appointment was probably an hour, tops.
DD wasn't phased by her testing at all, btw.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks ladies, Ava HATED the pr!cktest today probably more than her needles, hers was done on her back.. poor little girl!

She had a reaction bigger than the control so thats the reason we are going for more tests

They said it can take up to 4 hrs as they do the pr!ck tests aswell as food testing where they get her to eat something and see what happens, and they give her more and more to see if the allergy is also with cooked foods etc... well thats what they said.

My poor little girl, first eczema, possibly asthma (not yet diagnosed but often has a weird sound at night kinda like the hyperventilation noise they make when they cry too long or loud) and now allergies... HMMM stupid genetics.

Thanks again, anything else i should be asking or watching for at the appt would be greatly appreciated.

[CrystalBoo]

Only thing I can think of (and they'll probably give you anyway) is if an Epipen is needed. Then you should make sure they give you a letter that you take with you if you ever travel on a plane that allows the epipen on board with you.

Also, there are lots of medical alert bracelets available, but I only found one small enough to fit my DD (then at 1yr, but even now at 2.5) They are silicone and you get them printed with whatever you want. I think the minimum number you can order is 10 but I wasted money on an engraved plate one and these are much better for a child IMO. If you need any, PM and I will try and find the details for you.

Good luck, hope none of the above is necessary for you.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks so much, hopefully there are no SEVERE allergies but if she does have an egg allergy i think a bracelet could still be good for when she's older and goes to kinder or childcare etc.
Just so they don't give her quiche etc. She seems ok with egg MIXED with things but the cooked egg on it's own she came out in rash/hives when i gave it to her so i am assuming it's the egg... well hopefully we find out next week then go to the hosp appt... hmm

[Nai]

DD1 had her allergy tests done at the RCH when she was 2.5 after eating peanuts and having a reaction.

Basically the drill is they will do an interview with you about the foods that she has had and what she has had a reaction to. Then they will send you downstairs for the pr!ck tests and they will do a whole lot on her back and measure them against the control. When they find out what she is allergic to they will do an allergy management plan and if required give you an epi-pen.

The waiting list for the RCH is generally about 10 months but as DD1 was a peanut allergy and we were heading off to Thailand 2 weeks after she had the reaction we got seen straight away.

They did a follow up appointment with her after 18 months so we had that done last week and found that her peanut allergy was worse and that she is also allergic to brazil nuts However her egg allergy is gone. She will be re-tested again in 12 months before she starts primary school.