Hi ho, hi ho, it's off for allergy testing we go...

Some time ago I posted about DD's poo and how I thought they were not normal. She has constant runny, horrid, nasty, stinky poos. We've seen a paediatric dietician three times now - the first time we realised we were feeding her far too much fruit and dairy, so we adjusted that and went back after a month. We saw an immediate improvement so on our second visit we said all good and we'd only go back if things deteriorated.

They deteriorated.

Went back today - based on her diet, dietician thinks she has some allergies going on. So we need to get a referral to an allergist for testing.

So - what does that entail? Can anyone advise?

And what's the likely cost??

not 100% sure in your case but my DD1 had an allergy to egg when she was little. came up as a rash and swelling and hives so it didnt affect her poo. they did a skin ***** p rick test for her. had to see an immunologist. we paid for it so we didnt have to go on the public waiting list. from memory it was more than 100 but less than 200 and got to claim some back on medicare. the initial appointment cost more than the subsequent yearly ones. hth.

A referral to an allergist if you are going private. It cost around $280 for the initial appointment with all the skin testing as well. It was very long appt. As you see the specialist, then usually wait for the nurse for the testing and then have to wait for the reaction (they do quite a few on the back if they are little) and then back to the nurse and then back to the specialist all in one go. So allow a good couple of hours.
If you go public, you could have a long wait depending on the severity of the allergy and how the GP or dietitian wrote the referral.
Some specialists ask you to fax the referral first then will call you to make an appointment so they can determine how urgently you need to see them.
It can take up to 6mths sometimes longer to see these rare as hens teeth paediatric allergists.

Thanks Hollo! Less than 200 is ok... Off to the GP tomorrow, will ask her how much it may cost.

ETA - thanks Heather. Hmm... Doesn't sound like it'll be a fantastic experience for her! If it's just constant runny poo, would they see her as an urgent case? Probably not... When comparing with aniphylactic (sp?) type reactions...

DD paed and allergy testing was around $370 but we only paid around $35 as we'd reached our medicare threshold

Thanks olive...

depends with the cost - we had DS referred due to eczema and we didn't have to pay (only 2 pead allergy people in Adelaide), had to wait about 5 months from initial phone call by me for the appointment. SIL had to wait 6mths for her DS to get tested at the same place.

DS had the pr icks on his back about 20 from memory. Took about an hour for the testing & about 1/2 of consultation with allergy specialist either side of the testing - we got to do it all on the one day.

Ours was over $300 I can't remember how much we got back. We went privately and waited couple months I think for an appt.
I think alot places see how serious the allergy is and base an appt on that.

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Thanks Hollo! Less than 200 is ok... Off to the GP tomorrow, will ask her how much it may cost.

ETA - thanks Heather. Hmm... Doesn't sound like it'll be a fantastic experience for her! If it's just constant runny poo, would they see her as an urgent case?

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It's possible they would as she would be losing alot of nourishment with food going straight through her. Is she having trouble gaining weight? I would think that these things together would be considered urgent.
My DS2 has a dairy intolerance. I had stupidly weaned before finding out and then he would not take soy formula, he was 10mths old. So I had to resort to plain soy milk and soy products. They took that as urgent due to him not taking any formula.

Good luck OP.

Good luck hon. I had skin pr!ck allergy testing several years ago and despite it being a lengthy process (to diagnose and treat my allergies) it was so worth it.

I wonder if anyone will test a stool sample from your DD. I may be wrong but I thought stool samples could provide a lot on information :dunno:

Well the GP had a look today and doesn't think it's allergies! She has no other symptoms - no asthma, eczema, anything, Heather that includes weight - she's still gaining weight.

So we've got a referral to a general paediatrician to see what she thinks...

Still no answers :wall:

The other thing to consider is coeliacs, does she complain of tummy soreness? I think this is usually hereditary and also can be very hard to diagnose without having the gut lining checked (thinks that's what they do).
Alot of people don't get a full diagnosis of this until really late.
Have you considered taking her to a Naturopath?

Nooooooo Heather don't say that... My mum has coeliacs and she keeps saying "get her tested for coeliacs, get her tested for coeliacs!" I mentioned it to the GP and the pediatrician will take it into account I guess...

Hadn't thought about a naturopath. Maybe we'll give that a go...

Definately get that looked into then, I've seen with people I work with alot of family also have.

she has her stools tested??

No olive no one talked about testing stools... maybe the paed will?? We're seeing her in a week or so from memory.

Mum's pushing for coeliac testing...

I just read an article in this months Melbourne's Child Magazine (April issue). It's in the Diversity part where a mother talks about her daughter's mysterious tummy pains, lots of wind, runny poo. They eventually have her tested for fructose malabsorption after coeliac's is ruled out. It's a simple hydrogen breath test. If you can get your hands on a copy it's on page 38 and see what you think.

astrolady's DS has fructose malabsorption

Thanks Heather, you are seriously a wealth of info. My mum was tested for fructose, lactose and lactase malabsorption via breath test as I think someone else mentioned, malabsorption often goes hand in hand with coeliacs. She came back all clear which was fortunate as then she'd basically have to live on air :rofl:

We're seeing the paed tomorrow week so I will bring all these up.

Thanks again ladies!

GL with the paed tomorrow week. Just letting you know that we went through skin***** testing with my DS - initially through RCH allergy clinic (because picked up quite young, so only waited 3 months) but after a few years through them we've switched to Dr David Cutting in Lilydale (practices also at RCH once a week and at Box Hill too) - so if you feel you're getting no joy where you go, that's another option. While it can be a fair wait to get an appointment (2-3 months) usually if you ask to be put on the cancellation list, you always seem to get in earlier, I know both Tanstar & I did get in on cancellations. Basically I left RCH cos while it was free and very good expertise, I got sick of the stressful 1/2 day expedition required to do testing at RCH, when Dr Cutting did the same thing in a 45 minute appointment! Worth the money IMHO! In our case DS did have hives/ezcema/snuffy etc and has egg & treenut allergies.

Also, if you ended up looking into the coeliac & possible malabsorption issues, I also have fructose malabsorption myself, and did the hydrogen breath testing too - dunno if I'd be much help, but happy to answer any questions if you're looking in that direction. I know a friend of mine who's little bub has very explosive green poops (all the time) recently did stool testing through her GP looking at potential lactose issues, so that might be an option for you to consider too.

All the best with it!

Just thought I'd update...

Thanks belfie for the info. Fortunately the paed doesn't think we need to go down the allergy testing path - yay - so I won't need to look for a specialist! Or subject DD to the ***** tests.

The paed thinks that she just has a very fast metabolism and as a result she gets worse "toddler diarrhea" than the average child.

She has no other symptoms - she is happy, healthy and consistent in her weight. She doesn't double over in pain when she eats so the paed doesn't think coeliacs is likely but based on our family history and the fact that my mum was an undiagnosed coeliac, pretty much asymptomatic (is that the right word - she basically had no symptoms of coeliacs), she has given me a form to get a BT if I want to.

She doesn't think it's likely - but if I want to check it I can. She said she'll also check iron, vitamin D and some other things when we do the BT to make sure all her levels are what they are supposed to be.

I think I'll get the BT done - I don't want her to end up like mum, who is now suffering some pretty severe side affects of her coeliacs because it was undiagnosed until she was in her 60s.