Allergy testing for poorly teenager

[Susiwaa]

Hi all!

Been ages since I've had time to visit.

My daughter hasn't been keeping very well of late. She has a couple of days off of school at a time.

Her symptoms vary but the most recent, and new ones have been vomiting and a funky rash.

She suffers from regular tonsilitis and her skin isn't great (neither is mine!). She also has hayfever/dust/fur allergies the same as me.

Dr thinks she may be allergic to sunshine, causing the rash, but her reaction isn't severe enough or sudden enough for them to do any testing. The rash also appears if she uses "products" (have had the "stop using chemicals on your skin" conversation!)

So, does anyone know where I could take her to get some form or allergy testing, alternative/complementary advice on how to treat her symptoms? needs to be affordable too!

Any help or advice gratefully received as I'm exhausted with it and she has missed way too much of school this year

cheers!
Susi
x

[Annpan]

Hi Suzie

Grassroots in Glasgow (Charing cross) does allergy testing... or at least, I used to see posters up in the window for it, try giving them a phone? I think there is a specialist (a very expensive specialist) is based in Ayr I think.... I'll ask OH, his sister had some testing done there about 15 years ago.

I suffer badly in the sun, but am not allergic too it. It took me a long time to figure out that I have an allergy to garlic... maybe it is an allergy/intolerance to something else, have you tried keeping a food diary?

Seems a bit bonkers that the doctor won't test her to confirm his suspicions.... odd...


I heard that tomatoes can increase sensitivity to other allergies and my brother had some success with cutting out tomatoes for a while.... might be worth a try... if you are grasping at straws?

[Silver Ether]

I thought Doctors were supposed to have improved in the field ... they were rubbish 27 years ago .. both our kids suffer form all sort but fist born was really bad ... I took him to a hoemopath who was awesome ... I dont think he would have survived it it hadn't been for him ... Our wizard... thats the root I would look at but make sure you get some one who is fully qualified ... Good luck flower... can I ask is the rash red and worse for water?

[John Headstrong]

Hiya, Mrs Headstrong here.

Sounds like she is hyper-sensitive. Do her glands get swollen? (feel along under her jaw). If so, could be reacting to variuos things. Herbs could certainly be worth a shot - john says you are nearby, so you could pop up to see me in Fauldhouse (in our spanky new Community owned building!). Or look at National Institute of Medical Herbalists for a register of qualified herbalists (most of us do concessionary rates). They would take a full case history and hopefully help you make sense of what is going on.

Once you react to one thing, it's common to become sensitive to others. Try eliminating possible culprits one by one. When I had ME/Chronic fatigue, I reacted to anything, from petrol fumes to new furniture to someone walking by with lots of perfume on. Also look at diet.

Good luck!
Cath

[Susiwaa]

Thanks Guys!

Ann, I've suggested a food diary but have been met with the teenager attitude! hehe! She is (sporadically) writing thing symptoms down and I'm trying to keep track too.

Cath, yes her glands do flare up. I'll PM John with my contact details, we're just down the hill in East Whitburn. (Intrigued by this Community owned building btw!) Loki (the teenager) wasn't completely against the idea of popping up to see you so I'm taking that as a good thing!

TBH the Dr's don't always see the symptoms as it takes a few days to get an appointment and they get annoyed with me asking for an emergency one when she's really bad! So I guess they only go with what they see.


Susi

[Annpan]

This was the allergy specialist that my SIL went to see all them years ago.

http://www.jandevrieshealth.co.uk/clini ... _troon.asp

Sounds like a visit to Mrs Headstrong might be called for first though :)

[crowsashes]

with regards to the allergy flare ups. if its really bad and you cant get a drs appointment that day and have to wait, take a photo of it, a couple of shots as best you can so when you do go the dr can 'see' it rather than trying to get an idea of what it is from your explanation.

all rashes sound the same when described its only by seeing that a diagnosis can be made, which is unfortunate for your daughter as it dissapears too quickly.

i suffer from 'hives' a stress and/or allergy related rash. took months to get a diagnosis and even now im not offered an allergy test. i frequently get all over itching, usually from specific brands of washing powder when i go to other peoples houses. i had it for over a week first time and it didnt click till i changed back to my usual laundry liquid! anti-histamines and calamine cream till it all settled down!

i have other illneses which i believe are down to an allergy. but i guess im going to have to hassle the doctor some more for a while

[RamaCaida]

There is a simple blood test available that can detect food allergies. See a naturopath and ask for this test. I found out that I was sensitive to dairy products and eggs, and eliminating those from my diet improved my health. The same for my daughter, who discovered a sensitivity to gluten, a common thing among young people today. Hope this helps with your teenager.