What to expect- first allergist appt

sapphiremom13

Hi ladies
I went ahead and made the allergist appointment after reading your advice. Our pedi is great and we have Epis but I'm concerned about my son's severe dairy allergy and going back to work. Also I want to discuss a few other concerns with him, etc.
So what can I expect at our initial appointment? DS will be almost 1 at appointment time. His last bw was at 3.5 mos which showed the allergy. TIA

LSU628

Our first appt for both kids the dr gathered history, and with DD she had to get the eczema cleared up first so they could read the test on her back. The second appt was when they did the skin testing.

sapphiremom13

Thanks. Does the skin testing hurt them? Can it be dangerous? I'm so worked up about this appointment for some reason!

EmR22

The skin testing can be irritating. I mean it's like a bunch of pokes in their back at once and then if they are allergic they get itchy as they swell up. It sucks waiting the time to see the reaction. After they measure and read the results they will clean it up so it isn't so itchy for them. It shouldn't be dangerous, but I guess if your LO had a major reaction to just the skin testing you are steps away from doc and nurses.

It is a possibility that they could do a blood test instead of a skin test. That way they can get a better level of exactly how allergic your LO is.

EmR22

EmR22 said:

The skin testing can be irritating. I mean it's like a bunch of pokes in their back at once and then if they are allergic they get itchy as they swell up. It sucks waiting the time to see the reaction. After they measure and read the results they will clean it up so it isn't so itchy for them. It shouldn't be dangerous, but I guess if your LO had a major reaction to just the skin testing you are steps away from doc and nurses.

It is a possibility that they could do a blood test instead of a skin test. That way they can get a better level of exactly how allergic your LO is.

We had the skin test with DS1 a few days after his 3rd bday.  It wouldn't have been that big of a deal (I had them stick me with one of the test pins, it really doesn't hurt) but they didn't tell him what they were going to do before the first scratches.  So then he freaked out.  I tried to verbally prep him as best I could, but I was initially told they wouldn't test at the first appt, and then they literally came in and stuck the control thing on his arm.  It was crazy.  So, cue total meltdown from the toddler.

It took DS1's skin patches weeks to clear up.  Weeks.  DS2 has his initial appointment with the allergist today (a different one, obviously!), and based on the prolonged irritation DS1 experienced, I'm simply requesting a CAP-RAST blood test rather than the scratch test.

Wow what a horrible experience for your DS1. I can't believe they just stuck it on him without prepping him -- especially when he's 3 and old enough to understand what is going on. Wise decision to go with the blood test for DS2. I like the blood test because I think it can give a more accurate level check and they can say x number for x allergy is more towards the anaphylactic range.

LSU628

RVASC811 said:

sapphiremom13 said:

Thanks. Does the skin testing hurt them? Can it be dangerous? I'm so worked up about this appointment for some reason!

The test is not dangerous, but it can be irritating. The hard part for me was keeping her contained without touching her back. She was about 8 months old at the time. I was totally freaked out about the appointment, and it turned out to be NBD. She was annoyed, but she really didn't even cry.

The one thing I would really encourage you to do is push for an epi pen if there are moderate to severe reactions.

If it puts your mind at ease, DD actually fell asleep during her skin test the first time we did it around 8-9 mo. I also recently had to have the full panel of foods tested and when they put the allergens on, it didn't hurt at all. I was kind of expecting a prick. It did start irritating me when my skin started reacting. It also sucked having to lay on my stomach for 20 minutes, although they never made either one of my kids lay on their bellies.

sapphiremom13

Thank you all so much! I hope it goes well on Monday!