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[Mbrown001]

Tempest...I know you have issues.

A friend has suggested that when my daughter recovers from her allergic reaction that I take her to the GP and ask for a referral for allergy testing.
I totally agree with what she is suggesting.

My DD is lactose intolerant. She recently reacted to an eyebrow and upper lip wax....really bad spots and extreme itching.
She is allergic to Kiwi fruits too.

I think things are getting worse for her.

Despite her being 22 I know if she goes to the GP she won't be able to suggest or perhaps insist on further testing. We have the photos so that should help. I will go in with her as she is happy with that and am more than happy to ask for whatever is appropriate.

What should I ask for...dermatologist or immunologist. I know we will have to wait.

I think up till now with this latest dreadful reaction we have been very lucky. She could have landed in hospital. Her whole face has been like a football with her eyes like slits..
We need to find out what had caused this and why her mild allergies are getting so much worse.

Totally daft question. She has recently come off the mini pill as it was making her feel grim...

Any connection.

All thoughts and opinions appreciated....

Mrs Brown

[getting_old]

I have a number of allergies including a few food ones but have never been tested. A friend's daughter was recently tested and they discovered she was allergic to gluten and a number of other things. Interestingly she's around the same age as your daughter and had previously been fine with most of the foods (however her mother can't have gluten so she's never had much). I think she went to an immunologist, however from what my friend said all of the allergies they diagnosed are food related.

[nearly50]

Could ask to be referred here maybe?
http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/patients-and-visitors/main-hospital-sites/gartnavel-campus/nhs-centre-for-integrative-care/nhs-centre-for-integrative-care-therapies/allergy-service/

This information is from NHS England but shows what they might test for
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Allergies/Pages/Whichallergytest.aspx

[Annie0710]

I suffered my first anaphylaxis at 21.  Drs assumed it was fish allergy because I'd had tuna that day but a few weeks later I was back in A&E after blowing up balloons, then after eating a dime bar, then after eating bananas/kiwi fruit/passion fruit.  It was getting ridiculous as I was in A&E so often.  Then I reacted to a Chinese takeaway so I went through my gp, she researched and concluded it was latex along with cross allergens and MSG

I only took antihistamines in those days but the anaphylactic reactions were getting more frequent and after a really bad one in Gt Yarmouth the A&E dr there said I need an epipen on me at all times, still no referral.  At 45 I developed allergy induced asthma and the nurse sent me for allergy testing.  The results were shocking, the only one that didn't react was peanuts ! The consultant said I had to carry 2 epipens at all times

My allergies have got worse, it's always been penicillin but it's tipping into other antibiotics too now

I was told there isn't that many allergy clinics about in the NHS not sure how true that is but I think it's important to find out what causes them.  For me more seem to be added to my list each time, I get reactions most days but they're copable unlike the anaphylactic ones x

[Mbrown001]

Thanks all.

The Gartnavel one is probably our nearest.
Thank you nearly 50 for that.
Definately going to ask as this has been beyond a normal reaction to a topical skin cream.

She actually says she feels a little better tonight. Forehead less swollen and cheeks less tight. Eyes are still an issue.

Gosh ladies....I never appreciated how awful a true allergic reaction could be and I so feel for those who suffer from this.

Thank you all for listening to me ramble but it's been a scary time.

Mrs Brown

[cubagirl]

Something which needs to be seen to. Heaven forbid she has an even worse reaction next time.

Think it was Gartnavel my brother went to many moons ago for testing. However, he already knew about fish. Airways etc swell with that. He had a reaction in last couple of years, not directly from fish but because his food had been touched with same utensils. Yet they still won't issue him with an Epipen.

Good your daughter is happy for you to accompany her, photographic evidence is essential to get your point across.

[Dorothy]

I think it depends which clinic you go to as to what service you get.  In my late 20s, I had a severe reaction to an alcohol based hand sanitizer.  At the same time, my cousin, who is 10 years younger, had a reaction to a similar product.  We ended up at different allergy clinics.  He was given multiple epipens so he could keep one at work, home, car etc.  I was told that if it hadn't killed me by my late 20s, I 'probably' wouldn't die from it in future, but I should try to avoid hand sanitizers...  Don't be afraid to push if they don't take the problem seriously.  I wish I had been more pushy back then.

[Elizabethrose]

I absolutely agree she should get it checked out properly Mrs B, you cannot mess with allergies. My son saw a young lad die because he had a reaction and wasn't carrying his Epipen. Annie I feel terrible for you, how the heck do you manage with all of those allergies? Jeez as if you haven't got enough to contend with.

Both my daughter and I had thorough checks done at the Old Brompton Hosp in Chelsea. Bloods tested and also skin pricks. Daughter was also admitted and given tolerance tests. Both of us became more allergic in our late teens, though she had a super reaction to something when she was very young swelling up like your lass. She is now super allergic to cashew nuts, pistachios and pine nuts, which is difficult as cashews are cheap and used commercially in lots of prepared foods in place of other nuts which she doesn't react to. She carries meds and has epipens but doesn't carry the wretched things, big bone of contention! We are both reactive to many many things, I certainly became more allergic when I hit peri so hormones definitely have something to do with it.

I don't remember which specialism we saw, I think immunology. Definitely insist forcefully for investigation but do your homework first and find the best specialist in your area. Hopefully she'll feel much easier in the morning. Piriton usually works well. x

[Annie0710]

ER I have got used to them I guess, the silly lip swelling/hives ones are more annoying than anything else.  I've also developed dermatography? You know where sequins/zips/glitter etc touch my skin I react in whatever pattern they touched me in, usually long scrapes up my arms etc , really annoying if I'm going out and dressing up a bit

I also get fed up with how much I have to carry about wherever I go, inhaler + spacer, Anti histamines and 2 x epipens.  Steroids are given at hospital now by injection after bad reactions but for years I've had to carry 30 of those on me too as I get bad chest infections after anaphylaxis if I don't have them

The last bad reaction was my worst, they kept me in overnight as everything went crazy, legs shaking and bp dropping.  Dr said they get quicker with symptoms and more severe each one you have

[Maryjane]

I am a huge believer in functional medicine , what Dr Chatteree is of " doctor in the house " go to the route cause , not just the allergy that has presented now as a chronic condition, but why that's the real sorting out of the conditions.

Also Dr Micheal Mosleys " the gut health diet" is excellent.

[cubagirl]

How's your daughter today Mrs B?

[Mbrown001]

A bit better thanks. She can finally almost open her eyes now but there is still a lot of facial swelling. We are going back to the GP later today. Her glands are still painful and I just want her checked over.
I'm going to ask about a referral when we are there.


Mrs Brown

[Annie0710]

Mrs Brown, in my early years of these allergies I had the facial swelling, my eyes would close and the hospital would have to pick my contacts out of my eyes.  The liquid would build up between the eye and outer layer and be all squidgy and my lips would balloon up , these took up to a week to go down, that doesn't happen to me now, just a tiny bit of swelling or anaphylaxis nowadays. Really hope you get answers x

[Mbrown001]

Well we had our appointment.
Good news is she is improving. The glands being up is completely normal.

Bad news is there is absolutely no chance of being referred to either an immunologist or a dermatologist.
In my part of the country the only way you can see an immunologist is if you have suffered an anaphylactic reaction. As for a dermatologist.....well she knows what she reacted to so just avoid that.
I will give the doctor some credit as she apologised but it is how it is.
If we really wanted to be seen we would have to pay.

She did suggest patch testing anything new before slapping it on.

Hey ho...the NHS is under pressure and this is how it is.

Mrs Briwn

[CLKD]

What had she used in the 5-10 days prior to this?