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A few months ago I was tested for allergies. It was the skin prick test. I believe I got tested for 40 allergens (the most common in Hawaii, where I live). When the tests came back they said all I was allergic to was dust mites, which I found hard to believe. About 25 years ago, when I was a kid I had a similar test done and they said I was allergic to dust, pollen, mold and cat hair, which made more sense. The reason I thought it made more sense is that when I used to live elsewhere, in the Pacific Northwest and also a desert environment, my allergies were noticeably better. Also I recently took a trip to the east coast and within a day or two my nose cleared up significantly. And then when I came back to Hawaii I'm stuffed up again. It's really terrible here, some days I have a hard time breathing.
During my most recent test, the doctor seemed to hesitate in reading some of the lumps on my arm, seeing if they were raised enough to indicate an allergy. So I question how accurate those tests are. Doesn't it seem that since my allergies get better or worse when I change environments, I'm allergic to something in the environment and not only dust mites? Anyone know how accurate these tests are? I eventually plan to go on the shot therapy to try to get rid of my allergies but I'm concerned that the results are not accurate.
Allergy tests are often criticized for producing false positives rather than false negatives. Therefore if you have negative results that is usually a good sign that you do not have an allergy to whatever substances came back with a negative result. The results are also used to create allergy shots, and therefore I don't think you could get allergy shots for allergens other than dust if the tests do not indicate a need. Of course there is the possibility that you had an incompetent doctor or that you missed a test for something you are allergic to (My daughter was tested for about 60 allergens in her last round. She also has had a blood test.)
As for geography, many parts of the east coast can be terrible for allergy sufferers, as are some parts of the Pacific Northwest. Desert climates are usually good for allergy sufferers, so that is a different story. It can depend on the time of year though. If you traveled to the northeast in the winter, for example, versus the spring, then you may expect less problems with many allergies. If you really have found less problems everywhere else you have gone year-round, that suggests to me that you may be allergic to something in your house. That could very well be dust which unfortunately gets into everything.
There is a blood test method which I think is more accurate. Did you see an allergist or someone else?
I saw an allergist. How is the blood test done? I've never heard of an allergy blood test. Does it involve drawing blood multiple times? I already don't like needles.
Allergy tests are often criticized for producing false positives rather than false negatives. Therefore if you have negative results that is usually a good sign that you do not have an allergy to whatever substances came back with a negative result. The results are also used to create allergy shots, and therefore I don't think you could get allergy shots for allergens other than dust if the tests do not indicate a need. Of course there is the possibility that you had an incompetent doctor or that you missed a test for something you are allergic to (My daughter was tested for about 60 allergens in her last round. She also has had a blood test.)
As for geography, many parts of the east coast can be terrible for allergy sufferers, as are some parts of the Pacific Northwest. Desert climates are usually good for allergy sufferers, so that is a different story. It can depend on the time of year though. If you traveled to the northeast in the winter, for example, versus the spring, then you may expect less problems with many allergies. If you really have found less problems everywhere else you have gone year-round, that suggests to me that you may be allergic to something in your house. That could very well be dust which unfortunately gets into everything.
Well I've lived at least a full year in the Northwest and a desert climate even though this was many years ago. I grew up in Hawaii and my allergies were even worse than they are now. Especially in my teenage years. I remember taking wads of tissue in my backpack every day to school. I literally couldn't breathe through my nose. That's how stuffed I was. I was so tired all the time my parents thought I had some kind of disease. When I went away to college it got noticeably better. Even though I still had the sniffles, it was nowhere near as bad as Hawaii. As I've aged I think my allergies have gotten somewhat better, although it's still uncomfortable. So for that reason I'm think it's got to be something to do with the environment. I've lived in different residences in Hawaii too so it's hard to believe it's my house. Maybe I just have to find another allergist. I was tested for 40 allergens the last time. I wasn't too confident when she spent a lot of time trying to determine whether I was allergic to something or not. Just staring at the red bumps on my forearm and trying to figure out if it was positive or negative.
OP you may have some food allergies, such as milk or wheat and you should see an allergist about that also. You could be a candidate for a gluten free diet.
I saw an allergist. How is the blood test done? I've never heard of an allergy blood test. Does it involve drawing blood multiple times? I already don't like needles.
One needle stick but then they fill as many tubes as they need. In my case, about 8 tubes. No after-effects. The specialist orders whatever they want to test for and then the lab figures out how much they need.
Last edited by SouthernBelleInUtah; 10-03-2014 at 12:14 PM..
Well I've lived at least a full year in the Northwest and a desert climate even though this was many years ago. I grew up in Hawaii and my allergies were even worse than they are now. Especially in my teenage years. I remember taking wads of tissue in my backpack every day to school. I literally couldn't breathe through my nose. That's how stuffed I was. I was so tired all the time my parents thought I had some kind of disease. When I went away to college it got noticeably better. Even though I still had the sniffles, it was nowhere near as bad as Hawaii. As I've aged I think my allergies have gotten somewhat better, although it's still uncomfortable. So for that reason I'm think it's got to be something to do with the environment. I've lived in different residences in Hawaii too so it's hard to believe it's my house. Maybe I just have to find another allergist. I was tested for 40 allergens the last time. I wasn't too confident when she spent a lot of time trying to determine whether I was allergic to something or not. Just staring at the red bumps on my forearm and trying to figure out if it was positive or negative.
Out of curiosity I looked up Hawaii and found this article on "vog."
I'm not sure which island you live on, but maybe this could be the culprit.
I live in Honolulu so the vog normally doesn't affect this island, although occasionally it does. I guess my allergies could be vog related but I doubt it, since it rarely comes over to Honolulu. Even when the weather service says the vog is coming over to Oahu, I don't notice more severe symptoms. Even if it was vog related, there would not be much I could do about it. Looks like my only choice is allergy shots.
One needle stick but then they fill as many tubes as they need. In my case, about 8 tubes. No after-effects. The specialist orders whatever they want to test for and then the lab figures out how much they need.
Good to know. Although I'm not sure my veins could hold up to draw 8 tubes. Probably have to get it done on both arms.
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