Dear LungLine Nurse,
I am a 44 year old female.
I had allergy skin ***** tests at NJC 12/2000. This month (2/2002), I had allergy skin ***** tests again, as well as some skin patch tests. My histimine reaction was a 5mm wheal at NJC & 11mm & 13mm this time. In addition, this time I reacted to some allergens 2 I didn't react to at all at NJC. Also, I've been getting allergy shots 2x/week for a year for dust mites, roaches, dogs, cats & rabbits, but all of these wheals were as large or larger than 12/2000, except the cat (which is now only trace from 5mm).
For the 1st time, I was also tested for food allergies by the skin patch test on my back & I reacted to several foods I've never noticed any reaction to before (milk, wheat, rice, chocolate, clams and oysters), as well as several I've always been allergic to (shrimp, lobster, crab, scallops). The known food allergies always gave me hives if I ate them in "normal" quantities, so I've mostly avoided them. I'm also allergic to sulphites and MSG--which can cause major asthma.
I've read several articles that indicate that there are numerous "false positives" for food allergy skin tests. Nonetheless, my allergist is concerned because I reacted to nearly everything I was tested against for the allergy skin tests & had I have allergic asthma & emphysema.
I've also read that the wheal size MAY or MAY NOT indicate how sensitive and/or allergic we are to specific allergens. I've read all NJC's materials on allergies but were wondering if there are other resources I could read to find out more.
Thanks!
Aloha,
Stario