--- In LANTERN@yahoogroups.com, "hound4sale" <hounddawg@w...> wrote:
> --- In LANTERN@yahoogroups.com, Ana Palacios <flesteacher@y...>
wrote:
> > Hi and welcome to the group. I am pretty new myself but I have
one
> piece of advice that I can give you from my personal
experience. "RUN
> AS FAST AS YOU CAN away from that "doctor" whom you are seeing.
There
> is quite a bit of research out there regarding the failure rates
of
> RAST and skin testing. In fact, I just read an article where
people
> who had been stung by bees and were obviously having a reaction
and
> had the sting site on their skin to prove it, would go through
some
> sort of latent phase and test negative for the bee sting. I had a
> doctor who was not as insulting as yours, but he told me that all
of
> my angioedema problems were caused by a hyperreactive immune
system
> (ok, true but..... He told me to get out of my head the notion
that
> something in the environment or that I ate was causing me to have
> these allergic reactions. Like an idiot I kept eating bananas,
> avocados, kiwis, etc because my reactions were all caused by an
> autoimmune disease. I kept going to the store that sold
> > new tires at the front of the store, though I would leave so
ill
> that I had to take medication in the car. Two months ago I found
> someone who not only believed me but diagnosed me with NRL
allergy. I
> am now so sensitive to latex/rubber that I will go to a grocery
store
> and have a reaction because sometime during the day, balloons were
> blown there.
> >
> > This is a sore subject with me but I will get off the soap box
now.
> Go to someone who is well informed and who will believe you. Your
> life depends on it.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> > Ana
> > helpinnh <helpinnh@y...> wrote:
> > I have been suffering with severe symptoms to Latex allergy for
> > years but was recently skin prick tested and it came back
> negative.
> > They also did the RAST blood test which I am waiting for the
> results
> > on. My Allergist has said that because his tests came back
> negative
> > I am not allergic and it must be in my head.
> > I know from symptoms I have had that I am. Where do I go from
here
> > to get the help I need? I have so many questions about this
> allergy
> > and what to avoid etc. that I know I need some help
>
> Hi, Ana!
> I agree. Get a new doctor with experience in type 1 latex
allergy.
> Most of us have negative tests because the FDA has not approved
the
> extract for more accurate testing. There are many allergens in
> gloves and you may need to try 20 different brands to find the one
> you prick positive to. Regardless of test results you must avoid
> latex and all cross reactors that have caused reactions for you.
If
> you don't your condition will advance to completely disabling.
The
> only exposure you should have is during testing. Latex allergy
links
> in the web has lots of great articles on testing, cross reactives
> etc. My plan is to go to Canada for testing, they have a better
> extract which includes more allergens and it's legal there. Johns
> Hopkins did clinical trials with another extract that is supposed
to
> be 95% accurate (made by Greer Labs) but it still awaits FDA
> approval. The RAST is 60% accurate as I recall and "a negative
Rast
> does not rule out Latex allergy". Latex allergy is diagnosed 90%
by
> history and 10% testing in this country. It is very poorly
> understood by most doctors so find one with experience at a large
> medical center that is knowledgable. Hang in there. It can take
> years and even after you prick positive there will be doctors
saying
> you aren't allergic. Take care of you right now and avoid latex,
> your body will calm down after a couple months. Avoid all
> establishments that use powdered latex gloves too. Feel free to
> contact me off list if you have particular questions. I've been
> dealing with this for 7 months and making little progress with my
> current doctors. You should start writing your medical history
and
> anectotal observations which may be relevant and are not in your
> regular medical records so that it is ready for consultants.
Also,
> keep a diary of what you eat, what you wear, what your were doing
> each day so you can identify possible triggers of your reactions.
I
> also take pictures of my face to show how symptoms progress. I
hold
> a note with date and time and take the picture of my face at the
same
> angle with the same lighting etc. it has helped to show the
doctors
> what they don't see when I'm not in the office and what happens
> following my visits into latex rich environments. Hang in there!
You
> are certainly not alone, Heather in California
> >
> > Thanks for making me feel like I am not alone. I know how bad
my allergy is but when the tests came back and the Dr. said no I
started to question myself.
My problem was reinforced though when I stepped into a bike store
and right away started getting some hives and my breathing started
getting funny.
I have been keeping a log all along, knowing that someday I will
find someone that believes me. Now it's just finding the right
doctor.
Is there any help for latex allergy out there? This Doctor said all
he can do is treat the allergy symptoms anyway that there is no
defense against it.
I am at the point where I can't even wear underwear and would really
like some relief... any ideas?
Thanks again for all of the kind words.
> >
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