My Life Is Over (Food Allergy Results)

paul7g

... not quite over :-) but I need to seriously replan my diet and foods.

I got the results back from a Food Allergy test today, and I'm quite startled at how bad the results were (so was the dietician). I have just found out that I am highly intolerant to quite a lot of foods, and have been strongly advised to rule out all of the following going forward.

- All Dairy
- Casein
- Gluten
- Wheat
- Barley
- Rice
- Pea
- Potato
- Red Meat
- Nuts (all apart from Walnuts)
- Sunflower Seeds

It seems like there is very little carbs that I can eat... and all GF breads and GF pastas seem to be made from Rice or Potato. Can anyone advise on any grains or carbs that I could eat?

Thanks in advance for your help.

L1011

Who did the test?

The IgG tests done by random people in supermarkets (or in lovely offices trying to look professional either!) are absolute junk and can show an allergy to anything you've been near/eaten recently.

If it wasn't done by or under the auspices of an actual, Medical Council registered doctor - go get one done by one. A dietician is not sufficient.

NIMAN

Can I ask what the test involved?

How would a proper food allergy test work? Would it involved taking blood.

paul7g

Thanks for the reply.

I got it done in the Fitzwilliam Food Test Clinic, in Merrion Square, Dublin

They take a blood sample from you, and it's sent to a lab in the UK, and you get your results back 2 weeks later, in which they bring you through your results.

They test it against 200+ foods and each food is rated. Anything over 30 is in the 'danger' zone... some of mine were over 100 :-(

Keen to hear from other people who have had a similar test.

L1011

That's an IgG test not done by a doctor. IgG tests are completely and utterly discredited.

Throw it out and go talk to a real doctor. And stop worrying about it entirely until you have done so. Write off the money you've wasted as life experience.

paul7g

Wow, you really don’t value or trust the test? You’re not the first person to say this to me.

Can anyone recommend a certified test / doctor?

L1011

I'm beyond not valuing it - I think places offering it to those who aren't aware of how worthless it is should be shut down for fraud.

It is not an allergy test, it was never designed to be an allergy test and the results it gives cannot be interpreted as showing an allergy. Or an intolerance. Or anything of the sort.

No allergy test can test against 200 things from one blood sample.

Talk to your own GP first - if you go seeking out someone claiming to be a specialist yourself you are likely to wander in to a charlatan.

NIMAN

My OH made the mistake of getting a Kinesiology allergy test done.

Apparently it involved rubbing some oils from food on her stomach area!

I only found out afterwards she had gone. That's money she'll never get back!

paul7g

My OH got the same test done with me this week... and she had previously been told that she was intolerant to the following:

- Gluten
- Wheat
- Shellfish

Her results came back, and she was no longer intolerant to Gluten, but is intolerant to Wheat and Clams (but not other shellfish)... but is also intolerant to all dairy products.

On a side note, I've asked 3 doctors (my local GP, and 2 friend doctors) about food allergy tests over the last 12 months, and all 3 of them said that food allergy tests are a waste of time and money... "the only way to rule out foods, is to eliminate one by one over trial periods of time"

I don't necessarily feel sick after any foods at all... but I do struggle with energy often, and can feel quite sluggish. I'm also aware that I need more sleep, but thought there might have been some food allergy under it all too.

I'll continue to research and explore it :-)

L1011

The wildly varying results are because the test is nonsense and the markers don't mean an intolerance or allergy basically

paul7g

Thanks L1011 for your input, much appreciated.

Would love to know more about why you believe this. FYI, I'm not challenging your opinion at all... I'd just like to know more about all of this.

For example, they hardly randomise a print out and pick random foods with random scores. Surely there is some scientific aspect to their results?

Day Lewin

I have had real allergy testing done by a highly qualified (and very expensive) Immunology consultant at the Blackrock clinic:

(it wasn't for food, by the way, but investigating a strong, serious allergic reaction to a wasp sting; and another time, to some unidentified substance in (maybe) sea water.

They had a large sheet of plastic with little bumps on it, each bump being a tiny pinprick amount of something: including all the commonest allergens, - eggs, nuts, shellfish, and dozens of other things too - colourants, etc
This was stuck onto my back with a sheet of sticky over it and left in contact for a day: then they took it off and inspected the area for swelling or reddening etc. from any of the dots.

Results - strong allergic reaction to wasp venom, but not bees. No foods. A blue colourant (no longer in use)

It was expensive and I was referred by the GP; But this is the proper, professional method to find out if you are really intolerant or not: either there is a histamine response, or there isn't.

And if not, well - draw your own conclusions.

You may still find, of course, that such-and-such a food "doesn't agree with you:" but don't put your faith in vague tests and fashionable fads.

Bread was the staple of survival in Europe for many centuries: it really isn't harmful to most people!

paul7g

Thanks for your input @Day Lewin.

The "specialist" that carried out the test was illustrating how bad certain foods are for our gut, if we are intolerant to them... which results in inflammation of the gut, and that is subsequently the start of every major disease that we pick up.

I'm quote baffled by the results, and the opinions that people have on the actual test / service, so I plan on doing a lot of digging around, as nutrition is something that I've always had a significant interest in.

L1011

paul7g wrote: »

Thanks L1011 for your input, much appreciated.

Would love to know more about why you believe this. FYI, I'm not challenging your opinion at all... I'd just like to know more about all of this.

For example, they hardly randomise a print out and pick random foods with random scores. Surely there is some scientific aspect to their results?

Nothing is randomised. They are just abusing a test for something it cannot show

They are looking for immunoglobulin G molecules that relate to the specific claimed allergen. The presence of these - and volume thereof which is the number they're quoting at you - does not even vaguely hint at an an allergy/intolerance. In many cases a high IgG reading shows that you are quite specifically tolerant to something

They've basically got something that looks shiny and scientific - its done by a proper medical lab after all - and are wildly abusing what it means. Many of the "practitioners" are charlatans, some actually believe what they're saying which is scarier.

This is a decent enough summary with sufficient evidence given; I can't be certain they've actually done a deep dive in to every potential bit of evidence but there is very little to support the tests.

paul7g wrote: »

The "specialist" that carried out the test was illustrating how bad certain foods are for our gut, if we are intolerant to them... which results in inflammation of the gut, and that is subsequently the start of every major disease that we pick up.

Charlatan alert! Charlatan alert! This is absolutely and utter bollox.

You've been taken for a ride here. Surely the wildly different results for your OH should be enough of a warning that the test means nothing?

paul7g

L1011 wrote: »

Nothing is randomised. They are just abusing a test for something it cannot show

They are looking for immunoglobulin G molecules that relate to the specific claimed allergen. The presence of these - and volume thereof which is the number they're quoting at you - does not even vaguely hint at an an allergy/intolerance. In many cases a high IgG reading shows that you are quite specifically tolerant to something

They've basically got something that looks shiny and scientific - its done by a proper medical lab after all - and are wildly abusing what it means. Many of the "practitioners" are charlatans, some actually believe what they're saying which is scarier.

This is a decent enough summary with sufficient evidence given; I can't be certain they've actually done a deep dive in to every potential bit of evidence but there is very little to support the tests.



Charlatan alert! Charlatan alert! This is absolutely and utter bollox.

You've been taken for a ride here. Surely the wildly different results for your OH should be enough of a warning that the test means nothing?

Ha, I feel like I owe you for your time more than the test now. Thanks for this, it's much appreciated.

Considering I don't feel much different after any food (within reason), I'm not sure what I course of action I should take.

I am determined to get a accurate test done for knowledge sake more than anything else.

Martina1991

L1011 wrote:

That's an IgG test not done by a doctor. IgG tests are completely and utterly discredited.

How do you know it was an IgG test. The OP just said it was sent to a lab in the UK.

L1011 wrote:

They are looking for immunoglobulin G molecules that relate to the specific claimed allergen. The presence of these - and volume thereof which is the number they're quoting at you - does not even vaguely hint at an an allergy/intolerance. In many cases a high IgG reading shows that you are quite specifically tolerant to something

Laboratories here in Ireland can measure IgE to various allergens, the immunoglobulin specific to allergies.

L1011

Martina1991 wrote: »

How do you know it was an IgG test. The OP just said it was sent to a lab in the UK.

Laboratories here in Ireland can measure IgE to various allergens, the immunoglobulin specific to allergies.

The operator and the "200 things", plus the wittering nonsense the test taker told the OP. Its IgG and the OP needs to go back to an actual doctor if they have genuine concerns as what they've got is worse than useless.

paul7g

I'm still baffled at how someone can run a practice for 20+ years and advise people that they can't eat X, Y and Z for the rest of their life, and not seem to be questioned more?

The more people I've said it to during the week, the more I am amazed at how very few people in the medical and nutritional industry don't rate this test at all.

HappyAsLarE

paul7g wrote: »

I'm still baffled at how someone can run a practice for 20+ years and advise people that they can't eat X, Y and Z for the rest of their life, and not seem to be questioned more?

The more people I've said it to during the week, the more I am amazed at how very few people in the medical and nutritional industry don't rate this test at all.

Same way people are chiropractors, psychics, acupuncturist.

wildwillow

Your lethargy is probably caused by lack of sleep but also being dehydrated. Try to drink some water regularly through the day and you may find a difference. Also time spent in the open air, a walk even, makes a difference. Costs nothing to try and won't do you any damage.

paul7g

wildwillow wrote: »

Your lethargy is probably caused by lack of sleep but also being dehydrated. Try to drink some water regularly through the day and you may find a difference. Also time spent in the open air, a walk even, makes a difference. Costs nothing to try and won't do you any damage.

I couldn't agree more.

I've noticed that I leave my apartment (no balcony / air)... get the lift to my jeep... drive to my office building... get the lift to my office... drive to the gym... drive home.

The only time I get fresh air during the week, is popping across the road to the shop the odd day.

Thanks to all of you for the input. I will be spending more time researching my "intolerances" and doing more tests as I have a genuine interest in this area too, so I'll report back with an update, for anyone who is interested to see how the results of the last test compare to other doctors, nutritionists, etc

Thanks again for your help, it's much appreciated.

rock22

From the Clinic your refer to
"Please note we do not test for food allergies."

As pointed out by a previous poster, measuring specific IgE levels can be useful in allergy testing. This cane be done by skin prick testing or in the laboratory with a blood test. False negatives can occur but false positives are far more problematic. However the tests are useful in the context of a clear history. They need careful interpretation. See this as just one of many websites dealing with food allergies.

Feeling gloated , or tired, are not classical symptoms of food allergy. See here for some typical symptoms,

Mad_maxx

not sure if appropriate to resurrect an old thread ? but anyone experience a worsening of allergies as time passed ?

cut wheat out of my diet four years ago and it made a big difference in terms of avoiding colds , coughs and irritable itch in mouth etc , since mid summer however i have not been without a cold or cough for 80% of the time , at one stage thought it might be down to the covid vaccinations as some people have had side effects

anyway , perhaps i need to have another blood test to check for further allergies , im not classed as a celiac so my bread is placed in the same storage area as my partner and kids though in a different package