[GhstDreamer]

Leelee: Even if all the scratch tests come out negative that doesn't necessarily mean you don't have any allergies. I would ask for blood tests to be done afterwards - it is more conclusive (though for some food allergies it can give a false negative as well). I had the scratch test done for environmental allergans and it showed that I'm highly allergic to grass, mold, dust, pollen, and ragweed. I take Aerius, have a nosespray (stronger kind than Nasonex) and I get the weekly shots. Doesn't seem to help too much as I still have to use an inhaler. However, the scratch test never showed my food allergies - I had to get the bloodwork done for that. I'm severely allergic to wheat and gluten, as well as corn. I take a couple of medications for those as well to lower the chance of a reation to cross-contamination. So do follow up your negative scratch tests with the bloodwork.

[IntlSet]

Originally Posted by Leelee

I don't know, but I don't think so. I think he only tested for outdoor vegetation stuff. It's my understanding that the next set of tests will be for food allergies and then the following and final week will be for other things, hopefully pets.

I do have three dogs and four cats and I suppose I could have developed allergies sometime along the way.

May I ask what your symptoms were? I'm glad you were able to find a solution to your allergies!

Hey Leelee, I don't mind at all.

You know the term "hayfever..." Well, I literally felt like I had a fever all the time. Like, my allergies were so terrible it felt like the flu, minus any coughing. Everyone used to tell me I had the worst allergies they'd ever seen. I don't know why I waited so long to get it taken care of.

My eyes were itchy, my head felt like cloudy and heavy, my sinuses hurt, and my nose CONSTANTLY was clogged up. Just imagine running a temperature and that's what I felt like.

If I was away from my house, it would slowly get better. That's because I was away from the cat dander.

So now I get allergy shots every 4 weeks or so and I'm fine. I was also prescribed Veramyst.

Get tested for an allergy to animal hair and dander... if you're allergic, there's no need for alarm. I was advised to keep my cats off my bed, but this is impossible. Yet I'm still fine just with the shots. I bet you will be okay with the shots also, they're pretty potent!

[Leelee]

Thank you IntelSet! My symptoms sound a lot like yours. You described it perfectly...like the flu without the fever.

LOL! I know what you mean about trying to keep your cats off of your bed! That would never happen in my house either! They rule me!!!

[IntlSet]

^^^^
Leelee, if it turns out that you need allergy shots like I do, make sure they give them to you in your rear. They might try to give them to your in your arm, but it's much worse that way, and your arm will be sore for a week.