Blood test for allergies.

[yaf_user681_51802]

Hi I've had a perpetual cold since beginning of June and am on second lot of antibiotics. I am currently on seretide and respigen. My respiratory specialist has sent me for a blood test to check for allergies, which I've done and am now awaiting the results. Has anyone else had these d one? It's winter here and I am only just getting used to having asthma as a newly diagnosed asthmatic. Main trigger seems to be cold air. Cheers for any info. Sue

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Hi Sue, I have had these tests done, I tested positive for cat and dust (the reaction to dust was a lot higher) so they are really useful as you know what to avoid and I got some helpful leaflets from my GP for these specific allergies (make sure you ask for them although there is a lot on Asthma UK website) for example I was advised to wash sheets on 60 degrees to kill the mites.

I am also triggered by cold air, it is a bugger! Hope you feel better soon

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search on here about out-side triggers and in-door triggers and this may help you understand what may start your coughs' or chest pains

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Hi sue, I think allergy testing is a pretty standard thing for asthmatics, just as it helps to identify potential triggers that you are likely to be exposed to on a daily basis. In doing this they can either advise on how to minimise exposure to them or give treatments (such as montelukast and antihistamines etc) to help with the side effects of exposure!

I have a low IgE, but that's down to the meds I'm on as I'm a very allergic person.

If you have a ""cold"" I don't understand them giving antibiotics, as colds are viral infections! Perhaps that's why it's not clearing up though?

Hope things get better soon!!

Laura x

[yaf_user681_51802]

Thanks for your replies everyone! It's pretty amazing what they can find out from a blood test. Yep, it seems to be an infection I have. My chest sounds clear but that's what seems to happen with me when I'm at the docs. Last time it sounded clear but the xray showed otherwise lol. Great to read your replies. Feel very alone sometimes as I want to talk about it but no one else really is interested to listen to my ramblings!

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Thanks for your replies everyone! It's pretty amazing what they can find out from a blood test. Yep, it seems to be an infection I have. My chest sounds clear but that's what seems to happen with me when I'm at the docs. Last time it sounded clear but the xray showed otherwise lol. Great to read your replies. Feel very alone sometimes as I want to talk about it but no one else really is interested to listen to my ramblings!

Ramble away Marvin! I think a number of us find it difficult to talk to people in 'real life' about our asthma either because noone understands or can relate to it. Sometimes it can come across to others that were just moaning for moanings sake, but it sometimes helps just to talk things through and realise that you're not alon.

The nature of the disease means that at times we can be sad/cross/upset ....not being able to breathe properly is quite frustrating and its important not to bottle it up.

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I was exactly the same! I went to hospital one time following attack and chest sounded clear so was sent away when I returned to norm only to return 10 days later with similar attack. Turns out I had a hidden chest infection too, only picked up by chest x-ray. I had no idea I had it (no cough or anything) until I had the attacks.

Also, I feel completely the same with feeling alone. I feel like I can bore people talking about it, I have no one I know with asthma remotely similar to mine. That is why this board is great, everyone is so good at listening and I can assure you, you can ramble all you want and everyone will wanna listen!!

[yaf_user681_51802]

Cheers guys! It's great to talk to others in the same boat! I'm so over asthma now and I haven't even had it that long lol. Going back to the specialist in a month once the antibiotics are completed. At least the respiratory doctor believes me and is very helpful. She's also from the UK :). Will be interesting to see how the blood tests go too.

Sue

[yaf_user681_51802]

Well, the allergy blood tests are clear which is good news! The antibiotics are working a treat and I am feeling so much better! I'm on stronger ones for a month as I seem to have had this infection for ages and its just not shifting. No wonder I've been feeling so rough! I just hope that once the antibiotics course is complete it will not all return again. I felt rough all last summer and couldn't understand why! At least I'm seeing a bit of a pattern now - definitely cold air is a trigger, but its pretty mild weather at the mo and (touch wood) the seretide is all I've needed so far. Also have had no horrible chest tightness for a few days too - not pleasant. Cheers for listening. Sue

[yaf_user681_51802]

Well - here we go again! 1 month of anti biotics and I felt great and told specialist so. She was pleased and it meant we could now concentrate on getting rid of the chest tightness - so off I went into the sunset with seretide and flixotide to try together for 2 months trial. Trouble is 2 weeks later and down I come with another cold/flu bug aargh! Back to docs with high temp, coughing, chills etc and bpm of 96. Basically feeling pants. Am now on 2 more weeks of antibiotics with doc mentioning ct scans. Anyone else been through something similar? Currently sofa surfing on 3rd day off. X Sue.

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Sorry to hear you aren't well - yet again. It must be very frustrating to keep getting ill again. It is good that they will be checking you out with a CT scan. Did your doctor tell you what she is looking to find out from the scan?

Feel better soon!

[yaf_user681_51802]

Thanks Beth. No she didn't and I didn't ask - was feeling too yuk at the time lol. Only just wondering about it today now I'm beginning to feel better with the antibiotics kicking in and the horrible headaches and temperature subsiding. I will be going back to the specialist in about a month, so will see what she says. It may never happen, but I do wonder why I keep getting sick so easily. Is this normal for asthma? Im so new to it all. Was wondering if this kind of thing was happening to anyone else? X Sue