What to Expect at the Allergist

[amonkey]

I have the diet down pretty well. The only exception - I still take a liquid vitamin and antioxidants.

My concern is that I may be aggravating my bladder with food allergies and not even know it. Since I've been on the new diet, I have not had one sinus infection (they used to be habitual) and no UTIs.

Has anyone else had success by going to an allergist?

How does everyone else handle this angle of the IC diet?

Also, I just bought a new antioxidant and it turns out there is soy protein 500 MG per serving. I am so annoyed - I'm usually so careful to watch for soy - but this is a fruit-based antioxidant - so, who knew? I'm getting wrinkles from squinting from the small type on the food labels. How much of the "Danger" food is too much?

Thanks,
Annette

[kadi]

Hi Annette,
I had an evaluation by an allergist when I had had IC for maybe a year. They did a scratch panel on my back where they drew a grid on my back & in each square they scratched my back with an essence of the potential allergen. I think it was pretty accurate. My mom went with me to see what was happening on my back, which was helpful. I tested allergic to fish & peanuts, which I already knew (I'd get violently sick from fish & would break out in hives & wheeze from peanuts). I also tested allergic to soy, tree nuts, shellfish which I had not known before. I hadn't really been eating those foods, but I think it's good to know because of the supplement issue, like you've experienced. I got a horrible migraine with vomiting from Cystoprotek & that mystery was explained by learning about my shellfish allergy. The allergist followed up on the positive scratches with more specific tests on those particular foods to see how dangerous the level of allergy is for me.

I think it was helpful to know. It didn't make a huge difference in my symptoms because I hadn't been eating those foods anyway, but if I had turned out to be allergic to things on the IC diet, it would have been really important to find out.

I just saw an little article in "First" magazine yesterday saying that the link between food allergies & interstitial cystitis is becoming more known & mentioning that IC patients should consider allergy testing. So, I think you're on the right track!

I'm not sure what to tell you on the vitamins & supplements except I'd consider doing an elimination test on them to make sure they're not flaring your symptoms. Stop them for a week or two then introduce one at a time a few days apart to see if one or more of them are bothering you. Obviously you'll want to discuss this with your doctor also.

Wishing you the best,

[amonkey]

Thank you Kadi! I tested the vitamins and antioxidants - and so far, so good. My allergist appointment is tomorrow.

Annette