Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Allergy Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to airbourne allergies, eye allergies, shots, anaphylaxis, asthma, children's allergies, hives, insect stings, rhinitis, sinuses, and allergies to drugs, foods, and pets.
I am Baffled - test results are negative!! ??
by tinkerbell622, May 01, 2007 12:00AM
Hi, I come today regarding a possible food allergy - to a food I love - shrimp!
For as long as I remember (I am 45 years old now), I have never been able to peel shrimp without my hands itching and turning red. If the tail or something would ***** me, I developed a raised welt (like a bee sting). I still would eat them.. and I seem to always get a mild itching in the back of my throat... but although I was concerned, it never progressed to anything more.
However, a couple of months ago, while I was eating coconut shrimp (purchased frozen at grocery store) my throat really started to itch back, and my lips and nose was tingling and I developed a large lump in my throat. (symptoms lasted several hours). It scared me enough that I didn't eat anymore from that package, but I have since ate 2 shrimp without symptoms.
I felt I should go and be checked so I went to an allergy center and had a skin test - that came back negative. I was really surprised by this, and went home, pricked my hand and rubbed the tail of the shrimp on it and sure enough - developed a welt! The allergist sent me for a RAST test - and they called yesterday with the results - NEGATIVE!!?? They said it most likely isn't a food allergy, but to avoid shrimp. This makes no sense! I don't want to avoid shrimp, and theses test are negative - so I am just baffled. Why would my self test show a skin reaction, but theirs does not, and the RAST test is also negative?
For as long as I remember (I am 45 years old now), I have never been able to peel shrimp without my hands itching and turning red. If the tail or something would ***** me, I developed a raised welt (like a bee sting). I still would eat them.. and I seem to always get a mild itching in the back of my throat... but although I was concerned, it never progressed to anything more.
However, a couple of months ago, while I was eating coconut shrimp (purchased frozen at grocery store) my throat really started to itch back, and my lips and nose was tingling and I developed a large lump in my throat. (symptoms lasted several hours). It scared me enough that I didn't eat anymore from that package, but I have since ate 2 shrimp without symptoms.
I felt I should go and be checked so I went to an allergy center and had a skin test - that came back negative. I was really surprised by this, and went home, pricked my hand and rubbed the tail of the shrimp on it and sure enough - developed a welt! The allergist sent me for a RAST test - and they called yesterday with the results - NEGATIVE!!?? They said it most likely isn't a food allergy, but to avoid shrimp. This makes no sense! I don't want to avoid shrimp, and theses test are negative - so I am just baffled. Why would my self test show a skin reaction, but theirs does not, and the RAST test is also negative?
Post Comment
Could be a false negative. It does sound like an allergy because with allergies, you have an immediate reaction and you could possibly react by touching the food itself.