Please help with unknown allergy

[mdbdn101]

For six years now I suffer from an unknown allergy.  My allergist has no clue and says my symptoms don't give him a clue.  It started 6 years ago when I working for a florist during the Christmas holiday season.  My symptoms are itching all over (inside nose, ears and everywhere else on my body) and a tight chest which causes some difficulty breathing but not bad enough to go to the ER.  It has continued every year starting in November and ending in May.  I take fexofenadine 60 mg 4 tablets a day and if it were not for benedryl I would go out of my mind.  I do not take any meds during the summer months.  It kicked in last week which is the earliest it has started as of yet.  He says he can't test me because I am on medication.  I can't stop the medication long enough to test me.  I have had a complete blood work up and they can find no other physical problem that would explain my symptoms. I live in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

[Rowena Santos, MD]

Hi,
How are you? It is important that you have an allergy test done to determine the specific allergen that is responsible for your symptoms. Allergy testing such as : skin tests, elimination-type tests and blood tests must be done. Skin tests such as ***** test and patch test are the most common. In ***** test, a small amount of suspected allergy-causing substances is placed on the skin, usually the forearm, upper arm, or the back. The skin is then pricked/scratched so the allergen goes under the skin's surface. Results are usually seen within 15-20 minutes wherein swelling and redness are positive. On the other hand, patch testing is a method to diagnose allergic reactions on the skin. Possible allergens are taped to the skin for 48 hours. I hope this helps. Take care  and do keep us posted.