Hi, and a 44 year old women with a question about immunology. I used to have allergies to just about everything - penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, celcor, sulfa drugs, all cephalosporins, all OTC topical antibiotic ointments, cats, dogs, pollens, molds dusts, perfumes, detergents, etc. I had terrible eczema and chronic general itchiness and I reacted very badly to some antibiotics. The last time I had penicillin (age 14) I got a rash all over my chest, neck, and lower face, my throat swelled, and I had difficulty breathing - and the doctors told me never to take it again or I might die from anaphylaxis. My father also has anaphylactic reactions to penicillin.
That was years ago. I had allergy shots for 2 years, about ten years ago, but gave up because they didn't seem to help. I ripped all the carpet out of my house, have no upholstered furniture, covered all my mattresses and pillows with dust-mite proof covers, and got air purifies and a HEPA vacuum. That all helped a lot – but I no longer need to use the air purifies for about the last 5 years.
Now, a recent RAST test shows me having no allergies at all, to anything. I now have 3 cats and a dog. A doctor recently prescribed Bactrim for me (he forgot to check my chart for drug allergies) and I tolerated it just fine! I had a recent test for IGG that showed it was in the low range, but not low enough to be clinically low. I do get viral infections and UTI's frequently. I have had pneumonia twice in the last 4 years despite getting the flu and pneumonia shot. Most of my blood tests are normal except a really low B-12 level, so now I get shots every month.
Why does the RAST test show no allergies? And why do I not seem to have all the allergies I used to have? Why have I lost my immune memory? And why do I get sick so often? I get another UTI almost every month – despite prophylactic Macrodantin after intercourse and lots of cranberry pills. Are these things related? Mostly my family practice doctor seems to just think I am a hypochondriac or a nut case and tells me I am fine, but I think it is pretty darn weird to have all my allergies go away like that and no longer be allergic to the drugs I have been allergic to for most of my life. The allergist who tested my IGG levels and found out they were borderline was really worried about it, by my family practice doctor says it is unimportant.
Any clue?
Thank you,
Barbara