Allergist vs. Naturopath for food allergies - help me understand
SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
Posts: 2,668 Member
A few months ago I started having reactions to tree nuts. I went to my doctor who suggested I go to an allergist to be tested as apparently it is possible to develop allergies later in life. The allergist was quite backed up and it was going to be about 6 months for an appointment, so in the meantime I went to a naturopath to have blood tests done. She concluded that I have varying degrees of allergies to quite a few foods, and also have leaky gut syndrome. The way she explained it made a lot of sense. She suggested a specific type of cleanse (yes, I know, the dreaded cleanse), which sent up a red flag for me but I still purchased the supplements. They're still sitting on my counter because....cleanse.
Fast forward to my allergist appointment, who did the skin prick test and determined that in fact I am not allergic to any of the foods the naturopath says I am, including tree nuts.
So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?
Anyone out there a naturopath or allergist, or knowledgeable in this who could shed some light?
Fast forward to my allergist appointment, who did the skin prick test and determined that in fact I am not allergic to any of the foods the naturopath says I am, including tree nuts.
So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?
Anyone out there a naturopath or allergist, or knowledgeable in this who could shed some light?
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Replies
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A naturopath isn't degree level educated. They are basically woo nutritionists. ....run run away and stick to your md approved specialists.1
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pootle1972 wrote: »A naturopath isn't degree level educated.
I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.0 -
Well, I consider Naturopaths to be complete woo so I would never take their advice. "Qualified Naturopath" is an oxymoron in my opinion as there is no such thing. I def wouldn't call them "professional". I am sure the Naturopath just wanted to sell you a bunch of tree bark and stuff to "help" you.1
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SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »A few months ago I started having reactions to tree nuts. I went to my doctor who suggested I go to an allergist to be tested as apparently it is possible to develop allergies later in life. The allergist was quite backed up and it was going to be about 6 months for an appointment, so in the meantime I went to a naturopath to have blood tests done. She concluded that I have varying degrees of allergies to quite a few foods, and also have leaky gut syndrome. The way she explained it made a lot of sense. She suggested a specific type of cleanse (yes, I know, the dreaded cleanse), which sent up a red flag for me but I still purchased the supplements. They're still sitting on my counter because....cleanse.
Fast forward to my allergist appointment, who did the skin prick test and determined that in fact I am not allergic to any of the foods the naturopath says I am, including tree nuts.
So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?
Anyone out there a naturopath or allergist, or knowledgeable in this who could shed some light?
Because one is a medical doctor, and the other hung a sign outside.1 -
SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?
The naturopath is NOT a professional. They are a quack. Blood draws are not the proper way to test for food allergies.1 -
As i see it Blood tests tell you nothing about allergy....skin prick tests are the standard and only way to determine histological alergy1
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SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »pootle1972 wrote: »A naturopath isn't degree level educated.
I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.
Allergists can run blood tests as well. My guess is that a naturopath will submit blood samples to a "lab"; different tests are being run. Last time I had a allergy test, they took blood because I was on antihistamines, which prevents/limits the skin reactions.0 -
As everyone has said, an "Allergist" is a Medical Doctor. A Naturopath is not. The only blood test that I'm aware of (and I'm not aware of ALL of them) is called a RAST Test that will test for allergens. I would put my money on the MD, IMHO.0
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Serious question, as I'm not sure of the answer. Would a naturopath - who's not actually a medical doctor - legally be able to receive your results from a real-life accredited lab? My instinct is to think, "no."1
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SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »pootle1972 wrote: »A naturopath isn't degree level educated.
I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.
Allergists can run blood tests as well. My guess is that a naturopath will submit blood samples to a "lab"; different tests are being run. Last time I had a allergy test, they took blood because I was on antihistamines, which prevents/limits the skin reactions.
I've only ever heard of skin tests but yeah I can see why blood woukd work...still wouldn't trust the woo peddler though...could have sent that blood to anywhere if infact she sent it at all.
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Naturopath: The Beachbody Coaches of the "medical" field (medical used VERY loosely). lol.0
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I was leery to go to the naturopath because of the lack of qualifications but I was desperate. Her results actually made a lot of sense in correlation to the issues I was experiencing so I sort of bought into it. And I keep in mind that Dr. Oz is also a doctor
I'm trying to remain objective, sort through the woo, and figure out what is truly going on.
So I guess I should just go eat a peanut and see what happens
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Are you asking a serious question, or merely being sarcastic?0
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pootle1972 wrote: »SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »pootle1972 wrote: »A naturopath isn't degree level educated.
I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.
Allergists can run blood tests as well. My guess is that a naturopath will submit blood samples to a "lab"; different tests are being run. Last time I had a allergy test, they took blood because I was on antihistamines, which prevents/limits the skin reactions.
I've only ever heard of skin tests but yeah I can see why blood woukd work...still wouldn't trust the woo peddler though...could have sent that blood to anywhere if infact she sent it at all.
Oh I agree. Blood tests CAN be used (and if you don't tell your doctor you're on antihistamines, that would skew skin test results), but I still wouldn't trust the naturopath.0 -
lithezebra wrote: »Are you asking a serious question, or merely being sarcastic?
Serious question, for once. It doesn't happen often.0 -
And apologies for stating something you might already know - but if you want to test your tree nut sensitivity, don't use a peanut. Totally different things. Almonds, pecans, almost any other nut is a tree nut. Not that I'm advocating testing that sort of thing on yourself, of course...0
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I think that both results COULD be correct. The naturopath could be correct that certain foods like tree nuts cause inflammation for you... not full blown allergies, but maybe your body doesn't digest them well so you get some symptoms from eating them.
The allergist is showing that you don't have a true allergy. Important to know, but if you feel better avoiding certain foods even without an allergy I would continue to avoid them.0 -
I should have said that the naturalist shouldn't have said you have allergies, just that you develop inflammation... not the same thing.0
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Intolerance = unpleasant could lead to allergy
Allergy = potential death....slight difference.0 -
when my dad was younger he had allergy tests,they did it by blood test. this was before the pin prick test. it told him he was allergic to all kinds of things including camel hair(he had the test results all those years later),it said he was even allergic to potatoes,which he ate with no problems. some of the things they said he was allergic to would blow your mind because they were things not found normally in the US at the time.point is he had those tests and most of the things he was supposedly allergic to he wasnt. now when he was allergic to something he would break out in hives,or he would have difficulty breathing,etc. Im the same way when I have an allergy. I would go with an allergist and if you are having any signs of an allergy from a food stop eating it.also if you are allergic to some tree nuts that also can mean some fruits may cause you problems because they are in the tree nut family.(peaches are one). yes you can end up with allergies later in life.
Its possible though the tree nuts could have been sprayed with something or had come into contact with something, and that could have caused an allergy as well.I used to be able to eat pecans and I cant eat any except for in very small doses.so if you feel a reaction coming on, cut that food out for several months and see how you feel. introduce it back into your diet later, unless the reaction is swelling of the tongue,throat,breathing problems then keep it out of your diet.0 -
SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »I was leery to go to the naturopath because of the lack of qualifications but I was desperate. Her results actually made a lot of sense in correlation to the issues I was experiencing so I sort of bought into it. And I keep in mind that Dr. Oz is also a doctor I'm trying to remain objective, sort through the woo, and figure out what is truly going on.
So I guess I should just go eat a peanut and see what happens
It sounds like it is working out for you. There are both degreed and non degreed quacks sometimes. Google can help. Youtube often will have convention speaker videos. Best of success.0 -
One can stick you with an eppi pen if you go into anaphylaxis shock the other can call 911- I'll let you decide.0
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Serious question, as I'm not sure of the answer. Would a naturopath - who's not actually a medical doctor - legally be able to receive your results from a real-life accredited lab? My instinct is to think, "no."
Sorry, your instinct is wrong.
Anyone can technically submit results to a real-life accredited lab (CLIA) and get the results back. The submitter can always receive the results unless state law declares otherwise (not aware of any state where that is the case). In some states, the patient who did not submit can receive the results, in some states laboratories who did not submit the test but who will use the results can receive them.
There's no requirement for the submitter to be a medical doctor unless a particular lab won't take the submission from non-medical personnel. Some won't, but others will.0 -
SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?
The naturopath is NOT a professional. They are a quack. Blood draws are not the proper way to test for food allergies.
Yes and no. Usually the blood test is a more in-depth test for certain allergens. Usually a patient gets a skin test first, and if they have severe reactions to some things, a doctor may order a blood test for that specific allergy that is causing the trouble so they can get a better idea of how to advise the patient. Blood tests are also more expensive so it's not something a doctor will order unless there is good reason to.
That's why I'm surprised that the naturopath went right to a blood test. If there was no skin prick test to guide them then just doing random blood tests doesn't make any sense. Just going by experience with my little one who has major allergies, as I am not an allergist myself.0 -
A few things:
1) Skin prick tests (SPT) are only as good as the nurse/MA performing them (high incidence of false positives and false negatives) especially in regards to SPT for foods so I would be wary of those results (doesn't mean they're wrong just be aware).
2) Serum (blood) testing for food allergies is highly specific but very insensitive. False negatives are extremely rare so a negative test is almost always truly negative. False positives can occur so a positive food test should be taken with a grain of salt. In this situation, oral food challenge may be beneficial in a safe medical environment with appropriate supplies on hand in case of anaphylaxis (oxygen/Benadryl/steroids/Epi-pen). Helpful here to get a food diary/history
3) Cross-reactivities common with peanuts/tree nuts/lentils/soybeans so cautious approach to any serum test showing positive food allergy (don't automatically assume you are allergic to particular food).
4) Get an epi-pen if not done already and know how to use it.
5) Cashews/pistachios have some strong cross-reactivity and walnut/pecans have strong cross-reactivity. You might be allergic to one group of tree nuts and not the other.
6) Oral food challenge might be your best (find an ENT/Allergiest) who performs them in their office. Find out approximate cost and be prepared to be there all day if you're interested.0 -
Alluminati wrote: »SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?
The naturopath is NOT a professional. They are a quack. Blood draws are not the proper way to test for food allergies.
Yes and no. Usually the blood test is a more in-depth test for certain allergens. Usually you get a skin test first, and if you have severe reactions to some things, a doctor may order a blood test for that specific allergy that is causing the trouble so they can get a better idea of how to advise the patient. Blood tests are also more expensive so it's not something a doctor will order unless there is good reason to.
That's why I'm surprised that the naturopath went right to a blood test. If there was no skin prick test to guide them then just doing random blood tests doesn't make any sense. Just going by experience with my little one who has major allergies, as I am not an allergist myself.
This makes a lot of sense. Thank you.0 -
Found this:
http://www.foodallergy.org/diagnosis-and-testing/blood-testsAbout 50-60 percent of all blood tests and skin prick tests will yield a “false positive” result. This means that the test shows positive even though you are not really allergic to the food being tested. These results occur for two reasons:- The test may be measuring your response to the undigested food proteins. It is possible that after digestion, the food protein that enters your bloodstream is no longer detected by your IgE.
- The test may be detecting proteins that are similar among foods but do not trigger allergic reactions. For example, if you are allergic to peanuts, your tests may show a positive response to other members of the legume family, such as green beans, even if eating green beans has never been a problem for you.
I think with the info you have, you could try an elimination process and see how you feel? At least you wouldn't be taking shots in the dark.
Also, the labs that naturopaths use are legit and often times are the same labs used by healthcare providers. At least here in the U.S. I've ordered tests on my own through DirectLabs and had my blood drawn at Quest Diagnostics, which is a large medical testing lab and often the same place I end up when my MD orders testing. Lab testing is tightly regulated. The problem with naturopaths is you are paying out the *** for visit fees, supplements, and possibly even useless testing.0 -
A few things:
1) Skin prick tests (SPT) are only as good as the nurse/MA performing them (high incidence of false positives and false negatives) especially in regards to SPT for foods so I would be wary of those results (doesn't mean they're wrong just be aware).
2) Serum (blood) testing for food allergies is highly specific but very insensitive. False negatives are extremely rare so a negative test is almost always truly negative. False positives can occur so a positive food test should be taken with a grain of salt. In this situation, oral food challenge may be beneficial in a safe medical environment with appropriate supplies on hand in case of anaphylaxis (oxygen/Benadryl/steroids/Epi-pen). Helpful here to get a food diary/history
3) Cross-reactivities common with peanuts/tree nuts/lentils/soybeans so cautious approach to any serum test showing positive food allergy (don't automatically assume you are allergic to particular food).
4) Get an epi-pen if not done already and know how to use it.
5) Cashews/pistachios have some strong cross-reactivity and walnut/pecans have strong cross-reactivity. You might be allergic to one group of tree nuts and not the other.
6) Oral food challenge might be your best (find an ENT/Allergiest) who performs them in their office. Find out approximate cost and be prepared to be there all day if you're interested.
Excellent, thanks for this. I do have an Epi pen and hope I never have to use it. I will look into the oral food challenge.0 -
One other point I want to clarify for both SPT and serum testing is that their positive predictive value is poor. All positives must be thoroughly examined/clarified.0
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well everything they tested me for and told me I was allergic to I am.so cant be too far off.0
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