I am also getting the sense that many of us are in the market for a new allergist . . . or at least additional opinions as to diagnosis and prognosis and potential therapies or treatments.
My family is.
Amazing how you read my mind--I came to the boards this morning to post just this. Or really, a plea for a lead on a new allergist who specializes in FOOD allergies in adults. The allergist I've seeing since being diagnosed last summer is...okay. But just okay. I've learned everything I
really needed to know to figure out how to live with LFTA on a day-to-day basis from these boards, and other reliable websites. It's almost shocking to me when I think back on how little education I got from this doctor.
But the deal-breaker for me was this: On my last visit, he decided, seemingly on the spot, that I fall under the category of "idiopathic" anaphylaxis because I'd had a couple of reactions I couldn't immediately pinpoint the cause of. I felt at the time that the label didn't apply, as I knew for a fact that I had in the past reacted to tree nuts and to strawberries, both allergies which this same dr diagnosed me with just a couple months before. When I protested (politely but firmly) that I believed these latest reactions had a food-related cause but hadn't identified it yet, he got very curt and said, "So are
you the doctor now? If that's what you think, fine, but why bother coming to me!"
And he proceeded to delete the idiopathic dx. I was shocked he switched the dx back again on a dime like that, and when I asked why, he said because I disagreed with him! The whole thing was really confusing, and didn't leave me feeling like I was in the right place for me. I don't think I can deal with a doc so touchy that I can't have a conversation or ask a question.
Sooo, longwinded way of saying HELP! Anyone know of a good doc in the
St. Louis area who focuses on food allergies? From all the literature in the office and forms I had to fill out as a new patient, I definitely get the vibe that this guy is more environmental. I've searched the internet but haven't been able to identify a non-pediatric allergist who has a focus on food rather than asthma/environmental allergies. I'm surprised because we've got several good-sized med centers here.
Oh, by the way: I later discovered the source of the main mystery reaction. Pizza I had safely eaten many times had suddenly become unsafe for TN due to a change in the flour used to make the dough! (The other reaction didn't seem so mysterious to me--walking through a cafeteria where they were frying something in a wok. Turned around and walked out but was immediately dizzy and within 5 min was having the worst reaction I've ever had, featuring super-fun cardiovascular symptoms that were new for me. This dr said about this: "Hmm, I
suppose it's
possible that some allergens could become aeresolized when frying...but that shouldn't cause a reaction..."
I know now that it's not typical, but I'd already had several minor reactions from airborne/contact situations. Just feel like I'm not comfortable with a doc who's going to discredit my experiences just because they are not typical.
I'd sure appreciate a lead on a better doctor!
Thanks!
Swaygirl
Almonds, Walnuts, Strawberries