What to Expect at Your Visit with the Allergist
If you suffer from allergies and/or asthma and have decided to see an allergist, you should expect the following to happen at a comprehensive, state of the art allergy consultation:
- A comprehensive medical history, environmental survey, and physical exam by an allergist
- A panel of skin tests to identify your allergic triggers
- Lung function testing, if appropriate
- Personalized Treatment Plans
The allergist will first complete a thorough medical history, a detailed environmental survey, and a complete physical examination. Once these three components are completed and evaluated by the allergist, he/she will order a panel of allergy skin tests to determine your allergic triggers. The skin tests will be performed by a nurse or medical assistant. Most allergy testing is done on the back using a Multitest plastic applicator. The sterile plastic applicator is used to apply eight allergy tests at a time to the patient’s back in a nearly painless process. For standard allergy testing, no needles are used and blood is not analyzed. Typically, several applicators are applied. There is a fifteen minute waiting period to allow allergic reactions to develop. The reactions will consist of hives which will be measured to determine allergic reaction. At your first visit, your allergic triggers will be identified.
Lung function testing is often included in an allergy evaluation to determine if your lung function capacity has been compromised. State of the art, computerized lung function testing is available for adults and children as young as three years of age. Specialized lung function testing is also available at all locations of A&AS for adults and children with exercise induced symptoms and chronic cough.
A personalized treatment plan emphasizing environmental control based on your unique living conditions is the first plan of action in order to decrease the need for medications. Next, prescription medications are closely monitored to insure results and avoid potential side effects. Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots or allergy drops, is one of the most effective means of treating allergies and asthma, often resulting in near complete relief of symptoms. If symptoms are severe and/or persistent or you wish to minimize the need for medications or medications cause undesirable side effects, the allergist may prescribe a personalized allergy extract in one of two forms, allergy shots (subcutaneous) or allergy drops (sublingual) based on the results of your allergy skin testing. All extracts are produced on site in the A&AS extract laboratory in compliance with strict federal guidelines.
If you would like to see more specific detail about the medical services and treatment plans offered at Allergy & Asthma Specialists, visit our website at www.AllergyandAsthmaWellness.com/medical/services.
