Allergy Skin Testing: Should it hurt this bad?

  • Thread starter Thread starter avalonrose
  • Start date Start date
A

avalonrose

Guest
I had allergy testing and had to STOP after 25 injections because it hurt so bad. I would say the severity of each injection was about like having a flu shot. Each shot even drew a little blood. Now seven hours later, my arms are covered in scabs.
Just wondering if this is normal? I've done some researching on the web and most say it doesn't hurt that bad. Then again, most of these people had what they are calling a "scratch" test...what I had were full on injections in my arms. I think I was supposed to have more than 100 injections. I just couldn't take it, so they are doing blood testing instead. I know that's not as accurate but I'm hoping they will find something I'm allergic to.
btw, I generally have a pretty high tolerance for pain.
 
No, my testing didn't hurt that bad. My "positives" itched pretty bad, but the testing itself wasn't painful.

I don't know why they decided to do full-on injections for you, the regular scratch test is usually very accurate. Or were your scratch tests negative?
 
I've had the scratch test done 3 times and the injection type testing done most recently.

The injection type testing seemed to be much more specific in identifying the severity of my allergies, but both types did identify my actually allergies fairly similarly.

It was a lot of injections. It was a couple years ago, but I think I had about 180 injections in about 2-2 1/2 hours. Rows and rows of them up and down my arms, inside and out, and shoulders.

For me, while the shots weren't pleasant, they weren't any worse than the series of immunotherapy injections I've had over the years. There were just lots and lots of them. For someone who doesn't like shots, the scratch test would be a much better option. They gave me an antihistamine afterwarRAB. I also used an anti-itch cream. Some of my reactions went away quickly, but other reactions were there for several days afterwarRAB. It was uncomfortable, but I wouldn't expect pain so much as discomfort.:(

If you have environmental allergies, the blood test really isn't the best option. You should ask about the scratch testing. I actually got a second opinion a couple years ago from a different specialist. One did the injection testing and the other the scratch tests. Might be worth considering.
 
Hmmm. No, I've never had a scratch test done before at all! I don't think my dr's office even uses the scratch test. Can you tell me how the scratch test is done? Is it not with real needles?
 
It's really is just a scratch...done on top of the skin, not injected into the muscle...sort of like a bug bite. The spots clear up fairly quickly...I think the last time I had it done all was gone within 24-48 hours. They did mine on my back the last time which was much better to me than the arms which was where I had them done before. I scored a 3 or 4 on all the allergens so it was pretty intense for a bit!
When they went to break out the grasses for my shots, they did those scratches (individual grasses) they did them on my forearm as there were maybe only 4-6 of them.

Mountain Reader is correct that the blood test does not do as good a job on environmental allergies as the srcatch test. Blood tests are good for food allergies though if you are looking at them as well. Also, they do drug allergy testing via the scratch test so I think that's a good reference for how good it is and how easy to control any reaction.
 
Ugh! Why doesn't my doctor do the scratch test when it sounRAB pretty much painless! I did some further research and what I had was the skin end point titration test. From what I gather, it's the most painful and with as many times as they poke you, kind of barbaric.
 
That's a good question to ask him! Along with why do a blood test for environmental allergies when that isn't as good as the scratch test. What kind of doc are you seeing?
 
Back
Top