Comments on: Allergy UK Wants YorkTest IgG Food Intolerance Tests Available on NHS

By: AnnW

AnnW — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:50:20 +0000

Suzanne I have read with interest your short article re. my plight, same as you. I have seen IBS Specialist and left with taking Movicol every day, no problem with this but like you have distended stomach every day and severe most days. I am very interested to know if abstaining has worked for you?
Thanks

By: James

James — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:14:12 +0000

Suzanne

Has the period of abstinence worked for you?

By: jonhw

jonhw — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:32:14 +0000

Are you sure it will be a dietitian? Yorktest previously used nutritionists instead (not the same thing).

By: Suzanne Johnson

Suzanne Johnson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:49:17 +0000

Thanks for the reply. I will be discussing this with a dietician shortly through York Test as that is included in the price. Also, hopefully I will be able to re-introduce these foods after several months of abstination although I certainly don’t fancy paying out again for another test to see if I can!
Agree that these foods are staple foods. I can certainly manage without bread, cakes etc from the yeast point of view as I need to lose some weight anyway! Re the milk, Soya is actually not bad and if needs be I could supplement with Calichew or similar. I will miss eggs though!
Will see how it all goes ….

By: jonhw

jonhw — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:30:31 +0000

I’d suggest discussing your plans with a doctor or dietitian – to avoid the potential risks of avoiding what are, for many people, staple foods.

By: Suzanne Johnson

Suzanne Johnson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:42:04 +0000

I’ve actually just done this test which came back that I should avoid milk, eggs and yeast mainly and a couple of other foods came up low. Have suffered with bloating/IBS symptoms for years so will now see whether avoiding them for a few months makes any difference.

By: jonhw

jonhw — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:44:59 +0000

I couldn’t say whether these doctors ‘agree with’ the test or not, nor to what extent they endorse them. The important issue, though, is whether or not there is good evidence that the test is clinically useful – I would argue that there is not.

By: Suzanne Johnson

Suzanne Johnson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:24:54 +0000

Surely Drs Chris Steele and Hilary Jones wouldn’t endorse the York Test if they didn’t agree with it?

By: jonhw

jonhw — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:20:27 +0000

I’m not aware of good evidence that the IgG tests are useful for eczema or dermatitis. These markers are also present in healthy people. Sorry – probably not what you want to hear.

Sorry to hear that you can’t see a dietitian on the NHS. Have you asked about seeing an allergy specialist? Sadly, it can be hard to see both types of professionals on the NHS – too much demand, and too little supply. If you’re considering paying for a Yorktest, you could look at putting some of what you would have spent on this towards seeing a dietitian or allergy specialist – you could ask your GP for a private referral. You shouldn’t have to do this – the NHS should offer better provision – but sadly paying to see someone may be necessary if you would like to do so within a reasonable timescale.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:50:33 +0000

Thanks for your article, that was very informative.

I have been considering the York Test following year long problems with what three consultant dermatologists consider atopic eczema/dermatitis on the face with some possible food allergy elements across the arms and legs.

Neither steroid creams, elidel nor protopic have been of much use in treating the symptoms and I have not been able to get a referral to a dietician, so I am at the end of my wits.

Considering my symptoms I was thinking that IgG might actually be a good marker (as its not bowel related).

Would taking this test nevertheless be a waste of my time or could it help?