Preparing for your allergy evaluation

Making your visit a pleasant and comfortable experience is our first priority at the Allergy Center. As a new patient, plan on having your first visit take one to two hours. If you are very allergic, your testing may have to be done on two separate days.

Before or at your first visit, you’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire so we can learn more about you, your family medical history and lifestyle. We will ask you questions such as:

• Exactly what symptoms you have
  
• When your symptoms started
  
• What, if anything, seems to improve or worsen your symptoms
  
• If you have sinus or breathing symptoms
  
• Whether you've recently had a cold or other respiratory infection
  
• If you have asthma or any known allergic conditions
  
• If you smoke, are exposed to secondhand smoke or are regularly exposed to other airborne pollutants
• What medications you take, including herbal remedies

Your allergy and medical history will be carefully evaluated by one of our practitioners who will also perform a comprehensive physical examination, in order to determine a preliminary diagnosis.

You will then undergo highly accurate and reproducible allergy skin and/or blood testing to best determine the appropriate, personalized treatment plan for your specific allergy problem

Our experienced clinical staff will help you understand your personalized treatment plan and how to implement it successfully. We will also help identify which medications and environmental changes might help your treatment.

If necessary, based on your total allergy evaluation, you will be placed on one of our immunotherapy programs specifically tailored for you.

Once allergy immunotherapy is started, results will vary for every patient. Some patients may experience almost immediate improvement, but typically it requires several months of treatment before you'll feel noticeably better. We will constantly re-evaluate your progress, retesting if necessary and continue to adjust your treatment plan for maximum results. Although it's tempting to stop treatment once you start feeling better, it's important that you continue treatment through its full course to ensure long-term effects.

Since allergy is a very treatable but chronic problem and prone to relapsing, we usually require periodic follow-up visits, with the frequency based on your condition and progress. Follow-up visits are shorter than initial visits.

IMPORTANT !! Please stop certain medications before skin testing

Antihistamines and other medications with antihistamine-like effects will interfere with skin testing. Please stop taking the following medicines 4 -7 days before skin testing:

• Antihistamine tablets, capsules, or liquids, with or without decongestants Astelin/Asterpro nasal spray
  
• Antidepressant medications called "tricyclic antidepressants"
  
• Over the counter allergy medicines, cold or cough remedies
  
• Over the counter sleeping aids, as they usually contain an antihistamine

Nasal sprays such as Atrovent, Flonase, Nasacort AQ, Nasonex, and Rhinocort Aqua do not interfere with skin testing and may be taken up to the time of skin testing. The only nasal spray that must be stopped before skin testing is Astelin/Astepro.
Inhaled medications for treating asthma such as albuterol, Advair, Flovent, Qvar, Pulmicort, and Xopenex as well as oral tablets prednisone and Singulair do not interfere with skin testing and may be taken up to the time of your office visit for skin testing.

If you have a question about which medications need to be stopped, and for how long they should be stopped before skin testing, please ask our friendly staff when making your allergy appointment.

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