Food Allergy Testing for Migraine Triggers
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I suffer from both migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. I’ve been aware for a number of years of studies relating IgG testing to improvement in both migraines and IBS and have asked several doctors (neurologists, gastroenterologists, and 1 internist) about doing an IgG test to see if it will work for me. The neuros and gastros all dismissed it without further thought, and the internist steered me to an ALCAT test that showed I was sensitive to a vast number of foods, including soy, gluten, wheat, and high-fructose corn syrup. After 6 months of sticking to a very restricted diet, and with at best some slight improvement in the headaches and no improvement in the IBS, I gave up on the diet.
Has anyone actually had IgG testing and would be willing to share their experience?
Check out my comment below about the LRA by ELISA/ACT test. My biggest trigger is odors so nothing else really seems to matter. I eat a very clean diet anyway.
I have not had food allergy tests done, but kept a food diary for several months at my doctor’s suggestion.
Found a few foods that are instant triggers… Pork, chocolate, cold cuts, anything with aspartame or MSG.
Not sure what test are available in Canada!
FYI – There is a different blood test available called LRA.
It analyzes the lymphocytes, the body’s long lived, memory-carrying white blood cells that indicate health and disease in the body. It tests all three types of delayed sensitivity reactions through lymphocyte activation:
* Reactive antibody (IgA, IgM, and IgG)
* Immune complexes
* T cell direct activation
I had it 10 years ago. Can’t say that it helped me. They test for food, mold, toxic minerals, food additives and preservatives, food colorings, and environmental chemicals.
I shouldn’t say it hasn’t helped. It showed that I am affected by xylene which is in petroleum. It is used widely in many things so it did help me understand my reaction to so many environmental factors.