HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Have any of you had food sensitivity blood testing done?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/7/2012 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
I don't mean allergy testing but food sensitivity testing.

Anyone have it done? If so, did you find your results consistent with the foods that affect your GI tract?
Posted 4/9/2012 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I had LEAP testing done;  they take 4 tubes of blood and test 150 commom foods.  They give you a graph of your results showing foods as red, yellow and green.  My off the chart "red" foods were garlic, cinnamon, yogurt, apples, cucumbers, salmon, apricots and sodium benzoate.  My high "yellow" were red dye#40, zucchini and peanuts.  Talk about having to change my diet!  I used to be such a garlic lover, and garlic, cinnamon or apples are in almost everything.

 

I was diagnosed with UC and a C-deficil infection in 2005, finally, after 9 days in the hospital.  Stayed pretty well in control on 12 asacol a day, though I had frequent heartburn and loose stools.  My regular doctor suggested the LEAP testing, and when the results came back I immediately changed my diet, eliminating all of the red and yellow foods.  Instantly, no more heartburn unless I inadvertently had garlic or peanuts in something at a restaurant.  My GI says diet has nothing to do with UC, but I think he's wrong.  I slowly decreased my asacol over the last 2 years, against the GI's advice, and I haven't had a single flare in almost 4 years.  My insurance plan changed, and the new charge for the asacol was $932.00 for a 3 month supply!  Since I had been thinking I didn't need it, I decreased asacol to 4 pills daily for a couple of months, and stopped taking it on March 1st.  I feel exactly the same - no problems unless I get some garlic in a restaurant, and then I have immediate heartburn and my feet swell up.  I'd had the swelling foot problem several times a week forever, didn't know why - it's the garlic!

 

I firmly believe that my diet caused my UC.  I ate garlic pretty much every day, and yogurt.  Since my sensitivity was so high to these, I just believe they were a factor.  I feel just fine unless I have a "red" food.  The LEAP testing changed my life.  Search LEAP and you should get their website.  When my testing was done, my doctor billed it as preventative and they paid it 100%. 

Posted 4/9/2012 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
chrissy72,

Yes, I too, like Brisketbabe, had the LEAP test done ages ago - it was hugely expensive for me as it was all out of pocket, but

well worth it. And whenever I ate (things I loved on the no-no list): figs, tomatoes, grapes, spinach, coconut anything, red dye #, acetominophen, plus a few other things I can't seem to remember at this point (I'm very tired and sleepy as I am writing this)  -sure enough I'd have the cramping and the runs.

Consequently those have become forbidden foods. Interestingly, I don't remember lactose, casein, any grains or wheat coming into play and yet those bother me too. But they say food allergies/intolerances change every 7 years and more things get added to that list - and the last time I did the LEAP was more than 15 years ago.

 

Posted 4/9/2012 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
Wow that sounds like a great test, not very much blood! I was tested and had at least 40 tubes taken (2 different times). I was honestly mildly reactive to everything so I didn't really care to do anything about it. However, this LEAP test sounds like a good option to try. I think I may ask for it.
Posted 4/10/2012 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I believe that most people who have had IgG food sensitivity tests done aren't on the forums, cause well... they aren't sick :P I'm in remission and check here sometimes to see whats new.

I got tested when I was 12 years old first diagnosed. I was not responding to steroids and was shrivling up. The test showed casien, eggs, gluten, oranges, pineapple and navy beans were 3+. I stayed off those foods and I got better magically. Strange eh... I avoided eggs for my whole life (now Im 21) and I can tolerate small amounts of egg in baked goods, but holy moly, clear out the room if I eat eggs cause it'll stink and I'll be in pain.

Had a test recently, and eggs are still 3+ and same for gluten. Which is strange because over time IgG antibodies go down (supposivley) and yeah, I just still cant eat that stuff without hurting later on in the day... Wheat is more forgiving when I "cheat" on my diet and eat it, but eggs are a serious no no.

And beans are a never never, last time i ate a can of beans I had a weird lump on my forehead when I woke up, yeah, a lump... Haha, I have NO clue what the hell it was, but it was fluid or something swelling, and it went down after a few days. I tried again a few months later to eat beans and another lump swole up the next day and it was right between my eyebrows. It's a mystery...
Posted 4/10/2012 12:14 AM (GMT 0)

brisketbabe said...
I had LEAP testing done;  they take 4 tubes of blood and test 150 commom foods.  They give you a graph of your results showing foods as red, yellow and green.  My off the chart "red" foods were garlic, cinnamon, yogurt, apples, cucumbers, salmon, apricots and sodium benzoate.  My high "yellow" were red dye#40, zucchini and peanuts.  Talk about having to change my diet!  I used to be such a garlic lover, and garlic, cinnamon or apples are in almost everything.

 

I was diagnosed with UC and a C-deficil infection in 2005, finally, after 9 days in the hospital.  Stayed pretty well in control on 12 asacol a day, though I had frequent heartburn and loose stools.  My regular doctor suggested the LEAP testing, and when the results came back I immediately changed my diet, eliminating all of the red and yellow foods.  Instantly, no more heartburn unless I inadvertently had garlic or peanuts in something at a restaurant.  My GI says diet has nothing to do with UC, but I think he's wrong.  I slowly decreased my asacol over the last 2 years, against the GI's advice, and I haven't had a single flare in almost 4 years.  My insurance plan changed, and the new charge for the asacol was $932.00 for a 3 month supply!  Since I had been thinking I didn't need it, I decreased asacol to 4 pills daily for a couple of months, and stopped taking it on March 1st.  I feel exactly the same - no problems unless I get some garlic in a restaurant, and then I have immediate heartburn and my feet swell up.  I'd had the swelling foot problem several times a week forever, didn't know why - it's the garlic!

 

I firmly believe that my diet caused my UC.  I ate garlic pretty much every day, and yogurt.  Since my sensitivity was so high to these, I just believe they were a factor.  I feel just fine unless I have a "red" food.  The LEAP testing changed my life.  Search LEAP and you should get their website.  When my testing was done, my doctor billed it as preventative and they paid it 100%. 

 

WOW!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!! i cancelled my testing on the urge it would be a wast of money bu my GI cause "diet soesnt have anything to do with UC" and now i re make myself an appt ,... cause i DO feel my diet has ALOT to do with my UC and the severity of it at the very least!

Posted 4/10/2012 12:20 AM (GMT 0)

ColitisMastery said...
I believe that most people who have had IgG food sensitivity tests done aren't on the forums, cause well... they aren't sick :P I'm in remission and check here sometimes to see whats new.

I got tested when I was 12 years old first diagnosed. I was not responding to steroids and was shrivling up. The test showed casien, eggs, gluten, oranges, pineapple and navy beans were 3+. I stayed off those foods and I got better magically. Strange eh... I avoided eggs for my whole life (now Im 21) and I can tolerate small amounts of egg in baked goods, but holy moly, clear out the room if I eat eggs cause it'll stink and I'll be in pain.

Had a test recently, and eggs are still 3+ and same for gluten. Which is strange because over time IgG antibodies go down (supposivley) and yeah, I just still cant eat that stuff without hurting later on in the day... Wheat is more forgiving when I "cheat" on my diet and eat it, but eggs are a serious no no.

And beans are a never never, last time i ate a can of beans I had a weird lump on my forehead when I woke up, yeah, a lump... Haha, I have NO clue what the hell it was, but it was fluid or something swelling, and it went down after a few days. I tried again a few months later to eat beans and another lump swole up the next day and it was right between my eyebrows. It's a mystery...

Have you noticed a change after gallbladder surgery? what was wrong with your gallbladder? i have a refraction ? gallbladder issue after i did the HIDa scan, i think they call it and i have wondered what role it plays in my tummy issues... cause my regular dr says it can cause issues but i cant tell some from that or uc .

Posted 4/10/2012 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
I just called LEAP, the cost is $495, which my insurance wont cover becaseu its an out of state lab.  Is there any other type of IgG testing that may be reliable? What is so special about leap?

Posted 4/10/2012 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I had an ELISA/ACT test done last year as well as some ten years ago and in both cases the results do not remotely correlate with what seems to bother me... personally, based on my own experience, I find them worthless and I am rather sceptical behind the science behind these tests, though I am trying to keep an open mind (I push the envelope on natural therapies and tests since I have never been able to get as rock solid a remission as I would like, and still flare atleast 1-2x a year lately although I get them under control pretty fast).. Anyway, here is a sceptical article which makes good points ... (you may have to paste it to your browser to go to the article)

http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm

Post Edited (Probiotic) : 4/10/2012 10:14:09 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 12/19/2016 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I contacted a dietitian that specializes in allergies, etc. She had me do the LEAPS/MRT-II test at cost ($300).
It did not pick up my Celiac or MCAS (effectively sulfite allergy). It only reported Clams as 'red' reaction level and oranges as 'mid-yellow'. It recommended to eat Rye, Garlic, onions, and lots of stuff I can't eat at all.

Neither Celiac and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is a true allergy, and I didn't expect it to pick it up... and it didn't. Glad I didn't pay retail on that test.

P.S. General comment on sulfites, most non-organic chicken in stores is treated with sulfited "solution"... Look for 5% retained WATER only... No solutions, natural flavoring, etc.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply