[nippa&pippa]

Moof's thread about uk need re-civiling, got worst kids' allergies? remind me that i need to ask fellow members about their experiences with allergies and ezcema.

I got two children with food allergies and one of them is suffering very bad eczema at the moment that in the end i had to contact UK's helpline for advice on eczema to bring it under control badly, now working :nice1

My GP haven't got any clue on how to deal with children with food allergies. So I left him to find out how to refer etc...that was a month ago:roll I am see GP on wed, so will refresh his memory :nice1

Do you feel that NZ's GPs is far behind in understand allergies and ezcema?
Or just because there is small populations in NZ compare with UK's 60 millions make the number of allergies in NZ is so low that most GP never came across a child with allergies? what do you think?

[jubjub]

Sounds like you have a GP that has not much experience, a coffee group friend has a baby with severe allergies, and she has had all the help she has needed.

Have a look at this board, there is an allergies section on it, as well as a good parenting bit..

http://www2.everybody.co.nz/forum/ubbthreads.php?Cat=0

Maybe one of the fellow Christchurch mums may be able to put you onto a good gp for allergies??

[Debbie]

My son has a bad allergy and as luck should have it |I met the a member of NZ allergy group who gave me their contact details.
They then gave me the the email and web for Allergy NZ

help@allergy.org.nz and www.allergy.org.nz
Allergy NZ have a phone No.093032024 for Auckland and 0800340800 for outside auckland which is 24hr and can request info from them. They sent me a list of their recommended Dr's.

This individual also said I should save my time and just tell the GP that I want to go private and tell them the specialist I want to use, but I haven't needed to do that yet.

I'm off to speak to my son's GP about his allergy today as my son's school need special funding to care for him during meal times and trips. I'm hoping the GP is up to it! I'll let you know what I find.
Debbie

[Super_BQ]

I still remember my 1st experience visiting NZ about 10 years ago. I knew I suffered from something as my nose would plug up and my eyes would go all itchy. The 1st visit was only a 2 week vacation so no alarm to seek medical advice.

I don't suffer from any real food allergies - non that are life threatening (fresh peaches & cherries do itch my throat). However I do suffer from many inhalant allergies.

Over the years, my body somewhat tried to build a resistant to these airborn allergies. But it wasn't until last year that I really too a serious attempt in battling them. (I wished I started treament several years ago). Over the years i've tried every single known anti-histamine tablets you could buy at the pharmacy (prescription & over the counter). None of them worked.

I had to see 2 GPs in Christchurch before I could get a referral to the specialist. You are right, majority of GPs in NZ really don't care or genuinely don't go that extra mile to help their patients (who would want to as ACC covers it). I know because 2 of my cousins are newly doctors and to hear their attitudes when they work in the ER or doing locum work, it's frightens me. To know that what one person can do by searching online for the answers is better than what your GP can advise you is simply not right. :( While the whole time I knew that I had a serious allergy problem and wanted to see the only allergy specialist in Christchurch, - it's not efficient.

1st GP I saw costed $55 and only prescribed me some anit-histamines (despite I told her they don't work on me).

2nd visit to GP sent me to Medlab to do the skin prick test - another $55 for the GP visit + $100 for Medlab

3rd visit with 2nd GP to confirm Medlab results I was "yes you do appear to be highly allergic"

4th visit to the specialist $380 for the confirmation that I was allergic with the same results that MedLab had produced.

This is where the US medical system has every other socialist country beat. If you've got a problem, you can pay for it and get better treatment! :nice1 Not 5 or 6 weeks later to only confirm of your allergies before treatment can begin. I suppose in a socialised country, even if you got $, the same old obsolete equipment serves you as well as those that have no income.

Treatment in NZ is not cheap. The allergy extracts isn't the bulk of the cost. The majority of the cost is the weekly shots - each time I see Dr. Broom I pay $50. This is done over a 2 year period = $5200 not counting extracts.

When I was the US carrying my extracts, I paid a standard flat rate of $32usd which works out to be cheaper. I didn't even have to book an appointment at the allergy centre.

On a different topic. About 3 years ago I discussed with my cousin doctor of the possibility of getting comprehensive full body MRI scans. My notion was that if all vehicles used on public roads go through a regular WOF test, it would seem logical the same could be applied to people. It's a known fact that the best chance of fighting cancer is early detection. I was persistent in wanting to pay however, her attitude was it would be a complete waste of resource.

Looks like i'll be going to China to do my full body MRI & PET scan. BTW, does NZ even have such a PET machine?

BQ

[Diny]

My eldest son has more allergies than you can poke a stick at - a couple of them life threatening.

We had 100% fantastic treatment from the doctors back in the UK and have had the same 100% fantastic treatment here in NZ.

Diny

[Debbie]

Well my son saw his GP and she was great, compleated all his forms for school, explained all his latest allegy results to me. I got the script for the 4 epi-pens I am used to having from the UK although the Dr did remind me this was going to be an expensive habbit. I haven't felt the need to ask for a private referal for him as at this time she seems more than able and happy to take on this care.
My only advise would be find a GP who you are happy with. Good luck with that.
Debbie

[Diny]

I got the script for the 4 epi-pens I am used to having from the UK although the Dr did remind me this was going to be an expensive habbit.
Debbie


Debbie - I can't rmember the exact amount (but it is on this forum somewhere). The epipens for our eldest were in the region of $195 each, with no govt subsidy.

However, they're a 'must have' item, so no quibbles there.

Diny

[nippa&pippa]

Thought let you know up to date

My dr finally got informations about allergies tests for children from his fellow GP but for some reasons it was delay for a month till I got fed up waiting for his call and went to see him. Got referral letter on spot and my GP's receptiontist rang the southern community laboratory for appt. We were offered appt on same day :eek: I can't believe how quick compare with 3 months waiting in UK. Unfortuntely she had anti-histamine taken at 3am that day and they want 3 days free of anti-histamine. So we had to wait three days which mean last monday we went to lab.

The lab is bit like clinic that we walked into reception to sign in and wait for name called. My daughter's name was call straight away that i didn't had chance to sit down. We were taken to small room where she was carry out (very stressful) tests as she was too young at 13months to understand what going on...
The test was done within 15mins and test results was given to me and copy of result was send to dr next day. So far, she just allergic to grass (hayfever) but very pleased she is ok with egg. My son isn't very happy with this.....
They refused to do fish and nut allergy test because of risk of anaphylactic shock :exit especially there is already nut and fish allergies in family. Asked us to go back to GP to refer her to Medlab as they are equiped to deal with shock.

Saw GP last friday and was given letter for Romilly and Ashley. I want both test this time after what happen on the plane that was so bad, we thought there is possible that Ashley may have develop fish allergy, so just checking out....
I went to Medlab today, and was given appts for test on this friday at St George's...so quick again! I am so shocked after UK's system...and also both tests are free (not sure why? children under 6?). So far I am very impress.

[nippa&pippa]

Both children had their allergy test today, very impressive and quick as we turned up half hour too early as we were so nervous about the outcome of test and risk of shocks, we got seen straight away :nice1 . I was so glad that my OH turn up with me as need two of us to pin our daughter down flat for 10mins, very stressful...as she is too young to use arms whereas our son had arms but got upset, so we had to hold his arms too...again very stressful.
The outcome of test show us that we did right thing to get them test as we had shock results :wah . Next step is to see GP and discuss what we do next especially with our daughter's result.

[migratory birds]

I practice as a wholistic physician (still in the US, planning move in the next year to NZ) and find that most MDs here in the US, and it sounds like NZ as well, approach allergies and eczema from a symptomatic suppression/palliative standpoint (antihistamines for hives and topical corticosteroid creams for eczema) rather than identifying and treating the root cause.

I have seen many cases of eczema, including severe cases involving secondary staph infections, allergies and asthma resolve by addressing the root cause/s and supporting the body in healing itself with nutrient/herbal/homeopathic therapies.

[Debbie P.]

I practice as a wholistic physician (still in the US, planning move in the next year to NZ) and find that most MDs here in the US, and it sounds like NZ as well, approach allergies and eczema from a symptomatic suppression/palliative standpoint (antihistamines for hives and topical corticosteroid creams for eczema) rather than identifying and treating the root cause.

I have seen many cases of eczema, including severe cases involving secondary staph infections, allergies and asthma resolve by addressing the root cause/s and supporting the body in healing itself with nutrient/herbal/homeopathic therapies.

I agree with this - I'm not a holistic practitioner, but I know a few people who use homeopathy. A friend used it as an alternative to her 8 year old daughter being put through the trauma of an operation to clear her sinuses - turned out she was allergic to blackcurrent juice; she had homeopathic treatment and problem never came back (she's now 22).

[nippa&pippa]

I practice as a wholistic physician (still in the US, planning move in the next year to NZ) and find that most MDs here in the US, and it sounds like NZ as well, approach allergies and eczema from a symptomatic suppression/palliative standpoint (antihistamines for hives and topical corticosteroid creams for eczema) rather than identifying and treating the root cause.

I have seen many cases of eczema, including severe cases involving secondary staph infections, allergies and asthma resolve by addressing the root cause/s and supporting the body in healing itself with nutrient/herbal/homeopathic therapies.

Thanks for your infomations, yes i am struggling to find the pinpoint cause of my daughter's ezcema at her ankles areas, had good and bad days with it..She is clearly unhappy with ankles even she is only 13months that she would come to me and point at her ankles, so i have to give her 50%+50% cream to relieve but not keen on using hydrocortisone cream all the time...When are you coming to NZ!!!