Here’s exactly what happens at your first visit, whether the appointment is for you or your child — what to prepare, what the visit looks like, what it costs, and what you’ll walk out with.
Before your first visit
Pause antihistamines — but not asthma medicine
Antihistamines block skin testing and can make a real allergy look like nothing at all. If skin testing is likely, stop non-drowsy antihistamines such as cetirizine, loratadine or fexofenadine about 5 days before the appointment. Keep taking asthma controllers, nasal sprays, and every other daily medicine as normal. If you’re not sure what you or your child is taking, call us and read us the labels — we’ll sort it out.
It also helps enormously to spend ten minutes writing down the story before you come. Allergy diagnosis leans on history more than any test, and details fade fast.
- Each reaction: the food or exposure involved, how long until symptoms began, what the symptoms were, how long they lasted, and what you gave.
- Photos. A picture of the rash or swelling on your phone is worth more than any description — take them, and don’t delete them.
- The pattern: time of year, indoors or outdoors, at home or at grandma’s, better or worse on vacation.
- Family history of allergy, asthma or eczema.
What to bring
- Insurance card and photo ID.
- A list of all current medicines and supplements, including over-the-counter ones.
- Any previous allergy or asthma test results, if another office did them.
- Your primary care doctor’s or pediatrician’s name and office.
- Any inhalers or auto-injectors — we’ll check technique and expiry dates.
- Something to pass the 20-minute wait if skin testing is done — a book, or something quiet for a child.
What happens at the visit
Plan for 45 to 60 minutes. If skin testing happens the same day, add about 30 minutes for the test and results.
1
The conversation
We go through the history properly, do an exam, and work out which of the possibilities actually fit. This is the part that determines everything else — so it gets real time.
2
Testing, if it’s needed
Usually skin prick testing on the back or forearm — a light scratch, not an injection. It itches for a few minutes, results read in about 20. Bloodwork or spirometry instead when those fit better.
3
Your plan
Results explained, prescriptions if needed, help with school paperwork, and a plan that says what to do, when, and who to call.
Insurance, referrals and costs
We accept most major insurance plans. When you book, our front desk can help check your benefits — including whether your plan needs a referral from your primary care doctor — and answer questions about costs.
If a plan we recommend turns out not to be affordable, tell us and we can talk through other options.
School, childcare and sports paperwork
We can help with the forms your child needs — anaphylaxis and asthma action plans, medication authorization forms so inhalers and auto-injectors can be kept at school, 504 plan documentation, camp and sports physical allergy sections, and letters for airlines or school trips when they’re needed.
Bring the specific forms your school or childcare requires to your visit. If you need copies later in the year, call the office.
Still have questions? Our FAQ covers the most common ones, or just give us a call.
Ready to book that first visit?
Our front desk can help check your benefits, let you know whether to pause antihistamines, and find you a time.