Preparing for an appointment

To get the most from your appointment, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and to know what to expect from your doctor.

• Description of your symptoms. Be ready to tell your doctor what happened after you ate red meat, including how long it took for a reaction to occur. Be prepared to describe the type of red meat you ate as well as the portion size.
• History of tick bites or possible exposure to ticks. Your doctor will need to know where you've spent time outdoors and how often, as well as how many tick bites you're aware of having experienced.
• Make a list of all medications you're taking. Include vitamins or supplements.
• Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to recall all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who comes with you may remember something you missed or forgot.
• Write down any questions you have.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Are my symptoms likely caused by a red meat allergy?
• What else might be causing my symptoms?
• What tests do I need?
• What's the best treatment?
• Should I see a specialist?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
• Do I need to carry an epinephrine autoinjector?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

• When did you begin noticing symptoms?
• What type of meat and how much did you eat before symptoms appeared?
• After eating red meat, how long did it take symptoms to appear?
• Are you currently spending time or have you in the past spent time outdoors in tick-infested areas?
• Have you been bitten by a tick in the past? How many times? What did these ticks look like?
• Did you take any over-the-counter allergy medications, such as antihistamines, and if so, did they help?
• Does your reaction seem to be triggered only by red meat or by other foods as well?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime

If you suspect you have alpha-gal syndrome, avoid eating red meat until your doctor's appointment. If you have a severe reaction, seek emergency help.