Two years after giving up gluten I started to get this "eye pain" when I ate certain foods. It took me a long time just to realize that is was foods causing these headaches. Once I did, I spent the next 3 years trying to figure out what foods caused this pain. Other foods would make my nose completely stuffed up. I tried asking doctors about it and I got a xray of my sinuses because for a long time I thought it was my sinuses. It wasn't, at least the eye pain wasn't.
Then this past November I was just so frustrated and desperate with these food triggered headaches I decided to spend the money and get an allergy test. I decided to do the at home finger prick test, a 96 food panel for allergies from Optimum Health Resources ( formerly York Laboratories) The test cost $347. Some websites actually recommended this company (including celiac.com) On Optimum Health Resource's website it says that they were featured in Women's First magazine. So I thought it was a reputable company.
I don't know why I didn't search the forums for reviews like I do before buying anything or going anywhere for a service. BIG MISTAKE on my part. An even bigger mistake not to try to contact them before I ordered the test.
It wasn't until 8 weeks went by after sending the test back ( on their site it says it takes 6-8 weeks to get results back) that I started to do more research on them. Then I found all of the complaints on the message boards of
glutenfreeforum.com. I started to get worried. At this point I called and left a message and e-mailed the company, expecting some response. I received no response whatsoever. They don't actually have a phone number where you can reach someone, it's just a machine. I continued to call and e-mail and leave messages.
On the forum some people said that they did get their results eventually after 12 weeks, so I still had hope, but the weeks kept passing. This all started 6 months ago!! Still no word from them. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and still they did not reply. I urge anyone who is having similar problems with them to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and please contact me. Maybe a group of people with have more impact than just one person.
If anyone has any advice I welcome it. I am not sure what my next step should be to get my money back. Could I take them to small claims court even though they are across they U.S.? Or should I contact a Florida Newspaper/News channel? I have no idea.
Please, Please DO NOT use Optimum Health Resources. It is unbelievable that they continue to take (steal) people's money. They should not be allowed to do business.
