Posted 9/6/2018 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I do suspect mast cell issues in myself. For me it seems to come and go, although it could be present all the time at a lower level. The symptoms I suspect for me:
- occasional throat pain, trouble swallowing pills, and reflux/silent reflux symptoms
- itching anywhere
- itchy bumps along my jawline
- episodes of sudden weakness or slight dizzyness, especially right after my evening dose of herbs and supplements
- strange skin sensations like burning or tingling that make my feel "allergic," especially soon after eating or taking herbs/supplements
Thinking back, some of these were strong symptoms at the onset of illness, long before I knew anything of Lyme or mast cells. They improved over time on their own.
There was a time in late 2015, when silent reflux was identified by a pulmonologist PA as the cause of some really bad symptoms. I got a Rx for Nexium and Zantac, which I took in pretty high doses for 6 months. It seemed to cure decade long nasal mucus and the red, burning, and sometimes swollen face that I'd had for 6 years. Those symptoms remained at bay after I stopped Nexium and Zantac.
I got real curious when those symptoms went away and thought it was most likely due to the H2 blocker. When I weaned myself off the drugs, I quit Nexium first and stayed on Zantac (H2 blocker). However, by itself it was not noticeably effective, so I weaned off it, too. If it had been, I would have stayed on it. The mucus and stuffy nose did come back somewhat but nothing like what it had been and seemed to fluctuate with estrogen fluctuations.
In the past 6-9 months, though, these symptoms are more noticeable - mucus and return of itchy bumps along jawline. I have not tried antihistamines (which I HATE), PPIs, or H2 blockers. I keep hoping I don't have to and can find another way to remediate any issues. In 2015, when I was on the PPI/H2 drugs, my menstrual cycles had also stopped. This was a month after my last normal period, and I got sent into a horribly bumpy perimenopausal ride, which i think I'm on the latter end of now. I haven't had a period since March. This is the longest time I've gone without one. However, there are times when my hormones try to rev up and do their thing, and it causes worse symptoms for me. The hormones can get caught up like that for weeks sometimes, and then it feels like they finally give up.
I have read there is a connection between hormones and histamine, so it all makes sense in my case. Not sure how men are affected but I know men can have mast cell problems, too.