New member--and sick

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tex
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Post by tex »

Kay wrote:Am I correct in thinking that dietary changes may give me acceptable relief?
Maybe, in the long run, but in all honesty, most members who have mast cell issues seem to need additional help from OTC antihistamines in order to get their mast cell issues settled down initially. After they are in remission, many find that they can then discontinue the antihistamines.
Kay wrote:Is the use of anti-histamines something I would do so that I could tolerate allergens and sensitivities. Or, is it wiser to avoid as many of the triggers as possible?
Using antihistamines should greatly reduce those classic allergy symptoms. Avoiding the triggers should eliminate the need for antihistamines, but many members find that during seasons when pollen, mold, or whatever causes their reactions is in the air, avoiding the problems can be extremely difficult.

Note that some people have the best results with brand A, while others do better with brand B. Some use combinations. Also, remember that antihistamines cannot reverse a reaction. The best they can do is to stop it from progressing. IOW, once histamine reaches histamine receptors, certain allergic events will be triggered. And as more histamine continues to attach to receptors, the severity of the reaction will continue to grow. To prevent all of this from happening, the antihistamine must be taken before any symptoms begin (so that it can block most or all of the histamine receptors, to prevent any histamine from attaching.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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carolm
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Post by carolm »

HI Fluffy Poodle,
Welcome. You've already gotten a wealth of good advice. I thought I would add that in my early stages (the Big Flare, as I think of it) I also avoided caffeine, sugar, fiber, acidic foods and found low fat foods were better tolerated. Like everyone here, I eliminated gluten, soy, dairy and eventually eggs. Soy will give me a much stronger reaction than gluten does. yes I had a very spartan diet in the beginning-- chicken, turkey, rice, carrots, potatoes, and Rice Chex with almond milk. After about 6 months I added ground beef. I just continued to rotate foods around. I did both the Enterolab tests and followed those about a year later with MRT tests. As I healed I was able to do food challenges and my diet is more expanded, but I can't stray. A little sugar is ok, but cross the line to too much and I can expect problems.
The Drs. can prescribe meds to help with symptoms but you get your health back by following a diet that eliminates the foods you react to.
Again, welcome-- you've come to the right place.

Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
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