So, on Sunday 9/8, we are traveling to Ireland to join up with friends for a week. This is the first trip abroad for me since the LC diagnosis, and the closer it gets, the more worked up I'm getting. The maddening thing is that once the trip is actually underway, the anxiety usually calms right down. But it's in overdrive right now, and my GI system is not happy.
We just got home from vacation last week, and my bowels have been in an uproar since. pretty consistent D, including lots of undigested stuff visible. That is after a stretch of really pretty good months. So I'm freaking over trying to get that calmed down by Sunday.
It's annoying--I've traveled to CA several times, same duration trip, with absolutely no problem. Why should I be stressing out over this? All my self-talk to remind myself of that seems to not be working.
I used to react to stress with headaches. Now it's all GI stuff.
Travel anxiety
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Travel anxiety
Suze
Hi Suze,
I'm sorry to hear of your flare. Since stress seems to be your primary problem, and since stress promotes mast cell (histamine) problems, have you tried antihistamines to see if they might help? You might have to experiment to find the band and/or dosage that works best.
One trick that might help is to take Betaine HCL as you begin each meal. The reason why that can help is because when we start to eat, histamine is released in the stomach in order to prompt the parietal cells to ramp up their gastric acid production in preparation for digesting the food that will soon arrive. Betaine HCL preempts this action by providing an alternative source of gastric acid, which means that it is also a very effective antihistamine. You might have to experiment with the dosage in order to get optimum control.
I hope that you can get this resolved, so that you can relax and enjoy your trip.
Tex
I'm sorry to hear of your flare. Since stress seems to be your primary problem, and since stress promotes mast cell (histamine) problems, have you tried antihistamines to see if they might help? You might have to experiment to find the band and/or dosage that works best.
One trick that might help is to take Betaine HCL as you begin each meal. The reason why that can help is because when we start to eat, histamine is released in the stomach in order to prompt the parietal cells to ramp up their gastric acid production in preparation for digesting the food that will soon arrive. Betaine HCL preempts this action by providing an alternative source of gastric acid, which means that it is also a very effective antihistamine. You might have to experiment with the dosage in order to get optimum control.
I hope that you can get this resolved, so that you can relax and enjoy your trip.
Tex
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.
Thanks for the ideas Tex. I don't think I've really considered the mast cell issue.
Is Betaine HCL OTC or prescribed? If prescribed, too late now, but I guess I could do some OTC antihistamines in the meantime. I know I do OK with Claritin. Allegra, never tried.
Would I then also need to be looking at high-histamine foods?
Is Betaine HCL OTC or prescribed? If prescribed, too late now, but I guess I could do some OTC antihistamines in the meantime. I know I do OK with Claritin. Allegra, never tried.
Would I then also need to be looking at high-histamine foods?
Suze
Hi Suze,
Betaine HCL is OTC and reasonably priced. The ones I have are 600 mg per tablet.
If you find that either of these options seem to help, then it would probably be very helpful to avoid high histamine foods and foods that promote the release of histamines. Since you were doing OK previously, it's possible that you may only need to avoid them when you're under stress, or when something else is causing a reaction.
You're very welcome,
Tex
Betaine HCL is OTC and reasonably priced. The ones I have are 600 mg per tablet.
If you find that either of these options seem to help, then it would probably be very helpful to avoid high histamine foods and foods that promote the release of histamines. Since you were doing OK previously, it's possible that you may only need to avoid them when you're under stress, or when something else is causing a reaction.
You're very welcome,
Tex
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.
Tex has a point. I take Allegra. When I am going to an event, I actually take two and it seems to help. I was even able to wine taste with no ill effects! I also have HISTAME on hand that I sometimes take when I eat. it helps the body rid itself of extra histamines. I you google high histamine foods, there is lots of info and list of foods that are high in histamines.
I hope you get this under control very soon and can enjoy your trip :)
Leah
I hope you get this under control very soon and can enjoy your trip :)
Leah
Thanks! I started some Allegra this morning, but think I will also head out to get some Betaine, as there is a Vitamin Shoppe in the area that has it.
So, the more I think about it, the more I think mast cells may be an issue. In recent years I notice I get very flushed when drinking wine, especially red. I had problems with strawberries this summer, and eggplant is one of the few foods I have ever had an allergy-like histamine reaction to, so I stopped eating that long ago. I have been eating lots of tomatoes this summer as well.
Hmmm. I should have considered this sooner, I guess. Don't know why I didn't. I'll have to go back to Tex's book and do a little re-reading about it, along with on here.
Interestingly, my daughter has had rosacea in the past, and food-related flushing, and has the same reaction to eggplant. She also refuses to eat raw tomatoes, which is maybe her mind telling her they aren't good for her. I'll have to let her know what I find out.
So, the more I think about it, the more I think mast cells may be an issue. In recent years I notice I get very flushed when drinking wine, especially red. I had problems with strawberries this summer, and eggplant is one of the few foods I have ever had an allergy-like histamine reaction to, so I stopped eating that long ago. I have been eating lots of tomatoes this summer as well.
Hmmm. I should have considered this sooner, I guess. Don't know why I didn't. I'll have to go back to Tex's book and do a little re-reading about it, along with on here.
Interestingly, my daughter has had rosacea in the past, and food-related flushing, and has the same reaction to eggplant. She also refuses to eat raw tomatoes, which is maybe her mind telling her they aren't good for her. I'll have to let her know what I find out.
Suze
Suze,
I know it's too late, but I too get anxious when traveling. I don't think I have mast cell issues so I have been experimenting with Zanax. I have it on hand for stressful times, but never use it otherwise. Last month I knew I was going to be anxious about a trip so I took 1/2 pill which is about 2.5 mg at bedtime the night before I left and each night while away and I was OK with no D.
I hope you have a wonderful trip.
Nancy
I know it's too late, but I too get anxious when traveling. I don't think I have mast cell issues so I have been experimenting with Zanax. I have it on hand for stressful times, but never use it otherwise. Last month I knew I was going to be anxious about a trip so I took 1/2 pill which is about 2.5 mg at bedtime the night before I left and each night while away and I was OK with no D.
I hope you have a wonderful trip.
Nancy
Hi Suze,
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but there's a special section on mast cells on this board. For a quick review of how mast cells are associated with MC and some of the treatments used, the first post in the thread at the following link contains links to 4 brief articles that should be helpful. And there are links to references at the bottom of the articles, if you want to read more.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17780
However, please be aware that salicylate issues are not the same as histamine issues. Though there may be some overlap, there are separate lists of high-salicylate foods and high-histamine foods. Salicylates are not used/needed for the proper functioning of normal body processes, the way that histamines are needed, so as far as I am aware, salicylates are unnecessary for life. And while histamines are the primary driving force in allergic reactions, salicylates cause a pharmacological reaction, rather than an allergy reaction.
Your suspicions about balsalaxide disodium are on target. As you are aware, the active ingredient in balsalazide disodium is mesalamine (aka mesalazine), which is definitely a derivative of salicylic acid, so it is indeed part of the family of salicylates.
Also, please be aware that many drugs can interact with Zanax, including most OTC antihistamines, so keep that in mind if you should decide to try Zanax.
Tex
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but there's a special section on mast cells on this board. For a quick review of how mast cells are associated with MC and some of the treatments used, the first post in the thread at the following link contains links to 4 brief articles that should be helpful. And there are links to references at the bottom of the articles, if you want to read more.
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17780
However, please be aware that salicylate issues are not the same as histamine issues. Though there may be some overlap, there are separate lists of high-salicylate foods and high-histamine foods. Salicylates are not used/needed for the proper functioning of normal body processes, the way that histamines are needed, so as far as I am aware, salicylates are unnecessary for life. And while histamines are the primary driving force in allergic reactions, salicylates cause a pharmacological reaction, rather than an allergy reaction.
Your suspicions about balsalaxide disodium are on target. As you are aware, the active ingredient in balsalazide disodium is mesalamine (aka mesalazine), which is definitely a derivative of salicylic acid, so it is indeed part of the family of salicylates.
Also, please be aware that many drugs can interact with Zanax, including most OTC antihistamines, so keep that in mind if you should decide to try Zanax.
Tex
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.
Thanks Nancy. I do keep Xanax around for situational use, and have been taking it (a full pill) each night lately. And still...I'm a huge worrier, usually for no good reason, LOL.
Tex, my GI doc, who you know I like (she's on our list) and who is all good with the food/MC connection, wanted me to continue the balsalazide because it was " low impact," and therefore, in her opinion couldn't hurt. Maybe if this turns out to be a mast cell thing, I'll re-discuss with her, because something I read indicated that salicylates aren't good in that event. Thanks for the direction to the mast cell section; I have now looked at all the links.
So I guess my plan will be to keep up the anti-histamines and Xanax for the duration of the trip and see what happens, then to start eliminating some foods when I get back and have a stretch of time at home to have more control over food.
Thanks for your input, everyone. I appreciate the help, as always.
Tex, my GI doc, who you know I like (she's on our list) and who is all good with the food/MC connection, wanted me to continue the balsalazide because it was " low impact," and therefore, in her opinion couldn't hurt. Maybe if this turns out to be a mast cell thing, I'll re-discuss with her, because something I read indicated that salicylates aren't good in that event. Thanks for the direction to the mast cell section; I have now looked at all the links.
So I guess my plan will be to keep up the anti-histamines and Xanax for the duration of the trip and see what happens, then to start eliminating some foods when I get back and have a stretch of time at home to have more control over food.
Thanks for your input, everyone. I appreciate the help, as always.
Suze
Well, hi folks, I'm back, and all went well. Ireland is definitely gluten-free friendly, about which I will post a new topic.
Before leaving, I did some anti-histamine and Immodium, and things settled down. In fact, I got myself all bound up and had to not take either for the duration of the trip.
Eating gluten-free in restaurants was easy, and I found a supermarket that had plenty of GF foods to keep on hand.
I feel good about how the trip went, and more confident about travel. Now that I'm home, I will fool around with some foods/meds and see if I think mast cells are a factor. I want to wean off a couple meds as well.
Before leaving, I did some anti-histamine and Immodium, and things settled down. In fact, I got myself all bound up and had to not take either for the duration of the trip.
Eating gluten-free in restaurants was easy, and I found a supermarket that had plenty of GF foods to keep on hand.
I feel good about how the trip went, and more confident about travel. Now that I'm home, I will fool around with some foods/meds and see if I think mast cells are a factor. I want to wean off a couple meds as well.
Suze
