This is what my test show and i'll probably need help deciphering it.
Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 148 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 21 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 10 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-soy IgA 8 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 6 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Thanks, Connie
My test results are in.
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Hi Connie,
Compared with many of us here, you came out quite well on the tests. Of course you will clearly have to avoid gluten and all dairy products, but not having to avoid soy and legumes will make shopping and meal preparation much easier. Your result was also positive for eggs, so you will need to avoid them (certainly while you are recovering), but it's possible that after you have been in remission for at least a few months, you may be able to tolerate recipes that use eggs in baked goods. That's not a guarantee — just a possibility, based on the experience of many others here.
And the really good news is the low score of "6" on the 11 Antigenic Foods tests. That should eliminate the need to be concerned about avoiding any of those foods. Very few of us are that fortunate.
All in all, those are much better than average results for someone who has MC.
Do you mind if I add your results to our list here?
Thanks for sharing the information.
Tex
Compared with many of us here, you came out quite well on the tests. Of course you will clearly have to avoid gluten and all dairy products, but not having to avoid soy and legumes will make shopping and meal preparation much easier. Your result was also positive for eggs, so you will need to avoid them (certainly while you are recovering), but it's possible that after you have been in remission for at least a few months, you may be able to tolerate recipes that use eggs in baked goods. That's not a guarantee — just a possibility, based on the experience of many others here.
And the really good news is the low score of "6" on the 11 Antigenic Foods tests. That should eliminate the need to be concerned about avoiding any of those foods. Very few of us are that fortunate.
All in all, those are much better than average results for someone who has MC.
Do you mind if I add your results to our list here?
Thanks for sharing the information.
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
I think I'm pm but not sure. Can u add these test to my profile and put that I'm from Lexington Ky.
Thank u for everything u r a Godsend!!
The only food I reacted to was corn.
How do I find out about the mast cells thing? I'm almost positive I have that. You r welcome to post my results wherever you,d like
Sincerely
Connie
I think I'm pm but not sure. Can u add these test to my profile and put that I'm from Lexington Ky.
Thank u for everything u r a Godsend!!
The only food I reacted to was corn.
How do I find out about the mast cells thing? I'm almost positive I have that. You r welcome to post my results wherever you,d like
Sincerely
Connie
Hi Connie,
To send someone a PM, you would need to click on the "pm" button at the bottom of one of their posts. IOW, to send me a PM you would need to click on the "pm" button at the bottom of this post, for example.
Mast cell activation disorder is very difficult to diagnose. For all practical purposes, only a handful of doctors who have been specially trained by Dr. Maria Castells, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are capable of correctly diagnosing mast cell activation disorder. Contact information for the qualified doctors whom we are aware of can be found in this list.
There are probably a few others around, but we have no information on them. Other than the ones listed, the odds of finding an allergist, or GI specialist who has even a rudimentary understanding of diagnosing and/or treating mast cell issues are about as good as your chances of winning the lottery.
Measuring actual histamine levels in the body is not practical, under current medical technology. There are no tests available. However, if you should have an acute mast cell activation event, your mast cells will release significant amounts of tryptase enzyme at the same time that they release histamine, and blood levels of tryptase can be measured. IOW, tryptase can be used as a marker for elevated histamine levels. Unfortunately though, there is only a relatively small window of opportunity during which an elevated tryptase level can be detected.
Tryptase levels peak approximately 2 hours after a mast cell degranulation event is triggered, and this is when a blood draw would have to be made, in order to get a valid test result, because tryptase levels decline rather rapidly after that point. Any doctor or lab could handle the blood draw if prior arrangements were made. But if you wait until an event is already in progress, and then call your doctor or lab to ask for a blood draw, it's unlikely that you would be able to have a sample drawn within the window of opportunity, because timing is rather critical. Of course histamine levels can remain elevated for much longer (even days or weeks), but that information is irrelevant for testing purposes.
But you only need to do any testing if you want an official diagnosis. For systemic mastocytosis, a diagnosis would be prudent, but for the type of mast cell activation disorder commonly associated with MC, you can determine yourself if you have the problem, and you can treat it yourself. If you haven't already read the short articles at the links below, you should be able to get a basic understanding of the problem by reading them, and there are references cited in the articles, where you can find additional information.
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
Tex
To send someone a PM, you would need to click on the "pm" button at the bottom of one of their posts. IOW, to send me a PM you would need to click on the "pm" button at the bottom of this post, for example.
Mast cell activation disorder is very difficult to diagnose. For all practical purposes, only a handful of doctors who have been specially trained by Dr. Maria Castells, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are capable of correctly diagnosing mast cell activation disorder. Contact information for the qualified doctors whom we are aware of can be found in this list.
There are probably a few others around, but we have no information on them. Other than the ones listed, the odds of finding an allergist, or GI specialist who has even a rudimentary understanding of diagnosing and/or treating mast cell issues are about as good as your chances of winning the lottery.
Measuring actual histamine levels in the body is not practical, under current medical technology. There are no tests available. However, if you should have an acute mast cell activation event, your mast cells will release significant amounts of tryptase enzyme at the same time that they release histamine, and blood levels of tryptase can be measured. IOW, tryptase can be used as a marker for elevated histamine levels. Unfortunately though, there is only a relatively small window of opportunity during which an elevated tryptase level can be detected.
Tryptase levels peak approximately 2 hours after a mast cell degranulation event is triggered, and this is when a blood draw would have to be made, in order to get a valid test result, because tryptase levels decline rather rapidly after that point. Any doctor or lab could handle the blood draw if prior arrangements were made. But if you wait until an event is already in progress, and then call your doctor or lab to ask for a blood draw, it's unlikely that you would be able to have a sample drawn within the window of opportunity, because timing is rather critical. Of course histamine levels can remain elevated for much longer (even days or weeks), but that information is irrelevant for testing purposes.
But you only need to do any testing if you want an official diagnosis. For systemic mastocytosis, a diagnosis would be prudent, but for the type of mast cell activation disorder commonly associated with MC, you can determine yourself if you have the problem, and you can treat it yourself. If you haven't already read the short articles at the links below, you should be able to get a basic understanding of the problem by reading them, and there are references cited in the articles, where you can find additional information.
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
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.
Hi Connie. The easiest way to find out if histamines are an issue for you, just take an OTC antihistamine ( non-drowsy. I use Allegra) and see if your BMs improve. You might even try two. You should have your answer fairly quickly.
Your results are pretty good. At least you can have soy, which means you can probably eat peanut butter and legumes… and GF soy sauce! Your results also mean that you can probably eat other grains and all meats. Nice :)
Hope you figure it all out soon
Leah
Your results are pretty good. At least you can have soy, which means you can probably eat peanut butter and legumes… and GF soy sauce! Your results also mean that you can probably eat other grains and all meats. Nice :)
Hope you figure it all out soon
Leah