Ragweed and TMI

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nerdhume
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Ragweed and TMI

Post by nerdhume »

Ragweed season is underway in East Texas and every year I have been forced to take antihistamines and deal with it. This year I am having sinus drainage, but also copious amounts of mucous from the other end. Taking zyrtec in the morning and Benadryl at bedtime. Will take another Zyrtec in the afternoon today and see it that helps.

Anyone else have increased MC symptoms from pollen?

What is the maximum safe amount of Zrytec to take?

What about Mucinex? Will it help the intestinal mucous?
Theresa

MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014

We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
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tex
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Post by tex »

Theresa wrote:Anyone else have increased MC symptoms from pollen?
Yes, but not that much. I haven't even been tempted to take an antihistamine yet, because ragweed levels are only moderate so far around here.
Theresa wrote:What is the maximum safe amount of Zrytec to take?
Presumably up to 4 times the labeled dose, but that limit includes all antihistamines being used (not each one individually).
Theresa wrote:What about Mucinex? Will it help the intestinal mucous?
Sorry, I don't have any experience with Mucinex.

It sounds as though you may have mastocytic enterocolitis. Did your pathology lab use a tryptase stain and do a mast cell count to rule out ME when they were checking your biopsy slides?

The intestinal mucus is an indication of serious inflammation. It might be beneficial to ask your doctor about cromolyn sodium (Gastrocrom) to help stabilize the mast cells (assuming that she or he has ever heard of ME or MCAD, and understands how to treat it).

Also, trypase enzyme is released by mast cells along with histamine, and the tryptase blood level peaks approximately 2 hours after a reaction is triggered and then it rapidly decays. Therefore, if you can get a blood draw within a narrow window of opportunity at around that 2-hour mark, it's possible to detect an elevated tryptase level, which is diagnostic of mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) or even mastocytosis (a systemic mast cell issue).

Tex
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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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nerdhume
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Post by nerdhume »

Thanks for the advice Tex.
AFAIK no mast cell count has ever been done. I took another Zyrtec a few minutes ago. I am coughing, sneezing, having flu like symptoms and just in general feel ill.
Sticking to basics for food, drinking lots of liquids, hope it gets better soon. If not I will have to decide whether to see my PCP or my GI.
I have problems the fall of each year and usually if I don't get a lot of rest and start treatment right away it can escalate into ugly respiratory & sinus infections. Allergist labeled mine as 'fall allergies' not only ragweed, but the several other pollens that are present at the same time. Ragweed levels here are 'moderate' right now (8.3 out of 12).
Theresa

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in remission since June 1, 2014

We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
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tex
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Post by tex »

If you hadn't mentioned that you have the same symptoms every fall, I would have guessed that you might have caught a virus, because I had what seemed to be about a 24-hour stomach virus, the day-before-yesterday. But there were no respiratory symptoms along with it.

Have you tried a neti pot? They help to flush out the pollen, and flush the sinuses, which reduces the severity of reactions to pollen, and this usually prevents any sinus infections. Many people swear by them, once they try one.

When I was young, my symptoms were really bad, because I was always out in it. These days, I have better luck avoiding it, except when the wind is high, especially when a dry norther is blowing. I still have to take an antihistamine on the really bad days, but certainly not every day.

I take Metanx (to treat peripheral neuropathy), which contains a significant dose of the active form of folic acid (along with the active forms of B-12 and B-6), and I believe that particular vitamin helps to reduce pollen allergy symptoms. Some doctors agree. Anyway, my reactions are not nearly as bad as they used to be.

Ask your pharmacist for his/her opinion, if you haven't tried a neti pot.

Tex
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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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Post by Gabes-Apg »

B5, B6, B12 are good for allergies

it would seem the active forms are better for those with AI issues....
Gabes Ryan

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nerdhume
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Post by nerdhume »

Thanks, will check into a neti pot and some active form B vitamins.

I took Nyquil last night and felt much better this morning. A few years back my PCP told me the best thing to do was lay in bed in a 65 degree room when the allergies were bad. The cold air helps make it easier to breathe and certainly being inside and in bed is helpful to heal from anything.
Theresa

MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014

We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
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