Well, it has been a long, hard journey which has brought me here .... 40+ years of "just living with severe IBS" with bouts so badly that I am unable to even have water, exacerbated by stress, foods, hormones, perhaps whichever way the wind happens to be blowing, LOL. I've spent my life just trying to deal with it and accept it. Most recent and worst bout ever involved complete inability to eat or drink, dehydration, unending diarrhea, and even some unexplained bright red blood. I've lost 45 pounds with no effort. A colonoscopy, a cat scan, some blood work . . . at this point, I have no faith in those taking my money. In their minds, it all looks pretty good. Awesome, but I would still like to eat and drink.
My sinuses and presumed allergies year-round (undiagnosed other than observation of bee stings and mosquito bites) have always been a problem that I also thought I just must live with.
This last round of unceasing diarrhea and what seemed to be the worst sinus infection I ever had was my utter undoing. Sicker than I ever remember being. Zyrtec was recommended by a friend for the constant post-nasal drip, so I began taking it daily. Lo and behold, the sinuses were amazingly better and, even more miraculous, so was my stomach! I thought, "yeah, it's coming. It always does" ...... but it didn't and it still doesn't as long as I take 1 Zyrtec tablet every day. I tried one pill every other day, but that is not going to work.
I could just cry that all of this humiliation and suffering could have been avoided with a daily antihistamine; however, I believe it to be true. I can have the "NO NOs". I can eat and then immediately get in the car and travel. I can eat whenever I want instead of starving all day until a nightly meal at home. SIGH. What a grueling life we lead under this malady!
My doc has taken my money, smiled, and offered me, the diarrhea queen, a laxative. Sigh. My earliest opportunity to see a gastroenterologist is December 4. So, here I am. Trying to find the means to cope and make it to December. The Zyrtec is a beautiful thing. I just don't want to give it up. HOWEVER, MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT BY THE FISTFUL. This began after taking the Zyrtec daily and I believe the Zyrtec is causing it. Might be responsible for the daily headache too. Anyone else have this occur? I find myself asking: Do I want to eat or do I want to have hair? By my December appointment, I might be bald! It is a little frightening.
I'm learning so much here. Thanks for sharing your expertise and your hope. It is a good thing to not feel so alone. So many people just do not "get it". No actual diagnosis, as I am pretty much going it alone, but mastocytic enterocolitis makes SO much sense to me. Thanks for letting me share my story and ask my question:
Does anyone have any suggestions for a different over-the-counter non-drowsy antihistamine that will inhibit the mast cells and not cause hair loss??? One I can take long-term? I guess I am considering Claritin, but at this point, it is all just a shot in the dark for me.
Not a lot of experience with forums, so please advise if I should have done something differently!! THANK YOU!!
Antihistamine advice?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
I used to take H1 and H2 OTC antihistamines most days for a couple of years post MC dx.
I have had fantastic results using high doses of Vit C, Magnesium, Zinc as a way of balancing histamines.
Plants that used to trigger bad histamine reaction and asthma reaction for most of my life are now having no affect on me what so ever. Same for high histamine foods.
We need a small amount of histamine for effective digestion, using the high doses of Vit C, Magnesium and Zinc keeps things in the right balance, rather than 'blocking it' and affecting cell health, which is what Antihistamines do.
hope this helps
I have had fantastic results using high doses of Vit C, Magnesium, Zinc as a way of balancing histamines.
Plants that used to trigger bad histamine reaction and asthma reaction for most of my life are now having no affect on me what so ever. Same for high histamine foods.
We need a small amount of histamine for effective digestion, using the high doses of Vit C, Magnesium and Zinc keeps things in the right balance, rather than 'blocking it' and affecting cell health, which is what Antihistamines do.
hope this helps
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hi Angela,
Welcome to our Internet family. We consider ourselves a family because no one truly understands this disease (including doctors) unless they actually have it.
We all seem to have somewhat different results from various antihistamines. When I tried Claritin for pollen allergies, it didn't seem to have much effect, so I usually use Allegra. Some have good results taking Benedryl, but it needs to be taken at bedtime, because it causes drowsiness.
Have you seen the information in the short articles at the following links describing how mast cells are associated with digestive issues?
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?
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. We consider ourselves a family because no one truly understands this disease (including doctors) unless they actually have it.
We all seem to have somewhat different results from various antihistamines. When I tried Claritin for pollen allergies, it didn't seem to have much effect, so I usually use Allegra. Some have good results taking Benedryl, but it needs to be taken at bedtime, because it causes drowsiness.
Have you seen the information in the short articles at the following links describing how mast cells are associated with digestive issues?
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?
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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 SO Much!
I've been spending some quality time with you folks in the evenings and I sure am learning a lot! There are others out there puzzling through similar issues and there is information out there that can greatly help me! Knowledge is so comforting and empowering! I truly appreciate your insight and your willingness to share.