Throat swelling

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 12:39 pm

Oh what an adventure all of these new little symptoms can be

this past week, as the day wears on, my throat feels like it's closing up a little bit. I have to clear it often because it is somewhat uncomfortable. I thought maybe I was catching a bug but it's been too long now. By morning it feels normal. My new theory is since MC effects mouth to anus, the mucosal layer of my throat must be inflamed. Since I'm not eating while asleep, it's all better by morning. Stomach burning is present at night but has lessened....comes and goes. Would it be worth getting an endoscopy? Has anyone else experienced this feeling? I quit the immodium for a week and still experience dizziness throughout the day, so I can probably rule that out. I'm thinking of taking a trip to iowa city where my brother had an awesome gastro named Henning Gerke. He believes in nutrition and loves what he does, I will give him a copy of Tex's book if I go.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 12:50 pm

Vanessa,
Are you taking, or have you tried anti-histamines??

Increased histamine causes throat swelling, increased mucus etc....

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 12:55 pm

I was thinking that also. I'll have to give it a try, I've been hesitant to do so, not really sure why.....it's a pretty benign experiment.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:00 pm

My estimate based on discussions of the past 7years here, is that at one stage or another, 60-75% of MC'ers have histamine/mast cell issues.

Might be worth reading the section on Mast Cells...

Balancing histamine/mast cell inflammation was a key turning point to me attaining good gut health.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:22 pm

Thanks Gabes...I was afraid to take sudafed at night with my klonopin for anxiety and insomnia. I know there are other options. Claritin in the morning will be a good start.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:02 pm

Vanessa,

Since most of your symptoms seem to be related to the GI tract ("mouth to anus"), you might want to try Zantac (ranitidine). It is more specific to the GI tract, whereas Claritin is more specific to the respiratory tract. Just a thought.

Polly

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:08 pm

another approach that can help, is reducing the amount of high histamine foods.

keep in mind one aspect with mast cells/histaminesreactions is that it can be environmental/external triggers; such as pollen, chemicals, mould, pollution, hair dye, perfume, dental work.

also, as your throat is reacting, have you checked toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, for any possible troublesome ingredients?

a common thing in 'MC World' is as you reduce the major food triggers out of your eating plan, (like gluten dairy etc) other items become the niggly trigger.

Post by **tex** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:25 pm

Vanessa,

I believe that Gabes' suggestion to check those items is a very good idea. You are clearly allergic to something that you are putting in your mouth, probably less than a half-hour before the symptom begins.

When I was in my late teens and 20s I used a very popular mouthwash every morning. It worked fine. One day after I spit it out I noticed that my mouth seemed unusually hot. The next morning, before I even finished sloshing it around in my mouth, the lining of my mouth felt as though it were on fire. I spit it out, and when I looked in the mirror, the lining of my mouth was red and inflamed. Obviously I had developed an allergy to the product. I've never used a mouth wash since.

Tex

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:54 pm

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Environmental will be hard to pinpoint....seems to gradually worsen throughout the day, whether I have my dark chocolate or not.

I'm right on target though. It's been a year since I've cut out all of the major triggers.....so now a mouse fart in a soft wind causes me symptoms (Tex could of done a better one liner).

Post by **tex** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:30 pm

Is there something that you are snacking or nibbling on or drinking at various irregular but repeated intervals during the day?

It's possible to react to soaps, lotions, moisterizers, etc., that others are wearing if oral contact is made, such as by kissing. It's even possible to trigger a gluten reaction that way by kissing someone who just ate some food that contained gluten (including babies or infants who might have who-knows-what on their face, especially right after being fed).

Tex

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:28 pm

I can't think of anything since my diet consists of the same things at the same time. I haven't changed grooming products....has happened at home and at work...the afternoon rolls around and I get that closed up feeling. It's very hard to not kiss my husband after he's been drinking beer, I'm guilty of that....thinking if it's just a quick peck and then I wipe off my mouth that will be ok.

my hunch is telling me histamine issues since nothing has changed except the pollen count and the weather. The last couple years,even when I didn't have GI symptoms, my seasonal allergies magically disappeared. Now they have come back. Since I have both resp. And GI symptoms I'm not sure what regimen of anti histamine I should try. I'm also SIgA deficient. I'm not sure what that implicates regarding mast cells if anything......

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 4:57 am

The spring pollens always cause me problems. Right now in east Texas everything is covered with a layer of yellow-green pollen! My car is pitiful.
I take Zyrtec in the morning, Benedryl at bedtime and Zantec before dinner. This seems to work for me!

jessica329 · Post by **jessica329** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 7:12 am

I have a seasonal allergy to birch pollen that causes a cross-reaction to certain fruits and nuts. When I eat the foods, I get hives on my mouth and an itchy swelling throat. Some days, all I have to do is take a walk outside and I break out with hives on my mouth. You could try keeping a journal to look for any patterns.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 8:33 am

Thanks Teresa. I never thought to mix and match.

Jessica.....very interesting. I never would have connected that!

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:36 pm

So.....this afternoon I went for a jog outside, and about 15 minutes in I started itching I saw red bumps and a striated type rash on my belly. Interesting. I bought some allegra and Zantac to try. I'm having a surgery Thursday and did not want to try anything new before then. Throat feels the same and apparently pollen counts are low here. I am an insomniac and wondered if allegra keeps you awake, also should I see these reactions as a sign of gut healing. .......

Love your frequent flyer, vanessa