Also which panels would be recommended for MC/IBS ?
Thank you for any input.
Allegra side effect
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Allegra side effect
I started a flare up and tried Allegra. No problem until the fifth day . In the early morning had D -not unusually but also dizziness/light headed,some nausea and shortness of breath. Years ago I tried the pepto bismol routine and stopped due to similar side effects. Is there some correlation?
Also which panels would be recommended for MC/IBS ?
Thank you for any input.
Also which panels would be recommended for MC/IBS ?
Thank you for any input.
Hi Zoey,
Except for the possibility of some lightheadedness, I have never heard of an antihistamine causing those symptoms (of course that does not mean that it's not possible). In fact, antihistamines are used to prevent/treat nausea.
This is just a wild guess, and I could be all wet, because other issues can also cause that set of symptoms, but as someone who has just been through a period of magnesium deficiency, I would venture to guess that magnesium deficiency might be causing those symptoms. Most people in the general population are magnesium deficient, and with the diarrhea associated with MC it is easily possible to become severely magnesium deficient.
Magnesium is such an important electrolyte that the body does everything it can to keep the blood level of magnesium within a realtively narrow (normal) range, by pulling magnesium from the cells of the body if there is not enough magnesium in the diet. And of course the malabsorption problem associated with MC makes it even more difficult to absorb enough magnesium to supply our needs.
Your symptoms would indicate a severe deficiency. Please remember that if we take too much oral magnesium supplement (especially in certain forms) it can act as a laxative. For example, many of us can take up to 400 mg of magnesium citrate without any problems, but more than that typically becomes a laxative. Magnesium glycinate is far less likely to cause D, but it is usually more difficult to absorb, unfortunately. Many members here use topical magnesium to supplement their needs, because topically-applied magnesium will not cause D. Many use Ancient Oils brand of spray-on magnesium. I often apply it to my legs, arms, belly, etc. about 15 or 20 minutes before I take a shower, to give it some time for some of it to soak in. Some members find that foot soaks in Epsom salts work better for them, and some even add Epsom salts to their bath water with good success.
Most people would never associate shortness of breath with a magnesium deficiency, but it was my most aggravating and persistent symptom. I use a lot of magnesium now (because I have more difficulty than most people with absorbing it), and now I am finally breathing without the shortness of breath problems that bothered me for about 10 years. The difference is almost like an epiphany.
Unless you are already using a lot of magnesium, please consider what I have said here, because an acute magnesium deficiency can be dangerous. I had a reaction to an antibiotic that finished depleting my magnesium supply (that's how I was able to figure out that my symptoms were being caused by a magnesium deficiency) and my body was having trouble regulating not only my breathing, but also my heart rate, and my blood pressure was erratic (too high at times, and way too low at other times).
Normally, since the blood tests used for magnesium only measure the amount of magnesium circulating in the blood, the test result will always be within the normal range. It will only show a deficiency if the cells in the body are almost out of magnesium (which is a dangerous situation). My magnesium was so low after the antibiotic reaction that my test actually showed a magnesium deficiency. But please don't rely on those tests, because I had done the test before, and the result was normal (because my cells were not quite out of magnesium when the test was done). IMO, those tests are virtually worthless for routine purposes, because they only work if a patient is critically low on magnesium. Obviously they are useful in an ER setting though, based on my experience.
Please keep us updated on your symptoms, because the magnesium issue is almost always overlooked. All my doctors overlooked it, even the ER doctors who ordered the magnesium test.
They didn't even realize after they saw the test result, that a magnesium deficiency was the cause of all my symptoms. I had to catch it myself, the next day, after looking up my test results online. The ER doctors had told me that all my test results were fine. And after increasing my magnesium supplement, by the following day I was breathing normally, and my heart rate and BP were fine. When I showed all the information to my PCP, he agreed that I had tracked down the problem.
Most members here order the combination of the A1 and the C1 Panels, because they provide the most useful tests for the money. If you can't justify the cost of the combination, then the most important tests (for gluten, casein, eggs, and soy) are included in the A1 Panel.
Tex
Except for the possibility of some lightheadedness, I have never heard of an antihistamine causing those symptoms (of course that does not mean that it's not possible). In fact, antihistamines are used to prevent/treat nausea.
This is just a wild guess, and I could be all wet, because other issues can also cause that set of symptoms, but as someone who has just been through a period of magnesium deficiency, I would venture to guess that magnesium deficiency might be causing those symptoms. Most people in the general population are magnesium deficient, and with the diarrhea associated with MC it is easily possible to become severely magnesium deficient.
Magnesium is such an important electrolyte that the body does everything it can to keep the blood level of magnesium within a realtively narrow (normal) range, by pulling magnesium from the cells of the body if there is not enough magnesium in the diet. And of course the malabsorption problem associated with MC makes it even more difficult to absorb enough magnesium to supply our needs.
Your symptoms would indicate a severe deficiency. Please remember that if we take too much oral magnesium supplement (especially in certain forms) it can act as a laxative. For example, many of us can take up to 400 mg of magnesium citrate without any problems, but more than that typically becomes a laxative. Magnesium glycinate is far less likely to cause D, but it is usually more difficult to absorb, unfortunately. Many members here use topical magnesium to supplement their needs, because topically-applied magnesium will not cause D. Many use Ancient Oils brand of spray-on magnesium. I often apply it to my legs, arms, belly, etc. about 15 or 20 minutes before I take a shower, to give it some time for some of it to soak in. Some members find that foot soaks in Epsom salts work better for them, and some even add Epsom salts to their bath water with good success.
Most people would never associate shortness of breath with a magnesium deficiency, but it was my most aggravating and persistent symptom. I use a lot of magnesium now (because I have more difficulty than most people with absorbing it), and now I am finally breathing without the shortness of breath problems that bothered me for about 10 years. The difference is almost like an epiphany.
Unless you are already using a lot of magnesium, please consider what I have said here, because an acute magnesium deficiency can be dangerous. I had a reaction to an antibiotic that finished depleting my magnesium supply (that's how I was able to figure out that my symptoms were being caused by a magnesium deficiency) and my body was having trouble regulating not only my breathing, but also my heart rate, and my blood pressure was erratic (too high at times, and way too low at other times).
Normally, since the blood tests used for magnesium only measure the amount of magnesium circulating in the blood, the test result will always be within the normal range. It will only show a deficiency if the cells in the body are almost out of magnesium (which is a dangerous situation). My magnesium was so low after the antibiotic reaction that my test actually showed a magnesium deficiency. But please don't rely on those tests, because I had done the test before, and the result was normal (because my cells were not quite out of magnesium when the test was done). IMO, those tests are virtually worthless for routine purposes, because they only work if a patient is critically low on magnesium. Obviously they are useful in an ER setting though, based on my experience.
Please keep us updated on your symptoms, because the magnesium issue is almost always overlooked. All my doctors overlooked it, even the ER doctors who ordered the magnesium test.
They didn't even realize after they saw the test result, that a magnesium deficiency was the cause of all my symptoms. I had to catch it myself, the next day, after looking up my test results online. The ER doctors had told me that all my test results were fine. And after increasing my magnesium supplement, by the following day I was breathing normally, and my heart rate and BP were fine. When I showed all the information to my PCP, he agreed that I had tracked down the problem.Most members here order the combination of the A1 and the C1 Panels, because they provide the most useful tests for the money. If you can't justify the cost of the combination, then the most important tests (for gluten, casein, eggs, and soy) are included in the A1 Panel.
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.
Allegra side effect
Tex thank for the reply.I stopped taking Allegra and didn't have any more side effects. Just another strange occurance in the journey of MC. I recently had magnesium level checked and it was normal, but I understand about the normal. I wanted my Vit D checked but for some reason it didn't happen. I heard Medicare was't paying but I will check that out.
I will order those two panels.Fyi it so great to have caring people to help !
I will order those two panels.Fyi it so great to have caring people to help !
Hi Zoey,
Thank you for sharing that information, because as I mentioned, I had never heard of anyone having those symptoms from a common antihistamine. We will have to remember that in the event that anyone else should have similar symptoms after taking an antihistamine.
Yes, it's unfortunate that most mainstream medical authorities do not seemed to be concerned about vitamin D levels, even though research shows that vitamin D deficiency is not only common in the general population, but very likely for patients who have an IBD (because IBDs deplete vitamin D). Apparently doctors will order the test (and medicare will pay for it) if the doctor can specify a particular reason why the test is needed, because my doctor orders it sometimes. But I believe that you are correct that medicare will not routinely pay for the test (without a special reason). Many of us order our own test kits from a lab approved by the Vitamin D Council, but unfortunately the test currently costs $65, plus $5 for shipping (both ways). If you might be interested in that, here's a link:
https://vitamindcouncil.zrtlab.com/inde ... duct_id=54
Tex
Thank you for sharing that information, because as I mentioned, I had never heard of anyone having those symptoms from a common antihistamine. We will have to remember that in the event that anyone else should have similar symptoms after taking an antihistamine.
Yes, it's unfortunate that most mainstream medical authorities do not seemed to be concerned about vitamin D levels, even though research shows that vitamin D deficiency is not only common in the general population, but very likely for patients who have an IBD (because IBDs deplete vitamin D). Apparently doctors will order the test (and medicare will pay for it) if the doctor can specify a particular reason why the test is needed, because my doctor orders it sometimes. But I believe that you are correct that medicare will not routinely pay for the test (without a special reason). Many of us order our own test kits from a lab approved by the Vitamin D Council, but unfortunately the test currently costs $65, plus $5 for shipping (both ways). If you might be interested in that, here's a link:
https://vitamindcouncil.zrtlab.com/inde ... duct_id=54
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.