Histamine Overload! Advice Needed Please!

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:35 pm

Good Afternoon,

I know it's been awhile since I posted an update. I've been relatively healthy and symptom free for quite awhile. However, I decided to go back to water aerobics this summer. I went for 3-4 days in a row (and at the same time went into the outside adult hot tub when we were finished with aerobics). I would then come home and immediately get in the shower. I got really itchy and had kind of a rash and I thought it was due to the chemicals in the hot tub. I cut out the hot tub after 3 days but still went to water aerobics. One morning woke up and had a rash on both arms (not really itchy - more of a burning sensation like a sunburn). I did have some patchy itchiness on my legs and feet.

Now to back up just a little bit and give you some background. I have a severe history of allergies. I was taken to the allergy doctor at the age of 1 and started on allergy shots (mostly 2 a week). Have always had super sensitive skin. Had severe peanut, milk, and tomato allergies as a child but outgrew those. Took shots most of my life until later in life. Had a little reprieve from them. When I had my hysterectomy back in '95, they came back with a vengeance. I took shots again for about 10-15 years and then just said that I'd had enough and would just take my chances. So, that's a little bit of my allergy history - it's a pretty major one!

So, when I woke up to this rash a couple of weeks ago, I went back to my very basic foods (chicken and rice) and steered away from high histamine foods to make sure it wasn't a food allergy rearing its ugly head. Went to the doctor and he put me on prednisone (2 days of 60, 2 days of 40, 2 days of 20, 2 days of 10) and it certainly kept it under wraps, but I'm done with the prednisone today and while most of the rash is gone, there is still a burning sensation on my elbow and I do have a few itchy places. I think my mast cells are going crazy and I just have a serious histamine overload right now. This too shall pass.

However, my PCP wants me to go back to the allergy doctor and I'm thinking, "why?" "What is he going to tell me that I don't already know?" We won't be able to pinpoint exactly what I'm allergic to so what's the point?

I am back taking my vitamins again (I had stopped them uncertain of what I was reacting to). I've done some reading on here and I know I need to be taking magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, anything else? I also have some quercetin and bromelain that I've added. I've been taking benadryl at night and allegra during the day. And would you go to the allergist or let this ride its course? I don't want to pay for the visit and I certainly don't want any new medications.

Thanks.

Post by **tex** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:48 pm

Hi Jari,

I feel for you because I can identify with those symptoms. During the summer (due to the heat), I have to take special measures in order to prevent getting into a situation where I wake up scratching like mad. And a warn shower just makes it worse, of course. Sometimes a warm shower triggers the problem when it didn't exist previously, suggesting that the warm water has a rather powerful effect on symptoms. And like MC, this can make the symptoms self-perpetuating, because the hotter it gets, the more frequently we have to shower. Skipping a night is not often an option down here, during the summer. And I don't care for cold showers. I consider cold showers a form of cruel and unusual punishment.

In the summer, I have to really limit cashew butter and things like even relatively green bananas (I can tolerate 1/2 a banana, but not a whole one, if they're large, for example), and I have to avoid almond butter. No nuts or sauces. I would be afraid of chicken or fish, unless I were absolutely sure about it's degree of freshness.

That said, I don't have a heck of a lot more leeway in the cooler months, but I'm far less likely to get into trouble. I don't take any antihistamines, so I look at them as a standby safety net, in case I ever really have a bad flare. My mast cell reactions used to last for a few days, but they can easily last for a few weeks (or more) now.

If you go to an allergist, he or she will probably prescribe up to four antihistamine capsules or tablets per day, depending on how many it takes to control the symptoms. At east that's what they've traditionally recommended for mastocytosis.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on the topic, FWIW.

Tex

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 7:47 pm

Tex,

Thanks so much for your quick reply. Yes, those warm showers sometime suck, but I can't do cold either!

I've not had a reaction quite this bad before, but I do remember last summer I had to stop going to water aerobics because of itchiness so I do believe there is something in the water that truly doesn't like me. Makes me sad as I love water aerobics and it's such a great form of exercise, but I'll just have to walk or figure something else in the way of exercise. I let it go on way too long this time and I'm paying the price. I'm going on about 3 weeks or so now with some relief, but it still rears its ugly head and lets me know it's there.

No more prednisone as it causes me not to sleep as well as really constipates me. It makes me feel generally crappy, but it did help get it somewhat under control.

I tend to think I'll bypass the allergist and let nature run its course. I'll watch what I'm eating (maybe chicken and rice is not the best option right now). I threw out the bananas. They got really ripe and I could tell when I ate one that it was full of histamine and gonna cause me problems.

Any supplements I should really focus on?

Thanks again for your help!

Janie · Post by **Janie** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:31 pm

Jari, I don't know if this is related but since I developed MC in 2016, I still can't go to the YMCA pool due to extreme itchiness due to the chlorine. I would get rashes that lasted for days. Benadryl was the only thing that helped. I don't have that much hystamine reactions to food. I wish they would change it to a salt water pool. I loved my aqua aerobics. Never had that problem before the colitis.

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 9:21 pm

Janie,

Our pool is treated with ozone so no chlorine so I'm not sure if it's really the swimming pool or the fact that I sat in the hot tub for a long time for 3 days in a row (could be both also). I also love my water aerobics and am just sick about this. I may try again this winter and see what happens in just the pool (no hot tub). I think our body systems don't hold up as well as they used to! Sucks getting older and having this stupid disease! But I know that I am better off than so many other folks so I won't complain about not being able to go to water aerobics at the moment! Instead I'll be thankful I'm alive!

Janie · Post by **Janie** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:43 am

At least you are safe with the no chlorine, I wish ours was that way. The Y pool that is, ours at home is minimal chlorine so that helps but can't stay long it ours either.
Have you traveled lately, Jari?

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:05 pm

Janie,

Sadly no.............have been nowhere but at home fighting this crap! It's just a histamine overload that too shall pass! Thanks.