Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
I’ve been diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Mast cells are made in bone marrow. They migrate to and take up residence in mucous membranes throughout the body.
When mast cells are activated by an allergen, they release histamine. The types of symptoms vary depending on the location of the mast cells and the allergen that provokes them. This is why some people have hay fever, others have migraines or rashes and others, like me, suffer digestive distress.
One ingested allergen that I know about are pro-biotic pills. If I take a single over-the-counter pro-biotic pill, I suffer vomiting and diarrhea. Also, I had to stop eating yoghurt and dry cottage cheese, which contain pro-biotics, when they began to cause the same symptoms. My mast cells react to pro-biotics by expelling them. In the opinion of my mast cells, pro-biotics are just as nasty as salmonella.
The bacteria that excrete histamine include many strains of Lactobacillus. I have found a pro-biotic that does not contain any of the bacteria that are known to excrete histamine (ProBiota HistaminX). However, after tolerating one capsule twice a week for a month, it began to cause symptoms – so, I stopped taking it. I’ve also tried a pro-biotic containing only Bifidobacterium (ProBiota Bifido), which are supposed to be good for people who have histamine intolerance, but I cannot tolerate it.
So, I suspect I simply have too many microbes in my digestive system and must not ingest any more of any kind. In me, pro-biotics are an allergen.
It is possible that other food ingredients are also allergens but I have not identified them. There are no others that cause vomiting, but there are many foods that cause diarrhea.
My doctor who diagnosed Mast Cell Activation Syndrome has prescribed Sodium Nalcrom (a.k.a. Sodium Cromoglycate). It calms the mast cells so as to reduce their allergic reaction. It is not a cure in that it must be taken for life. Taking it has improved my digestive function. However, I have not yet tested it by adding any FODMAP or high-histamine food back into my diet.
When mast cells are activated by an allergen, they release histamine. The types of symptoms vary depending on the location of the mast cells and the allergen that provokes them. This is why some people have hay fever, others have migraines or rashes and others, like me, suffer digestive distress.
One ingested allergen that I know about are pro-biotic pills. If I take a single over-the-counter pro-biotic pill, I suffer vomiting and diarrhea. Also, I had to stop eating yoghurt and dry cottage cheese, which contain pro-biotics, when they began to cause the same symptoms. My mast cells react to pro-biotics by expelling them. In the opinion of my mast cells, pro-biotics are just as nasty as salmonella.
The bacteria that excrete histamine include many strains of Lactobacillus. I have found a pro-biotic that does not contain any of the bacteria that are known to excrete histamine (ProBiota HistaminX). However, after tolerating one capsule twice a week for a month, it began to cause symptoms – so, I stopped taking it. I’ve also tried a pro-biotic containing only Bifidobacterium (ProBiota Bifido), which are supposed to be good for people who have histamine intolerance, but I cannot tolerate it.
So, I suspect I simply have too many microbes in my digestive system and must not ingest any more of any kind. In me, pro-biotics are an allergen.
It is possible that other food ingredients are also allergens but I have not identified them. There are no others that cause vomiting, but there are many foods that cause diarrhea.
My doctor who diagnosed Mast Cell Activation Syndrome has prescribed Sodium Nalcrom (a.k.a. Sodium Cromoglycate). It calms the mast cells so as to reduce their allergic reaction. It is not a cure in that it must be taken for life. Taking it has improved my digestive function. However, I have not yet tested it by adding any FODMAP or high-histamine food back into my diet.
