More itchy fingers...

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:00 am

The itchy, miniscule bumps on my fingers have returned, and this after several days of eating almost nothing other than chicken, rice, well-cooked vegetables, and unsweetened applesauce. (I did have a helping of GF/SF/DF/NF sweet potato casserole Saturday...) I also swelled up like a balloon yesterday after lunch (rice, chicken, veggies, V-8), to the point that I was still so uncomfortable by dinner I didn't have anything last night but a cup of herbal tea. Any suggestions for what I should eliminate this week? I'm going to the grocery store today!

Post by **tex** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:44 am

Cynthia,

l would suggest that you avoid breathing fumes from gasoline, (wasn't the gasoline fumes incident on Saturday?). IMO, olfactory sensitivities can trigger mast cell reactions that can result in symptoms that can linger for several days, and the stress from the symptoms can cause the reaction to be somewhat self-perpetuating. And once we begin to react, this can heighten our susceptibility to additional mast cell degranulation events, in response to other triggers. Once the inflammation is triggered, then digestion will be poor, (resulting in your obvious digestion issues on Sunday). Hopefully it will fade away today.

This is all just my opinion, of course, so please don't assume that anything I've said here is chiseled in stone.

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:47 am

I agree with your opinion Tex.

Cynthia, V8 would be at the top of my list to avoid, especially if your mast cells are actingn up
Mary Beth

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:08 am

Tex and Mary Beth,

Aha! I would never have thought about the gasoline being the culprit!! Wow--thanks! Honey will have to get his own gasoline from now on!

What's safe to drink with mast cell issues? I know coffee and tea are not, and citrus. I'm not a milk drinker, dairy or otherwise. I do have some herbal teas. It had crossed my mind that the V-8 might be a problem, but I didn't want to admit it.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:01 am

Cynthia,
My DH gets those bumps on his fingers often. I think it's deshydrotic eczema, since there is usually no trigger that we can identify. He also gets them when he works in the yard, so there is an allergic element too.

I didn't used to do well with V-8. Bloody Mary's felt like drinking gasoline.

Regarding your prior question about my skin mast cell involvement, here's what I get:
1. dermographism (skin writing) especially on my arms and torso, which lasts about 20 minutes after a scratch
2. small red bumps on my torso when I heat up
3. sweat-filled tiny blisters on my torso when I sweat.
4. Beet red cheeks and face when I exercise and burning sensation from the sweat (I have to rinse my face constantly)
5. extremely itchy thighs when I exercise, especially in cold weather
6. nickel allergy (itchy dermatitis from jewelry, especially earrings)
7. generally sensitive skin that bruises easily

Now you know why I'm practically sedentary!

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:11 am

Zizzle,

That's what I came up with as well (dyshidrotic eczema)--it's an allergic reaction, and it can be food-related or environmental, which doesn't narrow it down! I haven't been outside in the yard, and it wasn't my week to clean the bathrooms, so I don't think it was something I touched. I don't have the skin-related symptoms, other than the scalp thing and fingers--no dermographia, no flushing or hives (unless I take Sulfa!). I do seem to be sensitive to certain brands of shampoo and soap, though.

As far as being sedentary, I am too lately! Hoping to get out and walk later this week--I've just had no energy lately. Last week I had to move some couches that we were taking back to my shop to be slipcovered, and I was surprised at how weak I felt. I'm used to lifting 40-50 pounds with no problem. Need to start the weight work again!

Is V-8 Splash as bad as the veggie kind? The only one I drink is the Peach Mango.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:26 am

V8 splash should be fine, if you're OK with the acidity of it. I love the peach mango, well watered-down (at least 50/50). I think the problem with regular V-8 is the tomato juice.

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:32 am

I thought that too--I don't think there's any citrus in the Peach Mango, and I didn't see anything else that just jumped out at me. Of course, that could be wishful thinking on my part! I need to start keeping a food diary again. I got out of the habit after I figured out most of my sensitivities, but now that new ones are popping up it's time to take another look.

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:35 am

Peaches aren't on the low histamine diet, at least not the version I use.

Mary Beth

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:30 pm

Mary Beth,

do you have a link for the diet you use, or is it somewhere on the forum? I found one list of high-histamine foods, but peaches weren't on it.

Post by **tex** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:15 pm

Cynthia,

It's not that peaches are particularly high in histamines - they're just not low in histamines. Mary Beth may follow the dietary guidelines posted at the International Chronic Urticaria Society website. They show lists of both allowed and restricted foods, categorized by food groups.

http://www.urticaria.thunderworksinc.co ... foodsource

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:35 pm

Yes Tex, a version of that diet, written by Janice Vicketstaff in her book on food sensitivities.

Mary Beth

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:31 pm

Okay, I went to the link--between what's restricted on the diet and what's allowed that I know I can't eat, I don't know what I WOULD eat! I thought it was interesting that bananas and peanuts were on the "allowed" list.

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:50 am

Hmmmm. I had never noticed that. I think they made a mistake - nuts and bananas shouldn't be on the "allowed" list, IMO. Most nuts are very likely to have histamine problems, because they tend to mold easily, during the drying process.

Tex

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:05 am

I haven't gone to that link yet, but I remember that Gloria mentioned in a thread somewhere that almonds, pistachios, and cashews are lower in histamine, and that walnuts and pecans are very high. I took note of that because I eat a lot of nuts and I was considering adding walnuts and pecans to my diet.