Histamine issue?

[robinc2525]

Hello. I have been experiencing a symptom which for a while I thought was totally unrelated to my MC. Since the beginning of summer my ears plug up during the day and when I talk everything sounds muffled. It doesn't happen every day, probably 4/5 days a week. It drives me crazy!! Usually at the same time I notice increased mucus in my throat. I don't normally have bad allergies or anything like that...and couldn't figure out why this was happening. At some point after reading posts here it came to mind that maybe this issue has something to do with histamine/mast cells. I have been trying to figure out if I have an issue with histamine (even before I realized this ear thing might be related). I have been eating a low histamine diet, no leftovers etc and also taking one Histame supplement after eating. I honestly don't notice a difference from doing this. I have tried taking one Allegra but it seems to have no effect on the ears plugging. Does this sound like it could be a histamine issue? Should I try something else to help me figure this out? Any advice is very appreciated.

[mzh]

Do you swim or did you swim at lot? My husband sometimes get this in hot weather. The ear doc told him it was due to a bone overgrowth from water intrusion over the years and the humidity aggravates it. I hope I'm remembering this correctly. I can't ask him b/c he's not here at the moment.

[tex]

Robin,

I'm sure you've ruled out earwax. If it starts to collect, taking a shower can clog the ear canals. I'm not aware of a way that mast cell/histamine issues could cause that kind of symptom, but maybe I'm overlooking something.

Tex

[Sheila]

Hi Robin,
When I first got sick with a reaction to an antibiotic, I lost so much fluid I ended up in the hospital with severe dehydration. I took the antibiotic for an ear infection.
Long story short, the loss of body fluid caused my Eustachian tube to get stuck open, a patulous Eustachian tube. My voice sounds muffled to me, like I have a bucket over my head. Lying down, the tube closes and my hearing is normal. It is a rare complication to rapid dehydration.
Just a thought.

Sheila W

[robinc2525]

These comments are very interesting for me. First, Tex, I am not thinking it's due to ear wax because it is not all the time or every day. I thought it might be histamine related because as I said I also get the excess mucus and I thought these symptoms might be related to allergies.

However, regarding the dehydration (Sheila's comment)...as I said this seems to occur mid-day for me and get better at night. For the last couple months as I have been battling MC I have been afraid to even drink water during the day because I am afraid it will cause an urgent need for a bathroom. So sometimes I'll go from breakfast to dinner not drinking or eating anything. Last week I was on vacation so going out each day with my family, hiking etc in 90+ degree weather. At night I would load up on water and as I said before the stuffiness seems to go away at night. So maybe it's a symptom of dehydration for me.

[tex]

In view of your restricted hydration during the day, that dehydration may be the cause.

Tex

[humbird753]

Hi - I realize this thread is older, but....

Robin - I noticed myself getting a lot of mucus in my throat the past 6 weeks or more. I also noticed the symptoms with my ears (plugging up) and had difficulty hearing and when I talked it sounded muffled. I had no improvement with Claritin Redi tabs, or with Benedryl. Not sure if it was a bad move on my part, but I tried Mucinex to hopefully clear up some of the mucus. I noticed improvements with my hearing on the 2nd day, but still had no normans.

I have also wondered if this is a symptom of histamine/mast cell reaction. I am trying to determine if I should try Betaine HCl and/or Histame to see what kind of results I see (if any). I am wondering if the Betaine HCl and the Histame are for the same purpose, and if I should be taking one or the other (but not both).

Have you found any improvements on your mucus issue?

Paula

[robinc2525]

Hi Paula-

I saw no difference with the Histame or the Allegra (I tried them in July-August). However, I haven't had the sensation of my ears plugging when I talk for a couple weeks. I honestly have no idea why it stopped. I do have mucus still that seems abnormal in the back of my throat. It's puzzling for sure.

Betaine HCL is for low stomach acid I think, and Histame is used to break down histamine and reduce histamine levels in the body. So I don't think they are the same thing. I have not dared use Betaine HCL because I think it can be irritating if you take too much.

Good luck and hope you find some answers for yourself soon. On another note, I like your quote, it's definitely TRUTH!

Robin

[suzieq]

Hi Robin,

I suffer from the plugged up ears and muffle sounds when I talk and it started about 20 years ago, way before MC. It occurs in the late morning and lasts through the afternoon. I don't have any mucous issues. I went to my PCP at the time who put me on Claritan, it didn't help and I developed a rare reaction to the Claritan, I was really sick for weeks from the Claritan. My PCP sent me to an ear, nose and throat Dr. He diagnosed me with TMJ and had me go to the dentist for a mouth guard for sleeping. I wore it, very uncomfortable, but it helped the problem. Fast forward to today, I am again suffering from the plugged up ears and muffles sounds, I don't have the night guard anymore but when I make a real effort to sleep on my back so there's no pressure on my jaw, it helps.

Also, mine will stop for periods of time and I might be annoyed by it one day and not the next. I have hydration issues and I get terrible leg, foot and toe cramps from being dehydrated. I know I need to drink more water.

I wonder, can TMJ be caused by gluten sensitivity? I think I read somewhere it could. I think it can be associated with my fibromyalgia and underactive thyroid.

Hope this information helps.

Take care,
Susanne

[humbird753]

Robin - thank you for your response, and for clarifying the difference between HCL and Histame. I am like you in that I think I have abnormal volume of mucus. I also assumed it would be histamine related.

Good luck to you also in finding out what works for you. Drink more water. The foot and leg cramps can be very uncomfortable to say the least. I would assume you are having them if you are not staying hydrated. If you are hydrated and continue having the cramps, I found magnesium helped with mine.

Paula

[DJ]

I have been afraid to even drink water during the day because I am afraid it will cause an urgent need for a bathroom. So sometimes I'll go from breakfast to dinner not drinking or eating anything.

Hi Robin, You need food. MC makes a person weak in itself! Try protein - ground beef, steak, fish. When I was flushing out day and night I ate protein and drank Gator Aid and sugar sweetened soda. Lollipops are nice when you have nothing else available. I enjoyed a sugar-free and artificial sweetener-free diet for years but now all bets are off. Controlling D is high on my list of priorities. Sugar helped me a lot when I was weak and hungry.

I hope you find balance.

DJ

[robinc2525]

DJ thanks, this was from an old post though, in July. I was on vacation and out with my kids every day hiking, etc and that's why I was afraid to eat/drink during that time. I do normally eat a limited diet but never any sugar! I wish, oh gosh, I dream of sugar. :)

Thanks again-
Robin

[tex]

DJ,

Robin is correct — many/most of us can't handle very much sugar (especially fructose), because it tends to perpetuate a leaky gut for many of us. Some of us may be able to resume eating normal amounts of sugar after we recover, but I find that while I can tolerate slightly more than I could while I was recovering, I still have to keep the amount relatively low, so apparently this limitation is permanent for me.

Tex

[DebE13]

I had TMJ since high school and my jaw always clicked. Since being GF the clicking has gone away. Although the bruxism hasn't gotten any better.