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It hasn’t happened for 6 months or more, but I became alarmed in the past several years at lip swellings. The first time it happened, I had just eaten a fresh peach. My lip got a bump on the inside that was itchy and then the swelling began. Over the course of 24 hours, the right half of my upper lip swelled up 2 or 3 times its normal size. I looked like I was getting silicon injections on the installment plan. Then over the next 24 hours it subsided.
At first I thought it was an allergy to the peach. But that theory went out the window when I ate peaches without the reaction and had the reaction without eating peaches. Then I thought it was a reaction to Alleve. But again, I could sometimes take Alleve and not react or react without having had Alleve.
Sometimes the swelling would migrate from one side of a lip to the other and the last time I remember having it, the swelling spread, involving the upper and lower lips (left side only) and migrated out into the cheek. The skin above these swellings was itchy in the same way that your skin itches when the feeling is coming back from a novacaine shot.
In addition to food, I thought of cosmetics and toothpaste. I did change my toothpaste at home but not in my overnight case. I did not change any cosmetics.
My GI thought that it was an oral manifestation of Crohn’s, because it was usually accompanied by diarrhea. But then again, what wasn’t accompanied by diarrhea? My scopes ruled out Crohn's . My money was on mast cells and still is.
When it first started happening, I was alarmed and worried that I would go anaphylactic, so I went to my PCP. She recommended going to an allergist and taking an antihistamine everyday. I didn’t do either, but perhaps I should.
I’d love to know what your thoughts are.
Mast Cells or Histamine Overload or ...?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Fern,
IMO, the problem is almost always a combination of inappropriate mast cell degranulation and foods that contain high amounts of histamine. Mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) is a dose-dependent phenomenon, in virtually all cases.
IOW, small to moderate amounts of foods that contain histamines can typically be tolerated. But when we exceed whatever our individual tolerance threshold might be, then a mast cell-driven reaction is triggered, and copious amounts of histamine are dumped into the surrounding tissue. This is the reason why mast cell reactions sometimes seem to occur on a "random" basis. In many cases, even foods that contain high amounts of histamine may be eaten (in small amounts), as long as the total amount of histamine consumed allows our total histamine "load" to remain below our trigger threshold. The example you cited of your experiences with eating peaches is very typical of MACD.
The bottom line is, it's the total amount of accumulated histamine that counts, not individual doses. And together with this, the rate at which our body is capable of purging excess (unused or unattached) histamine is also very important, because if this unused histamine remains in our system, the level is bound to eventually exceed our tolerance threshold, even if we take in negligible amounts with our food, and/or our body produces only small amounts for normal functional requirements.
One of the functions of diamine oxidase (DAO) is to purge excess histamine from the body. If DAO availability is insufficient, then histimine levels tend to increase, eventually causing problems. Low DAO levels are associated with active IBD, so it's likely that IBDs deplete DAO. This is apparently the reason why mast cell issues frequently develop after an IBD has been active for a while.
Tex
IMO, the problem is almost always a combination of inappropriate mast cell degranulation and foods that contain high amounts of histamine. Mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) is a dose-dependent phenomenon, in virtually all cases.
IOW, small to moderate amounts of foods that contain histamines can typically be tolerated. But when we exceed whatever our individual tolerance threshold might be, then a mast cell-driven reaction is triggered, and copious amounts of histamine are dumped into the surrounding tissue. This is the reason why mast cell reactions sometimes seem to occur on a "random" basis. In many cases, even foods that contain high amounts of histamine may be eaten (in small amounts), as long as the total amount of histamine consumed allows our total histamine "load" to remain below our trigger threshold. The example you cited of your experiences with eating peaches is very typical of MACD.
The bottom line is, it's the total amount of accumulated histamine that counts, not individual doses. And together with this, the rate at which our body is capable of purging excess (unused or unattached) histamine is also very important, because if this unused histamine remains in our system, the level is bound to eventually exceed our tolerance threshold, even if we take in negligible amounts with our food, and/or our body produces only small amounts for normal functional requirements.
One of the functions of diamine oxidase (DAO) is to purge excess histamine from the body. If DAO availability is insufficient, then histimine levels tend to increase, eventually causing problems. Low DAO levels are associated with active IBD, so it's likely that IBDs deplete DAO. This is apparently the reason why mast cell issues frequently develop after an IBD has been active for a while.
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.
Thanks for the thorough explanation, Tex.
That really makes a lot of sense. It explains why sometimes a salad from my favorite burrito joint doesn't phase me and other times will give me fits. Now if only there were a "histamine meter" so you could see how the old histamine bucket is doing. I nearly died from a bee sting at the age of 3 and went through a very long period of desensitization shots (had to super dilute the solution to keep me safe). As I noted in my introduction, I had to have an epipen after my skin prick testing at the allergist. The idea of misbehaving mast cells make me a little nervous and DH a lot nervous.
I do have a sort of "histaminometer" right now. I have a small spot on the inside of my lower lip that is normally barely visible. If I encounter an almond or other nut, it becomes a water blister for 6-12 hours and then goes back down. After eating some leftover brunswick stew (I know, I know - a veritable witch's brew of histamine), it inflated and I bowed to the warning and dissolved a Claritin Redi-Tab directly on it.
Is there a dietary way of rebuilding DAO or is supplementation the only way?
Fern
That really makes a lot of sense. It explains why sometimes a salad from my favorite burrito joint doesn't phase me and other times will give me fits. Now if only there were a "histamine meter" so you could see how the old histamine bucket is doing. I nearly died from a bee sting at the age of 3 and went through a very long period of desensitization shots (had to super dilute the solution to keep me safe). As I noted in my introduction, I had to have an epipen after my skin prick testing at the allergist. The idea of misbehaving mast cells make me a little nervous and DH a lot nervous.
I do have a sort of "histaminometer" right now. I have a small spot on the inside of my lower lip that is normally barely visible. If I encounter an almond or other nut, it becomes a water blister for 6-12 hours and then goes back down. After eating some leftover brunswick stew (I know, I know - a veritable witch's brew of histamine), it inflated and I bowed to the warning and dissolved a Claritin Redi-Tab directly on it.
Is there a dietary way of rebuilding DAO or is supplementation the only way?
Fern
Fern,
For some of us, mouth sores and/or itchy bumps on our scalp also serve as indicators of excess histamine.
Research shows that the use of vitamin C and vitamin B-6 tend to support an increase in DAO activity.
Tex
For some of us, mouth sores and/or itchy bumps on our scalp also serve as indicators of excess histamine.
In livestock, low DAO activity is used as a marker of copper deficiency (IOW, a low DAO level tells a feedlot nutritionist that the ration needs more copper). Obviously that suggests that a copper deficiency can cause low DAO activity level.Fern wrote:Is there a dietary way of rebuilding DAO or is supplementation the only way?
Research shows that the use of vitamin C and vitamin B-6 tend to support an increase in DAO activity.
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.
Wow, Tex! Great information!
I have to admit, it made me giggle and all I could think of was:
Rattle, rattle, rattle; here come the cattle! Thank Moooo!
Anyway, being the foodie that I am, a quick search has determined that an asparagus, onion and mushroom sauté served on a bed of buckwheat groats should do the trick.
Definitely food for thought!
Fern
I have to admit, it made me giggle and all I could think of was:
Rattle, rattle, rattle; here come the cattle! Thank Moooo!
Anyway, being the foodie that I am, a quick search has determined that an asparagus, onion and mushroom sauté served on a bed of buckwheat groats should do the trick.
Definitely food for thought!
Fern