Unintended consequences

[Sheila]

Everything began to bloom in Florida last month and my allergies got a lot worse: itchy eyes, swollen eyes, conjunctivitis, runny nose, sneezing, post nasal drip. I started using Patanase (H1) nasal spray and Zatidor for eye symptoms. Every night I take one 24-hour Zyrtec. I stopped budesinide a few months ago and had been struggling with gurgling, gas, some nausea, simply not feeling well. I modified my diet further and cut back even more on sugar. Still didn't feel great.

A few weeks ago I noticed that I was feeling almost normal!! I didn't trust this feeling would last but kept doing what I had been doing taking multiple anti-histamines. The Board had discussions about Mast cells and I have been following them. All of the anti-histamines that I'm taking are H1. Interestingly, I read that Zatidor may help relieve IBS symptoms. If I don't use the Patanase nasal spray, I take a Claritin redi-tab.

I ate out in restaurants four days in a row this past week. I haven't done that since I got sick 4 years ago. I didn't get sick or have any adverse symptoms. Everything I ate was GF but I ate some veggies, tomato sauce, mashed potatoes, salad and dressing, etc. I'm amazed that I am still feeling well. I don't plan on a repeat of the excesses of this past week. It was a special occasion.

Leah said she was feeling better taking anti-histamines and I expect I'm having a similar response. I am having a bit of a problem with drowsiness and hope that will get better with time. I just sent in my sample to Enterolab to test for eggs and soy. I would like to be able to eat eggs again. I don't plan on eating soy ever again but I'm curious to know the current number.

I hope this wonderful feeling of normalcy continues. It seems too good to be true but I'm cautiously hopeful.

Sheila W

[tex]

Hi Sheila,

After seeing the title of your post I naturally assumed that the consequences were bad. So it was a pleasant surprise to see that I had made the wrong assumption.

Needless to say, it's great to see another success story chalked up to antihistamines.

I certainly hope that your improved condition continues. Thanks for sharing.

Tex

[Pat]

Great news!!!! Might try Allegra instead of Zyrtec. Never made me sleepy.

Pat

[Leah]

Yay! That's great news Sheila! I also use Allegra with no sleepiness. I buy the name brand at Costco…... You are now part of the antihistamine club :)
Leah

[dfpowell]

I tried H1 antihistamines for several months, but did not notice much of a difference in my symptoms. However, in the past week I took out all high histamine foods and started taking a Histame enzyme with each meal and my symptoms are now very minimal. I have also been taking 3 mg of LDN for about 5 weeks which I think is also helping. I don't want to jinx myself by saying I am feeling pretty normal, but I'm hoping this will last awhile.

[nerdhume]

so glad to hear the good news. Every success story I hear gives me more encouragement.

[CathyMe.]

Great news Sheila!

[Sheila]

Thanks, guys. I think I'll try Allegra during the day if I haven't used Patanase in the morning for sneezing etc. I take Zyrtec at night to help me sleep and have done so for quite a while. I didn't know Zyrtec had withdrawal problems and will slowly wean off by alternating it with Claritin or another antihistamine.

Thanks for the input and support. It has been a long, long road from May 2010 and my allergic reaction to an antibiotic that triggered MC. I know there will still be plenty of ups and downs and my diet is forever changed and very limited. The restricted diet doesn't matter as long as I can feel as well as I do now. Stress will always be a factor and meditating may help with that. Life is good!

Sheila W

[Lesley]

Yay Sheila! Wonderful news. I am crossing everything that it keeps up!

[Chrisdat]

Donna

What histamine enzyme do you take? I've added Histame after the meal, when I am in doubt about the freshness of the protein. I eat low-hiastmine, in all other areas, but if the protein is not completely fresh before cooking (and immediately consuming), I can get very sick.

I've also added Querticin 600 MG. Before every meal. Querticin is a mast-cell stabilizer.

I think these two things have helped, but only part of the answer.

-Chris (Clariton and Benydral daily, as well).

[Sheila]

Good morning, Donna. I took Histame once, about 2 years ago. At the time, I was strictly GF, SF, DF, EF but hadn't started the modified paleo diet. I was also taking Entocort every day. For whatever reason, the Histame made me feel sick and I never took it again. I began taking Zyrtec at night about a year ago after Leah, I think, said it worked for her. It did help me to sleep but didn't seem to effect my symptoms of gas, bloating etc etc etc. I have had Normans since the first day I took Entocort (budesinide) with the exception of times of severe stress. (Stopped Entocort a few months ago.)

As Tex has pointed out, it can take a very long time for the inflammation caused by MC and celiac disease to dissipate. It has been 3 years of a very restricted diet, Entocort, modified paleo diet, MRT testing, and almost constantly tinkering with my diet to reach this point. The only thing missing, apparently, was the correct dose of anti-histamine. When I added another anti-histamine, the remaining discomfort abated. I feel almost normal and that is close enough for me.

It seems there is no magic bullet with this disease. Some strategies work for some people, and not others. Have patience and be willing to experiment with your diet and try not to get discouraged.

Sheila W

[dfpowell]

Chris, I have been experimenting with 3 different histamine products: Histamine Block by Seeking Health, Histame, and DAOSIN by Swanson. I am too early in the process to know if there is a difference in the products. They are rather pricey especially when I take one with each meal, but if they continue to work I'll stick with them for awhile and then switch to the mag/vitc/zinc that Gabes has been mentioning. I also have been debating about trying the Querticin, but did not want to make too many changes at one time.

Sheila, When you take Zyrtec at night is it the 12 hour or 24 hour table? Also, is your second antihistamine an oral form of Zatidor?

[Leah]

I'm experimenting with Querticin also, but not sure my gut likes it.
Leah

[Sheila]

Donna, I take a 24-hr Zyrtec at night before bed. I intend to switch to Allegra. I started using Patanase nasal spray 3-4 weeks ago for hay fever type symptoms and also Zatidor eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis and itchy eyes. I think the combination of all three H1 type anti-histamines was enough to help with my digestive issues. If I don't use the Patanase or Zatidor, I take a 12 hr Claritin redi-tab. On a day I didn't use either the Patanase or Zatidor in the morning, I wasn't feeling very well after lunch and that was a reminder to take the Claritin.

I am thinking about trying Quercetin, too, Leah. I didn't have a good reaction to Histame and am hesitant to try anything new. On the plus side, there is no drowsiness with Quercetin and there are days now that I'm really dragging with 3 anti-histamines in my system. I don't think there is any harm in trying Quercetin and I will probably try it.

Sheila W

[Gabes-Apg]

Keep in mind....

Things like Quercetain and using magnesium/Vit c/zinc for histamines etc, they
reduce inflammation, they don't block histamines like the OTC H1 and H2 meds do.
When you first start, there will still be histamine symptoms, and it will take the body a bit to adjust ( especially if you have taken H1 H2 blockers daily for a few months)

On days where I have contact with more triggers (food or environment), I have to increase the intake of mag/Vit C /zinc.

In my case, I have been on the low inflammation, leaky gut healing, bland GF YF DF SF eating plan for 4 years.
I have only added about 8-12 new food ingredients in that time. I am fairly confident that I have achieved pretty good gut healing.