2017 - Anaphylactic Episode 50

NOT AGAIN!
On Tuesday September 12, I went into a weird allergic response to something and was having severe stomach pain.  The stomach issues started the day before and kept me up all night.  Then the next day I knew it was necessary to call an ambulance.  All the symptoms of Anaphylaxis were present except my throat was clear and I did not need the epi-pen at first. 

It was a mild response compared to some of the others.  The doctors and nurses provided care and I went home.  Later in the day it was coming back!  I went back to the hospital fully aware that this was one of those that was going to be slow and painful.  After an hour of waiting for a bed I was able to get the care needed to stop my pain and nausea.  We went home.  

In about 2 hours at home I started to flush and itch.  My throat was closing.  So, I used my epi-pen, took some Benadryl and some more allergy pills then waited it out.  Wednesday, I stayed home from work to recover from the foggy brain from all the meds.  

Today, Thursday I am back at work.  I still have some brain fog from all of the meds. Nevertheless, it is nice to be feeling better.  So, in thinking this through I realized that it must have been the new Probiotic I took on Sunday.  All of my symptoms point to it.  I threw it in the trash.  Hopefully, this will be the last one for a while.

Thought you should know...

2016 No More Anaphylaxis!!

I have been trying to understand why I kept going into Anaphylactic shock since the first on in December 2012.  It took being without for a month and changing my eating that has solved this and I think I won't be having another one.  Yay!!  If you have Idiopathic Anaphylaxis let me know.  I can help you.

About Treatment for Anaphylaxis

I was in the hospital for a kidney stone this past week.  The nurses were so wonderful yet surprisingly clueless about the protocol for Anaphylaxis.  They wanted my to have an epi-pen on the table next to me.  What they did not get in my case the first thing I go for is my nausea medicine.  The intestinal pain is really severe in my case.  Nevertheless, I think the nurses should know that they have epinephrine they could put in my IV and not expect me to jab myself when I am at the hospital.  I found out later that I was staying in the Ortho unit.

Number 44

I wonder if Guinness Book has a section for this.  I had my 44th Anaphylaxis yesterday.  It is so hard not knowing why.  I stopped my antibiotics just in case they are causing it.  I hope it doesn't kill me.   It is frustrating.  There are so many things I want to do with the rest of my life.  It is really holding me back!

Anaphylaxis #43

I thought it was over!  I am going through my 43rd episode. I have not had one for a few months. Guess this thing is a forever problem. Going to sleep now.

DIAMINE OXIDASE

Found this Article and it gave me some new hope. I had another Anaphylactic Shock last week. It was #38 in 2 years.  If you need help with yours this is a good article.  Sorry about the language on the cartoon. Not mine.  Copied here or go to: http://www.redaspenwellness.com/allergiesboulder/ Last week I went into anaphylaxis shock on the trail on a run by myself.  (Nothing spells excitement like a little throat closing!) Like I said I’ve had some serious hayfever my whole life and have meandered through Western and holistic health care for relief with varying results. But. Never have I ever flirted with nearly dying as a reaction to my hayfever so once I moved past this sudden anaphylaxis/Epi-pen/steroids/Benadryl cocktail I was “inspired” to revisit options on hayfever management. This led to lunch the other day with my friend Jen Marshall who is also a nutritionist in Louisville specializing in gut/immune response (read allergies) at Be Balanced Healing. She’s got tricks up her sleeve for allergy management, but she also dropped the words “diamine oxidase“. For those with stubborn allergies or unexplained eczema, rashes, any skin itchies, flushing, headaches, runny noses, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, blood pressure irregulation, heart palpitations, asthma, digestive issues, sleep issues just to name a few this might be worth a read. DAO is an enzyme that lives in your gut, and “cleans up” histamines. Histamines are a natural part of your immune system, but obviously some of us might sometimes be less than perfect and we go into overdrive, and some may also simply not have enough of the enzyme DAO (AKA the vacuum cleaner) to sweep up overabundant histamines. This would be known as Histamine Intolerance. Yes DAO is a supplement you can buy.  But wait why would I be low on DAO you ask? Think everything that we are familiair with that’s shredding apart our guts, like a lifetimes worth of gluten nearly every meal, sugar, the cases of beer you consumed since you got your fake ID in your teen years, over-consumption of dairy (I know this email goes to mainly Bouderlites) and I am not talking about how you’ve “gone clean” in your diet last year and since then you’ve been such a great eater- this kind of damage can take years and may have occured in your childhood, teen years etc. Medications like antibiotics, NSAID’s will decrease DAO, poor digestion and poor poop movements (low peristalisis) can create a pocket of older poopies and create bacteria in the gut that will decrease DAO. Again, isn’t something that gets created because you were constipated last week- this can take years. Maybe as a child your gut was poor, or maybe your entire teen years were spent taking Advil and only now the toll takes its place. All foods have various levels of histamines (below is a food list of high histamines foods). Yes- everything you eat has histamines in it. What I want to specify here is we aren’t talking about “gluten free” or “paleo” or “vegan” crazes. This is different. Here’s another kicker- you actually don’t need to be allergic to the foods to have the reaction- and this is what makes this difficult for doctors and sufferers to diagnose and discover. High histamine foods + low DAO in the gut= allergic reactions. Now how this pertains to hayfever is that there may be a correlation to how the body can rehabilitate/manage allergies systemically to how deficient the sufferer is with DAO in the gut. Foods like many cheeses and beer, wine, yogurt!, yeast (breads) are high in histamine- and may send your immune system into a high work load- then stupid pollen comes along and blammo- your system can’t deal, you’re flooded with histamines, and now you want to excise your eyes and nose with the nearest samurai sword- or perhaps you choose door #2, anaphylaxis. There aren’t many clinical studies out there, but many people claim supplementing DAO has helped them with their unexplained and chronic ailments like I previously mentioned- eczema, rashes, fatigue, the itchies, anxiety, rhinitis, (maybe anaphylaxis if you’re hardcore)- allergy like symptoms. Other Remedies:  Moving forward, a newish remedy that’s exciting on the market is “immuno drops“. These are like shots, but you drop the substance under the tongue instead. This is more affordable and you can skip the repeat (and more repeat) drives to the allergist since you can “drop” at home. From what I have read- these are more effective for children than adults, and possibly not as effective as shots. But these are fairly recent so results are obviously still out. You can be apart of the “droppers” as many medical allergists are providing this option in their office- including the one I’m headed to this week. There is A LOT of money in Zytrec, Allergra, Benadryl etc so a great solution is not in their best interest and therefor funding for natural things like shots and immuno-drops, understanding DAO, or acupuncture therapies etc isn’t there. And one needs to be very mindful of “results” and who is generating them because Big Pharma does not want a cure to allergies. After all, the going rate of just my Epi-pen is now $400. Saving the best for last acupuncture can help reduce symptoms. Like anything it helps some more than others. Folks like me who appear histamine loyal for life- maybe not so helpful, but I HAVE treated others VERY successfully to manage their symptoms of hayfever. I’m jealous of each and every one of them too. Repeatedly decent studies (and remember- I’m looking out for objectivity and placebo here cuz otherwise what’s the point?) are coming out about how gosh darn effective moxa (what we burn on the acupuncture points/needles- click here for more) is at boosting the immune system, meanwhile, acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and chill that histamine overdrive. The result? A happy exit out of the office free of itchy eyes and sinus drainage.

Here’s your list of high histamine foods! Eggs- but I also see this on low-histamine food lists soo…? Avocados Spinach Tomatoes These nuts: peanuts, walnuts and cashews Citrus fruits Aged goat or cow cheeses Soured foods like sour cream, butternilk Beer Wine Vinegar foods- olives, pickles Yogurt- this is about bacteria so be mindful of your probiotics- they may actually make you worse if it’s not the ones you need! Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are reportedly particular ones to stay away from if you are histamine intolerant! Fermented foods like sauerkraut, beer (again) kombuca (?!) Cured meats- including deli meats and bacon Dried fruits- dates, raisins etc. Yeast- breads

I found a doctor in Boston that studies mast cells. I asked if he would take my case. Now with 37 Anaphylaxis episodes I am hoping he will take an interest to help me.  Here is his interview with some women experiencing similar symptoms.