Hi
@Woolie - so strange to have just stumbled on this thread as I have been thinking about this a lot recently (not the cold/flu thing, that just makes me feel even worse and always causes a massive M.E crash, although I have gone from catching everything to the last few years catching nothing).
I have developed mast cell activation disease/syndrome over the past year more severely. I also have regular IGE allergies. most especially to dust and nickel. over a year ago a dose of doxycycline caused severe widespread itching that is now only controlled by daily antihistamine dosing, plus a mast cell stabilizer. Even then I still get breakthrough itching and other MCAS reactions to things, although I don't get anaphylaxis I have had fainting fits and seizures as reactions as well. My main mast cell reactions that increase the itching are drugs, herbs, supplements and some foods. I am also sensitive to chemicals, all strong smells, perfumes, smoke etc.
What I have noticed over the past year is that whenever my itching reaction to a drug is at its most intense I have mini M.E remisssions and feel much better than normal. When the itching finally doies down - takes a few weeks normally - then my fatihue especially creeps back in and I can end up back in bed for a week or so recovering.
At first I thought it was just a coincidence, or that I was being crazy, but it has happened enough times now that I can see there appears to be a direct correlation. MCAS is a complex illness and overall it is important to reduce reactions as much as possible, as they can be dangerous and generally undermine health, which can be accumulative. I CERTAINLY WOULDN WANT TO PURPOSELY TRIGGER ITCHING JUST SO I COULD FEEL BETTER (oops caps lock! not shouting) as it is unbearable and I cant sleep, which also gradually wears me down.
But I have noticed it and keep wondering why this is happening, especially since taking a mast cell stabiliser has also helped with some of the M.E symtpoms. Am seeing KDM in two weeks so will ask him what he thinks about this - but it is a definite immune shift of some kind.