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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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I have a new MCAS Dr!

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
Okay, he is my old allergy doctor, but I went back to him today after almost a decade. I found out he understands a good amount about MCAS and MCS, diagnosed me today with mild EDS, dermographism, and is talking about trying me on Cromolyn and Claritin (vs Zyrtec and Ketotifen). His nurse also walked me around the hospital campus for about two minutes monitoring my heart rate and oxygen. She knew how out of breath I was with little walking, and asked how I felt (which was muscles burning). So he knows how much the MCAS mixes in with the CFS.

When he heard all the problems I have and how many medications I take just to breathe, he had his nurse do the allergy testing even though I am on my medications. So now I am crawling the walls and trying to scratch my face off from way too much histamine, but I have local support!

I start shots next week. My CFS didn't improve while on shots before, but I was much more functional back then. If my allergies and MCAS/MCS can improve, maybe I can heal a bit and gain back 5%.

And I have a LOCAL doc that UNDERSTANDS MCAS! :angel: If I could do a little gig, I would do that one where you click your heels to the side. :)
 

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
That is GREAT news @Strawberry and I am very happy for you! We are all so different b/c Cromolyn & Claritin did nothing for me and Zyrtec & Ketotefin were part of my winning combo. But we are all "unique snowflakes" as @Misfit Toy always says and I am confident that he will find the right combo for you. :star::star::star:

Claritin didn't work for me 20 years ago, but he says it works as an H1 and also works on another receptor (that I haven't heard of and didn't write down), so that is why he mentioned that. It may not work still, but he thought it might be worth trying again. (I need to research that receptor)

Ketotifen seems to make my MCS worse when I have to take a lot, although I LOVE that stuff! I have no idea what Cromolyn does or if it will work. I think he just might be more familiar with that one. He nearly hit the floor when he found out I have ketotifen compounded locally, he thought it was illegal to sell in the states.

And no I absolutely will not stop seeing Dr K also! He is the best!

@Mary I love how you compared it to finding the holy grail! So true!
 

Gingergrrl

Senior Member
Messages
16,171
He nearly hit the floor when he found out I have ketotifen compounded locally, he thought it was illegal to sell in the states.

It's so strange to me when doctors do not know this but I experienced it as well. When I saw my MCAS doc, at the very first appt he said that you can get it compounded at any compounding pharm and I gave him my zipcode (b/c he is about 45 min south of me) and he listed three pharmacies from memory! I have an amazing compounding pharm who has created many meds for me including the Ketotefin. But many docs think that b/c you cannot get it at a commercial pharm like CVS, that it is unavailable in the US and this is totally incorrect!

And no I absolutely will not stop seeing Dr K also! He is the best!

Agreed :star::star::star:
 

PDXhausted

Senior Member
Messages
258
Location
NW US
Hi @Strawberry - not sure if you've already answered this elsewhere, but did you end up trying the cromolyn and if so, how did it go?

I'm waiting for my pharmacy to get it in stock so I can try it, and of course scouring the forum in the meantime to see how others have fared :)
 

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
Hi @Strawberry - not sure if you've already answered this elsewhere, but did you end up trying the cromolyn and if so, how did it go?

I'm waiting for my pharmacy to get it in stock so I can try it, and of course scouring the forum in the meantime to see how others have fared :)

I haven't tried it yet. Best of luck and let me know how it goes if you try it too!
 
Messages
70
@Strawberry

I am sorry for reviving an old thread but I am looking for an allergist in Seattle that knows something about MCAS. Would you feel comfortable sharing the name of your doctor or suggesting a clinic?

I have had a lifetime of mysterious reactions to so many things but because I don't react to IgE my allergist dismissed my concerns.

Thank you!
 

Learner1

Senior Member
Messages
6,305
Location
Pacific Northwest
I haven't had much luck with allergists in the Seattle area. Sounds like @Strawberry has a good one. Having my naturopath optimize my methylation significantly reduced my symptoms, but Dr K found that some of my symptoms were indeed related to MCAS through blood tests (prostaglandin D2 and chrimogranin A and he prescribed ketotifen and cromolyn sodium for every day and Benadryl if I need it. Quercetin and curcumin help, too.
 

raghav

Senior Member
Messages
809
Location
India
@Learner1 Is there any specific blood test(s) that will say positively that I have MCAS (or not). I would like to take it up with my doctor. Thanks.
 
Messages
70
Thank you @Mary and @Learner1 !

I have been on Kaiser Permanente and their allergist was not helpful at all. Now that I am switching insurance I am looking for an allergist that treats MCAS and it doesn't look like there are many options in Seattle. I am setting up an appointment with a naturopath as soon as I get away fro Kaiser :)
 

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
@Strawberry

I am sorry for reviving an old thread but I am looking for an allergist in Seattle that knows something about MCAS. Would you feel comfortable sharing the name of your doctor or suggesting a clinic?

I have had a lifetime of mysterious reactions to so many things but because I don't react to IgE my allergist dismissed my concerns.

Thank you!

Sorry I'm late. I tried to PM you but it wouldn't allow it? Are you able to PM me?
 
Messages
70
Sorry I'm late. I tried to PM you but it wouldn't allow it? Are you able to PM me?

No worries! I am glad you are here. I can't send messages for some reason. My privacy settings are set to accept conversations from members so I will keep poking around and see where I went wrong.
 

Sushi

Moderation Resource Albuquerque
Messages
19,935
Location
Albuquerque
I can't send messages for some reason. My privacy settings are set to accept conversations from members so I will keep poking around and see where I went wrong.
You couldn't send private messages because you were a new member, but now you should be able to.
 

wigglethemouse

Senior Member
Messages
776
Is there any specific blood test(s) that will say positively that I have MCAS (or not). I would like to take it up with my doctor. Thanks.
@raghav You can read "Never bet against Occam" by Dr Afrin for lots of info on MCAS. Dr. Afrin is the one that pioneered the MCAS treatment field.

Doctors could be referred to this paper, also by Dr. Afrin, where Fig 5 and the text following it details the blood and Urine testing along with special handling instructions.
https://www.wjgnet.com/2218-6204/full/v3/i1/1.htm
 

btdt

Senior Member
Messages
161
Location
Ontario
Hi I am not sure if I have MCAS been dx as MCS multiple chemical sensitivity a few years ago. I feel I am caught in a bit of a trap getting suggested medication advice that I myself know can hurt me and unsure about where to go for treatment. Do any of the people reading this have a name of a doctor in Ontario Canada who can dx MCAS. I tend to have a lot of reactions to a lot of medications sometimes to otc ones.
I had a chest infection which was treated the coughing and sinus would not end I took cold sinus drugs to treat post infection.. the coughing became insane. Specialist last wk suggested I take aerius (Desloratadine and H1 drug ) I have had bad reactions to H1 drugs in the past so have not tried it yet. The last H1 drug I took was a gastro drug sorry I can't recalled the name it made me suicidal very quickly. Suggesting an H1 drug got me thinking this cough is GI related ... I had this before I do'nt know how it relates but I know taking pariet has slowed down severe coughing in the past... after I had tried the H1 stomach drug had the reaction managed to get switched to the Pariet... things slowly improved... I am back there again this time coughing again is the main but not the only symptom. I have tried one pariet it seemed to help and stopped all the puffers and sinus cold meds... have had no solid food since a second pariet resulted in a migraine and vomitting not sure if the pariet and mirgraine are related hoping not. The coughing has eased... and it is crazy to think that puffers can cause worse coughing... I had a lung test last wk where I was given more than recommended amounts of Ventolin... which has cause weird movements for me in the past... just wondering.

I am not crazy about pariet or any drug really but just now I need something to break this cycle... not sure what things have calmed some but I am not sure how long it will last.

Any suggestions are welcomed if you have been in this situation before and something worked for you... what was it.
Don't be afraid to offer advice I am not going to run out and take whatever is working for you ...I likely can't get it .. first of all and second I am a chicken and need to research everything I try.

All suggestions appreciated thx.
B
 

Learner1

Senior Member
Messages
6,305
Location
Pacific Northwest
You might look for doctors here:

https://tmsforacure.org/physician-database/

I've atrached some papers that might help you decide.

Beyond that, could you have autoimmune problems? I've attached a list of antibody tests patients here have collected.
 

Attachments

  • Afrin 2014 Presentation of MCAS.pdf
    1.9 MB · Views: 10
  • Afrin Drugs for MCAS.pdf
    891 KB · Views: 11
  • Antibody tests for ME_CFS patients.pdf
    69.5 KB · Views: 11

btdt

Senior Member
Messages
161
Location
Ontario
Thank you Learner for the fast response. I will take a look at the information you have sent. I can't think that well just now I had a antibody test of some sort low IGG not sure that it the right acronym ... that is all I know. No allergies tho I have been tested many times... and have had to stop eating certain foods due to mouth blisters and have had Anaphylaxis (had to look that up the spelling...how badly my thinking is just now..)
 
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