Mast Cell Disorders Forum

Mast Cell Disorders Forum
http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl General Mast Cell Disorders Discussion >> General Mast Cell Disorder Discussion >> GI Question http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1318601334 Message started by r123 on 10/14/11 at 03:08:54

Title: GI Question
Post by r123 on 10/14/11 at 03:08:54

Hi Everyone.
Question for you. Lately every time I eat I end up having run to the bathroom like 10-30 minutes later. I believe it's definitely masto, but I have no idea why I suddenly have this symptom? Usually my masto is relatively well controlled. Anyone have any insight or have this problem themselves? It doesn't seem to matter what I eat either.

This happened to me about 5 years ago, before I knew I had masto, but I think it was stress related (it was my first year of college and I was swamped with work and was stressed out 24/7), and while there's been a lot of stressful stuff going on for me in the last few months... moving, getting a new dog, hurricane irene (my car was flooded... not a big deal but a pain in the butt), etc. but it's all pretty much calmed down by now.

So basically I have no idea why this is suddenly an issue? The weather has been pretty weird and that tends to effect some of my other symptoms (minor headaches and my ears get congested or will continue to "pop" and then get congested again -- like on an airplane) but it's never really effected my stomach before.

Just thought I'd post and see if anyone has any ideas. It's not a huge issue, just really annoying, and it's been going on for about a week, but more so the last couple days.

Thanks!!!

Title: Re: GI Question
Post by jbean on 10/14/11 at 03:19:14

I have had that happen before. Usually happens when I am under stress about something.

Sometimes stress builds up, and you don't seem to realize it in your head, but your body realizes it and reacts.

In addition to what you describe, I used to get tachycardia (rapid heart beat) after I ate. You release histamine when you eat things.

Have you tried any new food lately that you might be allergic too? That will do it as well.

Title: Re: GI Question
Post by kimtg68 on 10/14/11 at 04:28:23

Ditto to what jbean replied with. But let me add: about 11 years ago I thought I had become lactose intollerant. Running to the bathroom when I ate something with diary in it. So I self diagnosed myself and began taking lactaid when I was about to consume diary. Several years later I had a situation where I didn't have any lactaid but ate the dairy anyway and had NO problem. I thought maybe I was crazy:) So I experimented. Most of the time I could eat certain foods with dairy and no problem but other times I would eat other known foods with dairy and it WAS a problem. I was baffled but stopped taking the lactaid and just dealt with it. Now it wasn't the type of debilitating diarrhea I experience now, but I do think back and wonder if perhaps that was the starting symptoms of what I have going on today on a much larger scale. Now it's no longer confined to dairy but many, many foods and the degree of my symptoms are much worse but I still have the bathroom issue (again on a much larger scale).

When my bathroom issue suddenly became more severe two years ago, I sought out a doctor (it's a very long story) and have been trying ever since to get some help. Over the past two years many more symptoms have showed their ugly heads. I am currently in the process of testing for a MCAD and awaiting test results. But I still have the bathroom issue.

SO, yes, I agree with jbean that it could be stress, but it could also just be part of the mast cell's misbehaving (which we know that stress can add to our symptoms from our bad mast cells as well).

I don't know where you are as far as a diagnosis or what type of meds you are on. I've heard much advice on this forum to tweaking meds or adding stuff but I'm not that experienced or knowledgable on the medication aspects so I will leave that for someone else to suggest :). Here's something I could suggest: if this persists, try eating a very bland diet for a couple days. Foods that you know are safe or avoid the foods that are known to be high in histamines. My safe food is plain rice or plain mashed potatoes. I know it's not appealing to eat nothing else but it might shed some light on why you are having this problem.

Good luck!

Kim

Title: Re: GI Question
Post by nevermiss on 10/14/11 at 10:10:18

I have sm in one part of my colon and colitis in the other. I had terrible urgency and went immediately 10 x a day. I have two mast cell docs- one is a Gastro doc who specializes in mast cell disorders. He treated my with two enemas over a period of time(one is a steroid) and I finally have returned to a normal daily routine. The enemas did it and I was happy not to take oral steroids. You might want to ask about this with your doc.