Lisa and Mike, thank you both for the information.

This is where I am trying to get better with this situation (understanding the medications).

I am confused because I finally looked up some info on Xyzal and the info only states that drowsiness is caused by alcohol consumption and overdose.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000405/

I am taking the med as prescribed and I've never been a HUGE drinker and since all of this started have distanced myself completely from any alcoholic product.

I just know that after forgetting to take it a few nights ago I woke up the next morning and felt like my old self (in reference to the fatigue).

I should also note that while I have been on this medicine my reactions have not been as severe, but I still have them daily (flushing, skin writing, stomach cramps, diarrhea, brain fog, respiratory, rashes, and etc).  So I'm not sure that its working.  Other than the Xyzal I am currently only taking zyrtec and zantac in conjunction with it.  (this is another area of discussion I intend to spend time on with my Doctor on the 17th).

Current Meds:

Morning - 300mg Zantac, 10mg Zyrtec

During the day and based on reaction type and severity I take an additional Zyrtec.

Evening - 5mg Xyzal, 300mg Zantac, 10mg Zyrtec

Ok, so the short and sweet of my situation is that I am on a regiment of pills and my reactions are still and have always (even with singulair added) been present on a daily basis.  The skin writing and flushing got better for a very short period of time; but not for long.

I know I'm venting a little; but I just get so confused at times

I'm concerned because I had hoped that the meds would suppress my reactions unless I inadvertently ingested or put myself in contact with something that would cause a reaction; but this has not been the case.  At least half of my week is spent indoors and the rest is a mix of running errands, attending meetings, etc...

I am going to talk to the Doc about Lisa's point of the MC stabilizer; but in reading Mikes post I am confused because it sounds like that is what the Xyzal should be doing.

When all of this started I was prepared by everyone here and the forum for an adventure into "Mast Cell" land; but I am beginning to think I did not fully wrap my head around how much of an adventure it would be.

You are all so wonderful; I'm going to have to prepare for an in depth conversation and try to get everything straight.

Sorry about the vent; I hope everyone under stands

Nelson my understanding is that Xyzal is a new form of zyrtec, thought to be more effective (comes in a ready to act forrm, whereas zyrtec your body has to convert, I think),. However they are both HI antihistamines, which mask the effect you feel from the histamine that has been released, rather than stopping the release before it happens - this is what the mast cell inhibitors like gastrocrom and zaditen do.  Zyrtec, and I expect xyzal, do cross the blood-brain barrier, even though they are referred to as non-drowsy. I think that  is a matter of 'it's all relative' - they ar not sedating like the 1st generation antihistamines, but they can cause drowsiness because they are crossing the b-b barrier.