Hello,

I had a bad mast cell reaction last night.  I got a symptom that I don't get very often, but have had it before.  Specifically, my left arm started to go numb, almost like it was falling asleep, right before I got the attack.  As usual, I woke up from a sound sleep.  I knew I was going to have trouble that night as I had the "ringing in the ears" thing going on again.

This does not happen every time I get an attack, just once in awhile.  I get scared when it happens, as I am wondering if I am having a stroke or something.  If I get this, it is usually followed by a some muscle shaking in my legs.  When I take the antihistamine, it goes away.

Has anbody else ever had this?  I am wondering if perhaps the numbness is due to vasodialation, and the blood leaving the extremities.  I just wonder why on the left side only (ie afftecting the right side of my brain maybe?)  I am pretty sure that the shaking effect is due to mediator release as well.

I've had fully neuro workups in the past for seizures, etc, all came back completely normal as did brain MRI.

Just wondering if anybody else ever gets this?

Thanks!

Yes, I have it all the time...I get pain in my forearms and then numbness in my hands follows.  I have muscle fasticulations all the time...so bad the dr. ran some tests for ALS...but no signs, thank goodness.  This is accompanied by a dizzy spaced feeling.  The fact that yours went away with antihist hints that it is all part of the the lovely mast cell mess.  Unfortunately while anitihist do help me, I also need Lyrica and it is still not covering it, so am looking for other solutions.  To me, the neurological symptoms are really the scariest, but if I take an antihist and rest on the couch etc it does help...and I know it will pass.  It is easy to freak when in starts happening, but I try not to (well most of the time, haha!)

Me, too re. the numbness. I have gotten it one just one side- left arm & hand for me- and more recently on my face. My whole chin and ultimately lips, tongue, etc went numb after I took a beta blocker for a few days.

I also get the muscle fascilations sporadically & persistently, ringing in the ears during an episode & shaking afterwards. Mine reverses with a cessation of the trigger if I can identify it & antihistamines.

Sorry you're dealing with this too I feel certain that mast cell activation is ONE cause of this that physicians do not seem to be familiar with.

Julie

For me, it's NUMB- like you've been in the cold for too long & lose sensation in a particular area. Weird.

I also have peripheral neuropathy symptoms. They are different- burning pain, etc.

Julie