Lisa
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Iīm so sorry Kim youīre going through such torture!!
Dr. Castells insists that patients should NOT go off of their meds, but in YOUR CASE, I do agree with Dr. Afrin. Not all of us are obvious cases of masto and there are some of us who defy even the authorities and if Dr. Afrin has a valid reason to ask you to keep off of them if you can, then I agree with his motives.
Kim, one of my most important exams was only acheivable this way. In order to do the ASST skin test itīs essencial that the patient be totally off the antihistamines for a full week and this is because otherwise their skin will not react when they are injected with histamine and their own serum. I reacted to my own serum thus proving beyond all doubt as to my autoimmune form of masto!! This is really one of the most important exams I had done and without being off the meds we would NEVER HAVE KNOWN!!
So, although I fully agree with Dr. Castells, Iīm sure that she has asked patients to do the same DEPENDING upon the exams she was going after.
You see, being off of the antihistmines also means you are going to be more reactive than on those meds, which means that although they will not directly interefere with the blood and urine testing, it will do so indirectly by not having you be so reactive and this will thus lower your measurements of histamines and prostaglandines and even tryptase. They antihistmaines wonīt keep you from not having elevated levels, but they can keep your reacting down so that if you are a borderline case, then it may keep your levels within normal ranges, thus causing a false negative.
Yet, IN YOUR CASE, Kim, there has been so very much doubt around your case that you really do need to let the doctor see the naked you without those antihistamienes! Then he can get a much clearer picture of what your situation is. And, since youīve run around in circles for so very long, the very LAST thing you want is for him to not see your case clearly!!
So, sweety, HOLD ON if you can! DONīT DO A SINGLE THING ALL WEEK!! Donīt leave the house! Donīt be in the heat! Donīt do any dishes or cook!! SERIOUSLY!! Keep a really LOW PROFILE all week long so that you donīt get yourself into trouble. As to the stomach pain, you need some omeprazol and this will help you get through that. And, as long as you donīt go anywhere or do anything you will find that you are able to get through the week!
Now as to that trip, as Dr. Afrin what he suggests as to get to him. Prednisone may help and taking only one dayīs dose may not cause you issues. I would not try driving that all in one day, however!! Isnīt there a girlfriend or one of your sons who could drive you?
Also, NOTE DOWN EVERYTHING you are going through!! Afrin needs to know what ended up coming up out of hiding the moment you stopped those meds. It will help him gain understanding as to what the influence of the antihistamines are and what are true symptoms of your disease. It will help him figure out the GORDEON knot youīve got there Kim.
Remember, being off of those antihistamines are a BIG CLUE and they speak REAMS of information as to what is happening to you!! Yet, itīs essencial that Dr. Afrin get a chance to see exactly what you are going through without any masking by those antihistamines, so HOLD ON TIGHT, Kim. Youīll get through this week, have no fear!!!
Iīm praying for you sweety!!!
Lisa
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