Adalinda
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I Love YaBB 2!
Posts: 6
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Hi Forum members,
I am Donna, from Melbourne, Australia.
I am not sure I really fit here, the mast cell and allergy picture here just doesn't seem to be as advanced as in other countries.
My story began when I was 20, and I am now 50!
Doctors have not known what to do for me.
My symptoms have jumped around and moved to new levels over the years.
For many years I was treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis, but also with this had other symptoms such as night sweats, flu-like symptoms, sinusitus, gastric reflux, migraines and allergies to certain chemicals and foods.
My tests came back negative when GPs tested for raised ESR, rheumatoid factor etc, even though I was in pain throughout my whole body and had red swollen joints.
My most recent symptoms include giant hives (I mean the size of dinner plates!, if I carry a basket over my arm or even sit too long), sinusitis and now asthma. I appear to be allergic to my workplace, I am a Librarian and dust and mould are setting me off.
I was exposed to a large amount of a cleaning product at work last week and felt like I had been hit by a bus.
One allergist said I had 'mast cell instability', that was about 9 years ago. He gave me Ketotifen which I had to import from New Zealand, but it made me very depressed. Since then I have scraped along by avoiding things with little medical help, but now that allergist has retired, just when my body is reacting to everything with a vengeance again.
Since my original research years ago I am back researching on the net and am amazed to see mast cell disorders described which seem to show people with my weird symptoms and triggers, including exercise, sunlight, stress, some foods, some chemicals, mould, dust.
I get confused mentally and agitated when I am hit by symptoms, a recent allergist I saw said that was rubbish, but others describe this symptom. I write the Dewey decimal numbers down all wrong when I am ill, not a good thing for a librarian!!
I am not taking any regular medication, only zyrtec when I have hives, through your forum I saw a post about specialists in Australia and I am going to ask my GP to refer me to the Alfred Hospital Allergy Center.
It is kind of exhilarating to finally perhaps put a name to what has been happening to me. Other people describe these strange symptoms and triggers and GPs don't seem able to deal it.
My children have had a few allergy problems, so I would really like to learn more in order to help them as they go through life.
Hope anyone reading this is a having a 'good' day,
Donna
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