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Doc took away mast cell diagnosis-but says he will keep an eye on me. (Read 2143 times)
Maiysa
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Doc took away mast cell diagnosis-but says he will keep an eye on me.
05/29/12 at 03:04:47
 
Hi All,
I had written last time that the doctor I had seen in Vegas diagnosed Mast Cell.  He said that my last doctor was wrong and that this was the cause of my issues.....and then after testing the doctor hit the brakes.  He took a couple of tests, but none of the ones that I see are the usuals, but did do a tryptase test.  Tryptase again came out at 11, and it was 11.6 last time.  He said it's gone down so he felt okay with that.  And the compliment test came out elevated.  He said, you don't have a mast cell issue, but you have a lot of inflammation in your body.  I will keep an eye on you.  That was it.  I told him that I was sent here because of my elevated tryptase-the reference range on the test was 1-10 for normal levels.  He said I wouldn't worry about it, it's only slightly elevated.  

So, I went to a new doctor and he said that the fact that the TOTAL tryptase" was elevated is not that big of a deal, but needed to run a B-tryptase and that is the main test. Does anyone have any information on this?   So I took it and have a 35 day wait for it to get back.  He also ran the tests that I see everyone else gets, the prostagladin 2, and N-methylhistamine 24 hour urine, along with a lot of other tests.  And also did the scratch test which I didn't pass on my back, called the darrier test.  I guess it hived up he said.  Now, I have heard that you have to be having a reaction for the b-tryptase to come back elevated?? Is this true? Because I took it when I was feeling well and the doctor didn't mention anything about having a reaction in order to take the test.  So far the 24 urine came back normal.  He also mentioned a skin biopsy after we see how the other tests go.  I think this doctor is more about systemic mastocytosis, from what I'm getting and didn't mention really anything about mast cell activation.  He did say that he knows of Dr. Akin.  I always thought it was Dr. Afrin that most people go to for mcas?

So is the fact that I have a tryptase test (total) of only 11.6 mean anything if it is not a b-tryptase??  I did post this question on another site, and got a response, but I was still a bit confused by this.  Can anyone help?  Thank you.  

Maiysa
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DeborahW, Founder
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Re: Doc took away mast cell diagnosis-but says he will keep an eye on me.
Reply #1 - 05/29/12 at 03:54:15
 
I am glad that your doctor has heard of Dr Akin. This tells me he knows at least a bit about mast cells! Dr Akin and Dr Castells are the 2 top doctors for mast cell disease. Due to the number of patients, they have divided up the patients. You want to see Dr Castells. She is taking the MCAS patients (she is the biggest supporter for the diagnosis; she created the label, MCAS, in fact!). Dr. Akin knows all about MCAS, but he is taking on the Masto patients.  Dr Castells also sees Masto patients in addition to MCAS. Dr Afrin is new on the scene, but his interest is MCAS.

You don't need positive results to have MCAS. In fact, those who test negative to everything and yet have Masto symptoms are thus diagnosed with MCAS in many cases.
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Maiysa
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Re: Doc took away mast cell diagnosis-but says he will keep an eye on me.
Reply #2 - 05/29/12 at 07:53:33
 
Thank you Deborah,
I think if this doctor ignores any of the symptoms and tells me I'm fine, I will have to call Dr. Castells.  I did call their office awhile back and they said they would take me after I told them a few issues.  

I understand that you don't have to have a positive tryptase level to get diagnosed as there are other factors, but my question is, is the total tryptase being elevated to almost 12 an indication?  And has anyone been told that they had to have a b-tryptase test done?  And that that this test is more accurate?  
Maiysa
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DeborahW, Founder
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Re: Doc took away mast cell diagnosis-but says he will keep an eye on me.
Reply #3 - 05/29/12 at 13:09:58
 
Dr. Akin never has mentioned total tryptase vs a partial tryptase. Therefore, I believe that if your tryptase is 11, then you do have mast cell activity. I am pretty sure that my tryptase is 11, and before I was put on meds, I had TERRIBLE anaphylactic attacks. I am not joking when I say that I don't know how I am alive after living 10 years having anaphylaxis and never being given emergency meds!

The bottom line is that if you are having symptoms, then you need to seek help from Dr. Castells. Clearly even Dr. Castells' office thinks you have it if they told you they would give you an appointment! Do you know how many people would love to get that offer? I don't care how many people or docs tell you that tryptase of 11 is not mast cell activity, but it is. Those who think otherwise have good intentions but are lacking in their knowledge concerning this. Hopefully you will not be swayed by them....
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Maiysa
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Re: Doc took away mast cell diagnosis-but says he will keep an eye on me.
Reply #4 - 05/29/12 at 13:43:14
 
Thanks Deborah,
That was my question, if the tryptase is 11, does it mean anything.  Thank you for answering.  I didn't know that Dr. Castell's was that hard to get into.  They told me a few months back that they would take me.  I should have jumped on that I guess.  But then I heard that this doctor has helped others, so I'm still hoping he can help.  But if not, then I will definitely try Dr. Castell's, but I can't travel due to going into a type of hypostolic shock.  But will see what this doctor finds.  

Thanks again Deborah.  
Maiysa
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