I am so excited, I just have to share this with you all. Bear with me as I give some details.
I have been struggling on and off with excesive uterine bleeding, or should I say hemorrhaging, which can happen with or without cramping. I have had fibroid surgery twice, most recently 2 years ago, but kept bleeding.
In my pre mast cell days, I would take prescription Naproxen, which were blue or green liquid gel Advil, which I tolerated better than the brown tablets, but looking back all lead to other symptoms. I haven't tried any of those OTC meds since learning about mast cell disorders. I now know I anaphylax from yellow #5 dye, and trigger from other colored dyes and that those OTC meds degranulate.
I have taken asprin on occasion for my unrelenting headaches but get gut rot, so take it 30 minutes after a H1/H2 without incident, since I can't find an enteric coated asprin without yellow dye, I take the basic aspirin, but only when I have one of those horrible headaches.
I have issues with OH and low blood volume on a good day, so can't stand to lose blood. I've taken Z/Z, which has never decreased my uterine bleeding. So, I went out on a limb today and took a dye free Benedryl today with amazing results! My bleeding slowed down considerably. We'll see what happens when the Benedryl wears off, but I am grateful for learning this today.
I can't believe I am actually surprised by all this. I just tested the premise: Stop the symptoms by stopping the reaction. Benedryl stopped/slowed the prostaglandin cascade.
On a side note: All of my testing came back in range when I saw Dr Afrin in May. I had been taking Benedryl for several days due to massive leg swelling, (which always happens when I fly). I have a follow up appointment with Dr Afrin in 10 days, so we are going to retest the mediators. We are driving, so there is a good chance my legs won't swell like when I fly. If all goes well, I am going to try NOT to use Benedryl the day of my collection/lab draw unless my reactions get away from me. Praying that my H1/H2/singulair will sustain any reactions. I wonder if Benedryl at all impacted my prostaglandin blood and levels during my first round of testing??????
I know it is advisable to continue taking meds during testing, but since Benedryl is my core emergency med and since I don't take it on a regular basis, I will only take it that day if I have a serious reaction.
Does anyone have any personal experiences related to Benedryl and mediator lab levels? Anyone know the half-life of Bendryl in the body? Any thoughts?
I've had physicians advise me to have a hysterectomy and I fought it, always choosing an alternative. I am making no judgements about others who have had surgery, but wouldn't it be nice to have one more alternative to a hysterectomy? Imagine the day when a OB/GYN will advise taking Benedryl to slow the dysfunctional uterine bleeding before they advise synthetic birth control pills, uterine ablation or hysterectomy.
I look forward to any toughts.
Lyn