Sarah, youre doing great at this--it takes time and it isnt easy this being such a rare disease for us to know exactly what is right to do. You as a Nurse, thats a bit a trouble too LOL.. We were always taught that the DR knows best--sometimes that isnt true, it depends on if youre talking to a mast cell expert or an MD who wants you to go away because you scare them.

Hon, we need to take more meds than the average person and that one is so very hard for me. We tend to get ourselves in trouble because we are always thinking, "I shouldnt be taking all these meds, I will over-dose!" No-no, You MUST take the meds that calm your reactions and keep you safe from going into shock.

Its hard for us to see ourselves as the patient, I truly understand. My job let me go saying, "Youre sicker than the people you are treating." and it was true. I still have a bit of depression over that one. My identity as a nurse was how I valued myself and suddenly I had no value   I had to learn who I was all over again and sometimes I still have a good cry over it. It helps to reach out to others. I never would have made it without this board and all of you. We need each other and are truly the real life "life-lines" to this weird rare illness.

Now about your throat--your own "feelings" are correct, dont question yourself. You can feel either way--like an obstruction or a thickening or even just an irritation that makes you want to cough and cough. Do exactly what you did by taking your Benadryl, and if it ever doesnt work for you, follow it with a dose of Prednisone (ONLY if your Benadryl doesnt work. It will save you from a 911 trip to the ER

You have excellent sense--follow them! Youre gonna do fine
Hugs
Ramona

Hi Sarah!
Wow sounds like you have found some important stuff out!  I think the cromolyn would help.  I read your information and did some looking up on the Eosinophilic Esophagitis.  I find it very interesting because I have throat swelling so much.  I really think I had a reaction last night due to a combination of chocolate and my husbands garlic breath!  Sounds crazy huh?  But it turned into a scary event.  I was fine after benadryl.
So I was trying to understand if there is any connection with mast cells and this EE.  I am a bit confused because to me it seems like a symptom of something else. Can you explain that to me?
Your problems with smells, fragrances and improvement on H1's sure sound like mast cells to me.  Cromolyn is a mast cell stablizer so I would think that stabilizing your mast  cells would cut down on the EE events, but like I said I am still a bit confused.  I wonder if some of the EE meds would help me.  I did see that they use the inhaled cromolyn, most of us are one the liquid or oral cromolyn, so you want to let the doc know which one you are wanting.  The oral cromolyn is considered an orphan drug and is not available at every pharmacy.
I look forward to hearing from you and understanding more about EE!

Sarah,
Yes I am on a low histamine diet and a low salicylate diet. I have found the histamines cause diarreah and the salicylates causes anapylaxis.  Only took two years to figure that out!    I had an upper gi and my throat stretched before I knew what was going on.  My throat felt tight because it was swelling. That was not a lovely proceedure and it was probably completely unecessary.  The things we go through to figure it all out.  I  had a pill get stuck the other day, but it was because I was going into anapylaxis!  I generally don't have a problem only when I am swelling.  So your thoat is narrowed all the time? or just when you have a reaction?  Keep me updated on how you are doing!

Sarah, that is the Million dollar question. We have considered moving, but with market the way it is  we would easily loose $20,000.  Before I was on mast cell stablizers, we even looked at putting me in a cheap apt. just to test that theory. If we knew for sure that I would regain my health, then we would just eat the loss and start over.  But we don't know that It wont be the same reaction at a new house.  The mold we found was in the duct work, so when the air or funace came on mold spores were thown everywhere.  After fixing the problem we went through and got rid of anything that could not be washed with a bleach and water mix.  We got rid all cloth furniture, our matress and box springs, any house hold decorations that couldn't be washed.  The we washed everything walls, lights windows etc.  We blocked off the duct work in our bedroom and use a giant air cleaner and I refer to this room as my "clean room".  We have an electic fireplace we use for heat and  a window air unit for air conditioning.  I still have to spend many hours a day in the clean room.  Spending time in the rest of the house does tend to swell my throat.  I live a completely abnormal life in this room.  We also have pets, and I think they probably contribute as well.  They are not allowed in the clean room.  Same thing...it would break my heart to cart off the animals and then find out they were not at problem after all.  I really do feel stuck in the situation.  During the worse part of my illness we stayed in motels and used most of our saving, so I feel like my illness has caused such a finacial strain that I don't want to insist on moving.  I have applied for disability and my hearing is coming up soon, maybe if I win I can use the back pay to help get out of this house.  There is so much to do in order to move though, maintenace jobs that we have put off due to the costs.  For now the "clean room" is my refuge.  At least I have that.  
I too swell with smells and certain foods.  With the smells I first get a feeling in my stomach which I think are mast cells degranulating, then swelling.  I can't go to church because of the overwhelming frangrance.  I have trouble go out in crowded public places to.  It is just overall better for me to stay at home.  Which takes me back to the million dollar question would I be better in a different home?
Interestingly our reactions seem to be simular.  They never tested me for the EE.  But like I said they did streach my thoat, after that It felt like I could swallow a mac truck!  I don't think I have a feeling of tightness unless reacting.  
I think if I won publishers clearing house I would move in a heart beat...but right now I just don't think the finacial strain of moving would be a good thing.  So I will wait and see!
Where was the mold at your old house?  Was it hidden somewhere?