So I was so excited to go to see Dr. Afrin. After setting finances etc. straight with my family,  I was ready to make my appointment with him on Monday. Come to find out, his clinic is no longer excepting new patients as of yesterday .  He mentioned Dr. Chin. Although he has never met him or spoken with him, one of his patients went to him and Dr. Afrin saw his notes. He said that he seems to know what he is doing. I was hoping I could email him to tell him my "story" to see if he thought he could help.
I received a fax for all the information required to see the docs in Boston, but it doesn't seem that I will fit the bill. They want a documented masto diagnosis. But I have autoimmune urticaria and believe fully that I have MCAS. I wrote Dr. Castells. Waiting to hear back from her!

gHey Brigitte,

Again, I just want to say how happy I am that you are able to see Dr. Chin.  I am also happy to hear you may have found a local allergist to help you!  That will be awesome!

I have a question about your Gastrocrom prescription. Does your prescription read 2 teaspoons?  Normally the dose is 100mg/5mL, and most patients are prescribed 1 vial 4x a day and then we work up to 2 vials 4x a day (I still only take 6 or sometimes 7 a day). Would you let us know which form your Gastrocrom comes in? We were just discussing on the Ketotifen thread about Gastrocrom possibly being made up as a liquid now (not in vials). It would be less expensive.  Just curious...ok?

I think you are like many of us when it comes to new meds.  I started on this super super slow.  I put the vial in 16 oz. of water (not 8 oz) and only took one teaspoon every hour.  I still had some dizziness and tachycardia.  But it was well worth going super slow as it has some great properties.  OK?  If you need any help, there are several on here who have had similar experiences.  But don't give up easily (unless of course you have a life threatening reaction!).  Like always, our mast cells don't like anything foreign in our bodies...and that includes any medications.  I don't have to tell you that right????haaa I think you have had enough experience with that!  But take it slow and easy....it doesn't matter how fast you get up to the recommended dose, it just matters that you can get those mast cells stabilized and feel better.

I have not had any side effect like mood changes, etc.  If anything, it has calmed me down and made me more relaxed.  To me that makes a lot of sense since my mast cells are no longer partying at my expense! haaa   I hope you will find a similar experience.  

As far as I know, there isn't a generic.  I believe there is a powder form but I have only heard of one person on this forum who uses it that way.  That is why I was questioning if your script was teaspoons or vials.  the vials have nothing in them except the medication and water.  Yea!!!  

Keep us posted. Take care....Hugs, Lynda