i'm likely the oldest one here, having been trying to figure out my lifelong health problems for 50 years.  (now i'm the advanced age of 74, and just in the past 2 months have become aware of the anti-histamine diet, due to an e-friend's kind alert to me on the subject).

i'm reading as much as i can, and have always done so, since doctors where i have lived (10 states) seem to have little interest in figuring things out for a particular patient.  

the anti-histamine regimen has helped me enormously!  most of the stuff i've been eating all these years has been from health-food stores.  good, healthy, real food.  ha!  obviously that's only a small part of the answer for someone with lifelong "allergies" and three nose/sinus surgeries to fix abnormalities.  p.s. - they didn't fix anything.

for the past 15 years of my 45-year migraine history, these monster headaches have been daily.  i live on the triptans, which are the migraine-specific drugs, only hitting the market about 20 years ago.

thankfully, because of these drugs, i can work (yes, and i'll have to do so forever) 30 hours per week, and have a life.  i am chronically fatigued and can't sleep, as i've had several diagnoses of sleep disorders, but no treatment except a knockout drug ever helped.  i take a small dose of ativan every night of my life.  this is an anti-anxiety drug, used liberally in hospitals to calm people down.  i do NOT have anxiety, but this is the drug that works for me, so i get SOME (not enough) sleep.

divorced many years ago, i have 5 adult children, the oldest 52.  3 grandsons.  i am hopeful that i will continue to feel better and better once i figure out which foods i can actually eat without delayed symptoms.  (i had hives as a child, and once as an adult,) and never had anaphylaxis, but do have several other diagnoses, such as: fibromyalgia, chiari malformation, multiple chemical sensitivity and such things, which remain untreated because there really is no good treatment.  i've seen and read about too many horror stories re: the chiari surgery......

i will check back here often, although all the flashing lights and funny faces with moving parts do a big bad number on my head.  does anyone know how to turn those OFF?

thanks, dianne

Dianne

Welcome... I am not on here much, but it took me a long time to find a doctor... Deborah helped me. I think there are probably some west coasters on here! I live in the Southeast, so dont know about docs up your way! I see an allergist/immunologist who is MCAD knowledgeable. If you have a university teaching hospital anywhere near, I have found some very good drs that way. It sounds like you have figured alot out on your own. Dont give up you will find someone!

Hi Dianne,

I'm a little late in answering, but I just saw your post.  Yes, there's a mast cell doctor on the west coast.  His name is Jason Gotlib, and he is at Stanford in Palo Alto, CA, in the hematology department.  He is very knowledgeable and should be able to help you.  Contacting his office is the first step.  Explain that this is what you think is wrong with you and ask for an appointment.  They may want some medical records before they'll make one for you.  Have you already looked in the Mast Cell Doctors section on this forum?  Doctor Gotlib's info is posted there, or you can Google the Hematology clinic at Stanford and get the contact information.  Good luck!  Let us know how you're doing!  If you're still on here and want more information about some things that could help your symptoms, please post again.