It was too good to last, of course, but that only highlights how wonderful it was. There was no huge event, or exciting surprises. It was normal. And what a luxury 'normal' is. And it would appear that a poorly timed crash has turfed this post. The same crash posted some articles that weren't quite… Read more A Banner Week
Grace and Frankie is a fun show on Netflix. It's well done, all around. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin play off each other beautifully, and it's a rare bird, that can show depth and emotion and be hysterically funny at the same time. It's made me laugh hard enough that Hubby comes in to check… Read more Grace and Frankie: I bet Allison has MCAS.
Disclaimer: This is one of those times where I actively disagree with the standard veiws held by many physicians. I'm not a doctor, so don't take my advice, don't not take my advice, don't blindly follow my thinking, stop and think things through; most importantly, err on the side of caution. I will never forget… Read more Skin Scratch Tests and MCAS
I just looked out my back window. It’s a beautiful veiw. We look out across a valley. There are three ‘layers’ of mountains, with a foreground of trees- framed by the trunks of tall cedars. When I try and paint it, it looks fake because the ‘layers’ of mountains are remarkably even. I live just… Read more The Big Smoke
“Everything and anything”. At this point, the person I am talking to goes one of two ways. One group says “That must be hard.”. It’s usually a pretty clear conversation ender. If they say “What? Do you have food allergies, or environmental stuff, or meds. Or???” “Yes.” “Actually, it’s probably; easier to tell you what… Read more “What are you allergic to?” Street conversation #3
To return to my conversation when I’ve met someone on the street, we’ve answered the “What is the mask for?” that is inevitably the first question. It’s followed by ‘You’ve got MCAS? Okay…what’s that?” The ‘technical’ answer is here, but that doesn’t help much if you have no clue what mast cells are. I went… Read more “What are Mast Cells?” Street conversation #2.
I have been having a heck of a time getting my thoughts down coherently. I get started, and then before I know it, I’m halfway to writing a book. Im so keen to share my knowledge and experiences that it all pours out at once, in a big jumble. I’m not writing a historical memoir,… Read more Mask, anyone? Opening the conversation.
In the last few years, the information around mast cell disorders has changed quite a bit. There is some confusion about what word is the ‘right’ one. It’s slowly coming together, and if will almost certainly change again many times. The terminology (if not the criterion) is slowly coming together and becoming more universal.. SO, I won’t… Read more What is MCAS?
April 2017 A physician said that to me a couple of years ago, and I was startled by it. I’ve had allergies my whole life, but I haven’t always been actively sick. I didn’t see myself as ‘sick’ until November 2011, but looking back, I am realizing that I haven’t been exactly ‘well’, either. People… Read more “So, you’ve been sick your whole life.”
“I don’t care if you call it an allergy or a sensitivity. I don’t care which immunoglobulin set it off. All I know is that I’m not getting enough air!” Ahh, the power of language. I said that when I was in the ER, and having an anaphylactic reaction. The nurse chose that moment to… Read more Definition of ‘Allergy’