Seven Year Itch (Article as submitted, December 2018 to The Mighty http://www.themighty.com) I’ve been itchy for seven years. It’s time to scratch that itch. In November 2011 my life turned upside down. I’ve always had allergies, but what started as sudden severe abdominal pain signaled a new level of allergic reactions. I now know that… Read more The Seven Year Itch
Tryptase. The mere mention of it makes Mastie’s cringe. Physicians and patients alike seem to have a great deal of difficulty sorting to out. A recent discussion came up after patients had been to see Dr Vadas, the most well known Canadian MCAS expert. It seemed that he was giving contradictory advice. He had told… Read more Tryptase
It’s such a common image in our society, the ‘witch’ at her cauldron, brewing up some noxious potion; inescapable at Halloween. I have started watching a documentary series called “Noxious Weeds” that explores the legends, facts and possibilities of various traditional medicines. Cultural stereotypes are created from grains of truth, snippets of logic, mixed with… Read more Iron, Cauldrons and The Nordic Connection
With the buzz created about a new International Mast Cell Disorders organization, and a launch of the first Mast Cell Disorders awareness day last weekend, I thought I’d bring my own particular flavour to it. I’m currently into beading and jewelry, and it was fun to find beads that might work, and to make several others.… Read more Mast Cell Beads
There’s something about root canals… Why is it that people with MCAS seem to have such problems with dentistry (more info on that here) and root canals in particular? I know so many Mastie’s who have had infections, facial nerve damage (like my Mom had), and MCAS flares set off by a root canal. It… Read more No Root Canals for Me!
It’s September, must be time to get back to work… My life has always been ruled by the school calendar. Not only did I spend my entire childhood at school, plus 6 years of post secondary education, my profession was always in schools. Of course, even though I’m not working as an SLP, I have… Read more Back to work!
I’ve been in hospital for well over a month now. I am feeling much, much better than I have in a long time. I suspect I may have been fighting this since late winter. I believe the infection started where a nurse had accidentally gone to the side of the port, not into it, twice… Read more A Month In
Firstly, I took some better snapshots of my view. Photography is definitely not my best medium, but it should give you a better sense. I definitely could never afford this view, but it’s easy to see why everybody wants to live here. The more important… Read more Well That’s Better!
It’s been ages since I gave you all a medical update. It’s been a very rough winter and spring. My nutrition is abysmal, and it’s catching up with me. I have had 3 iron infusions, and some extra B, and that has helped a lot. The winter and spring were kindof unrelenting on the Health… Read more The Silver Lining
I’ve decorated all my masks, you’ll find a gallery here. My mask means freedom. I wear it or have it in hand all the time when I’m out in public. I react to most perfumes and fragrances, the smell of many foods, airborne allergens (like pollen, cats, dogs, dust,… Read more Blinged Out Masks!