Severe allergies

When Physicians Don’t have an Answer

Physicians are people, falliable, imperfect, emotive people. And yet, they are expected to be perfect, to know everything, to never make an error. How silly! These expectations make physicians worse, not better. The fear of liability permiates, yet anyone who has ever tried to sue a doctor in Canada knows that it’s almost impossible to… Read more When Physicians Don’t have an Answer

MCAS is real.

It’s official, MCAS is a ‘thing’. No, not according to some medical governing body… according to People Magazine! There was an article in this week’s magazine about a girl with MCAS, which you can read it ://people.com/human-interest/teenage-girl-allergic-to-almost-everything/.Very rare for a pop news magazine, but they did a great job. It’s well written, and nothing jumped… Read more MCAS is real.

The Seven Year Itch

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

Mast Cell Beads

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

No Root Canals for Me!

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!

Back to work!

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!

The Silver Lining

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

Blinged Out Masks!

            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!

‘The Elimination Diet’ Finally Makes Sense!

Perhaps I’m as dumb as a bag of rocks, and you’ll all think I’m a touch touched, but I finally figured out what doctors mean by an ‘elimination diet’. If you aren’t already aware, basically, you don’t eat anything, and foods are added back into the diet one at a time. I’ve always wanted to… Read more ‘The Elimination Diet’ Finally Makes Sense!

MCAD/MCAS Progression Survey

Hello fellow Masties!  I could use your help with a question that’s been on my mind. As you probably know, MCAS often follows a ‘stair’ shaped progression, marked by a sudden increase in severity followed by some partial improvement with changes in your medications and trigger avoidance.  But then you see another sudden increase in… Read more MCAD/MCAS Progression Survey