Histamine Intolerance?

Lothric

My wife has been having this issue for about 6 months. Once or twice a month she will have a very bad “allergy” like symptoms develop. Itchy hot face, puffy face, stuffy nose, congestion, headache, body aches and chills. The first time it happened it was after a night of drinking wine so I figured it might be histamine. It happened a few weeks ago after a night of eating shrimp. And then this morning it happened again but no particularly high histamine foods were eaten. She noticed that it seems to happen right before (a day or two) her menstrual cycle. But there are a few times it happened a week or so before.

I have been giving her 2-4mg of cyproheptadine before bed when it happens and it will be cleared up by the next day. But it’s hasn’t solved the issue long term. It will eventually return.

Does anyone have any idea the cause or what to look for here? Is it histamine? Estrogen? Serotonin? The proximity to her menstrual cycle makes me think it’s hormonal.

Any help would be appreciated. Every doctor we have consulted is no help (shocker I know). They just suggest hepatoxic allergy meds.

LucH

@Lothric said in Histamine Intolerance?:

Does anyone have any idea the cause or what to look for here? Is it histamine? Estrogen? Serotonin? The proximity to her menstrual cycle makes me think it’s hormonal.

Hi,
I've been dealing with histamine allergy + suspicion of SIBO/SIFO. Under control but still managing the problem.
I can give a link to my log on my forum if wanted.
The problem is complex:

not enough enzymes to get rid of excess histamine.
Time-delay to evacuate histamine.
know your enemy: Not only H3 (bringing high histamine) but also L3 (free histamine liberated in reaction to some stuff). When the liver has to deal with excess amines, there is overload.
I've got a pdf doc with info (H3 and L3).
Appropriate microbiote after having taken antibiotics or if suffering from dysbiosis.
Note: cypro will act as anti-histamine of first generation but it won't solve anything, only telling the mastocytes to react less. Useful at the beginning, but not solving anything.

wrl

@Lothric
Here's a detailed histamine food list that could be of use during the reparation phase:

https://www.mastzellaktivierung.info/de/downloads.html#lm_en

cs3000

@Lothric sounds like a mast cell reaction,

allergen or foreign body -> IL-4 cytokine causing differentiation to Th2 cells -> Th2 cells producing IL-4 or IL-13 -> B cells production of IgE -> mast cells activating which release a bunch of irritating stuff (histamine + serotonin + leukotrines) -> Further IgE production

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27117/

1 path to itching is histamine & serotonin activating TRPa1 TRPv1 receptors .
PUFA metabolites can activate these too (maybe more susceptible if losing weight with pufa stored in fat cells being oxidised?)
there's another path signalled in the brain alternatively

If it gets really bad (mast cell activation syndrome) cortisol works for a bit but not a good long term solution.
idk would be useful to know how to prevent the cycle happening rather than trying to lessen the reaction. finding the triggers can be complex

co2 can help a bit with symptoms https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49801580_Treatment_of_mast_cells_with_carbon_dioxide_suppresses_degranulation_via_a_novel_mechanism_involving_repression_of_increased_intracellular_calcium_levels
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238230244_Intranasal_Non-Inhaled_CO2_Provides_Rapid_Relief_of_Seasonal_Allergic_Rhinitis_SAR_Nasal_Symptoms