Question by Rusty: Could I have Mastocytosis or MCAS?
I have struggled with gastrointestinal problems for years: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, painful radiating abdominal cramps. I saw a pediatric gastroenterologist when I was an adolescent (I am now 22) and was checked for Crohn’s disease, ulcers, bacterial infections, etc. I am hypersensitive to foods (dairy, greasy or oily foods, high fat content foods) and sometimes get sick after heat and high activity exposure. Usually when I eat these foods, I get stomach pain that develops into diarrhea or nausea very quickly, sometimes before I am even done with the meal. I also was diagnosed with acid reflux disease and have unexplained bone pain and dizzy spells sporadically. When I was younger I used to get LARGE, red, itchy hives across my stomach area for unexplained reasons, but have not seen any in years. I was wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with systemic mastocytosis (particularly that affecting the GI) and would like to know how and if I should get tested for this disease?    Read more...