Mast Cell Activation: When Too Much of a Good Thing Exists
As I’ve said before, it’s never just Lyme disease. Lyme often causes a rare disorder called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which for many people is the explanation for how so many “unrelated” symptoms are actually related.
Mast cells are a crucial part of the immune system and act as the “first responder” when pathogens or toxins enter the body. They can be found basically everywhere - the mouth, ears, eyes, lungs, skin, gut, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, and even the brain. Their job is to alert the immune system when foreign invaders sneak their way in, and build a line of defense to keep the body safe and healthy.
But, sometimes mast cells become hypersensitive and see everything that enters the body as a threat. This puts the body in a constant state of fight or flight and causes various allergic reactions, depending on which area of the body these cells are released. Reactions can range from more obvious anaphylactic responses like swelling and hives, to less obvious like digestive diseases and distress, muscle and joint pain, severe fatigue and brain fog, and so much more. Since the cells are located all throughout the body, reactions depend on where they’re released.
MCAS is a rare disease where the body’s mast cells become triggered by non threatening invaders and release at the wrong times. The littlest things can cause a cell to over activate, which then spreads to all of the other cells in the body and causes inflammatory and autoimmune reactions. Common triggers include high histamine foods, chemicals, pollutants, alcohol, infections, stress, lack of sleep, traumas, and most commonly mold and mycotoxins. And when the body becomes overwhelmed with triggers, when its so called “bucket” overflows, anything and everything can cause a reaction.
This disease unfortunately doesn’t have a cure but there are different medications to help calm these cells, known as mast cell stabilizers, along with lifestyle practices to keep the body’s “bucket” low. Because to be completely honest, an overflowed bucket is of the most miserable and scary experiences that can knock you out for days, weeks, or even months at a time.
Every single person has different triggers, so figuring those out is the most important step. There are different ways to test allergens, from more advanced blood and saliva tests, to more DIY trial and error. But, it’s also a safe bet to limit common triggers when possible to act as preventative care and keep the body’s “bucket” low. Stick to a lower histamine diet, opt for more natural and nontoxic products, significantly reduce stress, prioritize sleep, and check mold levels on a CONSISTENT basis. Even if you don’t have MCAS, these concepts apply to all allergies and inflammatory responses in the body, since any allergic reaction comes from mast cell release.
I was diagnosed with MCAS a few years ago, but always thought it only explained my hives and allergies. Learning that these cells are found everywhere in the body has explained how all of my symptoms are related. Learning about common triggers and the bucket theory has explained how some days or weeks I’m symptom free, and others I’m allergic to every food and the air I breathe. I’ve been in a flare for a few months now, which as a silver lining finally pushed me into researching, reading, listening to podcasts, and now working with the best lyme specialist to better understand what’s been going on in my body for so many years. And in a weird way, learning all of this has only made me so much more connected to my body, even though Lyme has caused these autoimmune flares where my body starts to attack itself. But, these flares have helped me learn how to recognize when I’m pushing my body too far, and how to take a step back and be much more gentle with myself. I still have a long way to go, but this is definitely a good place to be.
I share all of this because taking the time to really learn about it has been so helpful for me and something I wish I was educated on long ago. I know this topic isn’t the most relatable, but to some it is and that’s what I care about. So, I really hope this information can help someone else out there better understand what’s been going on in their own body and find relief.
Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, I’m nothing close to an expert but I can at least share my own experience and offer any insight that I can.