I Am Allergic To Everything

I'm Allergic To Everything "It can range anywhere from like, the kind of skin symptoms to throat closing, throat tightening, difficulty breathing, wheezing..." Imagine living in a world where oatmeal and baby formula are your only safe food options. That's been Caroline's reality since the age of 2, when she had her first allergic reaction. Doctors still aren't sure exactly what triggers mast cell activation syndrome - the condition that causes Caroline's immune system to start overworking. | se

When I diagnose Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), I use the Consensus 2 criteria. This method moves beyond the traditional tryptase-level criteria of Consensus 1, and focuses instead on symptom charts, response to treatment and specific lab tests. I’ve found this method to work impeccably. Many practitioners are not aware of mast cell activation syndrome and the complexity of how it can present, or either continue to use the outdated Consensus 1 approach or, worse, revert to an understanding