I was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in 2019, after 15 years of symptoms and dozens of misdiagnoses.

What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), you ask?

Excellent question. Let’s turn to Wikipedia for a general answer.

Yes, I understand that Wikipedia is not the most accurate source, but to be honest, the article quoted below is fairly comprehensive. I’ve done a lot of research to know what’s out there about MCAS, and rather than compositing an overview from multiple sources, I liked how this one came unedited from one source.

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“Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is one type of mast cell activation disorder (MCAD), and is an immunological condition in which mast cells inappropriately and excessively release chemical mediators, resulting in a range of chronic symptoms, sometimes including anaphylaxis or near-anaphylaxis attacks. Primary symptoms include cardiovascular, dermatological, gastrointestinal, neurological and respiratory problems.

Unlike mastocytosis, another type of MCAD, where patients have an abnormally increased number of mast cells, patients with MCAS have a normal number of mast cells that do not function properly and are defined as “hyperresponsive”. MCAS is still a poorly understood condition and is a current topic of research…

Common symptoms include:

• Dermatological
  • flushing
  • hives
  • easy bruising
  • either a reddish or a pale complexion
  • itchiness
  • burning feeling
  • dermatographism
• Cardiovascular
  • lightheadedness, dizziness, presyncope, syncope, arrhythmia, tachycardia
• Gastrointestinal
  • diarrhea and/or constipation, cramping, intestinal discomfort
  • nausea, vomiting
  • swallowing difficulty, throat tightness
• Genitourinary
  • interstitial cystitis; burning in the bladder and urinary tract
• Psychiatric & Neurological
  • brain fog, short term memory dysfunction, difficulty with recalling words
  • headaches, migraines
  • co-morbid psychiatric and behavioral symptoms as a result of mast cell mediators being released in the brain (i.e.: anxiety, depression, mood swings, etc.)
• Respiratory
  • congestion, coughing, wheezing
  • Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) 
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Vision/Eyes
  • ocular discomfort, conjunctivitis
  • redness
• Constitutional
  • general fatigue and malaise
  • food, drug, and chemical allergies or intolerances (especially fragrances)
  • Cold and Heat Intolerance
• Musculoskeletal
  • osteoporosis and osteopenia are possible symptoms of mast cell activation disorders
• Anaphylaxis If too many mediators are split into a patient’s system, they may also experience anaphylaxis, which primarily includes: difficulty breathing, itchy hives, flushing or pale skin, feeling of warmth, weak and rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and fainting.

Symptoms can be caused or worsened by triggers, which vary widely and are patient-specific. Common triggers include:

• specific foods and drinks (especially alcohol, high-histamine content foods, and histamine releasing additives such as sulfites)
• temperature extremes
• airborne smells including perfumes or smoke
• exercise or exertion
• emotional stress
• hormonal changes, particularly during adolescence, pregnancy and menstruation.

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