Histamine query

[infomaniac]

Can anyone explain Histamine to me in simple terms? All the stuff I've googled just goes right over my head.

I have Hashimoto's and react very badly to mosquito bites, which is apparently due to Histamine? When I've tried Antihistamines, they don't have any effect. I live in Spain so it's a 24/7 problem for me and I'm just trying to see if there's anything I can do other than cover myself in chemicals every day (and night 😭).

[seveneleven]

Oh, wish I had a solution for you! Also have histamine intolerance. I can't remember where I read it, but I believe there is some link with Hashimoto's and histamine, possibly to do with just having an over-vigilant immune system generally. Iron or ferritin deficiency also seems to play a role in allergy sensitivity. And estrogen dominance, so allergy symptoms like rhinitis/hayfever can be more intense when estrogen is higher during a cycle. Not aware of any short-term solutions, though others will know more.

When I went to Italy a few years ago, I basically bathed myself in Smidge and used hydrocortisone bite cream for any welts. Not sure if you can get Smidge outside the UK, but it's amazing because midges are the most tenacious creatures of all, so it takes care of mosquitos and other things as well. No DEET or alcohol, so very safe.

[infomaniac in reply to seveneleven]

Thank you. I googled histamine intolerance but I don't seem to fit the profile. Not sure to be happy about that or not because at least if I knew I had it I could maybe do something about it!

I use Mosquito Milk (liberally!) which is brilliant but it's really hard to come by so I get friends to bring it over for us. I am currently nursing a proper humdinger on my leg and I have vowed I will never get another bite so am putting 100% effort into making it happen. God loves a trier!

[RedApple Administrator in reply to infomaniac]

infomaniac, ' I googled histamine intolerance but I don't seem to fit the profile. '

Histamine intolerance usually refers to getting an abnormal histamine reaction from food. Not the same problem as histamine reaction to insects, which is normal. 😊

[infomaniac in reply to RedApple]

I wish my reaction was normal!!

[RedApple Administrator in reply to infomaniac]

nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bi....

Symptoms of insect bites and stings

Insect bites and stings will usually cause a red, swollen lump to develop on the skin. This may be painful and in some cases can be very itchy.

The symptoms will normally improve within a few hours or days, although sometimes they can last a little longer.

Some people have a mild allergic reaction and a larger area of skin around the bite or sting becomes swollen, red and painful. This should pass within a week.

Occasionally, a severe allergic reaction can occur, causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth. This requires immediate medical treatment.

[infomaniac]

Thanks RedApple. I've got what they call Skeeter Syndrome in the USA. I get a really bad reaction but thankfully haven't had any of the symptoms you've listed in bold 🙏

[radd]

informaniac,

A quick recap- (not a night cap 🤣).

We need some histamine to do jobs like help release gastric acid, regulate smooth muscle cells, heart cells and body temps, and as an inflammatory response against insect bites, etc. 

The body usually disposes of excess histamine but when dysfunctional (as in the case of Hashi) and with high amounts of histamine being released due to multiple intolerances/allergies, we can get a build up. 

In the functional world this is known as ‘histamine intolerance’ where we produce more than our body can deal with. Some people also have genetic impairments regarding how the DAO enzymes works. 

Treatments are:

- To reduce/remove the stimulus to quell symptoms

- Take DEO supplement to aid histamine degradation.

- Take a supplement to block histamine receptors (as in antihistamine pills)

- Adjust your diet. Just as some foods contain higher amounts of histamine, other encourage better DAO enzymic function so reducing some foods whilst increasing others can offer a double positive.  

Some treatments work better for some people than others and some people require all approaches. I’m just revisiting high histamine issues myself atm. 

We all love a ‘trier’ 😁

[infomaniac]

Thanks for that Radd. I've just looked at a list of high histamine foods but apart from nuts (which once I start eating, I can't stop!) I don't really eat much. I can't work out why if I have too much histamine, antihistamines don't work though? All part of the Hashi's experience I guess!

DAO sounds interesting - I wish I had some now because I could scratch my leg off at the moment!

[Hidden]

I'm following this with interest, info!

I react dreadfully to mozzie bites. Last time I woke myself up in the night itching them. Often brought myself to tears because I would scratch til they were painful.

I also get massive welts and it's just so miserable. 😩

[infomaniac in reply to Hidden]

It's a nightmare isn't it? I've been reading about something called Immunotherapy where you are given a small dose of the allergen and the dose increases until you are (allegedly) finally immune. It sounds promising but I really couldn't put up with having big swollen limbs for months on end. I'm on a "prevention is better than cure" mission and am determined that they're not going to get me again!

[thyr01d]

Hello, I have two suggestions though neither replies directly to your request for an explanation. The first is that my family has lived in Spain for decades and my stepmother uses the plug in mosquito repellants and has no problems at all with the insects. (My brother has nesting swallows in the patio that eat the mosquitoes but I can't think how you could persuade the swallows in) The other suggestion is check out vitamins because, from memory, there is histapenia and histadelia (sp??) and that these can be corrected with the right vitamins, one being high, the other low histamine, or perhaps response to histamine. Hope that's of some help.

[infomaniac in reply to thyr01d]

Thanks, that's very interesting. I reckon it's histadelia with me. I take boatloads of supplements every day but after reading that I'm going to add more vitamin C and see if that helps. I'm a bit wary of the chemicals in plug ins so have recently made my own with essential oils but it's a bit early to see if they're working. We live in a very green area and are surrounded by trees, bushes and some standing water so we're really up against it. However I could move to a concrete jungle and they'd still sniff me out!

[thyr01d]

Where is your lovely sounding green area?

[infomaniac in reply to thyr01d]

I sound so ungrateful don't I! It's a place called Moraira on the Costa Blanca North.

[thyr01d in reply to infomaniac]

Ah no, not ungrateful, you just sound as if you are suffering. I've started spending time with my brother and his wife in Medina Sidonia (because she has Alzheimer's and he is comforting himself with beer!!) and had hoped your beautiful sounding area might have been nearby.

[infomaniac in reply to thyr01d]

So sorry about your sister in law, that must be hard for your brother to deal with - glad he's found something to console himself with though! I'd never heard of Medina Sidonia so just googled it but it's a long way away from here.

As for the mozzies, I am trying a new tack...I am manifesting them away from me and somehow it's working 😀🤞🤞🤞

[thyr01d in reply to infomaniac]

Oh I like that - manifesting the mozzies away!! I have a theory that once we have been bitten enough our bodies no longer react. Also, the Skin-so-Soft (suggested by Tattybogle) worked excellently for me in a part of India where the mosquitoes carried malaria, but it has to be the right one, sure Google would know which.

[infomaniac in reply to thyr01d]

I used to use Skin So Soft but they changed the formula and I lost faith in it. Never mind though - I won't need it now! 😆

[tattybogle]

Re, a very effective but very pleasant mossie deterrent ... i know from experience that this works extremly well to deter midges from having a munch on you .. not sure about mossies as haven't had chance to try it with them .... but i strongly suggest you give it a try ...

Google " Avon Skin-So-Soft Midges " for plenty of info and picture of the product you are after .

[infomaniac in reply to tattybogle]

I used to swear by Skin So Soft but it stopped working for me. I did a bit of digging and found out that the ingredients had been changed. Due to demand they changed them back again but I'd lost confidence in it by then.