Post: #1

I possibly have histamine intolerance.
Anyone familiar with the disease? Or suffers from it as well? And is still drinking? Because I dont want to give up alcohol.
Doctors don't seem to have a clue about the disease.

Feel free to pm

Post: #2

Uhhhh histamine - the body's natural response to allergens and poisons? Been self-diagnosing with the internet?
Doctors don't know about it because its new age bs or it hasn't been studied much yet, likely the former.

I happened to be on the phone with a PA when I started responding to this. The PA had never heard of it, but suggested trying to change your diet and Zyrtec if you feel this is really what you have.

Post: #3

Yeah, doctors have not really been helping out in the last two years.
It's no new age bs: I've felt like I was near dead for two years, sometimes barely being conscious.
Now I try to avoid histamine-low foods and I feel I can do normal things like studying or having a normal conversation again.

Yeah that's when I'm up too to, thanks for the advice.

Post: #4

OP, stay away from pateurised/homogenised dairy(raw unprocessed dairy is fine) and wheat and refined sugar where possible.
This by itself will reduce your histamine levels significantly.
I used to have terrible problems with allergic nasal drip rhinitis but symptoms have drastically reduced since I've done the above.
As for alcohol, if drinking beer, try the gluten free options sometimes, Mongozo do an excellent one.

Post: #5

Wine and beer will cause a higher histamine response than spirits - especially wine. All spicy food is a histamine reaction. All fermented foods (including cheese). All processed meats (such as sausage, bacon, bologna, hot dogs, etc).

Doctors won't be able to help you much. Last October, I ended up in the ER because my face had swollen up a lot. I went into anaphylactic shock (luckily while I was in the ER). I flat-lined. They brought me back, I was sent home hours later with a doctor's appt at an allergist and a box of pills.

It's been quite the ride the past 8 months. I'm not allergic to any food at all. Doctors can't explain why I went into shock, or why I still have allergic symptoms. They can't explain why I now have seasonal allergies or why I can't eat certain foods (within certain amounts and times within each other).

I can't say if histamine intolerance is real or not. For me, I can still drink alcohol, but only high quality alcohol. No beer, no wine - those cause a histamine reaction where I have to leave the bar. Good rum (or vodka, whiskey) doesn't cause a histamine reaction. When I say a histamine reaction (for me), I have facial flushing, tingly/itchy nose, and if I consumed too much of the trigger food, the roof of my mouth goes numb, tingly lips and tingly tongue. Keep a supply of Benadryl on hand for these moments. Too much of a trigger food and it can also cause acid reflux.

And yet, talk to any doctor, and I'm healthy. A clean bill of health, no problems. It's all in the diet. I eat very little processed foods (and when I do, I have to space them out). For instance, if I wanted to eat at a fast food joint, I can do it about once every 3-5 days (but no other cheating the rest of that time period). Anything more than that, and I'll have a histamine reaction.

A poster above mentioned to stay away from processed dairy, wheat and sugar. These don't cause histamine reactions (with the exception of fermented dairy and wheat, like cheese and sourdough bread). If your body can handle them, then enjoy them (I would agree that refined sugar should be limited).

You can control the symptoms and be healthy. It's quite frustrating, because sometimes you can handle a trigger food, and other times that same food will cause a histamine reaction. It's all in the amount and frequency that you consume these items. You will have to eat a natural, whole foods diet, with as little processed and junk food as you can. Cook most of your own food. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat. Good luck, man, you're definitely gonna need it.

Post: #6

Thanks Amityn and SteveCr,

I had the same problems like you steve, I will try to stay away from those.

But how come spicy food gives a histamine reaction? I seem to react to it as well. No diet mentions it.

I'm taking in vitamin B6 pills and eating lots of fruit/vegetables, although some should be avoided..

Post: #7

(06-05-2014 12:37 PM)CPTR Wrote:  Thanks Amityn and SteveCr,

I had the same problems like you steve, I will try to stay away from those.

But how come spicy food gives a histamine reaction? I seem to react to it as well. No diet mentions it.

I'm taking in vitamin B6 pills and eating lots of fruit/vegetables, although some should be avoided..

All spicy food causes a histamine reaction because, well, it just does. The capsaicin in peppers is what causes the hot and spicy sensation that we like. Well, that hot/spicy sensation is the histamine reaction. It's your body attacking the capsaicin. Capsaicin is the pepper's defense mechanism to protect itself. For some reason, we really enjoy that defense mechanism.

I still haven't figured out what caused all of this, or if my body will ever heal itself and be able to handle the food it used to. Until then, I keep my diet incredibly clean. I feel amazing because of it, but sometimes I would just like to be able to eat normal again.

Post: #8

(06-05-2014 02:46 PM)SteveCR Wrote:  

(06-05-2014 12:37 PM)CPTR Wrote:  Thanks Amityn and SteveCr,

I had the same problems like you steve, I will try to stay away from those.

But how come spicy food gives a histamine reaction? I seem to react to it as well. No diet mentions it.

I'm taking in vitamin B6 pills and eating lots of fruit/vegetables, although some should be avoided..

All spicy food causes a histamine reaction because, well, it just does. The capsaicin in peppers is what causes the hot and spicy sensation that we like. Well, that hot/spicy sensation is the histamine reaction. It's your body attacking the capsaicin. Capsaicin is the pepper's defense mechanism to protect itself. For some reason, we really enjoy that defense mechanism.

I still haven't figured out what caused all of this, or if my body will ever heal itself and be able to handle the food it used to. Until then, I keep my diet incredibly clean. I feel amazing because of it, but sometimes I would just like to be able to eat normal again.

Sounds somewhat logical. Instead of removing every kind of food in my diet, I try to get as many antihistamines in my body as possible. That's eating lots of fruits and olives.

Post: #9

Random question but does anyone on this thread have problems with premature ejaculation? I'm invesitgating the link between histamine and ejaculation - please PM me

Post: #10

Take a good natural anti-histamine like Quercetin. It doesn't make you drowsy and its more effective than zyrtec imo. Also, it might not be a bad idea to take a vitamin C supplement with a product called sinus buster.