u/incarnadine-clover

Hi all,

My Gastro sent me to an MCAS aware dietician to try a low vasoactive amine diet. I’m into my second week tomorrow and haven’t noticed any difference to my symptoms, she said to stop if I didn’t notice anything after 2 weeks.

I really really want this diet to work, or show me something I can change or identify as a trigger. Is it possible to have MCAS and not have food sensitivities or food as a trigger?

History: my gynae, neuro, and gastro all individually suggested I investigate MCAS. I have refractory intractable migraine, joint pain, chronic nausea, neuropathy, POTs, and lots of other random symptoms. I’ve had a couple of episodes of my lips become red/itchy and slightly swollen after eating but I don’t have any other allergic type reactions.

I’m in my early 20s and seriously considering doing a medical degree. I was studying at LSE when my previously chronic migraine became constant at the start of my 2nd year. It’s been constant for over 3 years now and I’m AT LEAST a couple of years from being well enough to return to any form of academia. However, I’ve just been put on the list for neurostimulation surgery so I’m trying to be hopeful for the future!

Things are difficult with my current university, I’m not sure if I’m able/can attempt to return to complete my degree. What position would this put me in if I was to apply for medicine? Has anyone entered medicine from the same starting point?

If anyone has been in a similar position with illness or injury when did you decide you were well enough to apply?

I got A*AA (History, Maths, English lit) at a-level so no chemistry, is it worth trying to do this as an A-level before? Or, is it best to pursue an access to medicine course?

I’m also quite interested in academic medicine and maybe combining my degree with medical anthropology are there any unis particularly good for this?

Any advice or thoughts on my situation would be much appreciated.

Thank you! 🫶

In 2023-24 I was trialing CGRP medications, first Ajovy, then Rimegepant, then Emgality, then Atogepant. I had horrible side effects, joint pain, hair loss,I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff 24/7 and had daily episodes of vomiting, shaking, and crying. I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks, but NOTHING like this before. My heart rate never went below 90bpm for months. I was seen by cardiology and diagnosed with POTs last year.

Buttt I’m still left with this awful anxiety, it’s not constant anymore but if I have something slightly stressful like a train to catch, or a 15min appointment I go straight into an episode again with vomiting and profound physical anxiety. I’ve always had psychological anxiety, now i know it’s a result of AuDHD, but what’s going on feels so different from my panic attacks when i was younger. I feel like they should be out of my system by now and I’m worrying how I’m going to cope with stressful events in the future, I can’t live with tiny things triggering such an overblown response.

Has anyone had anything similar continue after stopping CGRP treatment?

I’m thinking of cutting my hair super short, currently have shoulder length curly hair. My migraine is constant so Im really limited with energy. My curls take a lot of weight off my scalp but I have constant allodynia and burning so im wondering if shaving my hair would help. Plus going to the hairdressers always sends me into a massive flare.

My only concern is that exposing my scalp to the elements will just make it more sensitive, I can struggle with the sensation of a hat on my head. Wind triggers stabbing around my eyes and intensifies the burning in my ears.

Any advice would be great! 🫶

I’d like to add a cart to my prescription mainly for discretion when out and about as I have lots of hospital visits coming up. Currently prescribed 50g a month for intractable migraine and chronic nausea with Curaleaf. I currently use 24% WPT for daytime use and ZKS for nighttime. Roughly how much vaped flower are the different cartridges equivalent to? What type of cart is best to get and has the most reliable effects?

Thank you!🙏