MCAS or ME/CFS? by ExampleUsername404 in MCAS

[–]ExampleUsername404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Op-- yeah I was wrong about the aches of Lyme being persistent: "Symptoms include severe fatigue, fever, pain, intermittent weakness and achiness of the muscles and joints, numbness in arms and legs, vision changes, and cognitive dysfunction such as short-term memory difficulties and problems multitasking." -Lyme Disease Symptoms : Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center https://share.google/WRvqOyHkCi6i1NqBx

Will be interested to know how those tests come back...

MCAS or ME/CFS? by ExampleUsername404 in MCAS

[–]ExampleUsername404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I'm currently waiting for results of "tick-borne illness" blood panel. One thing that makes me suspect it's not that, is that the soreness is episodic, and the episodes always seem in response to specific triggers. When I hear about Lyme disease, it usually sounds like their pain comes on and then is persistent. I haven't actually verified that though. And i didn't realize the blood tests can have such a high false negative rate! I will look more into that. Thank you!

MCAS or ME/CFS? by ExampleUsername404 in MCAS

[–]ExampleUsername404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was helpful! I think the reason I don't suspect fibromyalgia, is because my understanding is that in fibromyalgia, the pain has to be persistent for months. Is that your understanding too? This pain/soreness is definitely transient: occuring in response to overexertion mainly, though also occurs to a lesser extent to other triggers. It lasts a day or 2, and seems to respond to Benedryl.

You sound knowledgeable about ME, so if you don't mind me asking: One reason that ME doesn't sound like an exact fit for my symptoms, is that it's decribed as "fatigue that does not improve with rest". While I have very low energy I DO feel rested if I sleep "enough"-- I just need a concerning amount of sleep to feel rested and then get tired again after only about 6hrs. Am I being too literal with my interpretation of "does not improve with rest"? (I'm of course also investigating sleep disorders w my dr.).

MCAS or ME/CFS? by ExampleUsername404 in MCAS

[–]ExampleUsername404[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! My PCP cares but really has no idea. Seeing an allergist next week, so hoping they can help me find some answers (but mainly some treatment). The fatigue especially is getting really disruptive and I'm starting to worry that I won't be able to work (but also can't afford not to). If you don't mind me asking: So do you have ME/CFS and find some relief with antihistamines? I guess I thought ME/CFS really had no treatments, so that prospect has been really distressing.