Masto This is long

[Guest guest]

and all,

You all may or may not remember my story. I have had CIU since age 9.

I am now 32 years old. It has been a long fight. In spite of it, I

have had a fairly normal life and have lived with the hives. I keep

reading about Masto on this group, but sorry to say I haven't been

paying a whole lot of attention. The volume of postings is high and

difficult for me to keep up with due to work and family. I read what

I can so I have to skip a lot. So, I am sorry to say, I am going to

ask for some repetition of Masto info here.

I had a biopsy on 9-14-99 (the first ever I might add). The biopsy

states the following:

Sections are of a punch biopsy of near-normal skin. The epidermis is

intact, and w/o inflammatory infiltrates. There is mild edma in the

dermis, and a scattered farce chronic inflammatory infiltrate,

including occasional MAST CELLS and rare neutrophils....vasculitis is

not present.

Okay, so what does that mean? Could I have Masto? When I see my

allergist in February, I am going to see if he will test me for

Masto. , what are the tests for Masto? I am very, very doubtful

that I can obtain this biopsy stain to have it restained and I really

don't want to go thru another one. I recently had a colon biopsy

taken, but I don't know what it was biopsied for. I know it was

normal.

What are the symptoms of Masto? Maybe if I know the symptoms and if I

have any of them this might persuade my doctor to test me for it.

My symptoms are as follows:

1. Dermatographism - under control with my meds right now.

2. CIU- also under control.

3. Allergic to NSAIDS, Aspirin, Sulfur drugs. Possibly allergic to

tomatoes, food dyes, onions and God only knows what else.

4. Migraines.

5. Unexplained aches and pains, especially over the last year and

1/2. I seem to be developing possibly Carpal Tunnel, but I haven't

been diagnosed with it. I just have pains in my wrists. I have

unexplained pains in my hands.-- I have been tested for all

autoimmune, including thyroid and all are negative, negative,

negative.

6. Constipation which takes turns w/diarhea, but mostly it is just

constipation. I have had it for as long as I can remember.

7. When I was younger, unexplained tummy aches- more than I would

consider normal for a person.

I am beyond thinking that tomorrow I might wake up and be normal. I

now know that will never happen. My only prayer is that the

medication doesn't damage me too much and end my life too

prematurely. I think we all must have those very same thoughts.

My heart goes out to all those little ones who suffer from this

disease. I pray every day that they don't have to be afflicted with

this for as long as I have been. As far as me, I think it just has to

be something, but what? I am on the low salicylate diet and it helps,

but it is not a cure. It is not what I was hoping it would be. I

hoped it would get rid of them completely.

Thank you for listening. You are all in my prayers.

Much love to all of you for being so kind to everyone and for being

there. I am feeling a little sorry for myself at this point, so it is

nice to have a place to vent.

Take care.