In this post, I share what is in my MCAS rescue kit. When you have a complex chronic illness like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) it is essential to be prepared for symptom flares. For me, it is crucial to plan ahead for situations when my symptoms start to spiral out of control. That way I can get ahead of the flare and curtail the worst symptoms from happening.
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A rescue kit is a bag or pouch you carry when you are away from home with the essential supplies to deal with your typical symptom flare. I like this case from The Mighty. You can throw it in a backpack, or even a cooler (in hot or cold weather) to make sure it maintains an even temperature, or you can use the included ice pack to make sure refrigerated meds stay viable. What your rescue kit is made of and what you put in it is going to depend on your rescue plan and the needs for those medications.
Here are the basics I keep in my rescue kit:
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. MCAS is serious and disabling and people with MCAS experience often significant and debilitating symptoms daily, including anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.
MCAS is often found in combination with other chronic conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Frequently healthcare providers do not know about MCAS, and the tests for MCAS are problematic because they are not uniformly reliable. MCAS can be difficult to manage. Treatments include blocking mast cell mediators with anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers, as well as avoiding triggers.
Check out this post on how to manage MCAS.
The bucket theory offers a helpful analogy for understanding symptom reactions with MCAS.
Think of your body as an empty bucket that you want to keep from overflowing. Different foods and activities fill your histamine bucket at different speeds but they combine to form the total level of histamine in your body (how full your bucket is). A fuller bucket means you have more histamine symptoms. When you manage triggers, reduce exposure to known triggers, and take medications and supplements to reduce histamine, you can manage the level of your bucket.
Knowing your symptom progression in a symptom flare is the key to developing your own rescue plan. In this post, I discuss how to determine your own symptom progression. Once you know what typically happens in your symptom progression you can design a rescue plan to address those symptoms.
Want a tool to easily keep track of your symptoms? Sign up for my newsletter and you will receive my free 50-page ebook of lower-histamine, grain-free, sugar-free, Keto recipes, my free symptom log, and a free two-week meal plan!
What do you keep in your rescue kit? Leave a comment below with your go-to remedies for away from home!
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