Histamine Intolorance

COVID Journey (Posted on the 18 the but it relates to your post.

COVID causes a persistent whole body inflammatory response which can be largely corrected by adopting and EXTREME diet and nutrition plan. Most people will not be willing to sacrifice “the food that I love” for a chance to return to a healthier pre-COVID life. For me, now that I feel like I once did, it was worth it and continues to be worth it.

I’m 70 now. COVID March 2020. Mild case resulting in brain fog, neuropathy in my legs that became disabling by March 2021, Raynaud’s Syndrome (Diagnosed March 2021), inability to walk on my treadmill, 12 skin infections from 2020-2024 from simple cat scratches or mosquito bites, progressing to infection and cellulitis, requiring 10-14 days antibiotics, hives and itching on my head and upper back and inflamed hot hands and feet and temperature regulation issues.

In March 2021 I went gluten free and stopped eating dairy, red meat, deli meat and pizza and added 2 meals a day of blueberries, rolled organic oats, and Vega protein + greens and also added 1500 mg l-proline which is the active AA in collagen supplements. Within 3 months, the brain fog, neuropathy and leg pain were gone, and I was back walking on the treadmill, however the skin infections, hives and itching remained. In October 2024, I added one ounce of pumpkin seeds a day (ground to a powder in a spice grinder and added to pasta), and that fixed my skin inflammatory/infection issues.

The hives and itching continued and were corrected by realizing that this “Evil Thing” causes food allergies to ANY food or spice that releases histamine. I had to eliminate, yogurt, mayo (contains vinegar), garlic, rosemary, dill, tomatoes, and salsa. I know the food thing to be real because I have tried to add these things back in one at a time and if I do I get the itching and scalp hives within 3 hours after eating which persist 2-3 days. I have tried several probiotics but all caused a histamine release so I don't use them.

As a component of Dr. Bruce Patterson's treatment regimen (his working theory is vascular inflammation is the root cause of all of our LC symptoms) I am on a low histamine diet and taking DAO (over the counter) and a couple of complimentary prescriptions (famotidine, cetirizine). Histamines cause inflammation, thus this as part of his approach. As an aside I am not permitted to SCUBA Dive because the compression and decompression is an inflammatory activity. Exercise to the point of sweating is an inflammatory activity. I fave found guidance and science very lacking about histamine, but did find an app for my phone that keeps me in bounds ("Intolerances" provided by a German company). My approach is DAO and the prescriptions plus not consuming things that I refer to as "histamine explosions". Things like red wine, tomatoes, bacon, whisky, anything cured, aged, fermented. Per the app I stay under 4mg of histamine per day which is considered average histamine consumption. There are foods and drinks that add histamine, and that release histamine. Many things to navigate but with the help of the app I believe I am doing that successfully.

What does DAO mean, please? Sorry to be so clueless. Have had LC for about 2 years, on antihistamines and watch my diet, but DAO is new to me. Thank you.

Thank you for all your hard work and this helpful information
I have had LC for 2.5 years and for some unknown reason just recently started to experience never had before food allergies/intolerances
It has been like a food version of Russian roulette, never knowing what regularly eaten food might cause upticks in the post Covid auto immune Sjogren's I have acquired!
It has been a lesson in perseverance to find accurate information or informed providers
I will check for the app
Good luck and better health to you, it sounds like you are on your way!

DAO is Diamine Oxidase which is an enzyme that helps breakdown histamines

Thank you so much. Since I posted. I’ve done some research. Interestingly some of the foods I’ve been eating for gut health (kimchi, yogurt, etc.) seem to be contraindicated. My doctor hasn’t mentioned anything about diet. I will pursue. Again, thanks…so good to be able to ‘cautiously crowdsource.’

It is interesting and confusing. If you have a histamine intolerance then kimchi and yogurt and other fermented foods are bad. I stay away from all that and spicy foods really send me over the top. I am hoping one day soon this goes away as fast as it set in. So thankful foe this forum. Iam learning alot . Take care. Keep me posted on how you arw doing

@essiee Not that it is any consolation, but I have found very little helpful information on low histamine diet. Even the reading material my Doctor gave me wasn't very helpful answering what to do and what not to do. The most helpful thing I found and use religiously is an app on my phone called 'Intolerances'. Created by a German company it has many foods with their histamine content and whether they inhibit or release histamine. Includes short and helpful articles. It shows Kimchi as a bad actor for histamine with 1.8mg per 1.25 ounce serving. I aim at staying under 4mg per day so Kimchi is a histamine diet wrecker. Depending on the type of yogurt, it can be a histamine diet wrecker too. Anything fermented or aged is generally bad. No red wine, no tomatoes, no bacon, all are histamine explosions.

Thank you I will check out the app. Appreciate you post.

Thanks so much for your helpful suggestion. I will definitely try that app…as soon as I get through granddaughter’s HS graduation weekend. Will be eating all the wrong things no doubt…for the last time, I hope 🤞!