I realllllllly shouldnt post this, because I don’t want to be a downer. But. My immunologist said my inability to swallow could be —read it: could be— from mast cell activation. She had me tested extensively, and I register as “severe”. It was such a relief to hear there might be a reason. ( did you read that I first had labs done? It’s taken 3 months to parse this all out. Please do not decide from this post that you have it. Please!!!) BUT: The next day I went to the “BIG ENT specialist” who “specializes in swallowing issues.” He said post nasal drip was an ambiguous term that doesn’t mean anything, really (?!?).
Do you want to guess what the fix was for the severe inability to swallow?? You guessed it correctly, o my long haulers of the world: I just needed REASSURANCE! From HIM. Reassurance that it is NOT an issue, that it is not something to get worried about ( read: you’re overly anxious and you are causing this). That actually? NOTHING is wrong at all. If I stop coughing ( I interrupt him, I don’t HAVE a cough) I will loosen my tight throat muscles. But either way, I just need to know that I am “Neuro-Normal, not Neuro-divergent” ( what the?).
I couldn’t get out fast enough.
And Yes, I had told his MA about the MCAS diagnosis B4 my appt. She just didn’t tell him, or it didn’t matter, or something. As I got up to leave he said— “you’re a piece of Cake “
Ugh. Bite me.

I sure will! Blessings & Prayers....