Nicole, from the United States, speaks about the challenges she has faced due to several complex health conditions. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a genetic condition affecting connective tissue, leading to hypermobility of joints and easy injury. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a condition in which mast cells, which are part of the immune system, are overactive and cause symptoms such as hives, swelling, and abdominal pain. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a type of dysautonomia that affects blood circulation and can cause symptoms such as lightheadedness, fainting, and rapid heart rate upon standing. Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, leading to pain and other symptoms. Finally, Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that can cause a range of symptoms including fever, headache, and joint pain. Despite the difficulties she has faced, Nicole remains an inspiration to others who may be struggling with similar health challenges.

Kerriann, a person from Canada, shares her experience of living with multiple chronic illnesses. These conditions include Lyme disease, which is known to cause a range of symptoms from fatigue to joint pain, MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), a rare condition that causes allergic-like reactions, EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), a genetic disorder that affects connective tissues, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a condition that affects blood flow, and Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder. Despite facing these challenges, Kerriann has chosen to share her story in the hope of raising awareness and providing support to others in similar situations.

Tracy, from the United States, shares her personal experience with various medical conditions. These conditions include MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), a condition where the mast cells in the body are triggered to release chemicals causing symptoms such as itching, flushing, and swelling; POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a condition where changes in position cause an abnormally high increase in heart rate; RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis), a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain in joints and can lead to joint damage; Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and tenderness in muscles and joints; and finally, a potential diagnosis of EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues in the body and can cause joint hypermobility, skin that is easily bruised or stretched, and other symptoms.

Kris has generously shared her personal journey with LDN, a medication used to treat a variety of conditions including autoimmune diseases, and MCAS, a condition where mast cells release excessive amounts of histamine and other chemicals, causing an array of symptoms such as hives, itching, and digestive problems. In her story, Kris discusses her experiences, including the challenges she faced and the treatments that worked for her. Her story may provide valuable insights and support to others who are also dealing with similar conditions.

Linda Elsegood engages in a conversation with Amy, who shares her journey with multiple health conditions, including small fiber neuropathy, mold toxicity, MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), EDS (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).

Amy recalls that she has been experiencing symptoms her whole life, such as hives, reactions to medication, and odd food reactions. She describes having weird physical quirks that were dismissed as "just an Amy thing." For instance, she would feel hot in her head after eating peanuts or feel dizzy. Despite undergoing allergy testing, her results were negative, and doctors attributed her symptoms to being "sensitive."

However, after contracting mono and strep in college, Amy's symptoms became more debilitating. She felt extremely tired all the time, and nothing seemed to help. She experienced GI (gastrointestinal) problems, brain fog, and heat intolerance. Her symptoms continued to worsen, and she had episodes every few months where she felt like she was dying. She would have trouble eating, and it felt like a brick was in her stomach.

Despite seeking help from countless doctors, none could diagnose her condition or connect all her symptoms. Her doctors would refer her to specialists, such as gastroenterologists, allergists, and pulmonologists, but it didn't help. They would attribute her symptoms to panic attacks, stress, or other unrelated conditions. They even removed her gallbladder, but it didn't alleviate her symptoms.

Amy recalls that her body kept reacting to everything, and she could only eat rice for a while. After two back-to-back pregnancies, her body could no longer tolerate certain foods. She experienced anaphylaxis, which she knew was not a panic attack, and her face swelled up, and her tongue became tingly. Her body began reacting to everything, and she now only eats six foods.

In conclusion, Amy's story highlights the challenges of living with multiple health conditions and the difficulties of finding a diagnosis and proper treatment. Her experiences could help others who may be going through the same struggles.

#LDN #Low Dose Naltrexone

Linda Elsegood interviewing Andrea, a patient from the United States who has been taking low dose naltrexone (LDN) to manage her health concerns. Andrea has been struggling with various conditions, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), long Covid, fibromyalgia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Throughout the interview, Andrea delves into the details of her journey with LDN. She explains how her search for relief from long Covid ultimately led her to LDN, and how it has significantly improved her quality of life despite her many health concerns. Andrea expresses her gratitude for how LDN has been instrumental in helping her manage her symptoms and improve her overall health.

Linda and Andrea are able to discuss the benefits of LDN in managing a wide range of health issues. Their conversation provides insight into the effectiveness of LDN as a treatment option, and the importance of finding the right approach to managing complex health conditions.

In this interview, Linda Elsegood delves into the life of Kaitlin, who shares her inspiring story of living with multiple chronic conditions, including MCAS, POTS, and EDS. Kaitlin describes how she experienced small dislocations and unusual pains as a child, which gradually escalated in her twenties and thirties, making it difficult for her to perform daily activities.

She explains how she ignored these symptoms for a long time, thinking that they were normal and that everyone experienced them. However, as time went on, she realized that her experiences were unique and needed attention.

Kaitlin also shares her journey of dealing with MCAS, a condition that caused her severe stomach pains after eating, leading to an eating disorder in her teens. She explains how MCAS made it challenging for her to find foods that would not trigger her stomach pains, causing her to miss school and social gatherings.

Even after her recovery from the disorder, the pain persisted, and she only received a formal diagnosis in 2022 from the Mayo Clinic. Kaitlin talks about the challenges of treating MCAS and finding trigger foods, which can be a difficult and frustrating process.

Additionally, Kaitlin shares her scary experience with POTS after blacking out and suffering catastrophic injuries. POTS caused her blood pressure to recoil, making it challenging for her to perform daily tasks. She talks about the difficulties of getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment for POTS, which can be a complex and confusing process.

Through her story, Kaitlin hopes to inspire others not to give up on themselves and seek help. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, seeking medical attention, and connecting with others who may be going through similar experiences. She thanks Linda for providing a platform for people like her to share their stories and connect with others and believes that together, we can make a difference and support each other in our journeys towards better health.

Tierra from the United States shares her personal experience of MCAS, autoimmune progesterone dermatitis, POTS, celiac

Tierra describes how she first noticed her problems after taking bee pollen for her outdoor allergies, which led to getting blister hives everywhere and heart palpitations. Despite being misdiagnosed by a walk-in clinic, Tierra took matters into her own hands and researched her symptoms, leading to a diagnosis of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) by her

allergist.

Tierra also discusses chocolate as a big trigger for her, giving her migraines. Linda and Tierra confidently discuss how MCAS is more common than people realize, affecting an estimated 17% of the population.