u/NiteElf

I posted here a LOT when I first got started eating low histamine. It was always nice to see success stories (big or small), so wanted to post my own-maybe it’ll encourage someone else just starting out. :)

I developed HI after my first covid infection (Jan ‘25). Perimenopause likely also played a role, but Covid really kicked it into high gear. All my symptoms were strictly neurological (you can search my user name in this sub if you want details). I also have true (IgE-mediated) food and environmental allergies-my HI didn’t show up anything like them.

I’ve eaten very strictly low histamine since about late Jan 2025. It was pretty hard at first & what I ate was super limited, but also almost immediately worth it for how much better I felt.

I use DAO (Seeking Health brand is the one I like) on occasion (eg: if I’m eating outside of my home), but not as a “get out of jail free” card to eat whatever I want (doesn’t really work that way). I also take Vitamin C & quercetin regularly.

Over the past few months, I’ve been trying small amounts of things I couldn’t eat before, and so far it’s going well. It’s pretty exciting! Happy to answer Qs if anyone has them.

There are some overlaps in MCAS and migraine (including some things that seem to be helpful for both, eg: low histamine diet).

I have a history of migraine since childhood, but they’ve changed form over the course of my life. As a kid they were “traditional” migraines (excruciating pain over one eye, vomiting, intense light/sound sensitivity). Later on I had ocular migraines. Now they’re vestibular (painless but very weird; pretty debilitating).

Hard to know what’s an MCAS attack vs migraine, or if it’s sort of both at once. Not sure that it totally matters except trying to sort how best to treat the general terribleness.

My biggest triggers these days seem to be cooking food smells (esp meat/fish/hot peppers/strong spices) and weather/pressure changes. Probably stress and sleep issues playing a big role too, but that’s a chicken-and-egg thing (do I have those issues because of the health conditions, or vice versa)? FWIW, I already eat a very strict low histamine diet (I have HI too), take quercetin, and vitamin C.

Would love to know anyone else’s experience with this and what, if anything, has been helpful to you. Thanks

1. How is it working for you? What, specifically has it helped with (or not)?
2. What dose?
3. General timeline of titration/side effects/improvements (if applicable)?
4. Where are you getting it? (From what I gather in the U.S., a lot of people seem to be getting it from AgelessRX or compounded. Would love any more info here.)

I know this has been asked here many times betore, but having an esp crappy night so I’m on a posting blitz trying to figure out how to not feel like this.

This is related to my most recent post (bad neuro flare up tonight form cooking smells; worst in months).

My symptoms are all neurological. (I’ve detailed them elsewhere here-derealization, anxiety, depression, major cognitive issues etc)

Notwithstanding we are all so different in what helps us—I really, really want someone to breeze in and say “this really improved my neurological symptoms!”

Already using Quercetin, vitamin C, Xolair (life changing & amazing), DAO sometimes, strict low histamine diet. Breathing is now blessedly good. Allergy symptoms too. But the neuro stuff is beyond belief.

Anything that’s moved the needle at all for you—LDN, EMDR or something similar, other supplements, sleep related stuff, etc—pls share all details. Rough night and def could use the encouragement. Thanks 💗

TL;DR: Not having control over cooking smells in my own home is incredibly difficult, not sure how to manage. Help??

Long version:

I’ve had histamine intolerance and “MCAS-like” symptoms since my first Covid infection (Jan 2025). All of my symptoms are neurological (brain fog—sometimes to the point of having trouble making sentences, irritability, depression, profound anxiety, disassociation, etc).

The HI symptoms (from food) are well managed with a very strict low histamine diet (been doing it since about late Feb 2025). I’m even able to eat some things now that I couldn’t a year or so ago.

That said, I still *really* struggle with food cooking smells sometimes, particularly meat, and particularly leftover meat. (Forget about seafood—that can’t even be cooked in my home now unless I’m away for a period of many hours and windows are opened, fans used, etc.)

FWIW I also have true (igE-mediated) allergies (environmental/food) and asthma (have had both since v early childhood). I get Xolair (Omalizumab) shots monthly which have made life as I know it possible. I’m unable to use oral antihistamines. I do use quercetin and vitamin C, which are helpful. I also use DAO on occasion and it helps too.

This all helps with food, but not near enough with airborne food stuff. It’s better than it was for sure, but it can still be really debilitating. My family just bought an air fryer (I wasn’t there at the time), no one considering that the ventilation might be an issue. It vents out the back or top of the unit, right into the room. Someone reheated spicy chicken in it today 😫😫and I want to throw myself out the window. I’m dizzy and furious and anxious as hell.

My family is generally very accommodating with my weird food and environmental needs, and they do their best to “get it”, but not dealing with this shit, they definitely don’t entirely get it. I know it’s not easy for them either—it just really sucks all around.

I don’t know what to do. Not having control over my environment is making me spiral atm. Would love to hear about how other people are handling this.

Note: I am a mother of a school aged child & love my family; it’s not a “move out and get your own place” situation. (And even if I weren’t—that place would have to be a freestanding house, wouldn’t it? I imagine an apartment wouldn’t exactly have control over cooking smells either).

Additional antioxidant suggestions? (Can’t use luteolin, messes too much w my hormones.) Any other pro tips of any kind? If you live with others, how do you balance their needs and yours?

Thanks in advance, feeling so terrible atm.

Wondering if any of you with low or sub-optimal ferritin levels have used any kind of iron supplements, and how it’s going. Would like to know:

1. Specific form of iron?
2. Pills, oral liquid, or IV infusion?
3. Are you working with a practitioner to do this, and if so, what kind?
4. How it’s made you feel generally? Has it caused any issues with flaring &/or helped any symptoms?

Thanks in advance!