Histamine Health Coach

Episode 12 - Insect Bites and Histamine? What you need to know about MCAS and Itching

• Teresa Christensen • Episode 12

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Insect bites can trigger dangerous reactions in those with histamine intolerance or MCAS, as Teresa shares from personal experience with both minor and life-threatening episodes.

• Insect venom can cause local reactions or trigger full-body immune responses
• Teresa's severe reaction in Charlotte included leg weakness, vomiting, and loss of consciousness requiring emergency services
• Warning signs to never ignore: sudden leg weakness, nausea/vomiting, extreme fatigue with chills, spreading swelling
• Always carry prescribed EpiPens and don't hesitate to use them when needed
• Protective measures include wearing gloves and shoes outdoors, using bug spray, and keeping phone accessible
• Prolonged itching occurs because bodies with histamine intolerance clear histamine more slowly
• The HNMT enzyme affects how quickly your body processes histamine from bug bites
• Severe reactions to bites aren't failures in diet management but natural immune responses to venom

If you haven't grabbed my free low histamine diet starter plan, you'll find it at histaminehealthcoach.com. Email me at Teresa@histaminehealthcoach.com with topics you'd like covered in future episodes.


Speaker 1:

Hi, welcome to Histamine Health Coach, the podcast for women navigating histamine intolerance and looking for real answers. I'm Teresa Christensen and I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to deal with food triggers, environmental sensitivities and unpredictable symptoms, but you don't have to figure it out alone. Each week, I'll share my personal journey and practical strategies to help you break free from fear and take control of your health. So let's get started. Hi welcome to Histamine Health Coach, where we navigate life with histamine intolerance and find ways to feel our best. I'm Teresa, your histamine health coach, and today we're talking about something that seems to regularly interrupt my summer insect bites.

Speaker 1:

I live in the Midwest, in a small village just north of Chicago, and summer here is spectacular. Sometimes I think the only reason I survive the winter is to get to the summer. It only lasts three months, but we make the most of it. One of the things I like about living here is the lack of insects. Maybe it's because of the excessive wind coming off the lake, or they just don't survive the winters. Don't get me wrong. We have them, but not like the ones I grew up with in North Carolina.

Speaker 1:

Somehow, though, each and every summer I struggle with an insect bite that adds a little drama to my otherwise carefree, delightful summer. I've had a few mosquito bites and what I assume is a spider bite already this summer actually, just in the past week, but 4th of July 2024, I had one that was more than just a minor inconvenience. This one was pretty bad, but not life-threatening. Wasn't spending a lot of time outside because we were surrounded by cicadas and I just wasn't up for being attacked by them on a regular basis. Somehow, though, I did get a bug bite on my wrist. Don't know what bit me, I just remember the reaction I had. I first noticed the bite on July 4th. It's just a little itching. By noon the next day my wrist was turning red, really warm to the touch and beginning to swell. The next day my wrist was turning red, really warm to the touch and beginning to swell Enough swelling and heat for me to be concerned. Normally, these bites don't alarm me too much until I notice something out of the ordinary Swelling, red rings, an obvious bite mark and lots of heat from the inflammation. My husband suggested we go to urgent care, so we headed there early in the afternoon. They prescribed an antibiotic just in case there was infection, but I don't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. We'll talk about that in another episode. The next day my arm continued to swell, but I kept the ice pack handy and spent a lot of time in bed. I've noticed, when I'm having an obvious reaction like this, I'm usually extremely tired and have chills. Since sleep is so helpful for healing, I try to get as much as possible. So we have the minor bites like mosquitoes and the bite from last 4th of July weekend, and we have the more dire call 911 bites.

Speaker 1:

Here's one of those stories from my time in Charlotte, north Carolina, that I remember like it was yesterday. I was just finishing some yard work when I was bitten by something that I felt but didn't see. Since I was almost finished when I was bitten, I went in to take a shower. While showering, I began to feel a little off. Might actually describe it as a little lightheaded, but more than that, extreme fatigue and nausea Finished my shower. Instead of feeling refreshed and clean, I felt a dire need to just lay down. Before laying down, I called my neighbor and left her a message to check on me. I also kept the phone within reach just in case I needed it, which should have been a sure sign that I needed it.

Speaker 1:

I have no sense of time passing, but a while later I woke up with vomit on my bed, firefighters in my house and an ambulance outside. My neighbor had come to check on me, but I had passed out and didn't hear the knock or pounding on the door, so she called 911. While I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, the EMT shared a story about a young woman who had died just that morning from multiple fire ant bites. Scary stuff, right. So here's the thing.

Speaker 1:

Not all insect bites are created equal, and if you have ever had a bad one, you know exactly what I mean. Some insects inject venom that causes a local reaction, a little redness, maybe some itching. Others, their venom contains compounds that can trigger a full body immune response. For those of us with histamine intolerance or MCAS, that immune response can escalate quickly. The bite might seem small, but the body's reaction isn't. And here's what I've learned the hard way. It's not about the size of the bite. Might seem small, but the body's reaction isn't. And here's what I've learned the hard way. It's not about the size of the bite, it's about what's in the bite.

Speaker 1:

I've had bites that I didn't even notice until the next day, and while they caused pain, swelling and redness, I didn't feel like my life was threatened. And others, like the one in Charlotte, that sent me into a full systemic reaction. I just had this feeling that something wasn't right when I lost the use of my legs and others, like the one in Charlotte, that sent me into a full systemic reaction. I just had this feeling that something wasn't right when I lost the use of my legs. That's when I knew something was wrong. That's when I called my neighbor, vomited and passed out. Honestly, I should have called 911 myself and gotten help quicker.

Speaker 1:

If you've had a bite that sets off more than just a little itch, you know how unpredictable things can get. The scariest part sometimes it escalates so fast you don't have time to think. Here are a few red flags I've personally experienced and that you should never ignore Sudden weakness in the legs. From my experience, I'm not dizzy, I'm not faint, I just can't stand up. It just feels like my legs stop working. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea Sometimes all three hit at once. For me, this usually happens right before things get serious or while I'm passing out or passed out. Trust me, you don't want to wake up to that mess. Extreme fatigue and chills. I'll go from alert to completely wiped out in minutes and I can't find enough blankets to keep me warm. Spreading swelling or intense heat at the bite site. To measure swelling, I'll use a bandage that I can see through and mark the swelling lines to get a better idea of how fast the swelling is taking place.

Speaker 1:

Difficult breathing, swallowing or erasing heart these are signs of full-blown anaphylaxis and need immediate attention. And please, if you've been prescribed an EpiPen, carry it. Don't leave it in your glove box. Don't tuck it into your kitchen junk drawer. Don't leave it in your glove box, don't tuck it into your kitchen junk drawer. And if you feel signs of a serious reaction coming on, don't be afraid to use it. You can't treat anaphylaxis with willpower.

Speaker 1:

These bites can happen anywhere at any time. But you can lessen the chance of a bite or the severity by taking a few precautions. One wear gloves while pulling weeds or reaching into shrubs, or even if you're just moving the sprinkler. No-transcript walking and doing routine tasks. Shoes and socks are a must if walking through a yard, don't let your bare feet be a target. I forgot about that last week and looked down at a bee on my toe. I tried not to freak out, but it's an image in my head now.

Speaker 1:

Number three there are a lot of SPF protection long sleeve shirts and pants that you can wear, that can protect your arms and legs, not just for some protection, but to keep your body covered. They're lightweight and don't feel too heavy on your body. Number four don't have a picnic on the bare grass ground or around a lot of weeds or plants. I keep a blanket and bug spray in my car for impromptu picnics so I always have a place to sit. Number five keep your phone close. Seriously, if you feel off, don't hesitate, make that call. Number six use a bug spray. You can trust I always have one on hand. Number seven ice is your best friend. It slows histamine release, calms your nervous system and reduces swelling. And number eight, and most importantly, listen to your body. You know when something is not right.

Speaker 1:

One personal note that might also apply to you. I've noticed in the past, after a bite that seems harsh or one that escalates to full-blown anaphylaxis, I often quit spending time outside. I think it's a way to protect myself from harm. But don't be afraid to be outside. Just take the necessary precautions to keep your body safe.

Speaker 1:

If you've ever had a bug bite that just won't quit itching, you're not alone and know you're not imagining it. Here's what might be happening. Your body is still releasing histamine, so when the insect injects venom or saliva, your immune system releases histamine as part of the inflammatory response. For those of us with histamine intolerance or MCAS, that response can linger, especially if our bodies struggle to clear histamine efficiently. You may have a slow to clear reaction. If your HNMT enzyme isn't functioning optimally, whether due to genetic stress or overload, the histamine buildup in your skin can take longer to break down. That means the itch can last days, longer than it would for someone else. In the summer, when we're experiencing bite after bite, each individual bite is prolonging the release of histamine. Scratching equals inflammation. It's a vicious cycle the more you scratch, the more you irritate the skin, which leads to even more histamine being released locally. So if that bite is still itchy after a week or even two, it's likely your body is still processing the immune cascade. Cool compresses, topical anti-inflammatories and calming your overall histamine load can help ease the symptoms over time.

Speaker 1:

Before we go, I want to be really clear about something these kind of reactions. They're not about the low histamine diet didn't eat the wrong food, you didn't mess up. This is your body's reaction to the venom or toxins introduced by the bite and the immune cascade that follows. It's not about fermenting foods or leftovers. It's your body doing its best to protect you, even if the reaction feels like it's doing the opposite.

Speaker 1:

For those of you wondering yes, this is where HNMT might come into play. Hnmt is a main enzyme that breaks down histamine inside the cells. It's especially active in tissues like the skin, the lungs and the brain. So if you've been bitten and you're having an intense skin or systemic reaction, your H, h and MT pathways might be overwhelmed or genetically sluggish. Your body simply can't clear the histamine fast enough. But again, this isn't a failure. It's information and it's something we'll work with. If this episode gave you a few aha moments, I'd love for you to share it with someone you care about. And if you haven't yet grabbed my free low histamine diet starter plan, you'll find it at histaminehealthcoachcom. If there's a topic you're curious about and would like more information about, simply email me at Teresa at histaminehealthcoachcom. I'd love to get to know you and help you calm your symptoms. Until next time, stay curious, stay kind to yourself and keep listening to your body. Have a great day, bye.