My Story: Healing from Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

coaching, health coaching, Mental health, Nervous system regulation, nutrition coaching, Somatic mental health

When I was 25, I started getting sick. Really sick. Every day, I felt like I was dying. I started getting escalating symptoms in every system of my body. Soon, I was nearly bed ridden, barely had the energy to walk a block, could only tolerate about 10 different foods, could hardly go into public because of everything I reacted to, and was riddled with a constant state of anxiety and dread.
Medical professionals had failed me. With nothing left to try, I decided the only thing left was to completely change my life to try to heal. It was the best decision I have ever made and it completely transformed me.
The road bas been long, winding, and hard, but today I am symptom free and living in a healthier body and calmer mind than I ever thought was possible for me. I am here to tell you that healing from even debilitating chronic illness is possible. You can live a life without constant worry, careful planning, or walking on eggshells around your body.
After my experience of profound transformation in mind and body, it has become my passion to help others walk their own path. I want to help empower you to take your health into your own hands and create the life that is your birth right. There are answers. You don’t have to keep wondering.

How bad did it get?

My Symptom List When I Was at My Worst:

Hives
Shortness of breath, sensation of “air thirst”
Swollen/red/blotchy skin
Constant generalized anxiety
Highly sensitive, painful skin
Fatigue
Hormonal acne along my jaw
Excess mucus production
Extreme pain during menstruation
Chronic constipation
Very long menstrual cycles, 35-40 days
Severe bloating (methane dominant SIBO)
Hot flashes, especially during the night
Acid reflux
Chronic sinus congestion
Brain fog
Severe seasonal allergies
Reactive hypoglycemic episodes
Itchy and watery eyes
Dizzy and lightheaded if I stood too long
Severe headaches
Chronically low blood pressure
Insomnia
Severe lactose intolerance
Tinnitus
Swollen lips after eating
Throat tightening after eating
A “safe” food list of about 10 foods
Other increasingly severe food intolerances
Random 24 hour fevers
Impending sense of doom or dread, which felt like I was dying
A “whooshing” sound and sensation in my head
Easily emotionally overwhelmed, crying frequently
Severe reactions to chemical scents and fragrances
Tachycardia and heart palpitations, especially when trying to fall asleep

With my severe sensitivity, I had to go very slow and gentle with my body. There was not magic a magic pill. The “magic” happened week by week, month by month, in the slow, consistent, implementation of the practices that would eventually become my Six Support Protocols. These are the most effective methods I’ve found, through my own healing and now working with hundreds of clients who have histamine and mast cell issues.

Six Support Protocols to Rebuild Your Histamine Response and Build Immune Resilience:

Protocol #1 – Befriending
A hostile relationship with your own symptoms creates an environment in which healing cannot occur as effectively. Befriending your symptoms is a necessary first step to reversing them.

Protocol #2 – Nutrition
The nutrients we consume on a daily basis provide the raw material for every cell in our body. Ensuring the proper intake of vitamins, minerals and amino acids is an essential practice to promote your healing. Additionally, nutrition is the most powerful modulator of our MICROBIOME, or the balance of microbes that reside inside our bodies. Rebuilding the microbiome through specific nutritional practices is a necessary aspect of this protocol.

Protocol #3 – Sleep
Your sleep wake cycle provides the framework for how optimally your body is functioning in any given moment. Aligning your body to a proper circadian rhythm is a foundation to regaining your health!

Protocol #4 – Detoxification
Toxicity could be considered the root of all illness. When our detoxification pathways are overloaded, excess toxins are stored in tissues all over the body. Symptoms of chronic illness are the result. Learning how to live a non toxic lifestyle and implementing practices supportive of your detox organs is necessary and often overlooked.

Protocol #5 – Movement
Movement is a nutrient. We respond to the movement we engage in every day on a cellular level. Movement includes proper structural alignment, breathing technique, and addressing chronic tension patterns in the body.

Protocol #6 – Mindset
A body that is chronically ill is a body that is wired for danger. Convincing your brain that you are ready to be healthy and thriving is just as important as the food you eat, and the quality of your sleep. Does your brain believe you are ready to be healthy now?

Hope is within reach. You can start now. Read my full healing story by opting in and watch the video linked below

Download Jen’s Remarkable Healing Story: https://wholebodyhealing.mykajabi.com/healingstory

About the Author

Jen Donovan completely rebuilt her life and career as a result of her experience with severe chronic illness. After finding no answers from conventional medical approaches, she took matters into her own hands and with the help of key mentors, found a path to healing.