MCAS: It stands for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed for years. Or maybe you’ve been newly diagnosed and are trying to learn more about it. Or maybe you’ve heard of it, suspect that you may have MCAS, but are struggling to find providers who believe you and can support you. Regardless of where you are in your MCAS treatment journey, we can probably all agree that MCAS is a complex and often misunderstood condition. In this blog, we will talk about the connection between MCAS and eating disorders, and how to navigate treatment.
What is MCAS?
If you are here reading this blog, chances are you’ve heard of MCAS. MCAS is a complex condition where the body’s immune cells, mast cells, are overly active. Mast cells exist all over the body. And when functioning normally, release histamine and other chemicals to help fight infections. When someone has MCAS, these cells activate with no apparent trigger or in response to a non threatening stimulus. Over active mast cells can cause a variety of symptoms or reactions.
MCAS Symptoms
Symptoms can impact various body systems and these symptoms often mimic those of an allergic reaction. But will likely not show a positive result on an allergy test. Symptoms include but are not limited to: nausea, abdominal pain, hives, itchiness, shortness of breath, congestion, brain fog and fainting. It is important to note that symptoms differ person to person. And can vary based on different stimuli.
What does MCAS have to do with an eating disorder?
More often than not, someone with MCAS will also have a diagnosis of other chronic illnesses or mental health conditions. One of these common co-diagnoses is an eating disorder. Due to the nature of what MCAS is. And the unknown cause of reactions. It can often lead to blaming food and engaging in restrictive behaviors as a means to reduce symptoms and discomfort. This response makes sense.
No one wants to experience the symptoms of an MCAS flare. And when there is so much unknown, even by doctors and other medical professionals, it makes sense to try to get to the root cause. Food is one thing that people seemingly have control over. And while specifics might not be specific, food sometimes IS a cause of MCAS flares which make this an extra slippery slope when navigating it on your own. An MCAS diagnosis could be what starts your struggles with food. Or it might cause a bump in the recovery journey that you’ve already embarked on.
It might even be confusing when you have worked so hard to add foods back in, only to have them now cause reactions that may spark a desire to limit them again. Eating disorders are complex to navigate on their own. As is MCAS. And navigating them together can be exceptionally difficult. Please know that you do not have to navigate this alone.
How do we treat it MCAS and an Eating Disorder?
Navigating a MCAS diagnosis and treatment, along with an eating disorder or disordered eating, requires a collaborative team approach. Having the support of an eating disorder specialized dietitian, a therapist and a MCAS informed medical provider is important. While every provider on your treatment team serves an imperative and supportive role, as an eating disorder dietitian, I am going to talk most about the role of an eating disorder dietitian in the treatment of MCAS.
Get Help Treating MCAS
Having an eating disorder dietitian’s support is an asset to your MCAS treatment team. In some cases, an eating disorder dietitian that is informed about MCAS may be the first one to validate your experience, and get curious about your symptoms rather than dismiss them. They can also assist you in finding other medical providers to help get a diagnosis.With an MCAS diagnosis often comes a list of safe foods that do not cause reactions.
Eating disorder dietitians will help ensure you are getting enough to eat of your safe foods. And will work with you, and the rest of your treatment team, to carry out food exposures to help increase the variety of foods in your diet, while helping to manage symptoms that may come with it. As wonderful as dietitians are, we are (unfortunately) not magic. We will never promise to have all of the answers. But we can promise to walk through the unknown with you and do our best to help find answers.
Contact Us
Courage to Nourish is a group of eating disorder specialized dietitians. We have in person locations in Alexandria, Virginia, Columbia, Maryland and College Park, Maryland. We offer virtual services across the state of Virginia, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. We offer individual nutrition therapy. As well as support groups. We would love to guide you in building a better relationship with food.
Contact us for more information. And to schedule a discovery call. Also, sign up for our client or clinician newsletter!
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Kathryn is a weight-inclusive, anti-diet eating disorder dietitian at Courage to Nourish. She specializes in working with adolescents and families, athletes, and individuals recovering from ARFID. Kathryn sees clients in person at the Columbia, Maryland office and virtually throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, DC, and Maryland. To schedule a discovery call with Kathryn, click here.