Living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

For Meresa, one of the hardest parts of living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is the daily uncertainty. She says, “It’s still such an everyday variable disease. It really sucks a lot of the time. It’s really painful. People don’t understand what it is, they don’t always understand what Read more…

Jesse Mercury on Starting the Major Pain Podcast and Seeking a Diagnosis for Mystery Illness

This week on the Major Pain podcast, our host Jesse is interviewed for a change! This interview is taken from a recent rheumatoid arthritis summit hosted by Andrea Dunn. She asks Jesse what inspired him to create the Major Pain podcast, inquires about his health journey and recent diagnosis of Read more…

Season 2 Finale with Andi and Jesse!

Andi and Jesse wrap up season 2 of Major Pain by sharing their health updates and reflecting on the past year of the show. Jesse discusses his potential diagnoses of mast cell activation syndrome and small fiber neuropathy, while Andi tells us about her vocal surgery recovery.

Pancreatitis, Small Fiber Neuropathy, MCAS, Sjogren’s and More: Jo’s Health Journey So Far

In 2017, Jo began experiencing intense pain under her rib cage that traveled to her back, as if she was being impaled. She had complained of various pains throughout her life that doctors always brushed off, so at first she had no desire to seek professional help. But after two Read more…

Andi and Jesse’s Health and Travel Updates!

Andi and Jesse share updates from their recent travels to New York and Florida, plus both of their health situations including Andi’s vocal injury and Jesse’s continued quest for a diagnosis. Jesse has seen significant improvements in his mobility, while being evaluated for mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and small Read more…

Pauline’s Quest for an MCAS Diagnosis

Everybody has mast cells in their body, as they play a critical role in allergic response. Mast cells release mediators to attack allergens, but can sometimes overreact when no allergen is present. This is the case for Pauline, who was recently diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Though her Read more…

Living with Severe Allergies and Constant Anaphylactic Reactions

Kristy has been dealing with constant anaphylactic reactions since she was 19 years old. The first time it happened was at a restaurant, when she started projectile vomiting for no apparent reason before going into shock. At the emergency room she was accused of drug seeking behavior, even though she Read more…

Living with Adrenal Cancer, Heart Failure, Diabetes Insipidus and More

Brooke has been diagnosed with over a dozen health conditions. Her diagnostic journey began with relatively manageable diseases including asthma, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s disease, but took an intense turn in her late 30s when she experienced heart failure, discovered an adrenal tumor, was diagnosed with diabetes Read more…

Living with the EDS Triad: Ehlers-Danlos, POTS and Mast Cell Disease

As a child, Morgan didn’t realize it was unusual to be in constant pain. She thought it was normal for joints to constantly pop out of place, to be hyper sensitive to foods and environmental factors, and to experience constant dizzy spells with risk of fainting. As she got older Read more…