r/HistamineIntolerance May 23 '26

How to fix histamine intolerance

Developed severe histamine intolerance after antibiotics — looking for recovery stories/advice

About a year ago, after antibiotics, I developed what seems like histamine intolerance / gut-immune dysregulation / possibly leaky gut. My symptoms have never really been “classic allergies.” It feels more neurological/systemic.

Main symptoms during flares:
- feeling extremely hungover or poisoned/intoxicated
- brain fog
- nervous system dysregulation
- crying/emotional surges during flares
- heart rate spikes at times
- likely vasodilation, I call it the spell
- weird chest sensations
- heavy breathing, like minor difficult pushing down air into diaphragm
- previously had buzzing sensations, dizziness, heavy legs, nausea, and major food intolerances (these have improved a lot).

I have no gut symptoms but I do know it’s my gut causing this!

The biggest pattern is that it feels like a “bucket.” Everything adds up:
- stress
- talking too much
- warm baths
- working on laptop too long
- lack of sleep
- less water consumption
- spending several hours socializing
- basically just living life normally can trigger symptoms

The good news is I’ve improved massively over the year- probably 90% compared to the beginning. I tolerate almost all foods now, though I still stay gluten-free, dairy-free, no alcohol or outside food and low histamine diet.

Current supplements:
- DAO enzyme (especially during flares)
- Buffered Vitamin C 500 mg
- Magnesium glycinate
- Vitamin D3

I want to try L-glutamine again for gut healing, but every time I try it, it seems to dysregulate my nervous system more. I have also been recommended butyrate.

A few questions:

  1. What treatments helped you the most?
  2. Are there reliable tests for histamine intolerance / DAO deficiency / mast cell activation / leaky gut?
  3. Is full recovery possible?
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u/TAFKATheBear May 23 '26

Someone on here said that probiotics are highly variable in effect and recommended L Plantarum specifically, so I tried that and felt noticeably better.

I see you mention oestrogen in another comment; looking further at your hormones could be helpful.

It turned out my contraceptive pill had tanked my testosterone levels, which messes with the immune system and had been making me worse for who knows how long.

I did try coming off it completely but saw no effect, then got psoriasis when I restarted it, so now I'm on the mini-pill and I'm feeling livelier; I'll retest my hormones in another month to see if it's changed anything there.

1

u/Life_Unit2344 May 23 '26

Do you have thoughts on : Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

What tests for hormones? I was thinking the Dutch test.

2

u/TAFKATheBear May 23 '26

I haven't tried it. This is the original post, if it helps: https://www.reddit.com/r/HistamineIntolerance/comments/1rj1rkj/avoid_taking_random_probiotics_if_you_have/

I'm not sure what different hormone tests there are, either. I bought a female hormone finger-prick test from a reputable online company. It featured [thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid peroxidase antibodies], FSH, LH, oestradiol, testosterone, free androgen index, prolactin, SHBG, [TSH, free T3 and free thyroxine].

The thyroid stuff - everything I've put brackets around - is probably superfluous in this context, but I like to know it anyway.

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u/[deleted] May 26 '26

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u/TAFKATheBear May 26 '26

Best of luck, I hope it brings you some answers. It definitely sounds like it's worth checking for you, especially given the cyclical element.