Enjoying University with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
When it comes to managing MCAS, our environment, food and emotions all come into play. This makes avoiding a flare feel like a juggling act at the best of times. If we add into the mix, big life changes, like going to university, it’s can feel as though we have been asked to walk a tightrope at the same time!
Whilst the prospect of University can be exciting, it can also be nerve wracking. Alongside finding your way around campus, making friends and learning how to pay bills, those of you with MCAS are also going to have to master managing your own condition in, what can be, an extremely challenging environment!
That’s why I created this blog, to try and take some of the guess work out of the dietary side of managing MCAS. This blog is packed full of tips, tricks and tools I have learnt along my own university journey, and should help you to enjoy your University experience to it’s fullest!
Before you go to university with MCAS
Step 1: Before applying for accommodation, contact the Student Disability Services
These guys are your best friends when it comes to getting adaptations at university. From recommending newer halls of residences to reduce the risk of mould exposure, or a fridge in your room to keep your food separate, to asking lecturers to allow you to record classes or extending library loans in case of fatigue… Whatever you need, these guys are here to help facilitate this! Give them a call before you set foot on campus or even apply for your first-year accommodation and get the wheels put in motion!
Step 2: Time to work on those culinary skills
Unlike your classmates, you’re unlikely to be able to muddle your way through the next few years living off a diet of pesto pasta and baked beans so think about what your safe meals and snacks are.
Now for the hard part – Do you know how to make them? If the answer to this is no… it’s time to don and apron and get in the kitchen! Don’t be afraid to use adaptations if needed such as a stool or anything that makes your life easier!
Staying in Self Catered Accommodation?
Step 1: Speak up
Making friends is the cornerstone of a good university experience, so having conversations around cleanliness and house rules is probably the last thing on your mind. That being said… it’s essential.
Whilst it may not sound appealing to have these conversations, its less appealing to have to deal with unnecessary flares, caused simply because your housemates didn’t know they shouldn’t use your toaster….
Let everyone settle in, and then when you feel more comfortable with them, broach the topic of your ‘allergies’. You don’t need to go in detail if you don’t want too.
To start with, I just told my housemates I had a couple of food allergies, and so I needed to keep my cutlery and kitchen equipment separate to reduce the risk of me eating those foods by mistake. I reassured them that they could absolutely have those items, but I just couldn’t eat them myself!
Play it by ear – Most people understand that allergies need to be taken seriously, therefore just letting them know you have some, is likely to be enough to ensure they keep the kitchen clean and tidy! If it’s not, you can revisit the topic at a later date, and be clearer about what it is you need them to do to keep you safe!
Step 2: If you struggle with fatigue – befriend the freezer
When you have the energy to make a meal - make two! One for now and one for tomorrow. Put it straight in the freezer and consume the second batch as soon as possible – I always liked to have a few bags of ‘no-mato’ sauce just in case I needed an emergency pasta bake one evening!
Top Tip: Frozen fruits and vegetables are also a great cheap and easy option to increase the fibre in your diet. Not only has fibre been shown to help stabilise Mast Cells1, freezing can slow down how much histamine is produced.
Did someone say Freshers week?
Does alcohol make you a dancing queen or send you into a spin? – Find out before you’re the poorly fresher!
Whilst drinking is part of many university experiences, it doesn’t have to be – There are many alcohol free beer, spirits and mocktails available, and being T -Total is becoming more and more popular, so know your limits and stay within them. A hangover is bad but a hangover + MCAS flare is even worse!
Date night or Pizza evening with friends?
Consider eating before, and then opting for a safe snack or side at the restaurant / bar
Eating out is always a challenge for those of us with dietary restrictions, but many of us don’t want to miss out on the social side of going for dinner and drinks with friends. So why not opt for an early dinner beforehand, and then order something off the menu that you can nibble on whilst socialising with your friends. That way you’re still able to take part, without risking a flare!
As a bonus, your night out just got a whole lot cheaper than your peers!
What time are your lectures?
Consider your schedule – plan ahead
Do you have a full day of classes? Do you need to study over dinner? – Think about your deadlines, classes and any other commitments you may have and make sure you’re planning in time for food.
Food is essential to ensure our bodies are getting all the energy it needs to power our brains and muscles to keep us happy and fully functioning. With MCAS it can be hard to pick up a sandwich on the go, or nip to the canteen for a quick snack, so make sure you know your schedule, and pack a lunchbox / snacks as required.
Side note:
Please remember to always seek experienced professional help before making major changes in diet and excluding foods groups. Exclusion diets need to be conducted with great care and consideration to avoid vitamin or nutrient deficiencies.
Additionally, sensitivity to foods may increase following sustained exclusion and therefore restriction needs to be undertaken with caution and under supervision or a qualified healthcare professional.
References
1) Folkerts J, Stadhouders R, Redegeld FA, Tam SY, Hendriks RW, Galli SJ, Maurer M. Effect of Dietary Fiber and Metabolites on Mast Cell Activation and Mast Cell-Associated Diseases. Front Immunol. 2018 May 29;9:1067. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01067. PMID: 29910798; PMCID: PMC5992428.
