Never Bet Against Occam: Mast Cell Activation Disease and the Modern Epidemics of Chronic Illness and Medical Complexity 1st Edition
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
Related Climate Pledge Friendly items
Vitanica Flora Symmetry, Shelf Stable Probiotic Supplement, Dr Formulated Probiotics for Women, Probiotics for Men and Adults, Acidophilus Probiotic, Non-GMO, Vegan, 60 CapsulesAmazon's Choicein Probiotic Nutritional Supplements
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)

Compact by Design (Certified by Amazon) products remove excess air and water, which reduces the carbon footprint of shipping and packaging.
Integrative Therapeutics Alpha-Glycosyl Isoquercitrin - Quercetin Supplement That Supports Antioxidant Pathways and Cellular Regulation* - Gluten Free - 60 Vegan Capsules
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)

Compact by Design (Certified by Amazon) products remove excess air and water, which reduces the carbon footprint of shipping and packaging.
TIGER NUTS - SLICED PREMIUM ORGANIC(12oz) | Gluten Free, High Fiber, Gluten, Non-GMO, Paleo Perfect
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)

USDA Organic products are grown and processed according to standards addressing soil and water quality, among other factors.
Anthony's Organic Tiger Nut Flour, 1 lb, Gluten Free, Non GMO, Paleo FriendlyAmazon's Choicein Wheat Flours & Meals
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)

USDA Organic products are grown and processed according to standards addressing soil and water quality, among other factors.
Seeking Health ProBiota Bifido, 60 Capsules, Probiotic Supplement for Digestive Health, Bifido Only, Vegan- and Vegetarian-Friendly, Supports Colon Health and Immune System*
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)

Compact by Design (Certified by Amazon) products remove excess air and water, which reduces the carbon footprint of shipping and packaging.
Swanson Luteolin Complex w/Rutin - Brain Support Supplement Promoting Memory, Mood & Cognitive Health - Natural Formula to Help Maintain Nervous System - (30 Veggie Capsules)Amazon's Choicein DMAE Nutritional Supplements
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)

Compact by Design (Certified by Amazon) products remove excess air and water, which reduces the carbon footprint of shipping and packaging.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Dr. Afrin's case studies illustrate how a single underlying disease process can explain a multitude of seemingly unrelated symptoms. This discovery has the potential to unlock some of the most perplexing medical mysteries of our time. His treatment protocols have ended years of patient suffering and offer much needed hope to the chronic illness community. --JENNIFER ROBIN KULIK, Founder, Mast Movement
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Sisters Media, LLC; 1st edition (March 15, 2016)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 470 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0997319615
- ISBN-13 : 978-0997319613
- Item Weight : 1.79 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 1.06 x 10 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #34,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Diseases
- #148 in Medical Diseases (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
I recommend learning a bit about mast cells before reading this book. I've researched MCAS for years, so I was comfortable digesting all of this information at once. If you believe you have a mast cell disorder and there's more of an allergic component to your symptoms, this book might throw you off a little. Dr. Afrin is actually a hematologist, not an allergist. The case studies he discusses are very unique to his field, but I still find them relatable; they're also a great testament to the complexity and vastness of mast cell dysfunction. If you're overwhelmed by 30 chapters, I recommend at least reading the foreword, Chpts. 4-6, Chpt. 18, & Chpts. 23-28.
Edit:
Yay! I finished the book (which is a miracle in itself- no lie). Reading & retaining information has been a struggle for as long as I can remember but became an even more glaring issue when I got sick in 2011. I am, however, still thumbing through the appendix. One obvious oversight I've found is that 'Cromolyn Sodium' (aka Gastrocrom in its oral form) is not described in the appendix. I was only disappointed because I wanted to hear Dr. Afrin's thoughts on it. Though, one thing I did learn in Chpt. 25 is that scientists aren't entirely sure how Cromolyn works to target mast cells; in fact, some believe that it doesn't target mast cells, but rather nerve cells. Lastly, my mom (who has fibromyalgia, etc) and my aunt (who has CFS and hypothyroidism) were both recently diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. My aunt had a parathyroidectomy and though it's been about a year since the surgery, she doesn't feel any better. My mom has not had the surgery and I don't think she intends to as long as her vitamin levels and bone density test continue to look 'good'. After reading Dr. Afrin's book I'm starting to wonder if there's a mast cell component to my family's presentation of hyperparathyroidism. I was actually tested before my aunt and mom because an ENT recommended I look into hyperparathyroidism after my lip biopsy came back negative for Sjogren's; however, my PTH lab came back in the normal range. So many questions. I hope Dr. Afrin finds time to write a supplement to this book, but I totally understand if that's not where his focus is right now.
Original Review:
I've been trying to stray away from reading medical literature 1. Because after more than a decade of relentless symptoms and research I'm honestly just tired of it, and 2. Because what we focus on is what we get. In my defense, though, chronic illness isn't something you can simply ignore away. I know I have many skeptics, and hell, what these skeptics might not know is that I'm a skeptic, too. When I purchased this book I hoped it would give me some peace of mind, and restore confidence in my diagnosis (i.e. Was it prematurely diagnosed?, etc). I'm just 30 pages in and already the first case study reminds me so much of my own weird and prolonged medical journey. I could feel years of doubt and degrading messages from doctors melting away. The most important person to trust and validate is yourself. But it's also okay to receive validation from those that truly understand what you're dealing with- Lawrence Afrin is obviously one of those people and lucky for us, the chronic illness community, he's also a well-respected doctor. With that said, though, I'm grateful for the compassionate doctors that I've found locally and I'm becoming more forgiving of the doctors that aren't capable of listening without judgement. I hope by the last 30 pages of this book I will still feel the same enthusiasm as I have in the first 30 pages. I find myself wishing I could see Dr. Afrin but also remind myself that I can self-advocate and utilize my current Allergist to request the helpful lab work mentioned (much of which I've already requested from doctors over the years) throughout this book. I appreciate the honesty, compassion, determination, and vulnerability that Dr. Afrin displays throughout his book. I feel less shame and more pride in my journey after flipping through page after page and highlighting all the similarities that could be drawn from my own experience with multisystem symptoms. One thing that sticks out most is the relentless and incredibly intense feeling of being revved up x100 (it's like your foot being stuck on the accelerator and your car finding a new way to fuel itself even long after the gas has run out). I've yet to find anything to calm that symptom and honestly have no idea how I've managed to push through the absolute torture for years. It's a hell of a lot more physiological than it is psychological and that's really difficult to get anyone to understand. I've lived with anxiety (stress) since childhood due to an unsafe living environment and believe me anxiety is a piece of cake compared to this. I'm one of those people that won't refuse psychological treatment because I don't care what you call my symptoms, all I want is relief from them. I do believe, though, that trauma and prolonged stress is more likely to trigger illness but it's very obvious to me that there's some genetic involvement too. I have a sick family. And I believe I'm sicker because of a perfect storm. Getting hospitalized with sepsis in 2011 was definitely my tipping point. Thank you, Dr. Afrin, for sharing your experience and taking the time to advocate for patients essentially all over the world. #drafrinforthewin #neverbetagainstoccam #mcas
For 13 years, I’ve jumped from doctor to doctor looking for a diagnosis and some form of hope. Symptoms waxed and waived. Some days, I couldn’t get out of bed. Other days, I found myself not being able to complete a sentence due to problems with word recall. Almost every doctor I saw, even specialists, came back to me with the same report. Your tests were normal. Or your tests were just slightly abnormal, but not enough to validate the level of your symptoms. Or, my favorite, “we found a rare autoimmune disease marker in your blood. It likely means nothing, we need to run more tests.”
I’ve jumped around from rheumatologists to hematologists to neurologist. I’ve had 3 spine surgeries, a hysterectomy, a nerve biopsy, 2 bone marrow biopsies, a PET scan, a bladder function test, too many MRI’s and ECG’s to count. I’ve done IVIG transfusions, and steroid injections in just about every place you can think of. The elbow shots hurt the worst. I’ve had myleograms and CT’s. I’ve left the ER in tears more times than I care to remember, after being told everything checks out, you are not having an allergy attack/shingles flare/stroke/migraine. “Take this valium for anxiety.”
And then one day in January of 2020, I ate a hard-boiled egg, like I had every day for the past year for breakfast. Except this time, my throat closed up.
The allergist on-call when I asked for an epi pen told me to “just be happy” and all my symptoms would get better.
I thank God every day that I stumbled across MCAS and Dr. Afrin (and this book!) while reading a forum about a co-existing condition that my daughter has called POTS. Had I not, had Dr. Afrin not written this book, I would probably not still be here to write this review.
I still can’t find a doctor in my state to treat me (well I found one with a 10 month wait-list). Due to some luck, I will be seeing the good Dr. Afrin in about 12 weeks, traveling across a couple states with my husband. I can’t wait to meet my hero!
Top reviews from other countries
Dr Afrin is ensuring, with this well-written, easy to read book, not just that patients can recognise MCAS in themselves, but that doctors and medical professionals all around the world can diagnose this disease, once thought of as rare, but sadly proving to be all too common. Thank you Dr Afrin for this book, and for all the work you do on our behalf in raising awareness. .






