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Posted 10/6/2008 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Back from vacation. Had a good time in Vermont and Maine although the weather wasn't great. I had to take prednisone the entire time to keep the hives in check. My doc wouldn't like that. I was only supposed to take it for the first 5 days, but I had to take it everyday. I haven't taken any today and I'm not doing too bad. I want to do some research on Cellcept. Has anyone else used this?
Posted 10/6/2008 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Can somebody please help me. I have suffered with chronic urticaria for the past 9 years and over the past year and a half I have had some relief with even days without anything but as always it is back and it is worse then ever. I am writing this in work where I am sitting at my desk covered in hives from top to toe and my eyes look like I did 10 rounds with Tyson!! I am on Xyzal at the moment but they still do not seem to work is there anything out there as doctors etc do not know cause or cure when ot comes to Urticaria. In alot of pain and at the end of the road with this. Has anybody heard of Hivotab? Available on net and gaurantees to get rid of hives.......
Posted 10/14/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
While I am being cautiously optimistic, I am happy to report that I have been nearly hive-free for more than a week! Not sure why...not sure if it's permanent, but even if it isn't, it's been nice to have a break from scratching! As I listed in an earlier email, I am taking Xyzal and Zantac twice a day. I am up to 40 mg of Doxepin and I take Singulair at bedtime. I took a round of Prednisone about 2 weeks ago, but I haven't had any of that since Oct. 4. It is so nice to tell people that I'm good when they ask, instead of constantly whining and complaining...which is what I feel like I've been doing for months.

Unfortunately, I currently have a bladder infection so I am taking Bactrim for that. My husband and I have a theory that it seems when I have an infection or my body is undergoing some other kind of trauma (for instance, I had bladder surgery on Aug. 5), the hives seem to let up because so many of my infection fighting cells are busy doing other things. We'll see if the hives return when the infection is gone.

I will continue to pray for the rest of you who are still suffering with these horrid things! I know what you are going through! Hang in there!
Posted 10/25/2008 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. As others have said, it is comforting knowing that we are all trying to fix this together and sharing ideas.

I started having what I think were fits of angiodema early this year. I was at a local bar one night and my eyelids swelled up extremely, and itched badly. I didn't know what triggered this, so I left the bar and the swelling reduced. I figured there was smoke or perfume in the air that was triggering this.

Within days or weeks, it was pointed out to me by a coworker that I looked like I was having an allergic reaction, as my face was red around my mouth and eyes. This was pretty uncomfortable, so I started treating with Benadryl. This began happening regularly, and all I could do was keep Benadryl handy.

Within a month or two, I started having my first cases of hives. They would cover my entire trunk and run down my arms. Oddly, it seemed to subside when having a couple of beers. Not sure if this was stress relief or immune suppression. I can't drink beer at work, so I continued treating with Benadryl and trying to eliminate possible allergens from my home.

Benadryl never eliminated the hives, but it did help with itching. After I became concerned with the amount of Benadryl I was eating, I saw my doctor. She put my on Xyzal and a week of steroids, which reduced my hives to tiny bumps if anything at all. After these drugs were over, the hives returned.

I started taking 24-hour Loratadine (Claratin) 10mg, which seemed as effective as my doctor's treatment, so I stuck with that for a while, and kind of eased off of my investigation.

Just over a week ago, I got what could have been the worst outbreak of hives I'd seen on myself. This fired my investigation back up, and I started reading reports of B12 helping with symptoms. I hadn't been taking my multivitamin (Centrum Performance: contains 18 mcg of B12, 300% RDA) in some time, so I took one and the severity of that outbreak started reducing in 45 minutes.

I started reading into B12 deficiency, and now suspect that might have something to do with my problem. I exhibit some of the other symptoms so I decided to buy a 1000 mcg suppliment. In the morning I take my 10 mg Loratadine and my multivitamin, and I take a 1000 mcg B12 with lunch.

I don't want to jinx myself, but my hives have been nearly nonexistent. As I type this, I have a few tiny red dots on my forearm.

I'm now pressuring my doctor to look into a thyroid problem, and am aware that I need a decayed molar pulled, so I'm putting that on my to-do list. Aside from these two things, I'm at the end of my rope, but with my new vitamin treatment, everything is tolerable.

I will keep everyone updated!
Posted 11/1/2008 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
 Hello every one I am new to posting on any chat room. But i am at the end of my rope.  I have had Hives and swelling of the eyes and lips till its hurts.  I have read some of the post and I can relate to most of them . The only thing I go through that no one else seems too is the sick felling all over my body. I don't really know how to describe it,but that i just feel sick .  My face turn blood red and hot.  I also don't feel like doing a thing. Is there any one else that feels what I feel.
Posted 11/1/2008 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
luv2cruise I can really relat to your suffering. I want to try prednisone but i am afarid of the side effects. Do you have any problems with this medicine. I see alot of med onthis chat room that I have not tried yet. do you find yourself to be uncertain of some of these meds. I have reactions to so many medicines.
Posted 11/2/2008 9:06 AM (GMT 0)
Finally, to find a forum with individuals in the same shoes as me.

I am a nineteen year old female that had my first stint of hives back in 2002. The occur only at night and would be gone in the morning and benadryl helped me get sleep. It turned out I had a sensitivity to cheese and stopped eating cheese and within a few weeks the hives were gone only appearing once a week.

Well, February of this year they came back. I have been struggling with the progression of a neurological condition for two years, mental issues and when one medication was upped in dose, BANG! The hives return and have been here daily since February 1st. They put me back on the original dose I was on but too late the hives are here to stay for now it seems.

No one can figure out a cause, I of course went through all the food groups, changed shampoos, you get the deal and no luck. I was already having to do grade twelve over two years due to my many other medical problems and then this, I thought things could not get worse but I was clearly wrong.

I at the moment sit here with swollen eye lids, lips, hands, feet and mouth. Everything is affected by the hives and I suffer from the deep tissue form as well now and then causing my throat to swell but not my airway, *knocks on wood*.

No medication on this planet helps me and I've been on everything. Dealing with many medical conditions school is extremely hard and I am forced now to take a medical withdrawal, and cannot work as no one will hire me in this condition. I am physically and emotionally fried, the toll it has taken on me and my other medical conditions.

Bendryl, I have to take four capsules every six hours, does not take the hives away but helps relief the itch at times, but four capsules, yes it knocks me out.

This out of all my conditions has to be the worst, and I have a long list.

I'm scared this is going to be my life, not being able to go to school, work, etc. Even without hives I have struggles with school and work but the hives people take one look and think I am carrying some form of a infectious disease.

My doctors tell me they could never and would never want to live like this, yet tell me to suck it up, how nice. I obviously do my best to think positive cause otherwise I'd be in tears a lot of the time but the toll it has taken on me emotionally and physically has been horrible.

I thought I had a lot on my plate with the medical I have had since birth and one progressing but the hives are the worst to date.

At least you people understand.

How do you handle work, school etc.?
Posted 11/10/2008 1:56 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all,

Just following up, as promised. I've been taking the stack I described in my previous post, with the addition of a B12 tablet in the morning as well as afternoon. In the morning I take my 10 mg Loratadine, 1000mcg B12 and my multivitamin, and I take a 1000 mcg B12 with lunch. I've been almost hive free for this entire time. The only exception would be rare, isolated pink dots which are far less severe than any normal hives during an outbreak.

I don't feel cured, and it still bothers me that I don't know the root cause. I plan to change doctors because my current doctor insists this is an allergy and not caused by anything internal. She also rushes me out of my appointments 5-10 minutes in before I can discuss anything. She doesn't seem to take my problem seriously.

This regimin has made life a whole lot easier. If you haven't tried this yet, it may give you some great relief. I plan to drop the Loratadine out when I have a break from work (probably over Christmas) to see if the vitamins alone will control the hives. I suspect it will, but I'd hate to experiment and have a bad breakout at work ;)

Good luck to everyone working on their problems, and keep your heads up!

trajik2600 said...
Hi. As others have said, it is comforting knowing that we are all trying to fix this together and sharing ideas.

I started having what I think were fits of angiodema early this year. I was at a local bar one night and my eyelids swelled up extremely, and itched badly. I didn't know what triggered this, so I left the bar and the swelling reduced. I figured there was smoke or perfume in the air that was triggering this.

Within days or weeks, it was pointed out to me by a coworker that I looked like I was having an allergic reaction, as my face was red around my mouth and eyes. This was pretty uncomfortable, so I started treating with Benadryl. This began happening regularly, and all I could do was keep Benadryl handy.

Within a month or two, I started having my first cases of hives. They would cover my entire trunk and run down my arms. Oddly, it seemed to subside when having a couple of beers. Not sure if this was stress relief or immune suppression. I can't drink beer at work, so I continued treating with Benadryl and trying to eliminate possible allergens from my home.

Benadryl never eliminated the hives, but it did help with itching. After I became concerned with the amount of Benadryl I was eating, I saw my doctor. She put my on Xyzal and a week of steroids, which reduced my hives to tiny bumps if anything at all. After these drugs were over, the hives returned.

I started taking 24-hour Loratadine (Claratin) 10mg, which seemed as effective as my doctor's treatment, so I stuck with that for a while, and kind of eased off of my investigation.

Just over a week ago, I got what could have been the worst outbreak of hives I'd seen on myself. This fired my investigation back up, and I started reading reports of B12 helping with symptoms. I hadn't been taking my multivitamin (Centrum Performance: contains 18 mcg of B12, 300% RDA) in some time, so I took one and the severity of that outbreak started reducing in 45 minutes.

I started reading into B12 deficiency, and now suspect that might have something to do with my problem. I exhibit some of the other symptoms so I decided to buy a 1000 mcg suppliment. In the morning I take my 10 mg Loratadine and my multivitamin, and I take a 1000 mcg B12 with lunch.

I don't want to jinx myself, but my hives have been nearly nonexistent. As I type this, I have a few tiny red dots on my forearm.

I'm now pressuring my doctor to look into a thyroid problem, and am aware that I need a decayed molar pulled, so I'm putting that on my to-do list. Aside from these two things, I'm at the end of my rope, but with my new vitamin treatment, everything is tolerable.

I will keep everyone updated!

Posted 11/11/2008 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
I have been living with Chronic Uticaria and Angiodema for the past three years now.  It all started with some small rashes and then I woke up one night and my upper lip was so swollen that it had blocked my ability to breath out of my nose.  Although it was far worse in the earlier years, I still suffer from this everyday.  For example, I woke this morning with a swollen eye, which at about 4pm turned into a swollen lip.  I have tried EVERYTHING.  Benadryl worked for awhile, then only Zyrtec did.  However I lost insurance coverage, thus losing the Zyrtec (unless I wanted to pay, and yes I calculated, 2.50 a pill, and I took several a day).  I have been on many rounds of Prednisone, and was on it for a stretch of... 3 months I believe at one point?  I gained 40 pounds from it, and then after discovering that my father was in kidney failure, decided that this could no longer be an option for me (since Prednisone is TERRIBLE on your kidneys).  So I live day to day taking loratadine now and it mostly keeps me comfortable, but doesn't really touch the swelling issues.  I visited an allergist (he didn't believe I had any allergies (I hate him) and couldn't do tests because I couldn't get off the meds) and I have seen a rheumatalogist (who believe it was allergies, and wanted me tested for those first).

Recently, I have been having joing and muscle pain as well.  I fear crouching down because I might not get back up.  Also, my outter knees hurt alot and are hot to touch.  I have looked up these symptoms and it points to fybromyalgia.  Needless to say, I have an appointment to see my rheumetologist again, and I have brought a page full of fibromyalgia symptoms that I suffer from.  I was wondering if anyone else suffers from this as well thus having hives from it.  If so, how do you keep fibromyalgia in check (since I read there is no cure)?  Are there things I could be trying right now before my appointment (I am a firm believer in diet changes, anything in this area)? 

Any input would be AMAZING!!!

Posted 11/24/2008 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
hello everyone,

I have been suffering from chronic Urticaria for a year and a half now, to me its still new because up to a week ago i was convinced i had a allergy to everything i ate,i went on wheat free diets glutten free for over a month i gave up alot of foods cos i thought they were giving me the rashes/lumps/hives. My own doctor told me it was caused by a food allergy and told me id have to try and figure out what it was so thats how i had it in my head it was food. I was then sent to a dermatologist and it was the biggest waist of money ever, handed him 120 euro for him to tell me its not food and to go home and take antihistamines for the rest of my life im so in the wrong job i was disgusted i thought he'd at least look at my skin. I found it helpful reading other people stories the 'hot and cold situation' ive just came back from a walk and my legs were fairly cold then when i came back the were roasting and now im sitting here and from the waist down im destoyed i couldnt possibly count the lumps on my legs they are so itchy its not even funny, if i didnt read some of ye're stories i would have blamed it on my dinner.

Im a beauty therapist so ive studied every single thing about the body and i usually know my body inside out i can even tell the doctors things before they even examine me urticaria im afraid its out of my control. Even when i wax my legs im destroyed its terrible to think this happens and im in contact with wax everyday and its not so attractive or convincing when im giving my clients advice about their skin when my own skin is covered in hives!!. Its been said by doctors, dermatologists that its your body fighting against things it may feel will harm you thats why i found it hard to understand that it wasnt food or something in food i feel its something in my blood although my blood tests have come back clear, these rashes are caused by a leakage in the blood vessels same with the hot and cold situations thats linked to the circulatory system i think it boils down to such a small thing thats triggering urticaria, specialists could take forever to find out what it really is and probally already have giving up on searching.

Im still in two minds weather to go to an allergist or not i see it hasnt helped some people but i just feel i need more answers i dont see why any of us should be living like this how many cures do they have in the world for so many diseases and disorders and why should we have to live with hives everyday and i dont believe anti -histamines are the only answer! nono

Posted 12/2/2008 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
hi people

my name is chris and sadly i am a sufferer of chronic idiopathic urticaria
it first started 4 months ago with my skin going red on my arms and then it started to itch and when i scrathced back small hives would come on my arms,that lasted for 4 weeks but then my joints started to hurt on my arms-first i thought it was arthritis but my doctor said no,i took several blood tests
but no inflammation in the bones and everything else was fine but i didnt feel fine,they refered me to dermatologist ,the doctor there told me i didnt have destructive arthritis,i could move my bones freely but took more blood tests so i am waiting to find out soon what it is.
the problem is that i feel pain in my arms now,its like my mucles are burning in acid,iff i hold a magazine upp and read it,after 30 seconds i can feel my arms aching,its hell.
even in cold weather my arm fingers are blood red and stays that for a long time.
i am useing fenofexadine tablets,they seem to to be to control it but the tablets have side affects and i am feeling it every day,it makes my life crap.
anyone every feeling this or going thru what i go thru
[email protected]
yours

chris
Posted 12/2/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
ive have been told that skin problems could be helped by zink vitamins??????????????????
Posted 12/17/2008 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I first experienced hives about 5 years ago. They're perfect circles, so at first I thought I had ringworm!! some of them are hollow circles and most are full. My only diagnosis (from a crappy doctor), was that I suffered from "urticaria, which means literally itchy red spots". I thought my doctor was full of it until I researched it. He was right. darn it all!

Benadryl helps, but it puts me to sleep. I can't do that! Any other drug so far may slow current swellings, but I always get new ones. I have found that exercising helps. Sweat, in particular, seems to slow outbreaks. I have changed my diet so many times (Always waiting 3 months at least to make sure it's out of my system.) it's really not funny.

As far as I understand it, I'm stuck this way. It sucks. I get small circles and uber large ones. The large ones are the worst! They itch so bad when they're swelling, and bruise when they're done. I've never had them inside my mouth as some of you have, but my hands and feet make it difficult to work. The worst on when they're on my face. I run a B&B and am the sole employee. how wonderful is it for me to greet my guests when I look like I just got out of the ring with a boxer?

I read about the Chinese cures, and I'm willing to try it. Anything! I'm a little worried that acupunture may bring on a new bout, but if it works! yay!

I know sometimes, but not always, they're pressure induced. I've noticed that if I eat crappy food, they're worse.

I haven't found anything that stops them. Maybe one of us will, and it will be a medical miracle. Please someone figure this out!

I recently broke my right foot, the third and fourth toes, as well as my fourth metatarsal. OMG the swelling and itching is horrid!!!! on top of the pain from the breaks! I can hardly walk, but I have no choice. I have 7 rooms to clean and occupy, I HAVE to do it!

PLEASE submit anything you find that helps, I"ll try it all!
Posted 12/17/2008 12:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,

IF YOU ARE A NEW POSTER - PLEASE READ MY POST!

I see a lot of new posts on this thread that don't look like they ever read to the end, and I'm having great success!

Another update. I've been following my vitamin regimine for almost two months now, and have not had a single outbreak. I've had the rare, individual hive on the inside of my forearms from time to time, but never an outbreak. I would feel totally normal if I didn't know I was only supressing something!

Now almost convinced that it's not an allergy at all, I'm going to stop taking Loratadine (Claratin) and fall on the vitamins alone. I plan to try this the week of Christmas because I have the week off from work. If the vitamins alone are controlling my hives, I'll take that back to my doctor who is convinced I have an allergy.

Just to recap, I'm taking the following daily:

- 10mg Loratadine (Claratin)

- 1000mcg B12 after breakfast, again after lunch

- 1 Centrum Performance after breakfast

As you can see, it's not an exotic stack of antihistamines, and I may not even need an antihistamine at all. I didn't start seeing any real level of control until I added the vitamins to my daily regimine.

Merry Christmas and good luck to everyone. I should be back to check on you all after Christmas to let you know what dropping Loratadine results in.

trajik2600 said... (11/10/2008)

Hi all,

Just following up, as promised. I've been taking the stack I described in my previous post, with the addition of a B12 tablet in the morning as well as afternoon. In the morning I take my 10 mg Loratadine, 1000mcg B12 and my multivitamin, and I take a 1000 mcg B12 with lunch. I've been almost hive free for this entire time. The only exception would be rare, isolated pink dots which are far less severe than any normal hives during an outbreak.

I don't feel cured, and it still bothers me that I don't know the root cause. I plan to change doctors because my current doctor insists this is an allergy and not caused by anything internal. She also rushes me out of my appointments 5-10 minutes in before I can discuss anything. She doesn't seem to take my problem seriously.

This regimin has made life a whole lot easier. If you haven't tried this yet, it may give you some great relief. I plan to drop the Loratadine out when I have a break from work (probably over Christmas) to see if the vitamins alone will control the hives. I suspect it will, but I'd hate to experiment and have a bad breakout at work ;)

Good luck to everyone working on their problems, and keep your heads up!

trajik2600 said... (10/25/2008)
Hi. As others have said, it is comforting knowing that we are all trying to fix this together and sharing ideas.

I started having what I think were fits of angiodema early this year. I was at a local bar one night and my eyelids swelled up extremely, and itched badly. I didn't know what triggered this, so I left the bar and the swelling reduced. I figured there was smoke or perfume in the air that was triggering this.

Within days or weeks, it was pointed out to me by a coworker that I looked like I was having an allergic reaction, as my face was red around my mouth and eyes. This was pretty uncomfortable, so I started treating with Benadryl. This began happening regularly, and all I could do was keep Benadryl handy.

Within a month or two, I started having my first cases of hives. They would cover my entire trunk and run down my arms. Oddly, it seemed to subside when having a couple of beers. Not sure if this was stress relief or immune suppression. I can't drink beer at work, so I continued treating with Benadryl and trying to eliminate possible allergens from my home.

Benadryl never eliminated the hives, but it did help with itching. After I became concerned with the amount of Benadryl I was eating, I saw my doctor. She put my on Xyzal and a week of steroids, which reduced my hives to tiny bumps if anything at all. After these drugs were over, the hives returned.

I started taking 24-hour Loratadine (Claratin) 10mg, which seemed as effective as my doctor's treatment, so I stuck with that for a while, and kind of eased off of my investigation.

Just over a week ago, I got what could have been the worst outbreak of hives I'd seen on myself. This fired my investigation back up, and I started reading reports of B12 helping with symptoms. I hadn't been taking my multivitamin (Centrum Performance: contains 18 mcg of B12, 300% RDA) in some time, so I took one and the severity of that outbreak started reducing in 45 minutes.

I started reading into B12 deficiency, and now suspect that might have something to do with my problem. I exhibit some of the other symptoms so I decided to buy a 1000 mcg suppliment. In the morning I take my 10 mg Loratadine and my multivitamin, and I take a 1000 mcg B12 with lunch.

I don't want to jinx myself, but my hives have been nearly nonexistent. As I type this, I have a few tiny red dots on my forearm.

I'm now pressuring my doctor to look into a thyroid problem, and am aware that I need a decayed molar pulled, so I'm putting that on my to-do list. Aside from these two things, I'm at the end of my rope, but with my new vitamin treatment, everything is tolerable.

I will keep everyone updated!


Posted 12/22/2008 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
hi, i am new to this forum , old urticaria sufferer though.

My case started 5 years ago but it was under control till 4 months back. First time 5 years ago, i had to go to the emergency when one morning i saw my face and body, it was horrible. I never knew about urticaria and after doctors checked even VDRL they said it is urticaria. They gave me steroids and aterax for few days, i took it in the hospital and within a couple of hours everything gone-miracle a junior med student said. I stoped the medicine in 2 days and it took several months to come back again, then i had the rest of the steroids and atarax and managed that time, afterwards quite often it started coming and I started eating doxepin. It was under control , all these was when i was living inUS, last May I came to Singapore and it started again, now past 7 months a variety of antihistamines, steroids etc, when i was having steroids it was under control but i stoped steroids and was only with antihistamines, cetirizine, atarax, loratadine etc. Now i have this hives and itch everyday all the time, don't know what to do.

what is the best  antihistamine which worked for anyone in the forum, ofcourse I have read the yahoo urticaria forum also but i have concluded that i have to go with this for a long time or for ever, am 45 years old.

thanks

akp

Posted 1/1/2009 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have been a hive sufferer for a very long time and been to Doc after Doc and taken every med they thought would help me. I was told I was allergic to the cold, dust, pollen, mold, cats and dogs, and a few other things. I tried everything and got no results at all. I felt like I was going crazy. A couple of days ago I went to see a new Doc and she tested my blood again. My blood work always says my white count is slightly high and my red blood cell width is slightly low. All the Doc's before my new Doc said it was nothing but the reaction to my hives. Well, they were wrong! My new Doc asked if I had a tooth ache. I told I've had tooth pain on and off for years. I told her I didn't think the tooth pain was anything to worry about since it came and went so fast. She looked in my mouth and said I had a tooth infection. I was told a bacteria infection of a tooth can cause hives that do not respond to meds. I've been taking Amoxocil for 3 days now and since my second dose I have NOT had one hive! And I'm taking NO antihistamines!

This may not be the case for all of you, but it can't hurt to check and see if you might have a tooth infection. I hope this gave a new idea to all of you and maybe it could be your answer to long term hives also.

I wish all of you the very best of luck!
Posted 4/7/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I've been dealing with chronic urticaria for 12 years and have recently had a very promising break through. I started considering the possibility that I was allergic to latex and requested a test for it from my doctor. It's not part of the usual allergy panel of test, so it must be requested for seperately. In doing so, my doctor asked me to stay away from bananas. I have not had hives since, and I'm certain that this the problem. The chemical, chitinine, is in natural latex rubber (from the rubber tree), and is also in bananas, kiwi, avacodos and chestnuts. My latex allergy test results are not back yet, but I'm 99.9% certain that this is the cause. Has anybody else been tested for this?

Posted 4/8/2009 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
I know what you are going through.  I suffered with hives daily for 5 or 6 years.  I had been to the allergist over and over. They did allergy testing and put me on antihistimines and tried prednizone.  None of them worked.  Some did make the problem a little more under control but I still had hives daily.  Wehn I had some of my worst attacks and ended up at the emergency room I was not anywhere around the items that I was allergic to according to the allergy testing, so I didn't fee that allergies were really the problem.  I would get hives from heat, from pressure, from stress and after tracking things I found that I had my worst problems during my monthly cycle.  I knew that I was not going to ever get over this unless I tried to find my own answers.  I started doing my own research and had a internalist who was very supportive of my quest for a cure.  After much research and digging for information I decided to try a supplement that another doctor told me about.  According to the research I had found I felt that it could be an immune and/or hormonal issue. I first started on an immune modulator that was made of all natural ingredients.  It was made of something that comes from fruits and vegetables and also had muramyl peptides which are found in our bodies anyway. (An immune modulator is different from an immune enhancer in that it works to make your immune system work the way it is designed to work.  Such as fighting off things we are allergic to etc.  etc.  )  I started on the supplement and within a week had a huge difference.  I was thrilled.  At the end of the month I ran out because I had forgotten to order the next month's supply.  I thought I would just see what would happen and within a few days my hives returned. 

So I ordered the next month's supply.  Sure enough I started on the supplement and within a few days,  my hives started to go away again.  I still had some hives but nothing like before at least I could funciton better than before and was not having to take cold showers or worry about having to use my epi pen.  When I first started the supplement I could not take the female version which had addtional ingredients that help to support the female body.  ( A formula is also available for men.)  When I was done nursing my daughter I started the female/immune modulator and within a few weeks I was almost completely hive free.  It was wonderful!!!  We had been living from day to day wondering when I would be covered with hives and had to plan trips, activities, vacations etc around my hive condition.  It is so nice now.  I rarely get hives and have never had them cover even portions of my body as they did before. I have since gotten on the monthly mailing plan so I don't run out of the supplement anymore.   Let me know if you are interested in more info.  I am so glad I am hive free.  It was a long time to have hives. 

Posted 4/26/2009 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I only joined this forum so I could help those who have chronic urticaria. I had this for a long time and managed to heal myself, kind of by accident.

My hives used to be so bad that I'd have to take one or two anti-histamines every 6 hours or my eyes and throat would close over.( I had a 5 month old baby, and had to use a safe pill for breast feeding) I was forever covered in a red, itchy bubble wrap. I saw doctors, allergists, got tested for helicobacter pylori (I was positive), and naturopaths, but the biggest help came from left field.

See, my naturopath prescribed me inner health plus stuff (pro biotics) special powders that did absolutely nothing. In hindsight, we figured out that I needed stuff that was ALIVE.

My s-i-l used to have yogurt and fruit for breakfast and I started having it as it was so yummy. Well, after a while I found it made my stomach feel really good and soothed. I was eating, 'Farmer's Union Full Fat Greek Yogurt'. I would have about two or three huge dollops with sliced bananas, strawberries, kiwi fruit for breakfast every morning and sometimes for dessert. It was so delicious.

I was also exercising regularly. My allergist told me not to stop even though at times when my body heated the hives were unbearable. The trick here was I had to change the type of exercise I was doing. I used to do aerobics, weights classes etc. Well, when I changed to a certain type of exercise I could actually watch the hives disappear....strange, or so I thought at the time, but kept it up and they did eventually disappear for good. The new type of exercise was on an elliptical. I used to do it for an hour and boy, did I sweat. My dad told me later on because I sweated so much it's kind of like urinating or something and toxins get flushed out. My advice would be to choose an exercise that makes you sweat like crazy. I used to use my ipod and pretend I was dancing on the elliptical just to keep going for an hour.

Another key with the exercise....Without the anti-histamines I couldn't sleep. My body had become so used to them, that I could not go to sleep unless I had one or two. This was very frustrating for me at the time because I saw no way out. Well, the exercise is the way out. I would do 2 hours every morning, five or six days a week and totally exhaust myself - but you could also do this at night, and I was so tired that eventually I began falling asleep by myself without the anti-histamine. Exercise also makes you drink water, which helps flush you out, and I'd advise drinking heaps and heaps of water.

I also bought a bagless vacuum cleaner and used some eucalyptus oil in my household spray. My doctor did put my on anti biotics for helico but they didn't make it better. However, you never know if all these things combined did work. I took the antibiotics about 3 months before I started eating yogurt.

My 3 year old daughter got bad hives 1 year after I healed mine. I immediately gave her 2 Yakults per day, every day we would run around in the backyard and ride a bike or anything until she sweated and drank lots of water. Within 1 month her hives were gone. But, she got a medium amount of sun, which also helps to make you sweat and once she had a good run around and play, she would drink alot. I just followed the same basic principle that I used on myself.

So, my advice:

*Start eating a yogurt or probiotic drink every day, twice a day. Choices are yogurt with cereal, with fruit or Yakult, so many...

*Choose an exercise that will make you sweat like mad. Don't do weights, really. Do stuff that makes the sweat run like a river down your back. Gross, I know, but it seems to flush you out.

*Get a bagless vacuum and use eucalyptus oil in household spray.(about 1 tsp or so)

*Go on antibiotics for helicobacter if you wish - but try it without. (antibiotics can kill all the good culture in your gut)

*Get a bit of sunlight. Not too much, but enough to make you sweat a little.

*Drink loads of water (which is in conjunction with the exercise).

My daughter and I no longer have hives. We've been hive free for about 2 years now and I thought that I could help someone out there. TRY EVERYTHING I'VE MENTIONED. It works!

 

Posted 4/26/2009 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your post Vitalise.

It's SO inspiring to others who have this awful condition.

Funnily enough, this morning, I bought Organic Yogurt (with live bacteria) this morning and planned to start eating it tomorrow. And I've been thinking about getting back on my treadmill again .. which I stopped since having these hives 3 months ago.

Once again I'm so happy you found the answer to curing your hives and your daughters.
Posted 5/18/2009 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Im quite shocked that so many people actually have uritacria! I always thought it was pretty rare. I get urticaria because im alleric to the common cold virus, and i havnt met anyone who is also allergic to the same thing.

When i was little i had uritcaria loads and i used to keep food diaries because my parents and doctors thought i was allergic to certain things i had eaten, but i always seemed to have a cold around the time i got it. Then it stopped years, and started again when i was 15 and after going to a dermatologist i have finally found out the actual cause, and i really didnt expect to be allergic to colds!

Its interesting seeing how people cope with the symptoms of uritcaria. I got mild swelling on my face, but sometimes could be worse depending on how bad the cold was, and sometimes my throat would swell, which was quite worrying as it sometimes made breating slightly difficult. I usually would get rashes on my stomach and legs, but i have been taking daily antihistamines called Cetirizine hydrochloride for about 8 months and they work really well, i havnt had urticaria since ive been taking them :)

Post Edited (Lingerx) : 5/18/2009 10:28:22 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/28/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I have had CIU for the past 6 months. Seven doctors later and no relief. I am very frustrated and I am on the hunt for some resolution. I have tried all of the medications and not even prednisone helps. The only thing that has given me a little relief and only sometimes is a non-prescription acid reducer called Ranitidine which is an h2 blocker. I'm not sure what to do anymore, I'm trying apis for the past 2 days and no relief as of yet. I'm beginning to think its from mental stress from something, even though I don't feel stressed (except when I have the hives). I went to a wholelistic store and I was told hives were from hidden fears of something in your life... I'm trying to explore all options as this is no way to live, it is affecting every aspect of my life : (

Thank you everyone for you help!

Posted 6/27/2009 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I started having urticaria around 3 months back after returning from a trip to IL. ( I never had any allergies before). Initially had upper resp. symptoms and next day morning I woke up with a swollen face( angioedema) which took 3-4 days to resolve. Also started having severe urticaria all over my body pretty much every day. I went through the usual routine of PCP -> allergist ->another allergist. Only thing which worked for me was prednisone taper over 7 days initially. My CBC showed some monocytosis with mildly elevated ESR pointing more towards possible infectious etiology. In addition to the standard antihistamines, i tried clarithromycin without much benefit. I was allergic to a bunch of stuff on allergy test- dust, 3-4 types of pollen, dust mite etc.. T cell subset analysis done after few weeks also was indicative of possible prior infection..Ig levels just showed elevated IgA... To make the story short, nothing worked for me. I am doing my hematology fellowship and I had a hard time going for work and had to tell patients that I am suffering from hives. Plus I felt drowsy on the allegra, claritin hydroxyzine cocktail .

Finally my mom who is an ayurveda practitioner back in India send me bunch of their medications including a colon purger ( liquid medication) which I took on a sunday :) and pills for 6 weeks. Trust me, I am so weary of taking herbal stuff given my medical background, but she vouched for its effectiveness . ( Afterall , you can always trust your mom :) .Anyways the pills worked and I did not have significant urticaria once I started taking them. I tried stopping the pills in between, but seems like I had mild onset of urticaria ,albeit less intense ,forcing me to start taking them again. I am still taking the medication ( now for roughly 1 month) . I hope I can taper it gradually. My major concern is whether any of the ingredients got steroid like effect and I am constantly watching myself for any adverse effects...

It could be possible that my urticaria may be running its course or the medications are actually helping ( the fact that it returned when I stopped taking it makes the latter more likely). She is sending me another refill of the medication from India. I just want to share my story and I am surprised that in spite of doing medicine residency , I haven't came across someone with c/c urticaria before..Wishing you all good luck.
Posted 6/30/2009 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
I've had CU since February of this year. The first month, it had me in a panic, as I've never had a single allergy and all of a sudden I was covered with hives and rashes at random times throughout the day.

I've done a lot of reading since then and through dietary change and detox protocols have managed to bring the CU down to a manageable level, where I only get the occasional dermatographic rash (but always a redness), but no significant outbreaks of hives. Mind you, it's summer time and from many accounts this is the seasonal lull in urticaria circles.

I'm reaching here, but I do have to ask... has anyone had any dental work in the months or years immediately preceding their outbreak? By dental work, I don't mean simple cleaning, but rather fillings, extractions and root canals. The reason I ask is that during my research I stumbled onto root canals being a possible cause. I had a root canal done only a few (I think 3) months prior to my breakout and a friend had a root canal just a few months prior to his breakout too. His breakout, incidentally was a year before mine. Like I said, I'm just reaching here, but I'm determined to beat this thing and need to consider all possible causes.
Posted 6/30/2009 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
I suffered from chronic hives for over a year and finally found relief using a natural supplement called MSM.  You can get it at any health food store like Whole Foods and it's pretty cheap.  It's a natural anti-inflammatory made from some derivative of pine tree resin.  A friend of mine used it for her poison ivy and suggested it.  It has no negative side effects that I could discover and is supposedly good for your hair, skin and digestion.  All I know is that it worked!  You can take up to 6000mg of it per day (more than it says on the bottle) and it works pretty quickly (though i had to take it for several days before seeing results).  I've had to continue taking it to keep them under control, but at a lesser dosage than at the beginning.  Good luck!
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