Chronic Urticaria Angioedema and HRT

Hi, It's been awhile since I've visited HW but I wanted to post some information which may be helpful to others suffering from hives.

I've had severe hives and angioedema (have Epipen) for four months, every single day. I've been to 4 different doctors and have spent over $1000 on seeing a Naturopath. There was some slight improvement. I developed a 'food phobia' even though deep down I knew it wasn't food causing the hives.

Last week I realised (why didn't any of the doctors I saw mention this??????) the HRT (Hormone Replacement) patch I was applying every 3 days was a 'foreign' object. I took the patch off and the next day NO HIVES. The following day NO HIVES. The third day I applied half a patch and the next day I broke out in the usual painful hives. Took off the patch 3 days ago and NO HIVES.

It seems I'm allergic to estrogen. I can live with the hot flashes that have come back. Better to feel hot than break out in hives and have my lips swell up.

But every morning I still wake up to a slightly puffy face. It goes down by the afternoon. Perhaps this edema is caused by something else or perhaps it will take more than 3 days for the estrogen to clear out of my body?

Anyway .. I knew it wasn't food as I'm now eating whatever I want .. slowly reintroducing foods back into my diet.

Hi Razzle

I'm already taking B12 and Zinc but I'll search out the rest of the supplements you suggested. Thanks.

I know I should give my body a chance to 'heal'. It's had 4 months of an 'allergic' substance.