chronic urticaria and hives

Hello,
I thought I'd post my progress with chronic urticaria. First I'll give you a little background info. For a couple of months before I had hives, I was getting severe acid reflux-I don't know if this had anything to do with my hives, but I thought I'd add that incase someone else has similar symptoms. I had also had a miscarriage 3 months before my hives appeared, but the Dr.'s all said that didn't have anything to do with it. I was also going through a divorce at the time.



I first started getting hives in March 2009. I had never had them before (although I did have eczema in the past), and I was covered in them from head to toe and they itched like mad! I couldn't sleep, I missed days of work, and I barely left my house because I was so embarrassed of my hives. I was scratching non-stop, and bleeding from scratching so hard (i now have scars all over my body). I would also get angioedema at least once a month (usually around my period).



I went to several Dr.'s and specialists (including a naturopath), and I tried all of the elimination diets, cleansing, etc. which didn't help. I also went on the dreaded prednisone for a few weeks. Stay away from the prednisone if you can help it it's horrible stuff. My allergist put me on anti-histamines which helped, but didn't totally take them away.



I know many people out there don't believe in psychics, but I was so desperate for answers that I went to see one that specializes in diagnosing health problems. I asked her what I needed to do to get rid of my hives and she said, "you need tranqulizers." This made me confused as I didn't really know what she meant, so I went home and looked up tranqulizers online and saw that there's ativan, xanax, etc.



So I went to see my GP and talked to him about my depression and anxiety (which I know I had before I got hives, but the hives definitely made my condition worse). He put me on cipralex for depression and ativan for anxiety. I started taking these at the end of October, 2009. It took a few months, but by March 2010 I noticed that my hives weren't as severe.



I also read somewhere to drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated (at least 8 glasses a day), because dehydration can cause hives. It also said acid reflux can be a symptom of dehydration. I asked my allergist about this and he said dehydration doesn't cause hives, but again, I was desperate and willing to try almost anything to get rid of the hives. I've never been a big water drinker, but I forced myself to drink the required amount every day. Within a few weeks of drinking water regularly, my hives were basically gone!



It's now July, 2010, and every now and then I see a tiny hive pop up here and there, but they're basically gone! Now, I don't know if it was because of my antidepressant and antianxiety meds, or from drinking water. It could also be that they simply went away on their own, I don't know....but it's such a relief that they're gone--any hives sufferer out there knows what I mean. I'm still taking all of my anti-histamines that my allergist prescribed: doxepin, zantac, and reatine, because I don't see him until September and I'm scared to stop taking them. One of my biggest fears is that they'll come back. It's so frustrating to have hives and not know what the cause is. Sometimes you may never know what caused them, but to all you hives sufferer's out there, don't give up trying to solve the mystery of your hives! And I pray that all of you will get relief soon.

Dear Lumpy Butt,
Thanks for the advice-I think I'll stay on my anti-histamines until my allergist tells me not too. It's funny, I've been fighting him all along, and I couldn't accept it when he told me I might never figure out what caused my hives, and that one day my body would heal itself...but he might be right (or it could be the water or anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds). Who knows? Chronic urticaria is a mystery and something I wouldn't wish on anyone. I hope your hives go away soon.

Hi, Just wanted to say I totally understand how frustrated you are with your CU and angioedema. Don't give up on trying to find something that works for you...anything that helps lesson the symptoms is a blessing.

sorry to hear that - let's hope that you've got the acute version which doesn't last long.

Do you mean Prednisolone? steroids?  If so, they are FANTASTIC for me, but unfortunately you can't stay on them for long periods of time.  I wish we could and I would be cured because that is the only thing that actually gets completely rid of them.  But when I come off them, omg, it's sooooo bad.  I used to taken them for say Xmas, so that I felt good for a few days, but its just not worth it for me any more    

Also forgot to mention my I am allergic to cats, have been for 27 years (since I was 13) but i've always had cats and become somewhat immune to my own one.   My cat died about 4 years ago.  Then 2 and a half years ago, 10 days before my Urticaria ever started, we went to get a kitten.  The house was filthy, full of cats and 1 little one scratched my hand really badly.  We left him there and took a little girl kitten, she was adorable.  When I left I went and got some antiseptic wipes to clean my hand (it was a deep scratch and I was worried about infection because the house was so so filthy).  10 days later - bam!  my first ever experience of Urticaria and I've never got rid of it.  (I did get rid of the kitten even though it wasn't the one that scratched me - I got rid of her because I thought at the time it was her causing my hives.     ...... but I don't think it was. It may have been the scratch...

Also, 3 months later my 5 year old daughter woke up covered in hives all over her legs.  I was mortified.  But thankfully she only had the 3 day type and off it went.

In addition to this....about 2 months ago, my husband started to itch one Saturday afternoon, I looked and thought.....hmmm, looks like hives!  The next morning he woke up covered in Hives and swollen with the angiodema.  Wow.  I was worried for him, I knew EXACTLY how he felt.  But, like our daughter... after 3 days and a couple of antihistamines it was gone (lucky man!!!!).  At least now he actually knows what I am going through permanently!

So this is strange - 3 out of 4 of us living in our home have now had Urticaria .... what can the connection be?  Is it something in the house?  But our 8 year old son hasn't had it - touch wood.

i have a problem with my auti immune system I know that, but that's quite a coincidence above, all 3 of us...

I hope some reasearchers read this, they need as much information from everyone as possible to help to get to the bottom of this one day

Post Edited (unhappyhen) : 2/4/2011 2:46:28 PM (GMT-7)

I have good news!!!!!

After almost 3 years living with Chornic Urticaria and Angio Odema - I am finally all cleared up because of a new medication I am on.

I am now taking CICLOSPORIN.  It is an immune-suppressant.

I never needed the anti-depressants.  Instead, my Immunologist took me off all my other medication and swapped it for the Ciclosporin.  It took about 6 weeks to get into my system and he put me on a reducing dose of steroids whilst changing and as I came off of them the Ciclosporin actually worked!!!! And, it works even better than all those anti-histamines.  (Previously I was taking a mixture of about 4 different tablets and suffering each and every day for all that time as they were working very well!). 

I haven't had any lumps, rash, swellings etc for about 2 months now and I'm soooo happy!!!

I know it hasn't actually gone, because one day I forgot 1 of the tablets (I take 1 in the morning and 1 at night - each 100mg) and when I forgot one it started creeping back pretty quickly.  But as long as I remember to take the 2 each day I am absolutely fine!

I had to share this with you in the hope that some of you can benefit from my news.

Good luck to you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

One more thing, whilst on the subject of Chronic Urticaria - I don't think it is an allergy. Dermatologists don't seem to be able to help as they deal with the "skin".

I knew what I was feeling was "deeper" than on my skin, it was "inside" my body if you know what I mean.

This is an auto-immune problem apparently. That is why I asked my doctor to refer me to an Immunologist instead of the Dermatologist and am I glad I did!!!! smilewinkgrin

I am happyhen now and not unhappyhen - I'll have to edit my username if I can

     I am 53 and had chronic hives for years. It was ruining my life. I tried everything and went to every kind of doctor you can imagine. Then I went to a rheumatologist who suggested I try a medication called hydroxichloroquine or its trade name "Plaquenil". It is in a group of drugs called "disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs". I can't tell you how great is is to have my life back again. It has been five monts now and I have been practically hive free. I am so happy that this has worked for me and I encourage anyone who suffers from chronic hives to see their doctor and try "Plaquenil".

     Hydroxychloroquine was originally intended to prevent malaria but it was soon discovered that one of the other applications was for autoimmune problems. If you start taking hydroxychloroquine you will have to have your eyes tested regularly as it has the slight possibality of altering the retna.

     I am so delighted that I can't describe it and I wish you all the best of luck.

I had chronic idiopathic urticaria for three years. I went on reactine for three months and it did nothing. I went on hydroxizine (or whatever) for a month and it did nothing. I gave up and i was seriously contemplating suicide.

For those of you who suffer from this you know how bad it can get. I had to work seventy hours a week to pay the bills and save to go to school. My day job consisted of using tools like hand held hole punches to punch holes in leather, using a rivet press, and various other tools. You know how putting pressure on your skin can cause an outbreak of hives and angiodema localized to that spot. So having to do all of this with swollen hands was terrible, as you know.

My next job was working in an 85 degree kitchen. I was the broil cook and as you can imagine the temperature probably rose significantly around a four hundred degree broiler. Being on your feet for six or seven hours would cause hives to form on any sufferers feet. Wake up, repeat. Needless to say I was not at all hopeful about the future.

Then I came across a post by one "Taiwan guy", saying that water was the cure. Being a skeptic I didn't believe it but I was desperate, and trying anything is better than offing yourself. That was four months ago. Ihave zero hives and haven't had them for three months, three weeks, and four days.

This is kind of stupid. You go to every doctor and specialist looking for relief and you get nothing, you read one little internet post and you get your whole world back. I cried for three days. For those of you who have had this for thirty years and have found or will find relief through staying hydrated, I can't imagine what you feel. It's like a whole life kind of wasted over something as stupid as this.