I must start by saying I was overwhelmingly happy to find this site. Pleased just to have a name for my problems with burning hives. I originally started getting the symptoms at 14 while participating in group sports. I was on the track and basketball teams. I quickly stopped participating after becoming too self conscious and too uncomfortable to play. Throughout the years I have tried to start exercising on various occasions and at times can do many activities successfully. Although eventually the hives return and I stop the activity.
I have recently realized that I have had this for 40 years now. I hope this doesn’t discourage anyone but thought I would throw that out there. I stopped consulting doctors after one had me get on a treadmill so he could examine the actual rash. After I was covered in hives he proclaimed it was a mystery and had basically no solution other than to exercise in moderation and take a benadryl, which I agree–most drugs help until the body gets used to it.
I have felt times of relief and the symptoms have subsided and briefly disappeared at times. My symptoms do mostly occur after exercise. Although I also get the same hives when swimming in the ocean or a salt chlorinated swimming pool. I also have had the same type of hives from iodine applied to my skin. The doctors simple say I have an iodine allergy. When I ask further questions their eyes go blank as the many other doctors I have tried to explain my hives too. I have often thought it is related to salt because of these similarities in incidents.
I don’t add much salt to my diet and don’t eat packaged or canned foods. I thought I had semi-cured myself but it is back and worse than ever 40 years later. Has anyone experienced salt water, or iodine reactions in addition to heat/exercise induced hives? I do plan on researching a diet that will work as I still do believe that diet is at least one of the contributors to the problem. I also think the diet diary is a good idea as I must be missing something in my diet causing issues. I purchased the book from this site with hopes.
I apologize if this isn’t too long of an entry but I also want to point out that one of my sons also started having similar reactions to exercising when he was 17. I simply told him it was an inherited infliction and he should get used to it. I actually did tell him all my trials and errors and what I felt makes it better. He didn’t listen and consulted a doctor through the sports program at his school. This doctor said to take benadryl and a zantac every day. The doctor claimed that the combination would make it better.
I was horrified that a doctor would tell a young boy with hives to take a drug for stomach problems every day. Although even with my arguments my son continued to take this combination for about a year. He has had complete relief for 5 years now and doesn’t take these drugs anymore. Has anyone else been prescribed this combination of over the counter drugs? If so, did it help?
I have taken benadryl on occasions without any lasting results but never in combination with Zantac. I have never really been a fan of taking drugs to fix a problem. It always seems like a temporary solution that masks the true problem. Although at 54 I don’t know if I care anymore, as long as I get some relief.
Thanks if you actually read all of that!
Nan
Adrian says
Thanks for sharing Nan, I just submitted my story which hasn’t appeared yet. I have been suffering from hives for approximately 17years. I don’t know all of my triggers but know heat/stress are definitely a culprit. I often wondered about water myself; chlorine and now I’ll add salt. I suffered a bad, bad, bad hive reaction when going to the beach two separate times. I thought it was heat and/or the sun. Now that I think of it, I also would break out when using my friend’s hot tub which was full of chlorine. It’s definitely time for the shower head filter.
As for your son’s condition; very interesting, may be hereditary. I’d be curious to how he does over time and hope his is gone for good. What’s the longest in the 40years you were hive free? So far my longest is about 2 months..
I’m with you on drugs, I’d rather not take them. It seemed to work for your son, although we’re all different. I do take Zyrtec/Vitamin D daily and Benadryl at night when I have an outbreak.