Hello Everyone,
Well I have now been on the VERY strict allergy elimination diet for 3 days. This diet is very hard (far more difficult than gluten & milk free diets)! Here is what I have eaten the past 3 days: Rice, sliced tomatoes (mixed in the rice), a couple of cucumbers, a green bell pepper and some raw garlic. That is it! I eat as much rice as possible when I start to get hungry. No meat, no snacks, nothing. My cravings are so intense right now. I have never craved food in my life like I do right now. It is even hard writing about good food on this blog!
However, the small rash spot on my face, has cleared up almost 100%. Also, my skin is feeling better. As far as my hives, it is still too early to tell if this elimination diet is having an effect. I have not had a breakout (but at the same time I haven’t been hot, so I can’t tell yet). I do feel a little better. Of course, my stomach feels fantastic with no gas, bloating, etc.
I am counting the days until this diet is over. If I haven’t seen some very positive results by the 2 week mark, I may consider adding more foods. Then, I will probably go back to my normal diet if I can positively rule out cholinergic urticaria. I will avoid milk a lot, but I will eat gluten again eventually. Of course, even if the diet doesn’t help the hives, I still have to watch what I eat due to rashes & stomach problems I get with certain foods.
Then I think to myself, if the diet does work, then I am not sure right now if it is worth it. It will literally be like making the following decision:
1. Have Cholinergic Urticaria but eat all the foods I want.
–OR–
2. Don’t have cholinergic urticaria, but eat like monk!
That is a tough decision because I hate hives so much, and I just want my normal sweating life back again. But at the same time I have such strong cravings for food right now. So right now (with my intense cravings for pizza, doughnuts, chocolate, etc.), both of those options are looking like a win-lose situation. But of course, that is ONLY if the diet actually does work. That is still unclear whether or not there is a diet connection (at least in my case), but I should have an answer within a few weeks.
UPDATE: My main core diet, which has resolved my symptoms and allowed me to live again, now looks like this:
- Turkey, Chicken, (occasionally red meat–about 1 serving every month or two)
- Lettuce, cucumbers, squash, zuccini, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, corn (veggies)
- Bananas, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon (fruits)
- water, fruit smoothies (beverages)
- Sunflower oils (note, I rarely use oil, but I’ve found I can tolerate it occassionaly)
- White rice, maple syrup, corn/ popcorn (plain)–for snacks
You can read more about my hives and diet here: Is Cholinergic Urticaria Caused by Diet for some people?
Klope62 says
You’ve gone this far! Keep at it!
😀
Kin says
I am SO happy to have found this place!!
My heat hive problem started around when i was 16 (im now 18 turning 19 in oct) and its been hell going through the experience! i can totally relate in the intense itching and how it has made me into a hermit..im not totally sure but i think heat hives can be passed down genetically..ive spoken to my dad about it and he told me he had the same problem when he was around my age, but after a few years it magically went away. I seriously hope that would be the case for me too! It especially painful to go through it during winter months…just entering a heated car or building will cause a break out!
Ben says
Klope62-Thanks for the motivation lol. I need all I can have right now because this is torture. But it will be worth it knowing for sure whether or not diet is playing a role in my CU.
Kin-thanks for the great post & information. I am so sorry that you also have this terrible condition! It sucks, but hang in there! Hopefully we can all pull through this together.
But the best thing of all is that the case with your dad cleared up! That is great information for all of us, and thanks for sharing.
Hang in there, and feel free to join the forum & ask any questions or post any new info if you ever want to.
Thanks again everyone & let’s hope this goes away soon!
Kam says
hello,
just wanna say: Just like Kin’s dad, my dad also mentioned he had the same allergic reaction, but it went away after a while. He said he would get it while playing soccer.
about me:
Ive had Cholinergic Urticaria since probably when i was 15/16 years old.
Now i am almost 20.
I tried alot of anti histamine medicines etc. None of them helped, even tried Homeopathic remedies(complete BS) and special Chinese herb tea’s (very gross). None of these helped and I dont recommend this since its very expensive!
My treatment:
the best treatment i came up with is simply have as MANY allergic outbreaks as possible! It will make the reactions less intense.
I wake up every morning and WORK OUT (cardio & weight training). Get the rash and be done with it. And I wont have to worry about it for the rest of the day. Not to mention it also works as a great motivator for getting a healthy body.
anyways people, just like all you… i will be looking on the internet for other new treatments. But lets hope one day it will magicly dissapear just like it did with our dads 😉
good luck!
Ben says
Hello Kam & thanks for the great comment! I appreciate you letting us know that also your dad had this as well & it eventually went away. Every single time I hear that, it gives me more hope that one day this will go away for good for all of us!
Also, I appreciate your sharing how you manage your hives. I agree that many times having reactions can kind of make your body feel more used to the hives. So it can definitely help sweating it out & exercising, etc.
Thanks again for posting your info!