Hello, I have been reading the story of many people on this forum for a while and feel like its time for me to share my story. I first started getting the symptoms of cholinergic urticaria at the age of 17. At first it was a slight prickly/itchy/burning sensation I would get in my hands and that same sensation would radiate to different areas of my body (upper back, arms and legs) the pain was unusual but would not bother me too much.
After a week or so the pain would gradually get worse to the point where I would need to go see a doctor for some help. The doctor gave me antihistamines but they did not help whatsoever. After a few months the pain persisted to the point where I would not go back to school and became extremely depressed. During this period of having cholinergic urticaria I started drinking heavily and gain a lot of weight(3 stone). My cholinergic urticaria lasted for about 1 year and somehow diapered.
I am unfortunately writing this now as my cholinergic urticaria has come back to my shock! It had been gone for about 2 years. My experience with cholinergic urticaria is that during the winter the pain is tolerable but during summer its like living hell.
I have tried a 3 day juice fast and a 7 day juice and did not see any considerable results.
I don’t know if anybody on this forum has tried incorporating cultured and fermented foods in their diet but this is something I am going to add to my diet in the hopes that it cures this horrible condition. This plan of action is my last hope.
Lastly, I am so glad I have stumbled across this forum. Knowing that I’m not the only one who suffering with this condition makes me realize that I am not going crazy and that there is support out there. This condition is affecting a lot of people’s lives and needs a lot more recognition. I hope everyone with this condition gets cured because nobody should have to live in pure misery.
Thanks,
Jake
Victoria says
Juice fasts didn’t help me either. I see improvements on candida diet – eating plenty of organic greens, sauteed veggies, grass-fed protein, bone broth. No sugar, starch, yeast for now. I’m slowly adding back quinoa, buckwheat, millet, healthy fats – grass-fed butter, avocado. I’ll add back soaked legumes, starchy veggies like yams & squash, and fermented drinks like plain kefir/yogurt in a few weeks but will watch my reaction. I’ll be careful about adding back glutenous whole grains, white/brown rice, tropic fruits, root vegetables/white potatoes because of high starch or sugar content.
I’ve added enzymes, bifido probiotic, Vitamins C, D3/K2, and trace minerals (zinc is good for skin and immune system).
I don’t do juice fasts anymore because of high fructose. I switched to eating berries – high fiber /nutrients and low sugar.
So my fermented beverage of choice is plain kefir/yogurt smoothie with berries and no sweetners even natural ones (they still trigger insulin response). Maybe later I’ll try adding back raw manuka honey. I might try making my own fermented drinks again – water kefir, kombucha, yogurt. But for now – no yeast.
It’s been several days now that I don’t wake up with burning pain on my thighs, hives are gone from chest and face (no layers of mineral makeup today), but there are still spots on my arms and legs. I’m incorporating sumple daily exercise and some antifungals. Using emu oil and coconut oil for my skin. I’m really looking forward to posting my success story one day!
I wish you speedy recovery!
Jake says
Thank you Victoria for taking the time out to read my story. I have read the extensive information you have given and I will start to incorporate this to my diet! I would like to ask you if you have made the following fermented drinks:
1.Coconut milk kefir
2.Almond milk kefir
3.Goats milk kefir
4.Milk kefir
If you have tried making and consuming these drinks, have they helped alleviate some pain?
Thanks
Victoria says
Hi Jake. I used to make coconut water kefir and flavored water kefir using water kefir grains I bought online from Cultures for Health. They also have milk kefir grains that can be used to make coconut/almond milk kefir, grains have to be periodically regenerated by making animal milk kefir.