Hello! My story started a few months back. I was sitting in my office and I started to feel very itchy, body was flushed and felt pain all over. Didn’t know what it was and just kept scratching. After a few hours I went back home and got undressed as I wanted to see why I was itching so badly, I thought maybe there was an insect or something in my clothes.
When I got undressed, I was horrified. Literally my whole body was red, felt like I was on fire with huge red blotches that resembled insect bites. I went to the hospital, and the doctor said they were wheals/hives due to an allergic reaction. Apparently it was an allergy to peanuts. For a week I was in excruciating pain and it wouldn’t reduce because I couldn’t stop the urge to keep scratching.
I used an old remedy that is popular in my culture, 3 actually. First one is boiling neem leaves, taking the liquid and pour it on yourself while you take a shower. Second was having chia seeds mixed in water to lower the temperature of my body because I was feeling very hot. Third one was having boiled mung beans because they help in reducing body temperature. I had all these not because I thought I had heat hives because it was my first week experiencing this, I just did it because it’s a remedy of which I knew and was desperate for the pain to stop. The remedies really helped. I was also taking antihistamines.
After I got through that week, I thought it was just an allergy attack and as long as I stay away from what was causing it, I would be fine. But I was wrong. I started to get hive attacks almost everyday. I was going crazy, didn’t know what was happening to me and why. I became so depressed.
I went to several doctors and they told be I have chronic idiopathic urticaria, which basically means they don’t know why I was getting the hives even though what caused my allergy was no longer part of my diet. So I decided to find out what is wrong with me. I researched everything regarding urticaria and tried to put the pieces together. I started to take notice when they attacks occurred and what I ate or was doing at the time.
I noticed that they occurred when my body temperature increased. If I went out in the sun or wore warm clothes or took a hot shower, that would be the time I would get my urticaria. Also noticed chicken also made it worse, so I have chicken maybe once a week, and that really helped. I have a gel ice pack always around to put on any area of my body that feels hot or have hives on them. I have chia seeds and pomegranates always around me because they help in reducing my body temperature during a hive attack.
I learnt to be a little more calm about it now and learnt what to do in case I get them. But due to the medications I was taking or maybe not because of the medications, I don’t know, I started suffering from dry mouth and dry eyes. I would barely be able to sleep because I would wake up with my mouth so dry and had to drink water. So I bought a humidifier and started taking xylimelts for the dryness but I am still really suffering from these.
As I was researching about urticaria and heat hives and dry mouth, I came across this website and I felt happy that there is a place that I can share my thoughts about this and people with similar issue that can help me. I think I have cholinergic urticaria but I am not sure, wish someone could confirm it to me, because I just want to know, it feels so bad not knowing what is wrong with you and feeling alone in this.
-Salwa
Hivesguy says
It’s definitely possible, but I’d recommend seeing a dermatologist or allergist who is familiar with the physical urticaria types for a definite diagnosis. It’s always a good idea to get a checkup to rule out other issues. Thanks for sharing your story.
Salwa says
I did, they just said its idiopathic. Also, about 2 weeks back i was extremely upset and was crying. Suddenly, felt my upper lip swell up within minutes and felt like my face was going numb. I went to the hospital, and they told me i had angioedema and they gave me an injection for it.
Marsha says
I’ve had this since I was a teenager. Any type of heat causes it. The sun, getting nervous and flushes, heaters. Anything that raises my body temp and I get huge welps all over my body. But I have learned of a medicine combination that works perfect for me. I mever get them anymore as long as I take my meds. I take an Allegra 180 and a Zantac everyday. Ive checked with my allergist and he says if this works then it is perfectly safe. Ive been on this combo for many years and it is still effective. You may want to try it (check with your doctor). Good luck!