Suggestions for the first Poll/Survey?????

[HivesGuy]

Hello everyone! Well I would like to post a survey/questionnaire on the website so that anyone with hives can take the survey.  Hopefully, we can use it to see anything we may have in common. This will be the first survey, & I will have a lot of general questions on it. If the survey/poll works out well, then I may post more detailed surveys that focus on a particular aspect of our lives (such as diet, exercise, etc).

Of course, each hives case could be caused by something different. For example, maybe some people have some unknown food intolerance/sensitivity, while others may be allergic to something in the water/clothing. But I still think it will be worthwhile to see if there are any striking similarities among us hives sufferers (especially the heat hives types of reactions).

I will try to arrange the poll/survey so that it consists of yes/no answers. You won't have to log in or anything to take it, and I hope to set it up so that the results will be published up-to-date in real time--that way you can see the total results right after you take it.

Questions I Have So Far (they will be in  yes/no format):

Do you have any excess Acne (pimples) on your back or other skin area?
Do you have any other diseases of the skin?
Do you have any known food allergies?
Do you have any known non-food allergies?
Does your stomach feel bloated/gassy/crampy often?
Do you have diarrhea often?
Do you eat a healthy diet (rich in fruits, veggies, lean meat & low on sugar/fat)?
Do you eat a lot of junk food?
Do you drink alcohol?
Do you exercise regularly?
Are you overweight?
Do you have fair skin? (caucasion)
Do you have very dark skin (african american)?
Is your water at home hard water (hard water means water that has a high mineral content. Hard water tends to form soap scum, white films on the bathtub, & soap does not lather as well)?
Do you have filtered water at your home or in your shower?
Have you noticed a decrease in your ability to sweat?
Have you ever used an extra strong deodorant (not store bought kind, but a special kind such as maxim)?
Have you ever had a skin infection?
Did you have any kind of infection, boil, or strange bug bite before the hives started appearing?
Did you have any kind of surgery before the hives stared appearing?
Do you get regular sun exposure (at least 5) each week?
Do you have any eczema or skin rashes?
Do you have dry skin?
Do you live in a mostly hot climate (a climate with mostly warm temperatures year round such as florida)?
Do you live in a mostly mild climate (a climate with warm temperatures in summer & cool temperatures in winter)?
Do you live in a cold climate (a climate with mostly cool or cold temperatures year round)?
Do you normally take a shower/bath on a daily basis?
Do you take any medications (other than what may have been given as treatment for hives)?
Are you less than 30 years old?
Are you Male?
Have you had hives for more than 1 year?
Do you have a lot of moles on your skin (50 or more)?
Does anyone else in your family have this hives condition?
Do your hives disappear during hot weather or during frequent activity/sweating?

I will keep trying to think up more questions. If you see something I missed, or if you have your own question you want me to add to this, just post it on the forum & I will make sure to add it. Please try to phrase it so that it can be answered in yes/no format.

I will try to wait a few days to allow addtional suggestions for questions. Then, I will create a survey/poll & post it on the website & put a link on the forum.

Thanks again for everyone's participation!

[billysielu]

Did you relocate within 6 months prior to your first outbreak?
Did your first outbreak start during winter?
Were you in a stressful period of your life when your Cholinergic Urticaria started?

I'd like to gather some stats about what drugs people have been using, if that drug was prescribed, if it made them drowsy, and if it helped at all. So maybe 4 checkboxes for each of: loratadine (Claritin), hydroxyzine, cetirizine, cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac), Cogentin aka benztropine, doxepin. And a box to name others?

[born_to_fight]

It will be good if there is another option:

Not sure; which means that he will not be counted towards the number of yes/no ONLY for this particular question. This is to prevent 'unsure' people to make the survey distorted.

We also need to try to guess any sign or symptoms that he is susceptible to Cholinergic Urticaria, for example:
Before the Cholinergic Urticaria start to appear:
1) Do you have prickling itch when eating certain spicy food?
2) Do you have 'skin writing' condition?

And to guess the time of the Cholinergic Urticaria outbreak;
1) Do you have any drastic change in the sweating pattern 1-4 months before getting your Cholinergic Urticaria? (Like you have been active in sports and stop abruptly , or in a hot climate then move to a cold climate?)

And to guess the Cholinergic Urticaria cure:
Which of the following have you done to try to cure/ lessen your Cholinergic Urticaria? (just answer the one that you have tried)

1) Intentionally induce your outbrake by exercising or going into a steam room regularly for at least 3 weeks?
   Has it work?

2) Taking medications?
   
   Has they work?

etc etc,
I hope the survey is categorized

I'll be happy to give more feedback 

[HivesGuy]

Thanks for the great suggestions & follow up post born_to_fight!

I will definitely add those questions you suggested. I will also try to add a "not sure" category if I can. I am still not sure which survey software/tool I will use yet. But if I am able to add a "not sure" option (besides just yes/no), then I will add it in there.

I am going to wait just about another day or two, to give a chance to some newer members to make suggestions. Then, I will plan on having the survey up for sure by about wed. or thursday.

Thanks again for your contributions to the forum & your great suggestions!

Also, if any of the other members or guests have any suggestions, please feel free to make them. Don't be afraid of feeling like it is a "weird or dumb" question. If you want anything added, I will add it.

HivesGuy

[LiSaV]

I don't understand this question:

Do your hives disappear ... during frequent activity/sweating?

This is when my hives DO appear, not disappear!

[HivesGuy]

I don't understand this question:

Do your hives disappear ... during frequent activity/sweating?

This is when my hives DO appear, not disappear!

What it means is, "Do your hives tend to stop being so bad, or even stop happening after you have been sweating a lot."

All of us have the hives when we get hot, so of course the heat brings the hives on. What the question means is, after you have had reactions, but then have a period of a lot of sweating/activity, did the sweating help your pores stay open and sweat naturally afterwards (rather than once again breaking out).