My hives have returned after being gone for 12 years. I do not know how I got rid of them 12 years ago but after discovering this site I think I know. What I do remember is 12 years ago I started doing cardio for 30 minutes before every workout 4 days a week. Shortly thereafter, I realized, hey hives are gone. But I never put it all together to knowing why they went away. So here goes my hive story. It’s a long post but I hope you can find it useful.
My story is almost exactly like Hives Guy and many of the rest of you. I relate to Hive Guy because I do not look overweight and in fact look athletic. However, I appear to be storing loads of visceral fat. My hives started appearing again in early Fall of 2016 around the October timeframe. It was very minor in October but they took off this past January to a pain that is intolerable. Unlike 12 years ago like many of you, I could not work through them and continue my day hive free. The hives just escalated to a point where I thought I was going to pass out. I also experienced a slight tightening of my neck and was a little difficult to drink water.
Here is why I think visceral fat is my issue. I have nursed a knee injury for years. Over the summer of 2016 I decided to schedule surgery since the pain was so bad. It was restricting my workouts and other activities. I essentially stopped all leg weight exercises and just did upper body. As mid November approached for my surgery my workouts became less and less intense for I could not do many exercises and could not even walk on the treadmill very long.
After the surgery I did NOTHING for exercise. What I did do was sit on the couch and eat junk food. Did very little physical therapy, just enough to nurse my knee along. So, come January when my knee felt good I noticed I had accumulated quite a bit of belly fat. I wanted to start working out again. That is when I noticed the hives were at a level that was equal to being tortured.
At this point, I stopped a new medicine I was taking as prescribed by my primary doctor for I thought for sure it had to be that since I started the new medicine in the fall. I ended up stopping all meds and have been off everything for 6 weeks. No change at all. THEN, I found this site and it all is making sense.
I have the most belly fat I have ever had. My hives started very minor and hardly even noticeable as I started weaning my exercise routine down preparing for knee surgery. Sure I was not as in shape as I wanted to be but thought I will hit it hard after I heal and be ok. Well, I continued to put on belly fat not really noticing how much. Then I found this site looked at the belly fat and thought this has to be it.
So, I am not even two weeks into an intensely healthy diet and trying to get any exercise I can whether it’s walking in my house or lifting very light weights. I have lost about 4-5 lbs and it SEEMS the hives are a bit harder to surface, are less intense and last shorter. Yes they still stop me in my tracks if the right warm air hits me but I am noticing a very slight improvement. Some situations that would certainly cause the hives are not causing them as often. I am stepping up the lifting and walking which I could not do back in early January.
I wish the best to everyone and I hope my story can help you. I hope to have a more positive update in a few weeks.
Thanks,
Michael
Hivesguy says
Sorry to hear that your hives are back. Visceral fat can definitely add to inflammation in the body and aggravate hives or autoimmune disorders. However, I’d also say that a lot of the bloat I used to have was not just visceral fat, but was also from the bloat caused by food intolerances or allergies. After cutting those fods out, my stomach no longer looked bloated. Losing weight has helped a lot of people reduce the intensity of their hives, but I’d spend a lot of time looking at the foods you’re eating, too.
I hope you get better soon!
Anonymous says
I think this type of hives is being caused by an additive. Now that it is winter, I’m not having any issues, because I do not get too hot. But, went to Cancun in Jan and for sure, I still have the issue. People who go on a paleo, or all natural diet, say they go away. I’ve tried paleo, but just cannot do it.
Michael says
Interesting that when I had them years ago I had them for 2 cold seasons. In the warmer weather they went away completely. We will see this year.
Anonymous says
My hives seem to be controlled by a Low FODMAP diet. However, I think that they may be related to my SIBO condition. The low FODMAP diet was prescribed for the SIBO, but made my hives disappear.
Shirley
Marcia Hildreth McGrath says
Shirley, what is a low FODMAP diet? And what is SIBO?
Anonymous says
I had hives for year taking lots of antihistamines happy to say its been four weeks and they are gone. Switched from Hydroxine at night to a Benadryl allergy pill instead and few days later no symptoms. Hope never come back. Good luck I know the struggle.
Rick says
Has anyone here have their hives crop up after being treated for shingles. In the same vein, has anyone NOT had shingles?
Deborah says
My opinion is that there are toxins in food and the environment that you absolutely Cannot eliminate totally. These toxins are fat soluble, therefore the visceral blub/fat we put on, especially in northern cold climates, binds to it and an immune response occurs with heat/exercise. Internal heating is literally “cooking” the fat and releasing toxins into the bloodstream.
Anonymous says
I also experienced a 12 or 13 year remission. My first experience with cholinergic urticaria was back in 1996 or 1997. I was treated with Hydroxyzine for a couple of months and the horrible itch went away for a few years. In 2003 it was back with a vengeance. This time I experience hives along with the itch. This went on for a year and a half or so. I joined a yahoo urticaria support group and discovered other sufferers were having success with sweat therapy. I ended up taking hot showers until I broke a sweat.
Also, as painful as it was, I would do cardio 3 days a week in the gym (winter months only) until I broke a sweat. The urticaria went into remission once again only to come back last year. The only difference this time around I haven’t gotten the hives only the painful itchiness. At this point I’m considering buying a portable sauna on amazon to use during the winter months. As I don’t experience symptoms during the summer.
Anonymous says
My cholinergic urticaria has also come back after a 12 to 13 year remission. The first time I experienced
it was 20 years ago and it went into remission twice since then. I’m considering purchasing a portable sauna from amazon to use at home during the winter months. During the summer I don’t have symptoms.
I’ve heard people have had success with xolair shots.
All the best…David
Bob says
Michael:
I am willing to bet that as your diet improves your CU will also.
I recommend that you go back a few pages and read my lengthy, detailed, October 24, 2016 post on this forum. I was cured of CU by adopting a whole-food, plant-based (“vegan”) diet. Modern science is beginning to understand the mechanism as to why this works. CU is an autoimmune disorder. Eating a diet high in fiber serves to regulate the immune system, preventing it from overreacting. This solution is easy, it is inexpensive, and it works.
I wish you continued good luck in reducing and, finally, eliminating your CU.