Location (Climate) Affect Cholinergic Urticaria: Where Do You Live?
Post by: jga on May 05, 2008, 07:14:46 PM
I was wondering, if someone with heat hives lived in a place that was hot all the time (like the Middle East), would they have the hives all day or would their body be desensitized to it eventually and thus it would take way more for their hives to breakout if at all?
I live in the Bay Area and the weather is usually cool so I never had to withstand the heat on a regular basis to see if my body would get used to the heat eventually.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: HivesGuy on May 05, 2008, 09:04:29 PM
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That is a great question! I would also be interested in knowing if the hives disappear once someone with cholinergic urticaria is introduced into a constantly hot/muggy type of climate 24/7.
A couple of days ago I was outside doing manual labor for about 7 hours straight (I was building something out of wood). It was a fairly warm day (around 75 degrees). I got prickly a few times earlier during the day, but then later on during the day I noticed a small amount of moisture on my forehead. I wouldn’t exactly call it a dripping sweat, but there was a small amount of wetness there from sweat. I think it was because of the heat. Also, I remember a couple of days last summer that even though I was itchy all summer, these days were so very hot & muggy that I actually had sweat appear and didn’t even really break out.
Also as many other people indicate, their symptoms are sometimes alleviated during the warm summer months, and really act up during cool/colder months. So it would be interesting to know if it would completely go away or make someone “desensitized.”
Also, as a side note, I have noticed that I don’t tend to breakout as much if my mind is in a very concentrative state. For example, like I said I was building a craft out of wood. I was in a deep concentration cutting wood, hammering it, trying to make sure everything was placed right, etc. I didn’t get as itchy as normal. Yet, when it seems that my mind is more aware of my surroundings, I tend to break out more.
I am not saying that attacks can be prevented by focusing your mind, or anything like that. God knows I have tried not thinking about it and all of that. But I have definitely noticed that I don’t breakout as much if my mind is 100% completely & totally focused in on something. It is like a different part of my brain takes over & I forget to breakout.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: billysielu on May 06, 2008, 02:40:48 PM
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yea i also noticed the mental thing you describe. i think it’s anxiety, no idea what you do about it.
and i also noticed it was hot as hell today, and when i got into my toasty car after work it hurt like hell, then i was driving about with the sun on me and it didnt hurt -as much as i expected-.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: jga on May 06, 2008, 09:24:35 PM
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For me, the mental thing only works on being too distracted too feel itchy. Sometimes I’m so focused on something that I am sweating and getting tired, I don’t feel the itchiness and think my hives are gone, but then when I look down those darn hives are there.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: ddaarryy on May 07, 2008, 04:39:10 AM
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i just saw my dermatologist this afternoon and got diagnosed with cholinergic urticaria. well, our experiences are almost exactly the same, from the part about experimenting with it to the phase where you just give up cause there doesn’t seem to be a way out.
according to my specialist, it’s related to the nervous system, and any emotions like stress, excitement, etc., would cause the hives to flare up.
he prescribed some first generation antihistamins which would make me really drowsy. i do not know how effective the medication would be as of yet, but i would definitely update here =)
btw, i’m a singaporean, and we have hot weather here every single day. to make things worse, i’m currently doing my national service in the army, and they believe that cholinergic urticaria can be managed, and expect me to do normal duty.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: HivesGuy on May 07, 2008, 06:23:27 PM
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Hello ddaarryy. Thanks for the great post & welcome to the forum.
It is interesting to know that you can still develop cholinergic urticaria even in hot climates. I definitely think that cholinergic urticaria is related to the nervous system in at least a partial way. I have had people tell me that it is just my nerves. Well I disagree that it is my “nerves” in the way they mean it.
I may get excited/anxious a lot, but I have plenty of outbreaks when I am calm or even relaxed if I become hot. I definitely think the nervous system does play a role and especially adds fuel to it, particularly when the nerves are supposed to stimulate the sweat gland, and instead apparently histamine is released instead.
jga, I know what you mean about the distraction thing. I wish there was a way you could force yourself to focus on other things beside the hives. But I think it is impossible. I have tried to just close my eyes during an attack and pretend it isnt happening. But that doesn’t work very well & just suffer through it but it is really too hard to do that. I also notice that when I am distracted & don’t breakout & sweat instead, I still sometimes get the small red bumps as you said.
Plus, I have often thought things like, maybe I breakout more because I am thinking about it & anticipating a breakout. But then I think, well…”If it was all in my mind, then why did I have the very first breakout?” So I know there has to be a physiological aspect, other than just mental.
Thanks again for the wonderful posts & info everyone!
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: jga on May 08, 2008, 08:30:57 PM
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Quote from: ddaarryy on May 07, 2008, 04:39:10 AM
i just saw my dermatologist this afternoon and got diagnosed with cholinergic urticaria. well, our experiences are almost exactly the same, from the part about experimenting with it to the phase where you just give up cause there doesn’t seem to be a way out.
according to my specialist, it’s related to the nervous system, and any emotions like stress, excitement, etc., would cause the hives to flare up.
he prescribed some first generation antihistamins which would make me really drowsy. i do not know how effective the medication would be as of yet, but i would definitely update here =)
btw, i’m a singaporean, and we have hot weather here every single day. to make things worse, i’m currently doing my national service in the army, and they believe that cholinergic urticaria can be managed, and expect me to do normal duty.
yeah antihistamines just make me too drowsy to move and get hives in the first place, it’s not worth it, plus they do damage the liver and raise blood pressure a lot from what I’ve read about them
do your hives stay on you the whole time when it’s hot or do you keep having one attack after the other?
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: billysielu on May 09, 2008, 02:20:56 PM
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if i stay in the heat it’ll last about half an hour, then my brain feels like a brick and i don’t feel it anymore.
a problem lately has been getting in the hot car to drive home from work. i kinda feel like i shouldnt be driving, but i seem to manage ok.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: born_to_fight on May 11, 2008, 05:13:30 AM
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Quote from: ddaarryy on May 07, 2008, 04:39:10 AM
i just saw my dermatologist this afternoon and got diagnosed with cholinergic urticaria. well, our experiences are almost exactly the same, from the part about experimenting with it to the phase where you just give up cause there doesn’t seem to be a way out.
according to my specialist, it’s related to the nervous system, and any emotions like stress, excitement, etc., would cause the hives to flare up.
he prescribed some first generation antihistamins which would make me really drowsy. i do not know how effective the medication would be as of yet, but i would definitely update here =)
btw, i’m a singaporean, and we have hot weather here every single day. to make things worse, i’m currently doing my national service in the army, and they believe that cholinergic urticaria can be managed, and expect me to do normal duty.
Hi ddaarryy and all others here,
I am also a Singaporean who, luckily has served the mandatory 2 years military service before the Cholinergic Urticaria starts to come.
The severity of Cholinergic Urticaria can vary a lot. I did not downgrade my medical fitness status because I have managed to suppress my Cholinergic Urticaria to a lower pain level with running often.
However there was a period for about 2 months that my Cholinergic Urticaria is really bad (imagine thick needles, about 18-16 G in size, that prick your skins and I can point exactly where the spots of these ‘imaginary’ needles are) and during that period, I decided that if my Cholinergic Urticaria stays that way I am planning to downgrade.
So basically it boils down to the severity level of Cholinergic Urticaria.
If it’s truly unbearable I suggest you print out articles about how Cholinergic Urticaria can be debilitating and show them to the dermatologist
Info for others : Singapore is a humid tropical country with temperature range of 24-32 degree Celcius.
However, in a way, we do have a change of climate. Our country has air-con space almost everywhere; lecture room, public transport system and buses. My Cholinergic Urticaria become worst if I stayed mostly in the air-con place for days and suddenly has a sweat.
About the mind control thing, last time when the Cholinergic Urticaria was really bad, no matter how much I want, the Cholinergic Urticaria always breaks out at the same very-high-level intensity. Now when the Cholinergic Urticaria is ‘tamed’ I can make the Cholinergic Urticaria worse by trying to focus on my Cholinergic Urticaria to break even more or I can make it better by trying to ignore my Cholinergic Urticaria pain. I think the mind thingy also works for other kind of pain. Let’s say if I have a cut in my skin, not thinking about it usually makes the pain lesser.
Hives_Guy maybe you can make this mind question a survey whether trying to suppress with mind partly works to ease the pain? just a suggestion π
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: billysielu on May 11, 2008, 08:24:38 AM
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i have noticed that controlling breathing helps an attack ease faster
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: bluejhay on June 04, 2008, 10:39:04 AM
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hI to all,
Im a newbie here, finally found the culprit! Im suffering with this irritating disease for almost a year now, I went here in the middle east june last year to work. during summer here temp rise as 56 celsius. I noticed the symptoms after two days I arrive, it started on my ankle and its really itchy.. it moves forward to my legs then trunk. Im really afraid since I though I was infected with some communicable disease which at first I though I get from the bedding from the hotel.
We finished our training at 3pm and we just walk from the oiffice to our accomodation… then when I arrive at home then the hives are all over my legs and trunk. I never thought that the sun and heat is the culprit until now. I went to several top doctors here in kuwait.. but they’re just plain useless! I payed lots of money but still they cant figure out what’s the disease, and its really frustrating. Im also in the medical field but not practicing it and I research about skin diseases on the net.. but it just make me paranoid so i just stopped. All I know is.. that my disease is not communicable meaning it cannot be transferred to somebody, its an allergy but i dont know from which, It is heat meditated. Claritin effects a little bit.
Then I found this site.. great! now I have a name on it! Cholinergic Urticaria.
Its summer again here in kuwait and my ordeal will start again.. OMG I really hate it! If I just can go back to my country then I would but I got 2 years contract here and it means my ordeal is far from over! Its really dibilitating disease and it really upset me since I got skin dicoloration all over my body, though Im still thankful because it never went to my face, nect and arms. It just completely hidden.
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: HivesGuy on June 04, 2008, 08:18:55 PM
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Thanks for your great post bluejhay & welcome to the forum!
I can definitely relate with you about thinking you had some sort of disease when you first developed the hives. I thought maybe I had some type of weird disease that maybe I caught somewhere also when I first got it. It is a good thing that this condition can’t be spread!
I can also relate about doctors being useless. I guess most of them simply don’t deal with many cholinergic urticaria/heat hives type of cases, so they are fairly uneducated about the conditions. That was the same experience I had when I was trying to see doctors about it. For me it was a big waste of time & money.
I am sorry about the hives starting up again. Hopefully they will stop whenever you are released from your contract. Just keep in mind that there is always a chance the hives could go away spontaneously at any time. They may not even last the full two years. Also, you may want to try some of the techniques others have talked about on the forum (such as trying to “sweat” on a regular basis, increased sun exposure, diet modifications, etc.).
Thanks again for the great post & welcome!
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Title: Re: Living in hot regions
Post by: HiverNation on January 08, 2009, 02:38:12 AM
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to the two people from singapore:
have you tried DIRECT exposure to sunlight? with minimal clothing for long periods of time, reguarly?
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Title: Location
Post by: mik on April 26, 2009, 01:11:25 PM
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Hi all,
I have never met anyone with my condition, so I have not been direcly able to compare differences and similarities. Has anyone here met anyone with Cholinergic Urticaria?
Saying, this, I would really want to meet someone with Cholinergic Urticaria. Just so I can share expierences with someone who knows exactly what it feels like.
So, plesae just state like the city you live in and country, and maybe you guys feel the same way…?
I’ll go first,
London, UK
thanks
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Title: Re: Location
Post by: HivesGuy on April 26, 2009, 03:00:27 PM
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Yes, maybe we can even start our own tribe of itchy people. In the bible there is a tribe called the Hivites. I think it is pronounced (hiv–ites), but I pronounce it (hive–ites) lol. My wife always says, there is your tribe lol.
But I am all the way in TN, but I do know of a few UK people on here. Maybe they live close. I have only known 1 person locally that had this (my mom’s friend’s husband), but my mom’s dermatologist said lots of people have this condition, so I don’t think it is quite as rare as most people think.
Location is one thing that I ruled out a long time ago as a possible cause of Cholinergic Urticaria, because this forum & blog gets such a wide range of hits from all over the planet! So location doesn’t seem to play a role in Cholinergic Urticaria at this point.
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Title: Re: Location
Post by: brockham on April 29, 2009, 08:13:27 AM
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Im from Surrey (England – just south of London for all you non UK’ers)!
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Title: Has anyone had an outbreak on a plane? Long or short trip?
Post by: jessamine1 on August 02, 2010, 03:36:46 AM
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Hi there,
Am relatively new to this and still looking into investigating my cholinergic urticaria. But my question is whether people have had an outbreak while being on a plane??
I ask this because I have decided to go back to my home country Australim a and it’s a long flight from the UK? Just would like to know if anyone has any tips for managing it while on planes.
So far I have started the anti-histamine loratadine. Hopefully it gives relief. While on the tube I carry a bottle of water and will wet my arms and legs with water if I feel an attack coming on and it has stoped an attack from getting full blown.
Any other tips or expereinces would be greatly appreciated π
Thanks
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Title: Re: Has anyone had an outbreak on a plane? Long or short trip?
Post by: HivesGuy on August 02, 2010, 04:21:49 AM
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Well, I am scared to death of flying, and so I probably would never get on a plane lol.
But I do know that others on here have. Maybe someone can jump in and give some specific advice about it.
The only advice I can offer is to keep your antihistamines in check (consider the strongest ones if possible like zyrtec or allegra, but if centrizine works for you–then by all means stick with it). Wear very thin/cool clothing. Perhaps if you feel a REALLY strong attack coming on, you can excuse yourself to the bathroom and scratch until it passes, or dowse yourself with water to help cool yourself down.
Try to take a book or movie or something so you can keep your mind off of the anxiety/stress of flying as much as possible.
That is about all I can think of, does anyone else have any tips?
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Title: humidity worse or less bad????
Post by: bethiemt on August 30, 2010, 11:00:40 AM
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Hi! I’m going to Houston Texas in a few weeks for the weekend, and wasn’t thinking about this whole Cholinergic Urticaria thing… I’m a little bit concerned about the outside part…
Does anyone know if their’s is worse in the humidity or is it less bad??? Temperature wise it probably isn’t that much hotter than where I currently am, but I will probably “want” to sweat more, so I’m concerned…
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
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Title: Re: humidity worse or less bad????
Post by: HivesGuy on August 30, 2010, 04:48:11 PM
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Often times, the humidity actually helps me to sweat. It is almost as if it somehow provides a layer of moisture on my skin, and makes the transition from not sweating to sweating much easier.
However, this isn’t always true, and sometimes (if my attacks are severe), then humidity may not make a difference. It all depends on how you react to it. It may be bad, or, you may be sweating easily with no hives.
In fact, one thing I find interesting is that often times when people travel, they sometimes see their symptoms lesson.
IN any event, enjoy your trip!
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Title: Re: humidity worse or less bad????
Post by: Snuff on September 07, 2010, 12:48:00 PM
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i just got back from arkansas and humidity helped me. my hives cleared up wayyy longer and faster when i was there and since i got back my hives have remained calm. no hives in like 5 months. only a few stings i barely notice
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Title: Re: humidity worse or less bad????
Post by: Joeshep on September 08, 2010, 06:54:48 AM
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I love the summer purely for the fact that this condition is pretty much non existent. The humidity just seems to force the sweat out.
I am dreading Winter. That is when it really hits me bad.
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Title: Re: humidity worse or less bad????
Post by: bethiemt on September 12, 2010, 06:25:10 PM
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Thanks guys! I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks! My hives tend to be worse outside, so maybe there will be an improvement as long as the AC is on inside! Here’s a hoping!
Thanks again!
~Beth
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Title: Where do you live?
Post by: HivesBGone on December 28, 2010, 09:34:18 PM
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I mainly experience my hives in the winter months. I live in Chicago, and I always assumed that if I moved down south that I might be hive free. Judging by what I’ve read here, that isn’t really the case, though.
I would like people to post where they live to see if there is any certain parts of the world that are worse than others. Also, point out if your symptoms were any different if you vacationed or lived elsewhere at certain times.
In Chicago, we have cold winters and hot, humid summers. I am virtually hive-free in the summer.
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: HivesGuy on December 29, 2010, 09:22:37 AM
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Tennessee.
Having read every post on here, I have noticed that people live all over the world. Some only experience the hives in the winter, but others experience it year-round. Some live in cool climates, some live in tropical climates. So it doesn’t seem that the temperature, per se, isn’t a factor in Cholinergic Urticaria. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other environmental factors, but temperature or weather doesn’t seem to be a key factor.
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: AdamM on January 23, 2011, 07:35:48 PM
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I live in Michigan but since I got hives this Winter i’m not sure if i’ll be given mercy during the summer. I can only hope so though. This is depressing.
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: NimNims on March 11, 2011, 09:25:45 PM
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I live in England, and I started to notice Cholinergic Urticaria towards the end of 2010 and it got more intense in the winter months.
But, I don’t like hot months, as I suffer from migranes from heat, and there was a couple times when I actually threw up because of it, it could’ve been because I wasn’t drinking enough… I prefer being cool actually rather than hot..
Does Cholinergic Urticaria affect you less in the summer then?…
I really hope so.. I don’t want it all year round, I have not experienced it in the summer like I do these past few months.
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: willdev on March 13, 2011, 05:05:28 PM
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London, UK
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: Henrik on March 22, 2011, 02:14:40 PM
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I live in Copenhagen, Denmark. I haven’t noticed any difference in my condition when travelling. I’ve visited Spain (in the hot summer months), England, Holland, and California among others, and the intensity of the itching was about the same in these countries. I have the condition year round by the way.
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: HivesBGone on March 23, 2011, 09:24:14 AM
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Yeah, that’s odd because I have virtually no symptoms during the summer. At least, I never did in the past. I’ll see this upcoming summer. I’m headed to Florida in a few weeks for a vacation; I’m curious if I’ll be able to sweat or not.
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Title: Best Places or Climates to live in with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: CUdad on March 24, 2011, 06:56:10 AM
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Need some advice. My 17yo son just diagnosed with this disease. We live in florida. I am thinking this isnt the right place for him. We were thinking seattle area, somewhere on the northwest coast? The idea is to find somewhere cool with little swings in temperatures, right? Really kinda confused and overwhelmed by what to do. Any suggestions would be great, thanks.
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Title: Re: Best Places or Climates to live in with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: HivesGuy on March 25, 2011, 03:56:17 PM
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Hey CUdad,
Thanks for your question and welcome to the forum.
I am sorry to hear your son has this condition. At least he can know that he certainly isn’t alone, and hopefully some of the tips here on this website/forum can help.
With regards to the best place to live, that is a hard question. I get people on this forum that live in tropical climates, and also those who live in very cold climates (such as Canada/Alaska), and everything in-between. Some people on this forum actually do better in the summer months, because they sweat more regularly and dislike the cooler months. Some are the opposite (I prefer the cooler months myself).
I think he will experience the symptoms regardless of where he lives, and the best bet is to try and manage them using whichever treatment option that gives the best results for him. It may be a long journey, but if he keeps trying different things, he may be able to find some relief and live a relatively normal life.
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Title: Help for Holiday
Post by: Missitchy on June 21, 2011, 06:10:09 AM
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Hi All,
some help if possible….
I’m 28 years old and from England. I’ve suffered with this type of Uticaria for about 9 months and it’s dreadful. The most soul destroying thing ever!
My type seems to be worse in the summer and whenever I get midly warm. I’ve tried various antihistemines, Atarax, Rupatadine, Telfast and now I’m trying a corticsteriod tablet that I’m not too happy about and doesn’t appear to be doing much.
I’m going on holiday in a couple of days, to a hot country and am terrified that the problem will be unstoppable.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with this? I’m going out of my mind and as much as my boyfriend is supportive, I think it’s driving him mad too.
Thank you.
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Title: Re: Help for Holiday
Post by: Darkhorse on July 07, 2011, 09:38:00 AM
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It’s gonna suck if you don’t have any med’s to keep it under control :/
get to a dermo a-sap
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Title: Re: Where do you live?
Post by: rashional on July 30, 2011, 02:05:20 AM
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I will admit that summer months are easier going on my skin, but only when i have a tan, and thats only because the urticaria is less noticeable with a tan!
I think winter is worse NOT because of the cold or less sun, but because you are more likely to jump from low temperatures to high temperatures, and vice versa. You jump from the very cold outdoors in to a hot room, cafe or shop for example. The immediate change in temperature causes your internal body to rise quickly thereby initiating the hive response much more readily.