Cholinergic Urticaria (Chronic Heat Hives)-Cholinergic Urticaria.net I Get Itchy Heat Hives (Cholinergic Urticaria) When I Get Hot or Exercise

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know how the hives have been doing, and provide some updates. First, the hives:

How My Cholinergic Urticaria Has Been Doing with Sun Exposure

I have now been getting quite regular sun exposure. So far I have gotten a great tan, and no sunburns. I have been doing this very carefully to avoid any sun burn and minimizing skin cancer risks, etc.

Unfortunately, the results on the Cholinergic Urticaria have been mixed. On one hand, the sun helps me to sweat and seems to help the hives somewhat (especially while I am actually in the sun). On the other hand, I have had some reactions in the past few days.

So at this point it seems that the sun is helping some, but definitely doesn’t feel as if it is curing it as much as I had hoped. I am still going to continue with safe sun exposure for at least the next month, so we will see how it goes. So this has disappointed me some, but I am not giving up yet.

Also, I don’t necessarily think the hives are caused by my hard water here, but I am telling you that my water is so hard here that it does make my skin really itchy when I get out. I can’t help but believe that when I move out of this place and get a water-softener, it will help some.

If nothing else, it will make my skin less dry and perhaps the hives won’t be so reactive. Literally every time I get out of the shower my skin is so itchy and hivey feeling. It seems to make my CU worse, and on days when I don’t shower they aren’t quite as reactive.

New Combination of Antihistamines for Cholinergic Urticaria (H2 & H1) Zyrtec Plus Pepcid

As I have often stated in the past, antihistamines are virtually useless on me. Zyrtec does take some of the sting off the hives, but only about 20-50%. And the more I take them, the less effective they seem to be.

So after reading some things online of how it can be useful to combine 2 different antihistamines, I am trying a combo I have never tried before. I am going to take 1 Zyrtec at night since it makes me drowsy (which is an H1 antihistamine). Then, in the morning I will take a Pepcid AC tablet (which is an H2 antihistamine). I want to see if this is a potential way to help in the treatment of cholinergic urticaria.

I strongly recommend that if anyone wants to try any combos to talk to a doctor first. Some combos can be dangerous for some people (especially if you are pregnant, or have other medical conditions).

But anyway, I want to see if this helps stop the hives even more than just taking 1 type of antihistamine. I don’t really like to take antihistamines regularly, and they wear off in effectiveness over time.

So I only plan on taking this combo on days where I will really need it. I did take the combo today, and so I will try to follow-up within the next couple of days to let everyone know my results.

Quick Update on My Stomach and Digestion

I am still taking the digestive advantage which has really worked well for me. I have ate pizzas, cookies, peanut M&M’s, Brownies, and other snacks. It has been great eating these things.

I did get a very slight sensation in my stomach after eating M&M’s and cookies one day. I think I may have slightly over-stepped my bounds and ate a little too much junk. So due to that I have taken it sorta easy for the past couple of days. But overall, it is still doing well, and I still take the digestive advantage stuff.

Sponsored Links

Posted under managing hives

The DollyWood Trip:

This past Sunday my wife & I took our 2nd DollyWood trip of the season. It was a blast, and perhaps even more fun than the first trip we took a while back.

We rode tons of rides (Daredevil Falls being my favorite), and really enjoyed ourselves. The great news is that I did not have 1 single Cholinergic Urticaria attack, which was really nice. I did get the sensation like I may have an attack, but it never happened.

Update on My Diet: I Have Been Eating Everything!

My digestion and stomach issues have been 100% gone. I have eaten my 2nd pizza now (which is the best pizza in the world), and I had no stomach issues at all. I also recently tried my hand at some Krispy Kreme donuts.

Krispy Kreme

The powdered blueberry are my favorite, and I also love the plain glazed. Sorry if that pic makes you hungry, but Krispy Kreme makes the best donuts ever!! Far better than any other donut company. I have missed them, and it has been several months since I last had some of those.

Anyway, my stomach has been able to take on anything and everything I have thrown at it. I am still taking my Digestive Advantage, and that is like  a miracle for me.

So I am really happy that my digestion and stomach issues are better, and I suppose the whole thing was related to not having enough enzymes/probiotics. Funny how much difference it can make.

Update on Cholinergic Uritcaria & Sun Exposure

I have been getting regular sun exposure, which has felt great. I couldn’t get sun for the past 2 days due to cloudiness (although I did go outside for a few minutes). But overall, I think the sun has really helped the hives, and made me feel better.

I am going to get some more sun today. Again, I am being very cautious to avoid a sunburn or anything like that. The idea is to just soak up some natural rays without over-exposing myself.

As far as the hives, they are still the best they have been in months. I have sweat a few times, and I have not had a bad attack in a while now. Don’t get me wrong, I know they aren’t permanently gone at this point, but I am SUPER OPTIMISTIC about the potential for them to go away. For the first time in a long time I have serious hope that I can get them under control and I will over-come these hives in the next year.

I honestly think regular sun exposure, sweating, and keeping my digestion in line will eventually cut the hives out of the picture. This isn’t going to happen over-night, but I think over the course of a few months, they will be as good as gone.

There have been tons of posts on the cholinergic urticaria forum with people indicating their hives are much better, and even completely gone after being outside more and sweating frequently during this recent summer.

Even if the hives only went away for the 5-6 month hot season and returned in the winter, I could definitely manage that. I just want to be normal and sweat as much as I possibly can, and I think I will be able to do that (if only during the hot months).

I still look forward to when I will get a house over the next few months, because then I will really be able to ensure I not only get sun exposure daily, but I will also be able to exercise and sweat daily.

Sponsored Links

Posted under general information