Cholinergic Urticaria

A friend in need (cholinergic urticaria)

by

Hi. I’m not a sufferer of heat hives, but unfortunately, my friend is. It literally took him months to tell me what’s going on with him, and it’s effecting him like hell. I haven’t had this disease, and I don’t know what it feels like. So I’m sure I might be wrong.

However, he behaves like he has cancer or something (sorry if I offended anyone–it’s not my intention). I don’t know what in earth is happening to him. I love my friend dearly and he’s the kind of person who lives his life at his fullest but he’s not even coming out of his house, he says he can’t take this itching.

Sometimes he’s just fine in a good mood and in a blink of an eye he doesn’t wanna see anyone–just stay alone. I wanna ask if there’s anything, anything I can do to cheer him up or reduce his pain a little, give him a little hope perhaps. Seriously, anything will be appreciated. (Ps: he’s taking Allegra but doesn’t seem to work.)

-Shane

Comments

  1. Thanks for your post. My advice is to be understanding for your friend. He won’t want to do anything physical because he literally will break out in the most unbearable stinging sensation. Understand if he doesn’t want to go out in public for now. In addition, try to cheer him up, and help him maintain a positive attitude. Don’t let him give up. If he ever talks about taking his life or something, take initiative and get him help. Finally, there are many ways that people treat this or minimize the symptoms. Share this site with him (if he doesn’t already know about it).

  2. Agreed. Keep in mind the pain is DEBILITATING. Like being stung by hundreds of bees all at once (I am not exaggerating). A person starts to wonder how they will ever go to work again, how they will have sex, how they can eat dinner (the temperature of the food can bring on an attack). It CAN feel like cancer because the pain is unbearable (I would kill myself if I felt it 24 hours a day – it would be too much). You have to show great empathy in my opinion.

    Also tell him to try Zyrtec 4 times a day (I know it says only take one but my allergist has me on 4 and says it’s perfectly safe). He can start with one if he wants to see if that helps (more could make him drowsy).

    Again please realize the pain is excruciating- I’m not exaggerating and it makes one want to not leave the house and a cool room because you never know where you’ll be when you get an attack. Please be on the lookout for signs of severe depression.