It’s been a couple of months since my last post. Here’s a little about me: I’ve been suffering from cholinergic urticaria for over a year now. There are two main culprits why it manifested in the first place; 1) I returned from travelling the US. Therefore, the climate/environmental change may have triggered it. Although I was back home a good three weeks before I got my first attack. What was strange is that I had morning sickness and was sick twice a week before I got the condition. 2) The week leading up to my very first attack, I was having a lot of probiotics, and taking acidophilus tablets (CU seemed to appear when I stopped taking these).
From last July to November, I would only get hives through intense exercise. November onwards I would start to get them whenever I became anxious or walked quite far. For example, I work in retail, and my ex came in with his friends. I felt my heart rate suddenly spike, and next minute I felt the prickly sensation. Therefore the condition is progressing.
I have tried numerous things to get the condition under control. The doctor (of course) palmed me off with antihistamines; it wasn’t until I went to the dermatologist and he prescribed me 180mg of fexofenadine which WORK (touch wood). I feel incredibly lucky that I have a treatment which is successful. However, like many others, I feel that this is masking the problem and I’m constantly anxious that they will stop working one day.
I have tried diet modification. I suffer from IBS, which seems to be a common factor, but no matter what I cut out, it doesn’t relieve my IBS, nor my hives. I’ve been taking a food diary and what I’ve seemed to notice is that my hives are significantly worse when I consume a lot of yeast. I don’t necessarily believe in yeast infections but I do believe that someone can be intolerant to yeast. I will keep you all updated on that.
Also – after numerous blood tests, the doctors noticed that I have a hyperactive thyroid. I have a fast heart rate (approx 90-100 bpm) and as thyroid regulates your metabolism which is interrelated to body temperature then perhaps this is a link. The doctors, however, refused to put me on any thyroid medication as my results didn’t prove ‘serious’ enough for medication. I have now changed GPs, and have my first appointment is in a couple of weeks.
So there it is. Useless or useful, you decide! Please comment if you have any suggestions or questions.
-Lauren
Hivesguy says
Lauren,
Thanks for taking the time to update everyone on the forum. I’m sorry that you haven’t found a solution yet, but I’m glad that the Fexofenadine seems to be helping for the short term. I pray you are able to find a solution soon. Keep us updated!
Hives discusser says
Would anyone who has hives call themselves a stresser/ generally anxious person. I believe there is certainly an aspect of psychology rather than simply physiology that plays a part in the worsening of the condition.
For example, many people who suffer with urticaria also have IBS, which is heavily related to stress and anxiety. Would anyone confer that people who are worriers are more susceptible to this problem (just a theory of mine).