Hello, everyone. (My English is not very good…sorry. Google translate will help me.)
I’m a boy of 17 years who lives in southern France. I’ve suffered from cholinergic urticaria since November 2017. The first time I saw cholinergic urticaria was when I was running to catch my bus. I saw some little button on my wrist. I had no idea what it was.
I continued to see buttons that itched sometimes, and I noticed that it was when I was hot. But as winter was coming, I didn’t take this seriously, and I didn’t tell anyone at the beginning.
The first time I had a big attack of cholinergic urticaria was when I was going to run with my parents during the winter. The heat provoked an attack, and it was horrible and very painful. After this, I saw a doctor, who prescribed me an antihistamine medic (Inorial), but I think we all know antihistamine drugs do nothing.
The attacks continued, and it became complicated to live. I took other antihistamine drugs ( Xyzall, kestin), but they did nothing. Temperatures were getting better and CU was getting really worse. I stopped going outside to play with me friend, and going back and forth from school was a torture. The worst was the sports classes. I literally stopped going to sports at school.
When June arrived, I was forced to leave my house for the french of the BAC. Finally I did not have an attack during the tests, but only before and after. Then my birthday has arrived It was very hot, and I went with my mom in her car to go to my house. I had a big attack, but fortunately there was water in the car so I could cool myself.
When summer arrived I tried to find techniques not to suffer too much, and one of them was wet a t-shirt and put a jacket over it to stay cold when I go to the beach with my friend. At first it worked good, but when temperatures start to be very hot, it did not work anymore.
One thing I noticed was that when I went into the ocean and then got back on the sand, I could stay at the sun for a long time before the hives come out (like 30-60 mins.). I had no choice but to live with cholinergic urticaria.
My friends and I have planned holidays from August 6th to 10th, and I was determined to fight CU. I tried sweat therapy, but I could not bear the pain. I would have liked to start an elimination diet, but I live with my parent; so I can not decide what I’m going to eat. In addition, I have a lot of food allergies, so it’s hard to find an elimination diet.
Finally, a week ago I chatted with someone who has CU, and he told me all the drugs he takes. He told me he stop deodorant. I was my last chance, so I stopped deodorant (I smell not very good actually but it’s good for French stereotype ^^) and I replaced my shower gel with organic soap.
Two days after this, I begin to take an other drugs ( Virlix ). And guess what? My cholinergic urticaria is getting better. I am less sensitive to CU. I tried to do a little sport at home, and the only thing that appeared some scratching on my skin, but something bearable. And I SWEAT a little, too.
I was very happy when I saw that I did not have an attack. Just before I wrote this, my cat jumped on my bed and made me jump, and not one little scratch appears on my skin. Today I go to the beach with only a t-shirt and he was not wet. When I arrived at my friend’s house, and I waited in front of his house, I didn’t have an attack, just little scratch.
I left my motorcycle at is home and we walk to the beach. Nothing happened. I was very happy. I hope it’s not just a period of remission and that CU is really leaving.
Thanks for reading this. I hope we will all heal from cholinergic urticaria.
-Loic
Shaun says
Loic,
That’s great to hear. It is always great to hear of people finding relief from CU and gives hope to others. I will be praying for you.
Shaun
Loic says
Little update, cholinergic urticaria is totally gone. I can sweat, I can walk under the sun, I can do sport. I changed my deodorant and in 3 days, CU has disappeared. I do not take any antihistamine drugs (virlix causes me rashes so I stop it after 2 days). I think my deodorant keeps me from sweating and that’s what was causing CU.
gonzalo reynoso says
hi, and what deodorant do you recomend, because i cant use nothing. What do you think about buying a deodorant?
Ethan says
Deodorant is just for the armpits? How can you cure CU on your whole body just by not using deodorant?
A says
hahah I question that too.
Anonymous says
Lucky you!!!
Loic says
I don’t know how the deodorant influenced my CU. the only thing I noticed was that CU appeared at the same time that I started to use Axe deodorant (in other country, the name of the brand is Lynx according to wikipedia). Actually, I use a deodorant Sanex. And I stopped shower gel for soap. it’s the only things I’ve changed, both in the same time the 1st of august. In 3-4 days, CU has disappeared.