Hi, you can call me Buzz. I’m 24 years old, not entirely sure how to start this, but I’ll give it a shot. About 2 months ago I randomly started itching all through my entire body. To be fair, I thought nothing of it. I figured I would shower and all would be good.
I showered and slept, and all was okay for another two days. Then again following a hot shower, it happened again, and almost every other day since. I’ve been to a doctor about a month ago, and he said that I have cholinergic urticaria. He put me on Telfast for 7 days, which didn’t do a thing.
I went back to him, and he put me on Prednisone and Telfast again for 10 days, and told me that I shouldn’t get symptoms at all with steroids (but I did every other day). My course finished 4 days ago, and I’m writing here now.
My haven is when I’m indoors and the air conditioner is on (I live in a very hot country, so every house is equipped with air conditioners–it’s a law ) .I don’t itch at all, but I can’t leave the house without itching.
Leaving the house at 7pm, when temperatures are actually nice, still makes me itch. Just walking casually for 10 minutes makes me itch (not exercising), and it’s a disgusting kind of itch. When the air conditioner is off for a while indoors, again, the itching starts. When I eat quickly, itching starts.
I’m not overweight, but since this started I’ve gained 4 kgs since I refuse to leave the house. This is extremely depressing me. I’m making excuses daily to friends about “going out” because I simply don’t want to itch. My latest excuse was that “I’m in a different city taking a course, so it will be a while.”
From what I’ve read, everyone seems to be getting attacks during exercise or under stress. For me it’s not that, and I don’t even want to try exercising to see how I feel. It’s just as long as I’m not indoors with the air conditioner on, the itch commences, and I start hating life.
Do I have cholinergic urticaria? Is it normal that life is only tolerable when sitting indoors under air conditioners?
Thanks,
Buzz
John says
Buzz, We understand how you feel. There is hope, and you came to the right place. You will have to accept that it can go on and try to learn from it what is at the root of this problem. If you watch Ben’s videos it is a good step and will save you time. He found a cure for himself, and you will too. Don’t let it get you down. The worry and distress is worse than the transient hives which subside, and after they pass you go on as usual. Try not to let it change your activities. If you get caught up in an aversion to this new problem or the desire to be free of it immediately at all costs you can suffer. Try to welcome the attack knowing that it will pass soon and then you can feel normal for a while and soon you will have figured out how to be normal all the time. Drugs? Never worked for me without other problems that were worse. Hang in there. You are at the right place.
Marilyn Morris says
Hi.. Just wanted to share that for months and months I had all the symptoms of Cholinergic Urticaria, and read these blogs faithfully. At some point on this site I came across just a paragraph that mentioned that sometimes taking Niacin could cause similar symptoms.. I was taking slow acting Niacin for my cholesterol, and had been for about 5 years with no problems, but the little paragraph said to stop the Niacin for 5 days or so, and see if the itching and rash stopped, and that you could get symptoms from Niacin years after starting it ! Well, I did stop for 5 days, and had no itching or rash.. I thought I’d try taking the Niacin again, just to see if that really was the cause, and within a day, all the itching and rash came back! I stopped the Niacin that day, and have had absolutely no symptoms since! Just passing this on in case anyone out there happens to be on Niacin, and perhaps they could try stopping it and see if the itching etc, goes away. If you do, you should tell your doctor in case they want to put you on some other meds. I know I’m soooo happy to be without all that itching!
Hivesguy says
Thanks for sharing that, Marilyn!
Hivesguy says
Hello Buzz,
Thanks for taking the time to share your story. It does sound like it could be cholinergic urticaria to me, especially since your doctor was apparently convinced that you have it. Cholinergic urticaria can come out with mild activities such as walking, and it can also come out when your body becomes slightly heated. Given the fact that you don’t have attacks when under the A/C tells me that your body must be very cool, thus preventing an attack. You don’t always have to be doing strenuous exercise or dealing with stress for CU to come out–even mild passive heating (ie, the room becoming warmer) can be enough to bring on an itching episode.
I know it can be extremely depressing and frustrating dealing with this condition, but there are a lot of different ways to manage it. You may want to read up on this site, watch the videos, and/or buy the book to get up to speed. What worked for me is that I finally realized that I had some allergic issues with food, and after a lot of allergy elimination diet and some other things, they finally went away. I have to stay on the diet to keep them gone, though, so it can be frustrating sometimes not eating a wider range of foods, especially during the holidays when I reminisce about the good old days.
Hang in there. There are other antihistamines besides Telfast, and other treatment options. It can also be helpful to experiment with diet and sweat therapy (although that may not be safe for you–check with your doctor first).
Pardeep says
Buzz, I know you will get through this! There is plenty of useful information on this site that will help you figure out what approach you should use to manage your hives. You mentioned that you gained about 4 kg – it is interesting how putting on some visceral fat might be making your condition worse. As John said, you’re at the right place 🙂
Helen1668 says
The day hives leave me alone
It is not easy to figure out what the triggers are. Everyone has a different trigger. First, we have to understand what causes the break out of hives. There are a few factors involved: preservatives, pesticides, hormone imbalance, acid-alkaline imbalance, environment, diet, lack of exercise and stress.
When you are having a break out of hives. You got to avoid food like Gluten, Dairy, Refine sugar, and Nuts (except walnuts). Follow by going on a vegetarian diet for a month. Reduce your meat to less, but lean meat or preferable fish. Avoid any deep fried foods. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and drink lots of water.
As for my personal experience, I have changed my diet entirely; whether I like it or not. I started to have hives during my peri-menopause which was 2 years ago. Everything seems to come to me, hives, back pain, problem standing long hour, walking long distances and could not do any garden work or heavy duty work like lifting 10bs or more objects. It drove me nuts and it seemed like the whole world is attacking me. Very depress and helpless.
I visited many different doctors and specialist those days. They all keep trying me on medications and cream. It was a temporary fix and the hives come back all the time. I was very frustrated and angry. Then I decided to tackle my health problems myself. I started with treating hives as it is the worst of all health problem I had. I rolled up my sleeves to start looking information online. I did research after research every day and gather all the information till I like to understand the hives issues. Then I started to apply the issues on me. But, this time it is all natural products and no side effects.
If you are serious with your hives, you should try out the following.
Morning
After brushing teeth, drink a glass of water. Ten minutes later, drink a glass of water with 1/8 tsp of sea salt. Fifteen minutes later, drink a glass of water with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar.
A half hour later, you can have your breakfast.
Breakfast: banana, quick oat, golden raisin, walnuts, chopped green onion, cilantro and dill. Take 1 capsule of Cod liver oil (1000mg), 1 chewable 1 Vitamin C 500mg, 1 chewable Extra strength calcium antacid (750mg) and
1 Vitamin D (1000 IU).
Lunch: Salad – any green vegetable, tomato, carrots, celery and sunflower seeds. Meat: Fish or any lean meat (No deep fried). Drink a glass of water with ¼ tsp of baking soda. Take 1 capsule of Cod liver oil (1000mg).
Lunch snack: Dried black fungus (you can purchase from a Chinese Herbs store). In a big bowl, soak 1/3 package of black fungus in water overnight. Boil it for 1 hour with medium heat until soft. Eat 3 to 4 big piece of this fungus. It is the best detox for your body.
Snacks drink: To stop the hot flash or warm temperature in your body. You could eat a kind of dried fruit called Lo Han Goa ( dried mangosteen). You can purchase this from a Chinese Herb Store. In a pot, add 8 cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. Break 1 dried Lo Han Goa into small pieces. Add these pieces into the boiling water and boil with low heat for another 15 minutes and let cool. Drink it as a tea. This would last for 4 to 5 days. Drink it everyday.
Dinner: Fruit salad – any fresh fruits and a touch of salad dressing.
Meat – Fish or any lean meat and mash potatoes or sweet potatoes or yam. Drink a glass of water. Take 1 capsule of Cod liver oil, ½ chewable calcium ( ½ of 750mg) and 1 Vitamin D (1000 IU).
Soup : Any soup add sea weed to the soup.
Bedtime: 2 hours before bedtime drink a glass of warm water with lemon juice.
Baking soda to remove pesticides on vegetables and fruits
Soak all vegetable and fruits in a sink full of water with ½ tsp of baking soda for 20 minutes and rinse of with water prior to consuming.
Detox bath
Add ¼ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup of Epsom salt and ¼ cup of sea salt to a hot tub. Soak it before bedtime for at least 20 minutes. This detox bath is drowsy. Do this twice a week for 2 months, once a week for 2 months, once every two weeks for 2 months and gradually once a month.
Stop the itchy area
Apply very salty water (use only sea salt) on the itchy area.
With the above method, you will definitely see improvement.
It is lots of work, but you will get used to it! You will adapt to it after a while and it will become a good habit…
ONCE THE DAY THE HIVES LEAVE YOU, YOU SHOULD DO THE ABOVE EVERYDAY TO KEEP IT FROM COMING BACK AND FOR YOUR HEALTH.
Special tonic to keep sickness away
Now I added another tonic daily.
Boil the following and add honey to it.
Cut a big piece of ginger root, 5 big whole garlic (not cloves).
In a blender, add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, add in the ginger roots and garlic. Blend it and filter the liquid mixture in a cloth bag and squeeze out the juice. Boil it for 150 minutes with medium heat, let it cool down for 1 hour. Add in some honey to make it easy to drink. Pour in a tight container and eep in the fridge. Every morning before breakfast, take 1 tbsp of this tonic. This is to unblock your blood vessels to allow smooth flow of blood and prevent blood clot. Therefore, sickness will leave you alone!
After drinking this tonic my back pain is gone.
Simple Exercise
– Swing both your hands while standing for 10 minutes.
– Walk with your toes for 5 minutes.
– Stand with your feet on your shoulder width, stretch your two hands out squad (just like you were in a sitting position) till you feel your heart beat fast repeat 10 times or till you feel tired.
– Move your head to the left, right, front, up, down for 5 minutes and rotate your neck around left slowly 5 times and right slowly 5 times.
– Stretch your both hands out and top and front repeat 5 times.
Good Luck and stay healthy everyone!