I need help, but first I’ll provide some background history about my situation. I’ve been recently diagnosed with cholinergic urticaria. I work out religiously; however, when I work out, get stressed, or feel anxiety, I get a stinging itchy feeling all over, starting from my back then spreading throughout my body.
It completely shuts me down. However, I don’t breakout with the typical welts from hives. I can tolerate hot showers, putting on a warm sweater, blankets, but I get itchy while sitting in a sauna or steam room.
I don’t know if this part matters at all about my condition, but I’ll mention it anyway. I’m originally from Hawaii, grew up there, lived there for 29 years. I recently moved to Santa Clara, CA. The weather in Hawaii, is always warm, its humid, and I sweat all the time there.
When I moved to California, the weather is dry and cooler. I don’t sweat anymore. About 7 weeks ago from today (4/1/17), I went back to Hawaii to visit, spent all my time on the beach, getting tanned and sun burned. My skin started to peel (as expected). When I came back to California and started to work out again, I would get itchy all over.
I initially assumed it was my dry, flaky skin. When my skin stopped peeling and wasn’t dry anymore, the itchiness continued so I saw an allergist.
The allergist said I have cholinergic urticaria and has me taking antihistamines. I currently take 4 pills of Zyrtec a day, along with 2 pills of Zantac, and 1 pill of Singulair. I’ve done this for 3 weeks with no change in my symptoms.
So he got me on the Xolair shot. I just had my first Xolair shot and again no changes to my symptoms. I still get itchy all over, and its FRUSTRATING.
If anyone has any advice, a similar story to mine, can you please help?
-CowAndRice
Anonymous says
Hi I had a similar in that my condition started from the change of hot to cold weather although I found that after a few attempts to exercise I finally started sweating again and that helped heaps, I felt the weather and allergy tablets given by the specialist helped the most. Just keep going and don’t give up you have the support of us here ❤
Anonymous says
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Marcia Hildreth McGrath says
My son tried meds and the Xolair shots, and neither did any good. And he didn’t like the side effects he got, like continuous hiccups. He gained the most benefit by forcing himself to sweat thru exercise, (about 4 times per week) and also gave up sugar, fruits, and caffeine. This is what has helped him the most. You’ll have to experiment and see what works/helps for you. It seems it is different for everyone. If you haven’t gotten the book offered on this website, I recommend getting it. It is very helpful. Hang in there.
Jose Casas says
Hey man I’m pretty much in the same boat as you, only difference is I’m 23. Took 4 Zyrtecs a day, xolair shot, and now on desloradatine with continued xolair treatment, which isn’t doing shit either smh. I used to work out everyday to nothing at all for the past 4-5 months, lost weight, muscle and all that. If you’d like to talk more and bounce ideas shoot me a text 5593053570.
CowAndRice says
how long have you been on xolair and zyrtec? have you noticed any changes to your symptoms? or have you changed your diet at all? I think for me, i developed CU because of stress. What brought on your CU?
SJAnalyst says
Hi Jose,
Did you try dieting and working out? After about 7 years of having CU i just recently started eating very clean. I’m also exercising and drinking 120 ounces of water a day which has helped me sweat. I’ve only been doing this for 3 weeks and so far it’s helped but hasn’t cured me. You might want to give it a shot. None of the meds my allergist prescribed to me helped at all.
Shelley says
This condition is apparently triggered by many things. Mine was an allergic to meds. You might try taking a look at your diet. Having lived in Hawaii, your diet may have been different.
534354354 says
Based on your description, it sounds like you might have cholinergic urticaria with acquired anhidrosis and/or hypohidrosis. This condition is not caused by an allergy to your own sweat and thus the XOLAIR will have no affect. The reason you experience this condition in the cooler climate of California is because of the reduced frequency of sweat stimulation. In the warm weather of Hawaii you are constantly stimulated to sweat which desensitizes your body to the “stinging itchy feeling”. You likely experience overcompensation in unaffected sweat glands when you are in Hawaii which makes it appear as though you only sweat in Hawaii. You need a dermatologist to take a skin biopsy from an area where you experience the “stinging itchy feeling” (likely your trunk area) the results will provide the evidence required to push for steroid pulse therapy. Have a read of the latest research using the following digital online identifier 10.1007/s10286-017-0418-6