Cholinergic Urticaria

My Heat Hives Story

by

Look, I got heat hives three years ago. A friend pointed it out to me, and it was right after physical education. For about a month or so, I continued to get these red bumps on my arm, but they literally did nothing. As summer approached, these harmless bumps turned itchy and spread across my body, specifically in the arms and torso.

I used to never ever ever ever sweat. I could play basketball in 95 degree weather and not break a sweat whereas others were fully drenched. Now, I’m usually the sweatiest of the bunch.

I built a tolerance to the hives, but I feel like I have it extremely well when compared to some of ya’ll.

All I can say is exercise as much as you can, because now I’m breaking a sweat, and my hives have been reduced to appearing only during a hot, steamy shower.

My symptoms were always moderate, so take my case with a grain of salt. I didn’t let heat hives rob me of enjoying physical activity. It should be noted that I never took a single medication. I just want you guys to push and push because maybe some day it will become manageable.

Best of Luck guys!!

Note: I have once had a severe mood swing and hives broke out like wildfire among my body, and it was extremely painful.

Also try controlling your breathing when you feel the onset of the hives. I feel like it makes a difference.

-S-3 (A reader to this site)

Comments

  1. @Hivesguy., your post is really encouraging, being that I try and exercise regularly and even enjoy the sauna. It seems like on days that are the least painful are the days I exercise. As long as they are not to sensitive and itchy, I feel like it’s tolerable. My hives occur only during down time. Crazy!! First thing in the morning until around noon, I’m itchy and swollen. Around 1pm it’s totally cleared. I’ll go to the gym and go home with no outbreak, and the cycle continues! Thanks for the encouraging words!

    • Thanks for your kind words, but actually I’m not the author of the article. It was submitted by a reader to this site, and the nickname above is the one they used.

      I try to remember to sign all of the guest articles with the nickname they use.

  2. Hi everyone! I have had CU for 7 years now and I’m waiting for te day that I will be free of CU. I have been also noticing that the more I move my body and exercise my Hives are better and significantly less for a few days after exercise. I am generally a warm/hot person, I mean I feel warm most the time. I have been swimming for exercise and even from doing mild laps (I mean really mild! I am so out of shape from my hives stopping me from exercise) I developed mild hives. But it was so much better to be in a pool with my hives, when I feel them come on I just try to be calm and let the pool water cool me off. So even though I’m not necessarily sweating because I’m in a pool, muscles are moving and it is creating heat which triggers hives. Anyway, if any of you need exercise and are out of shape because of CU,,, try swimming. Good luck to all of us and let’s try to take care of ourselves!!
    Carlos (Bay Area , California)

  3. I am glad you have found something helpful! I agree, when I went into the sauna I felt so much better. It’s very difficult for me to break a sweat even with jump roping. How did you improve your ability to break a sweat? I drink lots of water, exercise and still struggle.

    I believe CU could be triggered by underlying food allergies/intolerance, I am going for allergy testing next month. I also have joint and muscle pain and itching inside my mouth.

    I am starting UVB treatments next week so I’ll keep you all posted as if it’s to any help. Although, I still believe water quality has a lot to do with it. Hard metallic water is the WORST and when all my symptoms started since moving house. Derm thinks we’ll be able to build my skin resistance and balance immunity with the UVB. Seeing as CU seems to be immune response.