Hey guys.
It’s been a while since I last posted an update about my health.
So as I mention every thread, my cholinergic urticaria started during the ending of autumn and starting of winter, I thought it was because of steroids, but now I realised that it has probably have to do something with puberty, because I am 17 years old and I have heard a multiple people who had CU around the same age and it lasted about two years, so I guess this is a puberty thing for me, but I might be wrong.
I thought that it is seasonal for me and that it will go away in the warm weather, but it’s now 11th day of May and it ain’t going anywhere, BUT… Here in my country we already have warm weather, it’s usually around 23 C, but already gets up to 27 C somedays. I was afraid of warm weather, because cold was the only relief, but it got easier for me. You see, at the start of spring, during warm weathers, for example getting into a heated up car was a fucking death for me, but now, it feels like the point of getting an itching attack has risen, because now I can go outside, stay in the sun without moving that much around, get into a car that is hot as fuck inside and not get an attack, where as if I exposed my body to this much heat instantly let’s say in winter, I would be ripping my skin of because of itching. Also, when I get an attack, it is a little bit easier to get through it, itching is still bad, but I manage to get through it.
Another thing, last summer (I didn’t have CU yet) I didn’t spend a lot of time outside and was pale, had no tan, etc.. I’ve seen in the forum, that Vitamin D seems to be the answer of a relief for some people, and now, I am exposing myself to sun more often, meaning I get some Vitamin D in my body system, I also got a little tan around my arms, maybe that is why my situation got a little better? Is that a possibility?
Also, I got to mention, that I am not using antihistamines anymore, they are just not working it seems like. I used zyrtec for a week and then kestine for a week and just went like that, switching it every week.
However, I still can not sweat, sweat is just not breaking up through my belly, arms, etc. I got sweaty ass creak, armpits, sometimes back a little bit, feet, but that’s about it, I can not sweat like normally.
So, guys, what do you think, is there still a chance that it is seasonal and still go away anytime soon? Because weather is warm already, wouldn’t it have been gone if it was seasonal? What do you think? I think I’m gonna give it another month, if it doesn’t go away, I’ll invest like 200 € and buy myself that little portable sauna thingy, to get my life quality even better, I guess..
I’d be more than happy to hear your opinion about my situation and what do you have to say, especially these people, who don’t have CU for the summer.
Thanks so much!
Tomas
Nathan says
Hi Tomas,
Yes it could possibly be a seasonal thing but you’ll need to give your body time to adjust first then you’ll be able to have a better answer. For me personally it took me 3-4 weeks into the summer until I felt changed haplebing.
Hope this heaps man!
David says
Hi Tomas
I agree with Nathan. Give it till the summer when you get those steady warm, humid days. I live in the north east of the US. It’s starting to warm up and my symptoms are much better because I’m sweating more. Also, I go to the gym in my town and use the sauna to break a sweat before working out.
David
Tomas says
Hey guys.
Too late, I reached a breaking point and ordered a portable sauna, this one: http://medisa.lt/3453-home_default/mobili-garine-pirtis.jpg
Hoping for the best, if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do.
– Tomas
David says
I bought the same sauna from Amazon but I returned it. It was a space issue for me. I decided to just join the gym and use the sauna there. Many people have had the same success with the portable types. I hope it works well for you.
David
KHfan890 says
hey my sister actually got CU in the autumn too and she’s 17 im pretty sure its just a coincidence (She still has it but is slightly doing better)
Tomas says
KHfan890, in my opinion it could be something to do with puberty, I know a few people who also had CU only in the similar age.
Guys, do any of you use the portable sauna, something like I showed a picture of? The one I ordered says the steam is about 60 C degrees. Is there a chance that it will not help me?
Since I got my UC, I have gone to sauna 4 times, I went to a pool that had a sauna complex most of the time, and once used it in the party with my friends while we were drinking in the winter. That time after sauna I don’t recall having any itching for like 2 days, but I was still drunk also about 2 days past that, so I might be wrong. However, when I went to that sauna complex, I once went there in winter to see if it would help me, and I went there two times not so long ago, before the exams, the following day or two I don’t recall having itching, but that may be because I was really trying to avoid getting hot. But, the same day, about 30 minutes after using the sauna, I had an attack, is this how it is supposed to be? Is there a chance that the portable sauna will not help? Maybe if I used it every day or every other day, I might be symptoms free? What do you guys think? How often should I use it? Do the symptoms completely dissapear for sometime after sweating in that thing?
Hivesguy says
“Is there a chance it will not help me?” Of course there’s a chance a sauna will not help you. Not everyone responds to sweat therapy, and in fact, some people can’t even do it. Some people can’t sweat at all (anhidrosis), and some people have such a severe case of CU that they could go into anaphylactic shock while using a portable steam room / sauna. But for some people, it works well.
When most people use a sauna for cholinergic urticaria (as sweat therapy), they use it so that they can begin sweating as quickly as possible, often suffering a hives attack before the sweat comes out. The idea is that if sweat therapy works for you, sweating regularly will help to keep the hives minimized or gone. Once sweat therapy ceases, the hives can (and often do) come back within days for people who rely on this method.
It’s just different for everyone, and there is no one-size-fits-all method to sweat therapy. Some people have to use it daily, and break out in hives each time, but can then get through the day with minimal hives reactions. Others can use it and be good for a couple of days. Others don’t even get a benefit from it (or can’t use it due to risks of shock or severe itching).
Tomas says
I usually used a steam sauna in the sauna complex so I am not able to tell if it helped me sweat, because the steam itself is wet, so there is no way to tell when it’s steam and when it’s sweat, but when inside the real steam sauna, of course the first few times it would itch but very little. I guess there’s no other way to find out, other than trying it, so after it gets delivered, I think i will post an update, maybe even a new thread if I find any good tips or anything 🙂
Best of luck, guys
Debby says
I got it at age 65, so doubt it is related to puberty. I think it is a food allergy- probably a food additive of some kind. People who manage to go Vegan say their UT clears up. No processed food , nothing with additives , only Whole Foods. I cannot stay on a vegan diet. Have been to 5 doctors now- no relief. I do not get raised hives- just red flushing and the stinging. No sweating for almost 2 years now. My skin has gone from oily to extremely dry and brittle with thousands of little lines like it is totally dehydrated- looks like skin of a 95 year old. I am leaving in 3 weeks for 18 day trip to Italy , Greece and Spain , including a 12 night cruise – very worried about sight seeing in the heat. Hopefully Zyrtec will work some. I am taking a box of instant cold packs that you pop the bag and get cold relief to help get through attacks where I am not near a restroom.
Tomas says
I’m not talking about UC generally, yes, mostly people get UC randomly at random ages, just like you. But there are specific cases like mine, where people get it around ~17 years old and it goes away after a couple of years, so in these cases I actually think it might be puberty related.