How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: bumps on May 18, 2008, 10:49:49 PM
I was just wondering how everyone deals with their outbreaks. I for one am the type that is very embarassed by my Cholinergic Urticaria outbreaks and wears long sleeve shirts whenever I exercise. Does anyone else do this?
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: HivesGuy on May 19, 2008, 04:58:27 AM
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Great Question!
How I usually react is I try to stop whatever I was doing, and focus as much as I can so hopefully the outbreak will pass without getting too intense.
I am not so much concerned about people seeing my flushing skin, or the small red hives because it is not really all that noticeable on me.
But I do try to avoid letting people see me itch uncontrollably. It is really embarrasing because once it starts, there is no ignoring the itchy/tingling sensation. I HAVE to scratch because the itch is so strong. Even though you scratch, it doesn’t help, but I still have to scratch. So I try to go into another room, or step outside or something so I can breakout in privacy.
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: Hivesgirl on May 19, 2008, 10:21:06 AM
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I too wear clothes that cover up my hives. Because I only have them on my legs, I always were trousers. It’s been nearly three years since I last wore a skirt/shorts at school.
I really feel embarrassed about my hives (they are really agressively red), and as a result nobody knows I have them (this forum really is a blessing! :D)
But sometimes I think that I should risk wearing a skirt to school. I mean, I don’t get hives all the time. But then I think “What if I get one?” and so, I’m too scared.
Still, perhaps I should really try it again.
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: billysielu on May 19, 2008, 10:37:22 AM
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I leave the room, I can deal with all the crap and then return back to normal again.
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: bumps on May 20, 2008, 06:16:11 PM
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I wish my hives were not that obvious but mine are bright red and blotchy looking. I used to be very active and now it is hard for me to be active in the summer time with a long sleeve shirt and pants. It is very frustrating. I think I could handle my hives being on one part of my body but I get them from head to toe.
I miss wearing dresses 🙁
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: Hivesgirl on May 21, 2008, 07:04:59 AM
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Quote from: bumps on May 20, 2008, 06:16:11 PM
I miss wearing dresses 🙁
You’re not alone! But I’m keeping my fingers crossed that one day the hives will stop. 😉
If they ever stop, I think I will even start wearing dresses in winter, just to make up for the lost time. 😀
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Title: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: HivesGuy on February 01, 2009, 01:42:08 PM
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Hello Everyone!
I thought it would be worthwile to compile a large thread & post to help anyone who just finds out they have Cholinergic Urticaria to manage it as well as they can. I am going to include a large collection of things I have mentioned, blogged about, or seen other’s post. By all means, feel free to add any tips you may have if you have any to share.
Tips For Managing & Living With Cholinergic Urticaria:
First, it is always a great idea to go to the doctor. A “GOOD” doctor will listen to you, run some tests, and let you know more information about it. This helps to rule out other things that may have symptoms similar to cholinergic urticaria.
If you get diagnosed as having cholinergic urticaria, then the tips below should provide some value to help you manage/live with it.
Diet Tips: Eating the Right Stuff
At this point, it does not seem as if cholinergic urticaria is directly caused by diet. I say “at this point” because I always try to keep an open mind. But even though diet may not cause it directly, your diet can help or harm your Cholinergic Urticaria. Here are a few tips:
1. Track your eating habits- A diary or log can help you see what you eat, and the types of foods that may cause a period of severe reactivity. Always keep an eye on your diet to see if anything causes you to become more reactive. Example: When I eat milk I get way more reactive. Removing milk does not stop the hives, but it certainly keeps them from being so reactive.
2. Get Allergy Tested-It is always a good idea to get an allergy test to rule out potential food allergens. This can help you see foods that could be bothering your body. Not only that, it can also show some potential environmental allergens (such as dust mites).
3. Avoid Spicy Foods- Spicy foods cause our body temperatures to increase. When this happens, it causes us to get all itchy and prickly (not fun). So avoid spicy foods, citrus, and anything that has a sour or spicy taste. A few examples are: Vinegar, citrus, peppers, sausages or pepperoni, sour candy, sour or spicy drinks, etc.
4. Beware of Alcohol- A few people have made posts on the forum talking about how alcohol seems to prevent an outbreak. It is unclear why this may happen, but it could be due to the brain not being as aware. However, some have also reported that the alcohol makes the hives much more intense the days after. So you may want to beware of this, and watch out for any bad effects that may come. Personally I don’t drink, so I can’t comment on my own experiences with that. I don’t know. But it could be different for everyone.
5. Don’t Stuff Yourself- I have noticed that when I am really stuffed and eat a big meal (or snack like crazy), I am usually also more reactive. When my stomach is nearly empty, I am not as reactive. So if you are going to be in public, you may want to skip on the extra snack.
6. Eat Healthy- Also, you should strive to eat as healthy as possible. I struggle with this myself. While I maintain a good weight and have a relatively lean body mass, I still love the sugary snacks. But I have found that eating more organic and healthy foods tend to help some with the hives. Not a 100% cure, but it helps.
7. Watch out for Blood Thinning foods or medicines- I have heard that blood thinning medicines and foods (such as aspirin, onions, etc.) may make the body more reactive for people with hives. I don’t really take any of those things, or eat those foods often. But it may be something to consider. Of course, don’t stop taking medicine if your doctor put you on it.
Clothing Tips: What to Wear to Prevent Attacks
Here are some tips about clothing. What you wear can have a big impact (more than you would think) on whether or not you will react. So here we go:
1. Wear Thin Clothing- When I am going out, I always wear really thin clothing. I wear a really thin shirt, and shorts on a warm day. Sandals help the feet get rid of excess body heat better than normal shoes, which will keep your core temperature down. On cold days, I usually wear thin clothing, but add layers that I can quickly remove if I get hot (such as a jacket). Some people feel that cooling vests help cholinergic urticaria, as well as moisture wicking shirts.
2. Colors Count- Think “Light”- I made a post last summer about how the color of clothing makes a huge deal in sunlight. Try to go for whites & bright colors. This reflects the sun’s rays and prevents you from getting hot. If you wear black or dark colors, you are literally asking for a quick reaction.
3. Avoid Hats- Unless if Possible- I don’t wear hats much, but if I have a bad hair day I may throw on a baseball cap. I have noticed that when wearing it, it makes me more reactive. This is because a lot of body heat escapes from the scalp. If a hat is being worn, it can trap the heat in, making us more hot. If you have to wear a hat, try to go for a light colored one. You could also potentially wet your hair before putting one on, or using a small/flat cooler pack under the hat (it can help keep you cool).
4. Wear Comfy Fabrics- I like to wear soft & thin cotton t-shirts. I often wear cotton jeans/khaki shorts too. This helps my skin feel better. I can’t stand to wear a “Scratchy” feeling shirt. It is terrible. I avoid them at all cost. This is a reason why I don’t wear sweaters much. So I definitely recommend wearing clothes that are breathable and feel comfortable.
5. Avoid Excessive Detergent-It is a good idea to avoid excessive detergents, starches, etc. I prefer to use just enough so I don’t stink lol. Seriously, if you use too much, it can harden your clothes and leave a residue on them. So I would use just enough to get them clean.
6. Moisture “Wick” Shirts Can Help Some- At this point I have not purchased any moisture wick shirts, or any clothing that helps to induce sweating. However, a few people have indicated that they can help prevent an attack. It doesn’t work on areas the shirt doesn’t touch (the neck or face), but it can help some in the areas the shirt does touch.
Tips on Medications/Treatments
As I always point out, I am not a doctor. So please only check with a doctor for medical advice. This is just a summary of comments people have posted on this site, other sites, and my own personal opinions:
1. Antihistamines- One of the most often prescribed medicine for people with Cholinergic Urticaria is antihistamines. These are simply drugs that prevent the body from releasing histamine (which makes us itchy). Some common ones are benadryl (over the counter), hydroxyzine (prescription), zyrtec (over the counter).
In most cases, these probably will not cure you. In fact, they may not help at all. They help some people, and they don’t help others. I have talked to a few who take zyrtec daily to help slighty prevent attacks. Others don’t take them at all. Others take them only on occasions when they really don’t want an attack (public speaking, etc.). I tend to avoid them because they make me extremely drowsy and don’t really help much at all. Again, everyone is different. Talk to a doctor about dosages, etc.
2. Steroids- There are anabolic (muscle building) steroids (danazol), and corticosteroids (prednisone). I have seen articles where both have been used for Cholinergic Urticaria, sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. The thing you should know is that both kinds can have serious and even life-long side effects. I personally had a steroid shot (I assume probably prednisone). It didn’t help at all. Some people are helped by them for a short time, but later have a relapse.
I have made a personal decision to avoid them 100%. If you want to try, talk to a doctor. But just know they may not even cure it, and it can have serious side effects.
3. Anti-Immunoglobulin E Therapy- This seems to be a new and somewhat experimental treatment with allergies (such as asthma, etc.). I has, according to an article, been used successfully on cholinergic urticaria. On wikipedia, this treatment is regarded as experimental, and may have serious unknown side effects (such as cancer) later down the line.
That being said, I am really not interested in it at all at this point. It is something to keep an eye for the future to see if they find more out about it. But at this point I wouldn’t do it, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone else do it either. You can always talk to a doctor to find out more.
4. scopolamine butylbromide-This seems to be an anti-muscle/spasmatic (muscle relaxant) medicine. In one article it seems it helped cholinergic urticaria (I am not sure if it was a cream form or what). Again, I do not know if this is safe, and I am not really interested in trying it personally. I would talk to a doctor if you are interested, but I am sure it has some side effects, and it may not work for all people with Cholinergic Urticaria.
5. Miscellaneous Treatments- There are other treatments I have read about online. These include chemotherapy (very serious cases, also the case was related to hairy cell leukemia), antibiotics (suspected infection), antifungals (suspected fungus), vitamins, supplements, candida cleanses, etc.
So far, I don’t know of any of those that have effectively cured Cholinergic Urticaria. Many people on this forum or another blog has tried at least a few of those, without successful results. Personally, I have tried a few vitamins, supplements, anti-candida diet, and more, and have not seen a huge result.
The list of all treatments above is by no means meant to cover everything. It just hits the most common ones that I can think of at this time.
Tips on for the Home:
Here are some tips and things you can do for the home, or at home, to help manage Cholinergic Urticaria.
1. Keep the thermostat in check- I don’t turn on the heat at all in the winter. It gets as low as 52 in my apartment, but I just add layers and use a warming blanket if necessary. It saves on heat, and keeps me from having so many reactions. In the summer I like to “Sweat” if possible, but if I am not sweating, I turn on the air conditioner to keep myself from having hives. Keeping a nice comfortable temperature helps out BIG TIME.
2. Take quicker/cooler showers- Dry skin can make my Cholinergic Urticaria a little worse. To prevent dry skin, it helps to take quicker showers, and to not make the water really really hot. If you take a quicker shower, and use very lightly warm water, it prevents the oils from being sucked out of your skin as much. Again, it won’t cure cholinergic urticaria, but it helps my skin a bit.
3. Use a Good Moisturizer- I now use an off brand lotion, similar to the Jergens brand. I like the kind that doesn’t leave a film of oily stuff, and don’t have the fancy beads in them. I just like plain old lotion. It helps to keep my skin from getting dry, and even cools it off a bit when I first put it on. I have used olive oil, and even vaseline in the past. However, I have noticed those things tend to form a layer of oils, and it keeps the body temperature in the skin. The more that happens, the hotter we get, and the itchier we get. So I stick to basic lotion.
4. Allergen Proof Your House- If possible, eliminate any potential environmental allergies. This includes dust mites, pollen, pet dander, etc. I know this may be difficult, and even expensive for some. But it could help. If nothing else, it should make you more motivated to not be such a slob lol.
5. Try a Water Softener or Filter- I have extremely hard water, which terrorizes my skin. When I can, I plan on getting a water softener, and also using a filter to filter out the “bad” chemicals in the water. Some have indicated this helped some as well.
6. Get a Steam Room/Sauna- Obviously, not everyone can afford to buy a personal steam room or sauna. If you are a do-it-youselfer, you may be able to build one on the cheap. But some people have indicated that this really helps them. Basically, they use them daily to force sweat out and keep it coming. If they don’t use it, it comes back. But it can help some people. If you can’t afford this, a humidifier or two and a good heater may do the same trick. One person made a post on another forum back in the day of how this cured them. They turn it on at night, and it kept the sweat coming. Just don’t burn the house down or cause a mold build-up.
7. Get a Good Workout In- Many people talk about the benefits of a good workout. It can “force” the sweat out (usually after a painful reaction). This isn’t safe for everyone. Some people actually go into anaphylactic shock in addition to Cholinergic Urticaria. So for those people who start to swell, it isn’t the best idea and could be dangerous. But if you like to exercise, it can help you to sweat more regularly. The more we sweat, the less we itch. In fact, you can even combine this into the #6 above and have a really warm room when you exercise, to help you sweat as soon as possible.
8. Get a Little Outdoor Activity- This isn’t always possible in the winter. However, many of the people on this forum have no Cholinergic Urticaria symptoms during the summer months. Why? They get out and sweat regularly. Don’t get skin cancer or a sun burn, or die from heat exhaustion. But getting a very light amount of sun, and doing work outside (in the shade) on muggy days can help you to sweat like crazy. This could help you to keep Cholinergic Urticaria attacks down. Just use caution, don’t get burned, and drink lots of water. Also take breaks so you don’t pass out or something.
9. Cut Your Fingernails- If you keep your nails short, you will not damage your skin as badly when you have those moments of intense itching. This helps prevent cuts, damage, etc. I keep mine to the nub! 😉
Tips for Having Reactions in Public
It will happen eventually- You will have a bad reaction in PUBLIC. It sucks. It has happened to me at work, school, shopping, home, family events, etc. Here are some tips when you start to have a reaction:
1. Get Cool if Possible- If you feel the little “prickly” feelings and know an attack is coming on, try to get cool as soon as you can. Take off layers of clothes if possible, splash some cool water on yourself, get into air conditioning, etc. If you can get cool fast, the reaction will probably stop right then. If you are at work, school, etc.- try to excuse yourself to the restroom and scratch yourself in a stall. If you are at the store, go to the freezer section or restroom. If you are outdoors, go in your house or turn on the AC in your vehicle.
2. Don’t Panic- I know this is easier said than done. But when you start to have an attack, try to remain calm. Panics will only make the attack worse. People can’t usually see physical symptoms on us. They usually only see the scratching. I know, you feel like a freak, right? But who cares. Try to scratch normall at first and try not to look obvious. If that doesn’t work, go ahead and do what you have to do.
3. Blame it on Food Allergies-I don’t mean lying, although I know it sounds like a lie. But if you are around people who don’t know what Cholinergic Urticaria is, sometimes it is just easier putting it in terms they understand. So by saying, “I am having unknown allergic reaction due to food allergies,” people usually “get it.” That cuts out a lot of explaining, unless of course, you want to tell them about your condition. It is up to you. But people just don’t usually “get it.”
4. Breath & Scratch- If you have a full blown attack, just try to manage the best you can. Remember to breath, and try not to let the pain and itching drive you crazy. It is tough, but you can make it. Obviously if you start swelling call 911 as soon as possible. But if it is just a normal reaction, manage the pain the best you can. Breath, and itch. Keep those fingernails short!!
How to Manage Your Frustrations/Attitude About Cholinergic Urticaria:
1. Talk to Others- If you ever get frustrated (we all do), I find that it really helps so much to talk to others about it. My wife is great to really sit there and listen to me. She helps lift my spirits by telling me positive things. That really helps. If you don’t have a spouse, tell your friend, or family members. Anyone you are close to can help if you ever feel bad. I am here on the forum, and other members as well. You are always welcome to open a thread to talk about your personal feelings. I even have a board set up for it. You can always see a therapist too if you need one. My wife is my “therapist” lol.
2. Remember you aren’t alone- There are lots of people with this same condition in life. You are not a “freak” and you are not “alone.” We all struggle with this. It sucks, but it could be worse. Let’s focus on the positives. We aren’t dying. Not only that, but this probably won’t last your whole life. It may come and go into remission for years at a time. It may even go away forever one day. You never know. I know it is hard, but hang in there!
3. Don’t Let Cholinergic Urticaria WIN!!- You have the right to a happy, successful, fullfilling life! Don’t ever let the hives take that away from you. Cholinergic Urticaria is hard to live with, but not IMPOSSIBLE. We aren’t going to let this itching stop us are we? NO! We will march through life with our spirits high, and make dreams, goals, and etc. We are going to live normal lives. Never let Cholinergic Urticaria rob you of your life. Granted, we may have to scratch a few times along the way, but we will make it. Never give up on your dreams, never let Cholinergic Urticaria win!
Whew! That was a long post! If you have any other tips to add, please do so! This thread should end up being a pretty good resource for anyone that just finds out they have Cholinergic Urticaria (or anyone realizing they get itchy when hot). It should give them a few tips to help them manage it.
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: bungeemom on March 17, 2009, 09:37:46 AM
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Hi HivesGuy – I’m a newbie to your forum but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all this wonderful information. My son, 13 1/2 years old, was just diagnosed with Cholinergic Urticaria. Wouldn’t be as bad if he was a sit-on-his-tush-playing-video-games-all-day kid. He isn’t. In fact he is very athletic and has a natural competitive nature. Exercise is his “THING”. Travel baseball. Track. Competitive horseback riding (speed events mostly). Weight training. You get the picture. I am putting myself into “sponge mode” to try to soak up as much info as possible to get this under control.
We live in Michigan (60’s today – snow tomorrow) so we do have the climate issues to contend with. I’m a very analytical person by nature so I really like to get to the root cause of things. I see the Cholinergic Urticaria as a challenge but acknowledge that I will have to show a lot of patience. It really helps to have this type of forum for support. Anyway, keep the info coming. It is wonderful!
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: HivesGuy on March 17, 2009, 10:14:29 AM
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Hello bungeemom,
Excellent post & welcome to the forum!
I am so sorry to hear that your son has developed Cholinergic Urticaria. I too was very athletic, and many others on the forum were as well. I love to workout, and used to play baseball, etc. I know it must be bothering him quite a bit not being able to give 100% of himself now that he has the hives to deal with. Just try to remind him that hopefully this won’t last forever, and soon he may be able to do the things he loves again (and someday we will figure this out).
I think it is great that you are trying to find as much info as you can to help your son! I know that my wife has been a huge support system for me, and we need that a lot because it can be very difficult at times mentally. Cholinergic Urticaria really is a very frustrating thing to deal with, and the stinging & itching is VERY intense. So thanks for being a great mom & trying to help your son! I am sure it means a lot to him!
I too am a very analytical type of person. When I get an answer from doctors that they don’t know exactly what is going on, it frustrates me. Of course something is happening with us, but it is frustrating not knowing exactly what it is. I wish we at least knew if it was curable or not, what was causing it exactly, etc.
So I tend to spend quite a lot of time running theories through my head, trying to search the web, and trying different things to see if it will help Cholinergic Urticaria (diet, etc.).
The only good news is that in all cases I have seen thus far, it doesn’t seem to be deadly/terminal. And at least there isn’t a major problem causing it, and it eventually seems to go away for most people (although some have it in spurts on and off throughout most of their life).
Anyways, let your son know he isn’t alone, and I hope he gets some relief soon. Thanks again for the post, and if you ever have any questions or ideas, please let us know!
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: pinkleopard on June 08, 2009, 12:14:45 PM
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i have very mean red hives that i tend to cover up with clothing or with makeup. i know, makeup! i use my foundation that i would go on my face, and extend it to my chest so i can wear more of my wardrobe. people can still see the welts, just not the color.
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Title: Re: Curious
Post by: MoshiMoshi on June 12, 2009, 05:26:03 PM
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Fortunately, when i break out in hives i dont get any visible symptoms. So what i do is grab my cooling spray and just remain still and spray the itches. Cholinergic Urticaria got better for me last time i had it in the summer, now it just gets worse and worse >:(
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: stuart.c on March 03, 2010, 06:46:58 AM
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This is a fantastic post HivesGuy! Everything that you’ve mentioned has great relevance! A lot of the tips you’ve mentioned were also a great help for me when I suffered from cholinergic urticaria. It took time and dedication, but eventually I was cured through a few things.
1 – Positivity! Get motivated!
Never give up! Don’t ever let it beat you! EVER!!
At first i didn’t cope too well, but once i had my mind set on getting better, it got much better. I found it extremely important to have my mind fixed on being stronger and better emotionally.
2 – Diet!
I found not only certain foods like chilli would make me break out, but foods like pasta that are full of carbohydrates were a massive detriment to my goals. They made me feel bloated, heavy and some how they made me feel uncomfortable and awkward in a way… It’s hard to describe the feeling unless you’ve been having urticaria attacks for a while and know what it feels like before the attack. It’s sort of a nervous feeling. It makes you not want to move, talk or be surrounded by people or heat or exercise obviously. Lying on a cool surface, under an air conditioner or in a cool shower makes this go away. (It’s best to not let yourself get to that point, because the more attacks you have, the more it will eat away at your metal state..
3 – Exercise!
Sitting at home in the dark, avoiding sun light, avoiding social contact and avoiding anything that makes you hot will only make things worse! Face your fears!! Start off small, then set your self bigger goals. If I had to put my success down to one thing, it would be getting fitness back into my life! I started with small walks in the morning when it was colder. Then to progress I walked more when it was hotter. I then started jogging in the morning when it was cool. Yes I did still broke out at this point, but you have to keep a certain mind frame by telling and convincing yourself, “These hives cannot stop me! They will never beat me!” If you have to stop from the pain, it’s okay to stop, let the pain and the itching go away, then keep going again! You have to be realistic. If you know the attacks will come, tell yourself, These attacks might come, but I am prepared! I will not quit!” Make yourself believe it! If you can, push yourself through the pain stage of an attack. Emotionally it’s extremely rewarding and you’ll find yourself exercising a lot longer!
4 – Keep your social life!
Go out and see friends! Don’t let this get so far that it takes over your social life! It’s so much easier when you have friends around who are there to support you! Let them know about your condition, make sure they understand what to do if they see you in distress! I found that if people talked to me while I was having an attack, it made it worse. If there is something like that that bothers you then tell them before you meet up with them! I asked my friends to ignore me completely if they saw me having trouble. (I was able to ask for help if i needed it) It helped me lot.
Remember, don’t ever give up and believe in yourself! You too can over come this! 🙂
Oh and sorry if I rambled.. I didn’t realise my post was going to be so big..
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: HivesGuy on March 03, 2010, 12:16:35 PM
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Hey Stuart.C,
Excellent post and welcome to the forum!
That is great that you were able to overcome your Cholinergic Urticaria, and that serves as an inspiration to all of us that still suffer through it. I am always happy to hear from someone who no longer has this.
I thought you added some excellent information to the post, and I agree with all of what you said. I think this is turning out to be a great thread for anyone looking for some tips on managing their Cholinergic Urticaria.
Anyway, thanks again for the great contribution, and welcome!
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Title: Re: How Do You Deal with Cholinergic Urticaria Outbreaks?? Any Tips?
Post by: Snuff on March 31, 2010, 04:04:52 AM
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I can deal with the pain. i dont care what ppl think about me or my hives only one persons opinion matters to me. but to save myself from all the annoying questions i usually dont go to gatherings. i still hang out with friends. well 1 friend. and everytime i see her i always get an outbreak then finally it passes.
but i noticed i can deal with the pain alot easier if im surrounded by ppl i can resist to itch completly.1 time someone asked me if it was contagious? lol its not some flesh eating disease
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Title: Re: How Do You Deal with Cholinergic Urticaria Outbreaks?? Any Tips?
Post by: envy on April 08, 2010, 12:18:13 PM
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Hello, I’m new to the forum and this is my first post.
Well, I’ve only had it for a couple of months now, and I usually just leave the room/walk with my head down(if I’m out and about)
Sadly though, mine occurs on my face and torso area though, so I can’t really cover mine up, however an upside(if yo ucan call it that) is that I dont get bumps on my face, only redness, although it still really embarasses me 🙁
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Title: Re: How Do You Deal with Cholinergic Urticaria Outbreaks?? Any Tips?
Post by: HivesGuy on April 08, 2010, 12:50:31 PM
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Hello envy and welcome to the forum!
I am sorry to hear you have this too, but I am glad you haven’t had it too long. It mostly affects my face and torso also. I also tend to have visible redness, and the bumps are less visible.
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Title: Re: How Do You Deal with Cholinergic Urticaria Outbreaks?? Any Tips?
Post by: taz on April 08, 2010, 03:59:54 PM
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I get visible symptoms on my upper torso mainly. I don’t think I ever get bumps ie. hives. I only seem to get a red rash. I don’t really mind the rash because I only get it on my chest which can easily be covered by clothes. The itching is the thing I can’t stand.
That needle stabbing feeling. It usually starts on my lower back and then moves up onto my chest, then under my arms and side of torso. Then I get really itchy on the top of my back, neck and on the scalp. It is starting to get hotter here in the UK now so hopefully I should be able to start living normally now. I have noticed my Cholinergic Urticaria attacks are getting less severe recently.
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: luckyjoej on May 24, 2010, 12:04:58 PM
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great post hivesguy, i am going to try the bright color idea
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: cyruschn on July 11, 2010, 12:37:31 PM
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hey, I was really interested when you where talking about the steroids, a couple of years ago my skin docter gave me some prednisone which was fantastic. I couldn’t go into any social situation or even get out of my house with out wanting to rip my skin off and kill myself. I tooke like 3 tablets and i was able to go to my winter formal without itching at all but unfortunately the itching came back the next day. Do you know of anyways that I could duplicated the effects of these steroids with certain foods or practices.
Thanks
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Title: New and simple approach to cure/relief Cholinergic Urticaria – Keep your body warm
Post by: sendtowilliam on July 16, 2010, 10:48:34 AM
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Hi,
My name is William. I live in the western part of Canada (Vancouver), and I am a 32-years old male (2010). Last year (Apr 2009), I developed the symptoms of Cholinergic Urticaria after I ate a bowl full of wonton (main ingredient is shrimp). Also, it is the beginning of summer, and my whole body started to itch and I have hives. I took a quick cold shower and the itch went away. Since then, whenever I ate any seafood (shrimp, crab, lobster, scallop, etc.), red meat (beef, lamb, etc), egg, and any spicy food, I will get the itch.
In the beginning few weeks, I avoided all of the above mentioned food, but I do get itchy very often whenever my body heats up (via exercise, going into a hot car, under the sun, sneeze, embarrassed, etc.). I pretty much did what most of the posters have done (Doctor, Dermatologist, Chinese medicine, anti-histamine, etc..), and nothing really helps. I tried to avoid heat and try to wear as few clothes as possible so my body never heats up. At home I have air-con 24/7. At work I have air-con. In car, I have A/C all the time. I stayed indoors throughout the summer. I missed all the outdoors activities I so wanted to do. For about a month, I ate nothing but cold noodle and cold food like sushi. In the beginning I can see the hives, gradually, the hives went away but the itch stayed with me. The funny part is when I felt like I need to go poo, my butt will feel itchy too. That’s just wrong!!!
I won’t go on and on about my story that is very similar to every other person with Cholinergic Urticaria.
What I wanted to say is something nobody has said before.
I got a little hypothesis, and I am trying to find a possible solution that can be benefit to everyone with Cholinergic Urticaria and there no need to buy any medicine and what so ever.
“Disclaimer – this is just my personal opinion. I have read many people’s case online and I have compared it to my case and tried a few simple exercises. I am not a doctor and what I am going to say, it has helped me (= 1 case), I don’t know of any other person I came in contact has Cholinergic Urticaria (thank god!) so I have no prove to this hypothesis will work on others.”
So here goes my hypothesis:
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As you all know, we felt itchy because our body wanted to release heat but our skin (for whatever reason) can’t perform its normal duty by sweating. In summer, when the outside temperature is hot and our body is hot, we can sweat easier. In winter, when the weather is cold, so our body is cold, and when our body heats up quickly, we will itch, and it took a bit of time for it go away unless you took a drastic approach to cool down.
My theory is simple – ALWAYS keep your body/skin at a normal WARM temperature.
Did you notice that because we wanted to avoid the heat, we generally wear as few layers of clothing as possible, and try to be as cold as possible?
Just because we can bear the cold doesn’t mean it is good for our health.
Let me ask you when is the last time you drank something that’s really hot?
I think trying to stay cool is not a good idea.
We should wear the right amount of clothing depending on the external temperature. If you are in a cold environment, you should wear more cloths to keep your body temperature warm. If you feel you are cold inside, don’t be afraid to drink some warm/hot water or put on a jacket. If you are in a hot environment, don’t just take off as many cloths as possible, but keep some cloths on to make sure your body (and skin) is warm and not cool. Even when you sleep, cover your body to keep warm. The key is to stay warm!!
The idea is to keep your body temperature well regulated and keep it at a normal temperature (warm).
I believe (IMHO) one of the many reasons we are getting this Cholinergic Urticaria is because our body is always in a cold state, and we don’t make use of our body to generate/release heat. In the long run, we lost the ability to dissipate heat, and therefore no sweating. Another reason, maybe is because our skin is cold, and if we warm up quickly inside due to whatever the cause, our skin can’t release the excess heat.
Why? Because our body/skin is too cold!!
A lot of people with Cholinergic Urticaria have said exercising until sweating is the way to go. And I agree. I play badminton for 2 hours every Thursdays before I have Cholinergic Urticaria and after Cholinergic Urticaria. I tried a few ways to minimize the itch. The best way I found is to spend more time stretching from head to toe, take more time to warm up before stepping onto the court, and wear warm-up jacket/pants. Once I let my body gradually heats up and I then take off my jacket, then later my pants. Sweating will come eventually, more quickly in summer than in winter. I found this has worked the best for my case. It has been more painful in the beginning, but if you do it more often, eventually, you will sweat easier.
But why is it that when you exercise under a hot weather versus exercising under a cold weather has a big difference to the amount of itch/sweat?
I think the key is the difference between your CURRENT body/skin heat, and what a NORMAL/HEALTHY person’s body temperature should be. If you always kept your body warm (no matter if it’s summer or winter), then you can sweat faster than when your body is cold. Don’t be afraid to keep your body warm (slightly below the point of sweating). Just warm it up GRADUALLY.
This is just a hypothesis that I have tested on myself only.
Goal – Always keep your body at a warm temperature (independent of when and where you are)
Application of the theory
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Things to do
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1) If you felt a little bit cold (just feel your skin with your hand), then wear a jacket or drink warm water. After you drank a few sip of warm water, your body temperature will rise. At this time, just relax and let your body cool down. Eventually, it will cool down and it’s your body that is doing all the hard work for you.
2) Try to avoid going into an area where the difference in temperature is very big unless your body is warm.
2.1) From an air-conditioned office to the streets on hot day! You are bound to feel the itch. Before you go out into the sun, make sure you body is warm. After you go out, don’t stay under the direct sun. Try to walk under the shade for a while, until your body can catch up with the external temperature. Walking will make your body heat up faster, so do walk slowly at first.
3) If you get hot, let it be. Relax. Don’t put on cold water or other external means. It is best to let your body cool down naturally and gradually (hopefully with some hint of sweating). If you start to have itch, then take a more mild approach to reduce heat, either by taking off just 1 layer of clothes at a time or drink a little bit of cool water (don’t drink icy water or put water on your skin, unless necessary).
3.1) You want to try to get your body used to the heat and let your skin do the heat regulation without much external help.
4) When taking a bath or shower, don’t use too cold or too hot water. Use warm water.
4.1) The reason I believe to bath in cool/warm water is because when our body is surrounded by cool/warm water, our body will try to heat up and stay warm. This can train up your body to heat up and keep your body warm. I also do a little bit of arms/legs motion so that it’s like of like an exercise on its own.
4.2) In the opposite end, when we are submerged in hot water bath, our body can’t cool down no matter how hard we try to sweat. The body under water is not going to sweat because the heat just kept building up and transfer to all over our body. Eventually, you will have the same itchy/prickly feeling without sweating.
5) Don’t rely on a heater to keep your body warm. Instead, I recommend you either do some simple exercise/stretching to warm your body, or drink warm water, or wear a jacket. Don’t rely on an A/C to keep you cool, instead, take off a bit of cloths or drink cool water. But best of all is to just let your body sweat it out to cool down, that is our ultimate goal.
5.1) The key is to let your body regulate its temperature from the INSIDE, not from the OUTSIDE!
6) I think keeping the skin moist is good.
6.1) For me, I usually take a shower to clean my body/hair, then submerge myself in a cool/warm bath and put baby/body oil into the bath. I will stay there for 5 to 10 minutes and let the oil cover all parts of my body. Sometimes I felt cold in the bath and I will move my arms and legs under water to keep my body warm.
6.2) I have a different set of cleanser/toner for my face and I wash it 2x a day.
7) Think of drinking warm/hot water as an exercise – it’s an exercise to allow your body to cool down naturally.
7.1) So, when you are sitting in front of a computer or on a couch, and you don’t feel warm inside. Try drinking a sip of warm water. Feel the warmth from the water flowing inside your body. Try to relax and let your body cool you down. Don’t take off any clothes or change the room temperature. The more you do it the better it is for you.
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Conclusion
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You can do all of the above on top of all of the medication you are having. It is not going to hurt to have some extra vitamin in our system, just don’t take too much. Even normal, non-Cholinergic Urticaria-people take vitamins to keep them healthy.
It is my believe that when your body can regulate temperature sub-consciously, it is much better than you going into a steam room every day stressing your body to the absolute max while during the rest of the day, you don’t let your body train up to regulate body heat. It is normal to feel both warm and cold within a short period of time. Normally, our body acts as equilibrium, but for us Cholinergic Urticaria people, our body can’t maintain equilibrium, so we should try to exercise this part of our body mechanics, just don’t stretch it to the extreme.
The concept is to treat you as a NORMAL person and do NORMAL things to stay warm.
Good luck!
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Side Notes:
1) I am a junk food junkie, and I ate a lot of chips in my daily diet. Since I got Cholinergic Urticaria, I have been eating very few chips. Before I applied the above suggestions, I usually can’t eat any spicy chips. But after I constantly keeping my body warm, now I can eat spicy chips with no itch.
2) Since right now I am living in summer (July, 2010), when I go out, I usually will break a sweat easily. Just gradually let my body heat up and I will not feel the itch.
3) To get to work, I need to walk 5 to 10 minutes on the street. In summer, I can feel my body heats up, but there is no itch. When I enter the office, the A/C is really cold, then my body started to itch, for a few seconds. Then I let my body temp to come to a lower state, and put on a jacket.
4) Drinking a lot of fluid is good, but you have to watch the temperature of the fluid. Drink cold water when you are hot, and drink hot water when you are cold. It sounds so simple, but it makes sense. Don’t drink icy water unless you can’t stand the itch.
5) I have been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder several years ago, and at one point, I am quite stressful, that might be the trigger of my Cholinergic Urticaria. I am not sure if the medication I am taking is also part of the cause of my Cholinergic Urticaria.
6) Like some have mentioned before, I didn’t get sick for the time since I got my Cholinergic Urticaria. Co-incidence? I don’t know.
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As a Cholinergic Urticaria patient, I believe the best solution is to heal your body and not to rely on an ongoing medication. I know some medication may minimize your Cholinergic Urticaria, but it never made it go away. I really hope these suggestions will help anyone out there.
I believe part of the reason people who has been cured with Cholinergic Urticaria has re-occurred is because they have let their body get too comfortable and used to the COLD body temperature and eventually lost the ability to do the simplest thing like sweating!!
An analogy is, imagine you don’t use one part of your body, say don’t move your left hand. Eventually, your left hand will become numb and soon you will lose control if it. One way to recover is to exercise your left hand ‘gradually’ and regularly. In the beginning, it may hurt, but once you use it more, it will be better. If you try to stress your hand with excessive exercise in a short period of time, you are going to hurt your hand without giving time for it to heal and recover!
So, even for all the people who are cured of Cholinergic Urticaria, I hope you can exercise the body temperature regulation mechanic of your body so you can be Cholinergic Urticaria free. Just imagine Cholinergic Urticaria as flu. If you don’t take care of your body at all times, it will come back! People say Cholinergic Urticaria appears suddenly and so is flu….. just that when we have the flu, we know very well what to do to cure it.
Sorry for writing such a long message. I may have over-simplified my case of Cholinergic Urticaria. It’s just my 2 cents.
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Title: Re: New and simple approach to cure/relief Cholinergic Urticaria – Keep your body warm
Post by: HivesGuy on July 17, 2010, 10:29:16 AM
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Hey SendtoWilliam,
Wow, that was an awesome & detailed post! Thanks for your great contribution, and welcome to the forum!
Your background story sounded very interesting, and I also enjoyed reading your thoughts and tips on reducing the hives.
That is odd that your hives started after eating the wonton. I wonder if that somehow contributed to the hives, or if it was simply a coincidence.
Your hypothesis is interesting, and I certainly agree with most all of what you said. For most of us, our hives begin to occur as our body temperature increases. Therefore, if we keep them high to begin with, it only follows that we should reduce the symptoms (ie, no increase in body temperature will occur if our bodies are already hot).
I have found this to be true in many circumstances for myself. For example, when summer started a month ago, we were having abnormally hot weather (in the 90’s). It was extremely hot and muggy. As luck would have it, our heat pump decided to die on us. I ordered a portable A/C online as a temporary solution. While waiting for it to arrive, it would get as hot as 88 in my house.
I would literally had a layer of sweat on my skin (which felt awesome since I didn’t sweat much, yet at the same time felt kinda sticky and uncomfortable). I noticed that I had almost no hives. Even when I went outside into the blazing sun, because my skin was already sweaty and hot, it didn’t usually cause a reaction. So I do agree with your hypothesis for the most part.
The only thing I would add is that even though staying warm definitely helps avoid attacks from sharp temperature changes, it isn’t something we can do all the time (especially in the winter). In the winter months, no matter how thickly I dress or how hard I work out, it seems that my body cools very fast again. And then, when I get warm again, I usually get a bad attack. So this would make it difficult to maintain a warm body temperature during the winter.
But overall, I agree that staying warm will reduce the “shock on the body” during the temperature changes. On the flip side, staying cool constantly also works, as long as you can consistently stay cool and avoid doing anything that drastically increases the body temp. So I guess the main point is to simply maintain a consistent body temperature, and avoid sharp changes. And it is probably better to be too warm than too cold when experiencing a temperature change.
Thanks again for the awesome post, and once again welcome!
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Title: Re: New and simple approach to cure/relief Cholinergic Urticaria – Keep your body warm
Post by: sendtowilliam on July 17, 2010, 05:44:12 PM
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Hi HivesGuy,
You are truly an amazing individual who put in so much time and effort into creating a platform for us all to learn from each other and try to cure ourselves when no doctors have a way to cure us. Without your forum, I wouldn’t feel so good right now after I applied my hypothesis on myself.
To tell you the truth, I have only drafted the hypothesis last week after I read through all the stories in this forum and as many stories I can find online. I have written down all the methods people have tried, and see which combination is the most effective. Heck, I even ordered a parasite zapper, and it’s in transit as I am tying this email.
But before the zapper arrived, I looked at all the scrap paper on the ideas, and it seemed to all be involving taking medication or sweating. I looked at all the medication people tried and I got lost in all the scientific terms people used. So, I kept looking for a hole in all the methods. A method nobody has tried – which is to keep my body warm.
Warm is a very vague term. My definition of warm is the palms of both my hands are warm. And I can felt the inside of my body is warm. I can also feel my heart is beating. When I am at that level of warm-ness, usually, my skin is a little bit moist, due to the heat on the surface.
Upon testing my theory, I am amazed at how quickly my body seemed to change to adapt to a sudden change of temperature. The most noticeable is what kind of food I can eat. A week ago, when I ate any hot food or even a slight hint of spicy food, I will feel itchy on the top of my scalp. After I applied my hypothesis for a few days, I can eat hot satay beef noodle!!! It’s both mildly hot and spicy, and not a hint of itch anywhere. My head felt hot, and my forehead started to sweat a few bite into the yummy noodles.
My butt doesn’t itch when I feel like I need to go poo too!!
Also, as I have mentioned before, I play badminton every week at the same place at the same court. The badminton place is indoors and the temperature is well regulated by air-con and heaters to be quite cool and constant, so I can use this as my control environment. Two weeks ago (I skipped badminton last week), I played at the same court at the same time with the same group of friends for the same level of activity, I will sweat maybe 10+ minutes after I starting hitting the birdie. But a few days after I tried my hypothesis, I began to sweat while I am warming up before even hitting 1 birdie!! This is unbelievable. I haven’t been able to sweat during warm-up since a long time back.
FYI, I have been playing badminton regularly every week for more than several years, and only last year (summer time) have I felt itchy. Since then, every time I walk into the badminton center, I just wanted to die but I knew once I sweat, it’s going to be better. But as you may have experienced, the amount of pain we have to endure before we can sweat can be unbearable!! Now, I am looking forward to playing badminton next week. This change in mood has made me more happy lately. So what if the itch may come back in winter, but my hope is I can cure myself ASAP.
So, this really showed in my case, under the same external temperature (indoors badminton court), I sweat a lot more and faster when I only applied all of my ‘to do’ for a few days.
That’s when I am confident that at least this hypothesis worked on 1 case so far. And I wanted to share it with others and hope they can try it and maybe add more insight on it to make the hypothesis better and more effective.
I agree with you that it’s ‘harder’ to stay warm in winter, but I work at an office where the air-con is really high, thus, the office is really cold, and my job requires me to sit in front of the computer all day (so to my body, this is kinda like winter temperature).
A week ago, I would wear shorts and 1 short-sleeve t-shirt to work. After I written up my hypothesis, the next day at work, I wear jeans, 1 short-sleeve t-shirt, and a long-sleeve cotton jacket, and I applied all the ‘to do’. By the end of the day after I left the office, I went out into a hot day, walked 5 to 10 minutes under the sun to my car, and I can barely feel an itch. Mind you that a week ago, when it isn’t that hot, a minute into my walk, the itch is so bad that I want to just run back in the office and hide there.
That’s why when I noticed all the improvements in my body within a short period of time, without changing my diet or any other habits. In fact, after applying my hypothesis, I spoiled myself a little bit by eating more chips, and drinking warm/hot soup I liked, and all the goodies I missed while my Cholinergic Urticaria is severe.
I don’t know, but why not give it a shot. Just try it for a few days. I don’t think you will have anything to loose and everything to gain…. and if more people can try it (when where they live is in winter) …. I hope we can find a better final solution to get rid of Cholinergic Urticaria for once and for all.
I have tried both staying cool and staying warm, and the difference is like heaven and hell!! I would never go back to staying cool…. (temperature wise)……. ;D
Sincerely,
William
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Title: EVERYDAY OR SOMETIMES? HIVES MANAGEMENT
Post by: mozartthekat on February 18, 2011, 11:48:58 PM
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You might be asking yourself, “What does she mean? How could I possibly avoid a reaction?”
Do you ever feel that sometimes with proper management, your body feels like it went on a vacation away from hives? I DO!
Well…for me that’s how it has been lately. I really try to take care of myself to make sure I do not have a hives reaction. And you know what? Sometimes I can can get away with it! Now it is really hard to do, believe me it isn’t really easy. A few things I do are…
1. Dress in light clothing and stay warm
I’ve read a post where someone mentioned to keep your body temperature regulated. I believe this is key! How do I do it? I’ll wear long sleeve shirts, a t-shirt with a thin jacket, or a thin sweater. If I wear a long sleeve shirt, i’ll try to keep a jacket off unless it is really cold. BUT BE CAREFUL! I notice that some fabrics irritate my skin so i’ll stick to cottons or a cotton mix of some sort. NEVER WOOL! I trick I use is this, if I can’t rub the fabric on my face without it being soft and comfortable on my skin…FORGET IT.
2. Keep cool!
When I feel that my temperature is going up, I’ll drink, touch, go near something cold. It doesn’t have to be freezing but I just want to lower my body temperature as soon as possible. If I feel kinda itchy in a certain area I’ll attend to that area first. I’ve even purchased a bottle of water and after taking a few sips, placed the bottle over my neck. It felt good and my hives stopped spreading.
3. DRINK FLUIDS!
I found that when I drink more tea or water, my hives seem not to react as bad. I forgot the exact percentage but I do know we are definitely made up a large percentage of water. It’s good to flush out those toxins. Have you had acne before? You did??? Wow! Now what did google suggest you do? DRINK LOT’S OF WATER!!! Ding ding ding! 🙂 Yes my friends. Not only will you experience clearer skin, and lighter hive reactions but you may loose a few pounds too!
4. Ex-er-cise.
Now when I talk about exercise, my way of doing so is a bit different from others on the forum. I don’t run on a treadmill or lift weights. It’s not that I don’t agree with it, but I just haven’t yet attempted it. I’m still quite scared. :- I have a feeling that if I did try, I would like it. This is just what is working for me for the time being. Anyways what I currently use for exercise is walking. I love going on walks. I also love shopping. OOOHHHH outdoor malls rock! 🙂 Hahaha…but I do enjoy going on walks with my boyfriend. We’ll pick a city or random interesting spot and walk for hours. It makes my heart smile and I experience new and exciting things all the time! If you don’t have someone to go with you, that’s okay too! Go out! Get yourself off that couch and see what you are missing. Who knows? You may end up finding that special person to go on those walks with you.
5. Stay positive.
I know that part of this condition for me is stress related. Keep your cool. Don’t let your anger pour out your beautiful body. I know that if I can keep my cool mentally, I can do the same with my body physically. Having a hives attack just makes you more upset anyways right?
How to keep yourself happy? ???I remember one time at work my manager was giving anger management advice to a co-worker of mine. She told him to SING! Lalalala!!! ;DIt does work! Do you have a favorite song? Let me ask another question. Do you have a favorite song that is fun to sing along to and you can easily remember? Then….use that one! If not sing a jingle from a commercial. For instance that meow mix cat food commercial. “Meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow….” The point is to change the attitude. LAUGH. Make sure you take time to laugh. You know the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Have you seen the movie, “Patch Adams.” I highly recommend you doing so if not! You’ll understand what I mean for sure!
Well there you go. 5 ways off the top of my little 5 foot tall head. They are practical and for the most part cost efficient! So why not give it a try? I’ll list a few more later if you’d like. 🙂
Have a beautiful day!
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Title: Re: EVERYDAY OR SOMETIMES? HIVES MANAGEMENT
Post by: HivesGuy on February 19, 2011, 02:21:55 PM
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Nice tips. I have tried those, and I can attest to the fact that they can help tremendously! Thanks for the post.
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: Darkhorse on April 07, 2011, 04:13:38 PM
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Quote from: HivesGuy on February 01, 2009, 01:42:08 PM
4. Beware of Alcohol- A few people have made posts on the forum talking about how alcohol seems to prevent an outbreak. It is unclear why this may happen, but it could be due to the brain not being as aware.
When you drink alcohol, your body temperature drops because alcohol allows more blood to reach the surface of the body. Thus more heat is radiated or conducted away. Any feeling of warmth experienced after drinking alcohol is explained by the fact that this flow of blood to the surface warms the skin and the ends of the sensory nerves in the skin, and these convey to the brain a sensation of warmth. The fact that alcohol actually lowers the temperature of the body was first announced by Sir B. Ward Richardson in 1866 to the British Association.
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Title: Re: EVERYDAY OR SOMETIMES? HIVES MANAGEMENT
Post by: Jay_Jay on April 15, 2011, 10:01:28 AM
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Yeah mate, i know what you mean about the whole keep cool mentally thing, i try my best with that and sometimes i can control them. Like for example think happy thoughts like funny moments with freinds etc
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: Hitchhiker on April 25, 2011, 09:51:06 AM
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Quote from: Darkhorse on April 07, 2011, 04:13:38 PM
Quote from: HivesGuy on February 01, 2009, 01:42:08 PM
4. Beware of Alcohol- A few people have made posts on the forum talking about how alcohol seems to prevent an outbreak. It is unclear why this may happen, but it could be due to the brain not being as aware.
When you drink alcohol, your body temperature drops because alcohol allows more blood to reach the surface of the body. Thus more heat is radiated or conducted away. Any feeling of warmth experienced after drinking alcohol is explained by the fact that this flow of blood to the surface warms the skin and the ends of the sensory nerves in the skin, and these convey to the brain a sensation of warmth. The fact that alcohol actually lowers the temperature of the body was first announced by Sir B. Ward Richardson in 1866 to the British Association.
I remember a Mythbusters episodes debunking the warming ability of alcohol.
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: daddeo on June 12, 2011, 04:56:33 PM
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In my short encounter with trying to meet this head on for my son (16) I’ve discovered a few things. 1. Talking with him and prompting him to read a few threads on this forum seemed to have liberated him. He tended to want to hide his issues from the world… Now I see him with his shirt off among friends in the sun with hives… With understanding there seems to be an acceptance. And to restate what a few have wrote, I can see that he doesn’t want to give in and let the Cholinergic Urticaria win. 2.) Reading that increasing water intake may help has absolutely for the moment changed his outlook! It gave him a can do attitude, and for the past two weeks he has been developing great drinking habits. 3.)
Reading that breaking a daily sweat can help was for me like a light bulb going off. My son wrestles, so mid Nov. till mid March he watches his diet, practices in a warm wrestling room after school, and rehydrates. This spring, his hives got worse… He plays baseball, but the practices are less vigorous, and diet returned to that of a normal 16 year old. The last two weeks have been great, we go to the park, excercise in the heat, drink lots of water, and watch the diet more…
The hives have reduced to where he only gets them after a shower, and the cooler the shower even less. 4.) Maybe nothing, but I notice with him he gets no hives on his face or arms below the shirt line… He is tan everywhere a short sleeve doesn’t cover… I’m also encouraging him to be shirtless more however it seems it is very difficult for him to get some color from the sun on his torso… 5.) I realized there are worse case scenarios… I quickly got an epi pen for precaution!
In respone to an above post. Your son is athletic you wrote… Likewise here. So far he pushes through the excercise till he sweats and lately with increasing water he is back to sweating alot. This is seeming to help alot.
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Title: Re: How to Manage & Live with Cholinergic Urticaria
Post by: HivesGuy on June 12, 2011, 05:28:16 PM
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Thanks for those updates daddeo. I am so happy your son seems to be doing better. Those are some great tips/observations you made, and thanks for sharing that with us.
Best of luck to both of you!