Hi Everyone,
I have been suffering from Urticaria since March. I was in Aruba and while there I got them on my 2nd day and happened to get engaged the following day. I really thought I had a bad reaction to seafood since were eating a good amount of it. While there, I tried to cope with it the best I could. I would get them at night, wake up with them and by 10am they would start to go down. I went to the pharmacy and got benadryl. Benadryl only helped me sleep. I really hoped it would go away, some nights were bad others I got hardly anything. When I got back, I realized they were only getting worse and went to my physician who recommended me to an Allergist. He did the skin test and put me on a ton of antahistamines and prednisone. One thing alone did not work I had to take both together. At one point my doseage of prednisone went up to 60mg and I was a bloated, emotional miserable mess. My physician thought maybe I was stressed from being engaged, but if anything I was so happy and excited. After being on prednisone for 2 or 3 months my physician recommended I see a new endocrinologist. I've had Hoshimotos thyroiditis for 18 years or so. When I saw him he said he's cured people of Chronic Urticaria by raising their doseage of thyroid medication(synthroid/levoxyl). I went on the higher doseage and slowly tapered my prednsisone. I went off the predsnione and I was back to my normal self. No hives at all! Now three weeks ago, I slowly started to notice tiny hives coming back and now I am back to full fledge hives. It is so frustrating to not know what is causing this. My allergist pretty much told me I am SOL and am going to learn for a way to cope with it. I don't agree with that, but this time around I'm trying not to take it so hard. I'm in a better mindset (I hope that stays). My normal pattern for my hives are: itchiness around 8pm, 10pm they start to creep out, morning I wake up with them usually on my legs and arms and also other various places which are different every day(ears, face, torso, chest, feet.
A week ago a friend at work recommended I see a Naturopathic Dr. she knows. I went yesterday and she seemed to know what she is talking about. She gave me several different senarios that could be going on in my system. She highly thinks though that it is either yeast in my body or high liver enzymes causing the hives. Unfortunately this visit was not easy on the wallet, but at this point I realize that I need to get better. If she can help me I will find a way to manage the money.
I must say that it is comforting to know that I am not the only one living with this and sad that there is no research going on for it.
I'm so excited and happy to be getting married next year......the last thing I want is stupid, itchy red spots all over me on my wedding day.
If anyone has had any success with Naturopathy please post.
Thank you all for posting your situations, it has definitely made it easier for me to cope!