HELP!!! Chronic Urticaria - anyone suffer? anyone have a clue what causes it?

[EvanMom]

Hi - never posted on this board but thought I would tonight as I am itching like crazy.

I have a dreadful skin condition that is kept beautifully under control by taking 10mg Atarax every 3-4 days. I have had chronic urticaria for almost 10 years now and have taken antihistamines every week for that long.
If I don't take the drug my life is unbearable. As soon as I get a tingle anywhere on my body I take a pill. If I leave it, after a few hours, places I didn't even know I had start itching (inside ears, behind the eyes etc) I come up in raised white lumps, streaks and weals all over my body. The more I scratch, the more white lumps come up. After a few minutes of attack I look like something out of a horror movie.

I have lived with it for so long that I am used to it and more often than not I take the antihistamines before it becomes too much of a problem. I have had numerous appointments with skin specialists over the years and noone has a clue as to why this happens (one suggested autoimmune?). My sister has EXACTLY the same problem... chronic urticaria coupled with dermographism (sp?). The dermographism bit means that I can write my name on my skin by very gently scratching with one of my nails - after a few seconds of having scratched, up comes my name, bright red on my skin. It used to be my party trick - not so funny now after so many years.

Anyone know what I go through? Anyone know what causes it? I am fed up of taking anti-histamines. Atarax is only recommended for 3 months (admittedly I take a low dose) - but I can't function without it and have taken it for 10 years.

Maybe one of you ladies knows more about this? If only I knew what caused this?

Doh
Just read threads properly. will let sis know re homeopathic urticaria. Sorry.

hi to everyone,
i am a new member and have been skimming through the advice for skin problems, myself and daughter suffer dreadfully from prickly heat, i love the sun and she loves to swim so i was wondering if anyone has any remedies that we can use before the warm weather starts, which may help to build up some resistance.
many thanks

your thread has made me itch!!!!!
I'd never heard of dermographism before but my favourite party piece as a teenager was writing messages on my skin like that! used to write love messages to boyfriends!
my skin is only mildly itchy and has got a lot better in recent years. The autoimmune theory sounds good though - my family and my husbands are packed with examples of this and now our kids are showing signs too.
I can only begin to imagine what it must be like to suffer like this all the time. I'm really sorry - much sympathy.

haven't posted here before as I'd nothing useful to add but have just read about a cream developed for contact dermititis and wondered if it might be worth a try?

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3672983.stm

Hi, My grandson had this for a while but it has gone now. However, he does suffer from prickly heat. Go to the website
www.healingproduct.co.uk/SKCream2.htm

as there is something on there that might help. It is natural stuff too. I have got some for grandson as he is suffering with prickly heat whilst on holiday in Spain due to having to put suncream on. When he comes home grandma will sort him. It is not expensive and only 75p postage if you get it direct from the manufacturer above. Hope this helps. Regards, Annie

I also have chronic urticaria and have had it for about three years. The bad news is that you'll probably never find out what causes it (80% never do apparently) but the good news is that it should clear up eventually - although it may take a few weeks/months/years.

Mine is usually worst during the summer, but has been quite good this year. Just a few blotches here and there.

Top tip 1: Take Zirtec (over-the-counter antihistamine) and Zantac (sold as a stomach medicine but is also antihistamine) together - it is the most effective combination and is recommended by specialists as being better than just taking one type of anti-hist. I've been taking that combo for years and there are no side effects that I've ever noticed or ever heard other people having.

Top tip 2: Join the Yahoo group on Chronic Urticaria - an invaluable source of information if you get hives really badly.

I think I may be the longest sufferer - 22 years, now 37 got it when I was 14/15 - been to untold number of specialists and alternative therapists. No known cure, will grow out of it in my late 30s. How late will it be? It has been hell. I do take Zirtek haven't heard of the Zantac combination. Can you take Zantac when pregnant/breastfeeding?

To the person who is pregnant. I had to take Piriton the first 12 weeks then had permission to take Zirtek from then on and am still BFing at 9 months and taking one Zirtek a day. Piriton makes me feel like hell, sleepy/groggy and still get itching - not sure I can face the first 12 weeks of pregnancy again tempted to just take Zirtek. DD developed ezcema at 6 months despite exclusively breastfeeding - very depressing, worried she will get it too.

Would love to keep in contact with any other long term sufferers. Feel like the NHS think it won't kill us therefore it isn't a priority. I am pretty sure mine is an autoimmune disease very little research done because we won't die from it. Very frustrating.

Try this:
www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/qanda.asp?article_ID=600

Evanmom - You say your urticaria eased off during both pregnancies. Did you tell that to your doctor? Because it sounds like that might be the clue that your problem is an auto-immune one.

I only know this because a friend who suffers from MS (multiple sclerosis, an auto-immune disease) told me the same thing: her MS eased off during both pregnancies.

I hope you find a real solution soon. I have suffered from urticaria several times and can sympathise.

This website sheds some light on Urticaria:

www.urticaria.com/chronic.htm

My sister had something similar (though not as severe I think).... turns out she was allergic to sugar (but only sugar made from sugar beet). After taking that out of her diet, she was sorted. It was v. bizarre but thankfully is now behind her. For many years we all tried to figure out the pattern... but it was too random. It was a health food shop test that showed it up. I've heard they are not v. reliable but for her it worked.

Would it be worth getting tested?

I've never been on the allergy threads before either and I was about to post about the very same subject because my lo - 6 months has just been referred to a Peadiatrician for urticaria, it flared up quite badly yesterday right before my very eyes after he'd covered himself in banana, but what I don't understand is that he has had banana before with no problems, and he had the rash well before he had any food at all! Anyway, not wanting to hijack - there's loads of good advice on here I'm definately going to consult a homeopath for us both as I had pressure urticaria a while ago and that cleared up with anti histamines but still get loads of weird rashes.
Sorry Evanmum not much help but just thought I'd share my experience.

Actually,don't know if this helps but I wasn't reffered to a dermatologist, I was referred to an immunologist who was very good. I'm not sure if that's an allergy specialist or not? Unfortunately, I remember reading a while ago that there is a shortage of allergy specialists - not that that surprises me, is there anything in abundance in the NHS these days?

Is urticaria the same as hives?

Yes. Urticaria / hives / nettlerash = same thing

Mostly harmless but extremely horrible to get

Doctors generally pretty clueless.

(I am an expert unfortunately!)

I thought it was, therefore I totally sympathise with you as I have it too!! I suppose Im quite lucky tho as I only get it in Spring not all year, The doctors said its 'probably' blossom but wont do anything further to help! It is so unfair they seem to think its not that important never mind that you are itching like crazy and scratch until your red raw!
I remember one time when I was younger and having a sleepover with my best mate and we were on the bed in nighties reading magazines and one minute my lgs were fine a a minute later she was like 'WHATS WRONG WITH YOUR LEGS!!' and low and behold I was covered in masses of red itchy welts and simply said 'Oh dont worry' Ive never seen such a horrified face