Hives and Angioedema

[Moonamoona]

I’ve been experiencing intermittent allergic reactions - starts with itchy raised welts on my neck for 2 days then the skin around my eyes swells up enormously, I can barely open my right eye today. The doctor thinks a contact allergy but I haven’t been able to identify a common trigger. I have a referral to a dermatologist but no date yet - in the meantime trying to work out what could be causing it. Five occurrences over 6 months but no obvious pattern other than on four of the occasions I’d been out the night before it started (once driving, the other times I had a few drinks). Ruled out perfume/hair products (have stopped using either) and haven’t changed my face/eye cream, make up (although replaced with new just in case) or laundry detergent. Haven’t found an antihistamine that does anything to help, have tried cetirizine, acrivastine and loratadine.

Has anyone any idea of other potential sources of allergy that I could rule out? No history of allergies but I have developed mild hay fever in the last two years (I’m 50 not menopausal yet)

Have you had your vaccines? There are people who have suffered hives and urticaria since either their initial vaccines or boosters. The symptoms can take upto 2 weeks to show up as it's not an allergic reaction but an immune response to the antibodies in the vaccine. Some people have too many antibodies for various reasons and it can make the immune system go crazy.

I suffer from this post my moderna and no doctor can pinpoint a cause as I have no history of allergies. They say research is coming out more and more on this side effect so it is a possibility. If you read the latest Yellowcard scheme report on Moderna, there's about 12k dermatology related side effects logged of which urticaria and angioedema are noted too.

www.cureus.com/articles/69363-chronic-spontaneous-urticaria-after-covid-19-vaccine

mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/covid-19-vaccines-and-allergy/

Sorry this link hasn't showed up properly

mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/covid-19-vaccines-and-allergy/

Yes, I’ve had all three vaccines, I hadn’t thought that there might be a connection as the timing doesn’t suggest a link - just worked it out - initial vaccines in March and May then the first rash in September. However, I was exposed to covid the weekend before the first rash appeared but tested negative. Had two more instances of the rash before and just after my booster. Had the rash with covid in early Feb - rash and headache first tested positive five days later. I wonder if there’s any possibility it’s connected to exposure to covid or just exposure to a larger group of people that’s triggering my immune system? Other than one instance (after my covid booster) all the other occurrences have been after seeing larger groups socially. Sorry to hear you’ve had issues too - has the rash occurred several times? Anything you’ve found that helps? Many thanks

@Moonamoona

Yes, I’ve had all three vaccines, I hadn’t thought that there might be a connection as the timing doesn’t suggest a link - just worked it out - initial vaccines in March and May then the first rash in September. However, I was exposed to covid the weekend before the first rash appeared but tested negative. Had two more instances of the rash before and just after my booster. Had the rash with covid in early Feb - rash and headache first tested positive five days later. I wonder if there’s any possibility it’s connected to exposure to covid or just exposure to a larger group of people that’s triggering my immune system? Other than one instance (after my covid booster) all the other occurrences have been after seeing larger groups socially. Sorry to hear you’ve had issues too - has the rash occurred several times? Anything you’ve found that helps? Many thanks

Yes the rash seems to be chronic so appears and disappears every few days or so. It's been 3 weeks now. I had an initial dose of prednisone for 7 days that helped treat the bulk of it and since then cetirizene is the only thing that manages it when it pops up - I was told I can take upto 40mg a day. Also a 1% menthol lotion from pharmacy is heaven for the itchiness. I was told it should taper off as soon as my antibodies reduce to a lower level. Apparently too many Covid antibodies (from Covid natural immunity or vaccines) can make the immune system go out of whack. And Covid too causes it obviously. Holistically I've been taking turmeric capsules as well as they're an anti inflammatory. Not sure how much it helps but it certainly hasn't made it worse.

Worse case the gp can prescribe fexofenadine which is a much stronger antihistamine to help. But the chronic spontaneous nature means a reason is hard to pinpoint and you just have to hope your immune system naturally calms down after a time.

Oh thank you so much @phizog! I went back to the GP this morning as I could barely open one of my eyes, she’s put me on two antihistamines, an antibiotic and an antibiotic cream for my eyes as they’re so red and swollen in case of secondary infection. I literally looked like the invisible man leaving the house - dark sunnies, mask and blanket scarf to cover the rash. I look like I have the plague! 🥺

I have been experiencing the exact same thing, I associated it with hormones as I am 6 months pregnant and have been experiencing it since the beginning of my pregnancy. in the first 3 months it was a reaction every couple of weeks, my forehead and eyes would swell up until I was unrecognisable and last for 4 or so days. Cut everything out that I could think might be a trigger (cleaning products, skincare, makeup, perfume) the only thing that soothed it was olive oil and coconut oil which I’ve been using on my skin daily since. I thought I was over it as I seemed to have a break from any reaction for maybe 6 weeks, and have been introducing make up without any issues until last night had another reaction! I’m wary of taking antihistamines while pregnant, and sounds like they might not relieve it much quicker anyway, but it’s causing me to miss social events and do shopping in sunglasses even when it’s dark and rainy!!