Exercise induced anaphylaxis

[DtPeabodysLoosePants]

Shamelessly posting for traffic as allergies is so quiet.

On Sunday I developed a red itchy rash on my legs. I'd been walking through long grass on Saturday evening so figured it was a grass allergy as I am allergic to grass. I take a prescription antihistamine so didn't really expect much of a reaction. My legs were covered too aoart from my ankles and lower calves.
Tonight my legs are pretty much covered and it's intensely itchy. I've taken fexofenadine this morning and piriton this evening to see if it calms it down.
It's been very muggy here today and I went on a 10 mile bike ride this morning, cane home and showered, ate a cheese baguette sandwich and became even itchier and the rash spread to cover most of my legs. It's an urticaria type rash. I felt quite sick after my lunch and as though I was running a fever but it went off after an hour or so and then I felt ok apart from this rash driving me crazy.
Googling the rash brought up exercise induced anaphylaxis and I was hoping somebody could tell me about it from experience. My ex-SIL has it but I am no longer in touch with her.

I have asthma, hay fever and occasional eczema but have never had this kind of reaction before. No new anything like washing powder, soap, cosmetics etc.

Do visit your GP as soon as possible as you could (not saying you will), have anaphylactic shock. GP will most likely prescribe a short course of steroids or get you an urgent appointment with a dermatologist.

I'm going to go tomorrow. I feel fine now apart from itchy but I'd rather get it checked out.

I'm glad you feel better and hope it is all gone by tomorrow.

I got myself all worried last night and was convinced my tongue was tingling. My itchy legs drove me mad last night. I'm phoning the drs at 8 when they open.

To be clear,

This is NOT anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is where you die, quickly, unless you get immediate medical intervention.

I'd say possibly heat rash and heatstroke rather than allergy related

@FixTheBone are you familiar with exercise induced anaphylaxis? Case histories show years of reactions before a serious reaction. My ex-SIL was running marathons for a decade before she was diagnosed after her reaction became serious too. Anaphylactic shock is where you can die. Pretty sure heatstroke doesn't occur at 22degrees and I didn't have any of the symptoms of heatstroke.

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Exercise-induced-anaphylaxis-V7-formatted.pdf

I have a child with food allergies that can cause an anaphylactic reaction and my understanding is that an allergic reaction becomes anaphylaxis when breathing or heart rate are affected. If you aren’t having difficulty breathing, I don’t think it is anaphylaxis. But if you have eczema and asthma already then you are at heightened risk of anaphylactic reactions and should certainly see a doctor.

Cholinergic urticaria is incredibly rare. It's much more likely to be a heat rash.

I had to take my reliever inhaler a lot yesterday and still feel tight chested.

My experience with allergies is that it can be so hard to get to the bottom of what’s happening as it can be so complex. I would say if you have hives and difficulty breathing, medical attention is needed immediately. Better safe than sorry as anaphylaxis can be very dangerous.

The muggy weather could be playing a part. It affects people. I have asthma and have to keep an eye on it on days like this. The humidity also gives me headaches. If you're worried, see a doctor or pay privately for allergy testing.

I have an appointment in 2 hours. I feel ok apart from itchy and tight chested but my hay fever is bad at the moment so the right chest is expected. The rash has lessened now but what's left is still really itchy and sore. I'll get the bus back up the big hill of the school run instead of walking I think, just in case it makes it worse.

I'm allergic to cold air. Any early morning walks/runs/gardening in the cold or just generally being outside in winter and I get the most painful, burning, itching rash. Its awful.

All these reactions feed into each other. I get itchy rashes during hot humid weather. If I had hay fever or a cold, I'd then get a tight chest as well. I need to be careful when I have one reaction happening to avoid doing something to trigger another, otherwise it snowballs and I end up proper miserable!

Hayfever, asthma, eczema and urticaria are all atopic conditions. If you have one you are more likely to have the others.

Urticaria is quite different to eczema even though it can look very similar. Eczema will stay and isn't relieved by antihistamines whereas urticaria can flare up and down very quickly and can respond to antihistamines.

You may need to see a dermatologist (though worth trying steroid creams through your GP first).

GP said it's an allergy and to and regular piriton and see if it goes. She wasn't too concerned so my imagination obviously got the better of me!

My father gets this - he is allergic to one of the chemical by-products that the muscles produce during exercise. It gives him an itchy rash and sets off his asthma symptoms.

It's never been close to an anaphylactic reaction though.

I'm familiar with exercise induced anaphylaxis and glad your gp doesn't think that's what it is.

I suffer from chronic urticaria though and exercise exacerbates it massively. I can end up covered in welts along my legs . This sounds like a similar reaction. I do suffer anaphylaxis to nuts but my urticaria never rose to that level and is managed by fexofenedine

I don't get anaphylaxis but I do get exercise induced asthma, it's horrible! I'm glad your doc isn't worried, hope the rash clears up asap OP.

Sometimes associated with mast cell disorders...came across it when reading about something else.

As far as I am Aware there are different levels of anaphylaxis. Many people just think about the worst one.

Food associated- exercise induced anaphylaxis is a thing apparently.

My daughter has severe peanut & horse allergy and has an allergy action plan (you can Google them) ie when to take antihistamine vs when to give her epipens. All of the symptoms you describe OP still fall into the antihistamine category - sometimes these can be very severe, and she has been hospitalised with severe symptoms but it is not anaphylaxis.
I'm pleased the GP has reassured you. Allergic reactions can be very unnerving and scary.

The thing is I'm on a daily prescription only antihistamine anyway so was surprised at my reaction to whatever it was. I'll be keeping a close eye on things.

When I was taking fexifenedine for my hives it kept the daily ones at bay. It exercise or red wine would still cause an outbreak. The dose wasn't high enough to stop it completely