Complementary Medicine advice for Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria please (long sorry)

[BadRoly]

I have chronic idiopathic urticaria and have suffered badly with this current flare up since March 2012. It was triggered by a viral infection we believe.

Since then I have had 3 courses of steroids, been tested by a consultant immunologist who has done all he can, been tested by a consultant gynaecologist who has ruled out hormonal stuff and I am waiting on a dermatology appointment to get started on cyclosporin. I do have an underactive thyroid but it is currently very stable and my results are all comfortably mid range.

I currently take the maximum possible dosage of antihistamines (3 differnt types upto 4 times a day) but still I am coming out in hives.

It has been a 'stressful' 15mths. Dh was made redundant then his step dad and my dad both died. Dh quickly found work but it is 3hrs drive away so I am home with 4 dc Mon-Thurs. Fortunately I am a SAHM so don't have additional worries over childcare and financially we are ok.

I think the hives are triggered by stress/anxiety. For example, they are calm now but I will be bad again by tomorrow evening because of commitments I have on a Tuesday. I could stop what I do (Guider) but I don't want to because I enjoy it.

Similarly, I flare up badly if we have to go away (I get anxious about packing/leaving the house). But we HAVE to do some travelling as nearest family is 2.5 hours drive and my widowed mum is 400miles away!

So that's the background. I feel I need to do something myself to try and deal with the underlying stress/anxiety/tension but don't know where to start! There are so many complementary/alternative therapies out there and I am a little scared by the witch doctor aspect of it all. If anyone has any suggestions as to where I could start (or what to avoid) I would appreciate it!

Thank you for reading.

I know this is a bit 'out there', but how about some anxiety related anti depressants. I've had hives a couple of times, allergy, possibly to a virus too. The last lot lasted a couple of weeks and I felt sorry for myself (couldn't walk at one point, it was in my feet). I also had it very badly as soon as I gave birth to twins and never found out what it was.

I'd just try anything going, but if you're clear it's likely to be stress related then calming therapies could be good or the anti-depressants.

Thanks Merry, I suspect my GP won't go down the route of anti depressants based on previous experience! I don't feel particularly stressed but my body clearly feels otherwise and I do know I get anxious about certain situations!

The hives don't help either, especially when they come up on my neck and face so that people start commenting (sympathetically but still drawing attention to them)!

Hives are quite commonly reported when thyroid levels are not correct and 'comfortably mid range' is the clue to me that something is not right there.

For most people, to be ideal, your TSH should be low in range and your FT4 and FT3 high, so that may need to be looked at again.

Ok, I'll check that again then RockinD. Thank you

Re the stress, have you tried yoga or some other kind of relaxation course? I also find a good b complex vitamin (eg solgar) makes a big difference to my stress-induced eczema.

I would love to try yoga Aetae but have struggled to find a class that runs while dc4 is at nursery (mornings only). I'm on the case for September when he starts school though. Evenings are out with dh being away. I have a DVD that one day will make it out of the case

Oh and I'll look into the b complex vitamins. Thanks again

I think that's the fate of most exercise DVDs , I have a pregnancy yoga one still unwrapped :/ - classes are definitely easier once you can get to them in Sept...

I've also been using this book which I've found helpful to teach me to be a bit calmer.