severe chronic urticaria

[dndrux]

Genster-
Have you heard anything about your allergist appt? Hope you got good news!!

[mrsschlep]

hi everyone!!! It's been a few days since anyone has posted, how is everyone? For the past couple weeks I have been pretty hive-free with a few hives here and there. I woke up on Monday morning with hives all over my face and on my thighs and upper arms and on the palms of my hands. These hives were like the ones I use to get before I started all my meds. They were really deep and almost felt like bruises. I had them for 2 days and this morning I woke up with my period and the hives were no where to be seen. This is driving me CRAZY!!! A few people i have talked to have suggested seeing a rheumatologist for the auto immune part of the diagnosis of whatever it is that I have. So I made an appiontment to see one. Anyone have any experience with a rheumatologist? Hope everyone is having an itch-free day!!

[bgb345]

I was diagnosed today as having dermagraphism, after having really severe itching/stinging/prickling which migrated all over my body for the last two months. And, of course scratching really caused me to have problems I've had problems periodically for about 8 years, but never like this! What causes this? I had an allergic reaction to a medication this January--does that trigger it? Somedays I am also symptom free, other I am absolutely miserable. The doc gave me a prescription for antihistamines, but I don't tolerate them well...
Any info you can give would really be appreciated.

[SuzU]

Hi,
Strange as this may seem, you might want to take yourself to an endocrinologist. There is a common problem that women get called "idiopathic edema," or "idiopathic orthostatic edema," which can cause chronic urticaria and is easily treated.

Some other symptoms are that your socks tend to leave deep indentations on your legs when you take them off at night, also that your abdomen may get bloated by the end of the day. You also may find that you have difficulty losing weight even when dieting. It can cause all sorts of weird symptoms. I just read an article about it because I'm recently dx'ed with it. I don't have urticaria, though I do itch and have scratches on my back and stomach.

It is easy to test for, you just drink a certain amount of water over the course of two days, the first day, you must lie flat for 4 hours, the second day you stand for four hours. If the amount that you urinate is much less when standing, this may be your problem.

I'm not sure how it causes the urticaria, but the treatment (with ephedrine 2x/day) really helps.

You may want to look online for articles.

Good luck.

[genster]

hey dndrux, no word yet on the allergist.
I spent the weekend before last in the emerge with asthma. The drs were all concerned because of the hives, wanting to give me a shot of benedryl, patiently explaining that the benedryl would make me sleepy. Four hours later, still awake, still getting hives, still wheezing. Not too concerned about the hives when I can't breathe. stupid. so, now the meds are doubled; back on prednisone, 50 mg hydroxizine 4x daily, combivent, symbicort, singulair, the whole nine yards. And then my boss says "can't they give you something for that?" Some days I just want to stay in bed forever.
Now the dr wants to do bone scan, has me on bone building drugs. The only good thing is the license to eat cheese & dairy - love my cheese! I shouldn't, as it is grossly fattening, but my joys in life are limited lately.
This has not been a good month for me.