Ya know, I just don't know what to believe any more! Early last week, I saw a different dermatologist, to show that my Keratosis Pilaris hasn't been improving with the previously prescribed cream (called Urea cream). I took the visit opportunity to re-inquire about my flushing and light pink blotches on lower cheeks and neck that are now there all the time. He said that I am likely, as I am aging, prone to a mild form of rosacea. He does NOT think it is cholinergic urticaria, because I don't get hives or bumps when I flush. So working under the assumption of rosacia, he prescribed a cream for me to try for that, which I will start doing this week. He said that people with rosacea tend to "flush" more easily. (He also prescribed me a different cream try to on my KP.) But I don't think it's rosacea... it's not like pimples, it's more under the skin. Sigh.
I have remained hives free... until today, I think. Maybe, just maybe, I see a few small red hives on the top of my left hand. No idea why or if they are even hives. When they are small like that, smaller than the size of a corn kernel in this case, it can be hard to tell. I am also a bit "redder" than usual around the sides of my neck. So I am trying not to make too much of it.
I know that many who have gone the path of working with natural practitioners / naturopaths will advise me to take out of my diet foods that cause "inflammation" -- but if they refer back to my blog posts from August-October of last year, they will see that I tried that -- even gluten free for four months -- and it didn't help.
Interestingly, my bloodwork for nut allergies all came back as NEGATIVE, but the allergist wants me to continue to avoid them completely since I had the mild reaction to the skin scratch test and because my mouth is itchy when I eat walnuts. So although I have been toting these EpiPens around with me, I hopefully will never have to use them.
I am expecting bloodwork update results back any day now, as my PCP is re-checking my thyroid levels, metabolic panel, and hemoglobin. (My thyroid became highly suppressed in November after a one-month trial of Synthroid / 50 mcg day to see if that would knock-out the hives.) Will be curious to see how those look. Not that there was any pattern to be found there and with the hives I had last summer and fall.
It is still cold, snowy and winter -- so no "spring pollens" have started here yet.
I was sympathizing a few weeks ago with a fellow Hashimoto's diagnosee who is struggline with a much nastier-sounding case of chronic hives than what I dealt with. I gave her the advice to avoid heat, spicy foods, sweating, etc. for as long as possible, while taking antihistamines, to try to reduce them. I wish her well and hope that she finds some relief soon.
Fingers crossed that these aren't hives coming back...
Hi Jennifer-
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to offer up some support! I too am dealing with chronic hives. I have had episodes of hives since 2011. I know how incredibly frustrating and infuriating they can be.
While I don't have your issues of Hashimoto's, I do have issues with rapid changes in temperature as well as dermatographism. I have some wicked seasonal allergies, and oral allergy syndrome. I do have some autoimmune issues in the family... my mother has ecxema and psoriasis. My hives would almost always pop up at night, and always go away in the winter. I think I may have recently stumbled upon a trigger, though, and I think my doctor thinks I'm crazy (he literally said "I've never seen that before" - gee, thanks, now I have to literature dive and do his job for him)... I am having an allergic reaction to antihistamines. For all this time they were trying to shove more antihistamines at the problem it was only making it worse. I'm convinced it's why it went away every winter (and started up every spring - I would start Zyrtec when the pollen started flying). I would also take the meds right before bedtime (hence the hives popping up in the middle of the night) So I've stopped taking the meds and lo-and-behold, things start getting better. I've given myself a couple of challenges with the meds since then with consistent results so I think I've pretty much nailed it...
Anyway, I stumbled across your blog and wanted to say something - hang in there! You're not alone, I feel your pain!! Also, I feel like if there's people out there who may never have thought about the antihistamines giving them a paradoxical reaction - something to think about anyway. I know I never would have tied it together without specific events lining up *just so*. I mean, it took me two years to figure it out.
So, good luck, hugs, and I hope the itchies stay far far away this spring :o)
Jamie -- question, I'm not sure if you will see this reply... but did you notice that with all antihistamines? Like what about the older classes, like Benadryl? Thanks!
DeleteJennifer, I haven't tried the Benadryl in ages. I'm a bit morbidly curious and kind of want to know... at some point I might give it a shot to see what happens. But I think I'm going to give my body a chance to settle down for a while. Right now I'm trying to see if I'm having a reaction to a nasal spray. I'm dreading having to face the upcoming pollen season with nothing to fight back with!
DeleteJamie -- do you have the hives now, you said they go away in the winter? Have you only ever used Zyrtec? By reaction to the nasal spray, do you mean hives there too? thanks!
DeleteThank you for the note Jamie. I am glad that you believe you have found your trigger, that is stunning! I haven't taken antihistamines all winter either, and the hives have been gone for nearly four months now, so we will see what happens once spring starts! I will consider that as a possibility.
ReplyDeleteYou girls sound like me! I also have CU and autoimmunune hypothyroid. Can you tell me more about the flushing? I have been on this current hive train since Jan and flushing just started about 2 weeks ago for me....first I was getting little rashes after working out but they never went away and now I get redness/almost purplish in my face and chest predominently. It feels warm when it happens and is definitely aggrivated by heat. I am going to see a new Derm tomorrow at the advice of my new CU specialist at Mayo Clinic. I did see a derm before but they told me they couldn't treat it because it is vasculitic...when you press on it, it turns white as the blood drains. So I don't know what to expect. Is this consistent at all with the flushing you had?
ReplyDeleteHello kl1234 - My flushing doesn't sound exactly like what you describe. I wish I had a good picture of it to share. My flushing is more pinkish with pinpoint dots through it, and it fades after my body cools down. Sometimes after 30 minutes, sometimes takes an hour or even two. I don't really get bright red/purplish, but I also don't do vigorous workouts anymore that would potentially get me to that point -- just yoga and walking.
DeleteI am curious, are you on any medications? What did the Mayo Clinic say about your CU, since they are so highly regarded, wondering if they have had any new ideas?
I should also address the light "pink" that is now always on my face. It looks like tiny little pink blood vessels, very faint, but I can tell that my complexion has changed. I am going to see what happens with that after I switch to a different oral contracptive pill, if that changes it. My gyne says it is possible that it is some kind of estrogen triggered thing.
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