A summary of tests I've had for hives

So thought it might be helpful to share with all of you the various tests and experiments that I went through during my bout with chronic hives last year... maybe you have had the same or get additional ideas:

Bloodwork ordered by my Primary Care Doctor and/or Endocrinologist:

• Thyroid hormone panel - detailed (TSH, free T3, free T4/calculated, T4, T3 uptake, Total T3) -- mine were all normal.
• Thyroid antibodies test  (Thyroid Peroxidase & Thyroglobulin) -- I already knew I had these antibodies from a test years prior, they re-tested to confirm.
• Autoimmune panel  (tested for things like double-stranded DNA, C3 & C4 complement, Sjorgen's, RA Factor, ANA screen, SED rate, and more) -- all of these were normal except ANA was positive but in a very low titer.
• Celiac - negative.
• Metabolic Panel - normal.
• Vitamin D - mine was very low, but is now in normal range thanks to supplements.
• Vitamin B12 - low-normal.
• H Pylori (bacterial test) - normal.

Bloodwork ordered by Allergist:

• IGE Serum  (screen for allergies) - slightly above normal range.
• IGE Antibody - positive but in a very low titer.
• Tree & Grass Pollens - positive across the board, very high for grass.
• Tree Nuts - all bloodwork was negative, but skin scratch tests were positive for a few.

Dietary Changes Tried:

• Gluten free for 4 months (useless; did nothing other than frustrate my life)
• Paleo for 4 weeks  (no change other than created sleep disturbances and fatigue)
• Eliminated added sugars for 2 months  (no change)
• Eliminated tree nuts after getting positive allergy skin test results -- this will be a lifetime thing now, and I was told I need to carry an EpiPen.

Maybe this list will give you some ideas to explore with your doctor.  You can see how my results really didn't point to anything, which is why I now believe that mine MAY have been medication induced.  Good luck!!

9 months hives free...

I am thrilled to report that I am still indeed hives free.  My heat flushing/skin botching did crop up again when I was on a break between 3 months of continuous birth control pills (I am on 3 months continuous with no placebos, then 1 week break, then start again with next 3 months).  But it was only a day or two and not even the full day that the skin flushing happened. So that has definitely proven to be a hormonal thing.

Am I certain that my birth control pill last year is what was giving me hives? No.  I can't be sure. Honestly, I can't. It's just my current theory, based on eliminating many other potential causes and by applying 20/20 hindsight logic. But, I'm not about to switch back to that one again either to find out!

I still have a small worry every day that the hives will return.  I still glance 1-2 times a day at the "hot spots" where they clustered (wrists, neck, under arms, waistline). 

From many who have commented to various posts on my blog, there seem to be common themes among us:

• Reproductive hormone abnormalities (showing up in other symptoms such as endometriosis, infertility, etc.)
• Thyroid auto-immune conditions
• Seasonal allergies
• Taking a slew of medications -- includig those meant to try to suppress the hives 
• Stress/anxiety even before the hives started

My belief is that all 5 of those things should be looked at thoroughly as potential causes for chronic hives, but in particular, hormones and medications. 

My readers will appreciate this:  I recently had a follow-up with my dermatologist about my keratosis pilaris, and I told him about how the birth control pill change solved my skin flushing, and that I had a theory that the same pill caused my hives last year.

His response?

"Could be. Medications can do all kinds of crazy things.  So is that all for today then?"

Are you KIDDING ME??!! I wanted to shake him and say: "Then whey didn't you have us look at that when I was spinning with distress last year and seeing a different doctor or specialist every week seeking answers and doing tons of diet change experiments!"

We are our own advocate.  All the best to those of you reading who are in an active state of chronic hives, and all the best to those of us in remission that it stays that way!