RE: Gallbladder surgery

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I am glad your operation went well. I was wondering what happened. Next

Monday I have an appointment with the endocrinologist to ask about synthroid

and the possibility of it affecting my gallbladder in time. I am the hiver

with the high antibody count for my thyroid (Hashimotos) but no other

symptoms of that disease. Out of all the members, you are the one with the

conditions closest to mine. I guess that makes you my urticaria twin!!!

I am currently on the salacylic free diet as recommended by the allergist.

I should mention that he thinks the antibody count should be performed

again. I have been on this diet for 24 dayns now and I am starting to add

back foods. It never really cured me but the symptoms are less (a still get

red streaks but very little hives). I do not have to take extra allegra

before bedtime so I am adequately managed on the 180 I take every day. The

upside of this diet is that I did manage to lose 23 pounds and I am

pleased!!! The only downside is that I am starting to dress up more and

used some makeup and perfume today which caused me to sneeze. Oh well.

This Friday, I am having my hearing in my left ear tested again. I have a

prostesis in my inner ear which allows me to hear (I have a conductive

hearing loss due to fused bones which was fixed in both ears about 12 years

ago). For some reason the hearing is degrading in one ear only and I may

have to have surgery again. In the past 2 operations, they used a local

anestesia so you were awake. Now they take you out all the way. I have to

ask the anestesiologist the same questions you did because of the urticaria.

Did he offer you the option of prednisone? Several members mentioned

using that. I have used prednisone in the past only for some really bad

poison ivy to kill the itch real fast so I could sleep at night. I was

never maintained on it for long periods of time as some of the other members

are.

Glad you are OK.

(Itchy in Pa.)

>

>Reply-To: urticariaegroups

>To: <urticariaegroups>

>Subject: Gallbladder surgery

>Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2000 08:30:09 -0330

>

>Hello all,

>I haven't posted a message in while but I've been reading them all. I'm

>the hiver who seems to have resolved my CU with synthroid. I had my

>gallbladder removed on Friday. I spoke to 2 anesthesiologists before

>surgery about my concerns about the anaesthetic and they gave something

>that's supposed to be safer, not sure what it was. I had no problem with

>the anaesthetic but I had an immediate reaction when they injected me with

>morphine afterwards. I felt an intense itch start at the injection site

>which moved up my arm and then over my entire body. They gave me a shot of

>Benadryl and no hives developed but the intense itch continued for about 8

>hours. I guess I need to stay away from morphine, not that it's a drug I

>use regularly! I haven't had any hive problems since the surgery. I was

>worried since some of you said your hives returned after gallbladder

>surgery. Hope you're all doing well, keep up the fight!

>

>

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[Guest guest]

hi my name is ANnette and my son has had a terrrible case of chronic hives

for a year now he takes zyrtec and thank God it does seem to keep it under

control . but if he doesn ';t take a teaspoon every 24 hrs. on the hour he

looks like a monster too.

[Guest guest]

,

I have no loss of pigment. I basically have no Hashimoto symptoms, with the

exception of a confirmatory blood test. The doctor keeps asking me

questions about lupus, rhumatoid arthritis in the family and there is none.

The allergist thinks this is a false positive and he wants me to see another

allergy specialist in the Philadelphia area.

What I do have is a loss or decrease of my hormone progesterone. Without

it, I do not cycle. The OBGYN doctor put me on birth control pills to give

me hormones and told me I was starting menopause (I am 44). Four months

after that, I had a sinus infection and the hives started. I have tried

another birth control pill but the hives remain. I could be intolerant to

the synthetic progesterone. When I spoke to the endocrinologist, she said I

was not in menopause, the purpose of the pill was to prevent the buildup of

my uterine lining. Without the progesterone, it would never be shed and the

potential for cancer would increase. This woman spent an hour with me

explaining in detail the things that should have been explained by the OBGYN

guy. This is the person I am going to see on Monday - I like her.

So now, I am on this allergy diet and I have stopped the birth control

pills. Neither is helping, however I did get a real period. I used to take

the allegra 180 in the morning and 1-2 zertec at night because I kept

breaking through. With this diet, I do not break through as much so there

may be a food that contributes to the problem.

My intent is to keep on this diet and play food games because I am losing

weight (2-3 pounds per week). I also want my hormone levels re-tested to

determine what they are with the weight loss. My GP said it is possible to

have estrogen absorption by adipose (fat) tissue and lover the available

levels. I want to know why the hormones levels are dropping, I want to

confirm the Hashimotos and I want to try the synthroid.

My hives are not really bad compared to what others write. I do not have

any swelling of the face, eyes, lips or joints. I have not had any problems

getting pregnant. No one in my family has or had this problem. I just itch

and if I scratch, I get raised marks (hives) where ever I itch. Sometimes,

I just leave red marks. Some areas of my body are more sentitive than

others. The tougher skin parts just get red if I touch them. The thinner

skinned parts (inner arms, inside wrist area, neck, back of legs inner

thighs) will show hives. My face doesn't hive, it just gets red marks.

Without the allegra, my itches feel deeper in my skin.

I am tired of treating the symptoms and not fixing the cause. Thank God my

medical insurance pays 100% for meds. I have spent at least $1200 of their

money this year alone. I would rather spend that amount determining the

cause. It would be cheaper for them and all the other participants in the

plan in the long run.

This is me and my action plan. What do you experience? How much of twins

are we??

>

>Reply-To: urticariaegroups

>To: <urticariaegroups>

>Subject: Re: Gallbladder surgery

>Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 07:17:00 -0330

>

>Hi ,

>Sorry to hear about your hearing problems. As for anesthetics, I talked

>with the anesthesiologist at length about my hive condition. My hives were

>not active at the time (they cleared up after I started taking synthroid)

>so

>the doctor wasn't overly concerned. She did say that they would take

>precautions and use a different type of anesthetic. Prednisone was not

>suggested. It may have been if I was actively hiving. Whatever they did

>use for anesthetic was a bit strange because I remember them tapping some

>sort of a tube on my throat which I was told later, is inserted for

>breathing. I should have been completely under at that time. I also woke

>in the operating room after the surgery and was awake and aware when they

>wheeled me into the recovery room. I think most surgical patients do not

>wake until they've been in recovery for a while. I have an appointment to

>see my surgeon tomorrow as a follow up so I'm going to ask what they used

>for anesthetic and why I can remember some things. I also discovered 2

>hives on my body today! I hope they're not starting up again! If you have

>the thyroid antibodies but no thyroid condition, I'd advise you to try the

>synthroid. It is not a dangerous drug like prednisone and it can't hurt to

>try it at a low dose. I spoke with an endocrinologist about this and he

>said he didn't think it would work but there was no harm in trying. I

>proved him wrong! Also, when I was in recovery and itching like crazy, the

>nurses there told me I had vitiligo on my back which is a loss of

>pigmentation in your skin. I've looked this up and it is also related to

>thyroid and auto-immune problems. Do you have that? I'll let you know

>about the anesthetic.

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Therese,

My thyroid blood work indicated Hashimotos disease. This is an autoimune

disease where your imune system attacks the thyroid and kills the cells.

Eventually, the thyroid hormone levels drop off and the thyroid enlarges

(goiter) to produce more. The symptoms can be minimized by taking

synthriod. My GP will not prescribe it. The allergist thinks this is a

false positive. I am seeing the endocrinologist on Monday and want to ask

her opinion. I fshe says no, the allergist wants me to see a specialist who

will cross all medical boundaries (endocrine/allergy) and look at the big

picture.

I do work full time and really have minor streaks and welts from time to

time. I have only been on prednisone for bad poison ivy (maybe 4 times in

the past 10 years). I think you need to see another specialist and get that

thyroid tested - especially if your mom had thyroid cancer. You have family

history there that cannot be ignored. Good luck and let me know what

happens.

>From: ThereseDoc@...

>Reply-To: urticariaegroups

>To: urticariaegroups

>Subject: Re: Gallbladder surgery

>Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 21:12:51 EST

>

>Hi to and anyone who is out there listening. My mom was

>dinoised

>with Throid Cancer and went through a rough surgery. She was on Synthroid

>prior to that for about 6 months and after surgery they took her off of it

>so

>she could have a radio active cat scan to see exactly where the cancer

>started. They told us she would be real sick and of course she is. To make

>a

>long story short about my mom i was wondering if anyone is taking Synthroid

>for hives? I have been seeing Dr Kaplin in Charlston SC and he seems to

>never

>be there when i need him. My hives have been horrible for the last two

>weeks

>and all they ever say is up your Prednisone. I tryed to get in for my bone

>dysity scan and they can not do it till Dec and i feel like it is going to

>not come out to well. I have got to find something that is going to work

>besides the Prednisone are it is going to hurt me bad if it hasnt already.

>I

>called the Dr that i was seeing before i was sent to Dr Kaplin to try to

>get

>some answers. I was told that if you have been on Prednisone for a long

>amount of time that all your test would come out negitive. They have only

>taking blood work from me and that was about a year and a half ago when all

>this mess started. They told me that it was nothing that i was allergic to

>that i had Chronic Urticaria and it would go away one day and all the meds

>do

>is control it. Well the meds are not working anymore and i look like a

>monster half the time when i wake up. What does everyone do that has a job.

>If i had i job i would of already been fired. Should i ask for more blood

>work or ask for some allergy test are will that be just a waste of my time?

>MY hives have been attacking my face and the upper part of my body steady

>for

>the last two weeks or longer. I can not live like this for the rest of my

>life and if they tell me thats the case then i will have to make some major

>changes. I dont know if this Dr will even help me since he was the one to

>send me to Dr Kaplin but i need a Dr closer to home if im going to have to

>function like this everyday and i need to find something else to take

>besides

>the Prednisone. Every Dr that i called today said they were not taking new

>Patients i guess it must just be nice not to take on any patients that

>really

>need help. That just really ------ me off. Myra you seem to be real great

>with all this stuff if there is anyway you can help me out or give me any

>suggestions my ears are open. I hope this is making since but if not thats

>ok. Thanks for listening and i hope all is well with everyone. I look

>forward

>to hearing back from you.

>

>Hugs Therese in SC.

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[Guest guest]

I have had the exact thing upon waking in the morning, or having them (CU) wake me up in the middle of the night because they are so bad. I found the fastest way to get them to subside enough to go to work is to drink black coffee as many cups as you can handle. Not very medical but it works.

Joyce

-----Original Message-----From: ThereseDoc@... Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 9:13 PMTo: urticariaegroupsSubject: Re: Gallbladder surgeryHi to and anyone who is out there listening. My mom was dinoised with Throid Cancer and went through a rough surgery. She was on Synthroid prior to that for about 6 months and after surgery they took her off of it so she could have a radio active cat scan to see exactly where the cancer started. They told us she would be real sick and of course she is. To make a long story short about my mom i was wondering if anyone is taking Synthroid for hives? I have been seeing Dr Kaplin in Charlston SC and he seems to never be there when i need him. My hives have been horrible for the last two weeks and all they ever say is up your Prednisone. I tryed to get in for my bone dysity scan and they can not do it till Dec and i feel like it is going to not come out to well. I have got to find something that is going to work besides the Prednisone are it is going to hurt me bad if it hasnt! already. I called the Dr that i was seeing before i was sent to Dr Kaplin to try to get some answers. I was told that if you have been on Prednisone for a long amount of time that all your test would come out negitive. They have only taking blood work from me and that was about a year and a half ago when all this mess started. They told me that it was nothing that i was allergic to that i had Chronic Urticaria and it would go away one day and all the meds do is control it. Well the meds are not working anymore and i look like a monster half the time when i wake up. What does everyone do that has a job. If i had i job i would of already been fired. Should i ask for more blood work or ask for some allergy test are will that be just a waste of my time? MY hives have been attacking my face and the upper part of my body steady for the last two weeks or longer. I can not live like this for the rest of my life and if they tel! l me thats the case then i will have to make some major changes. I dont know if this Dr will even help me since he was the one to send me to Dr Kaplin but i need a Dr closer to home if im going to have to function like this everyday and i need to find something else to take besides the Prednisone. Every Dr that i called today said they were not taking new Patients i guess it must just be nice not to take on any patients that really need help. That just really ------ me off. Myra you seem to be real great with all this stuff if there is anyway you can help me out or give me any suggestions my ears are open. I hope this is making since but if not thats ok. Thanks for listening and i hope all is well with everyone. I look forward to hearing back from you. Hugs Therese in SC. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If you do wish to unsubscribe then you can click on the following link: <mailto:urticaria-unsubscribeegroups>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria (hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide cyber-family. We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle with Chronic Urticria. Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to read such postings.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Sorry to hear about your hearing problems. As for anesthetics, I talked

with the anesthesiologist at length about my hive condition. My hives were

not active at the time (they cleared up after I started taking synthroid) so

the doctor wasn't overly concerned. She did say that they would take

precautions and use a different type of anesthetic. Prednisone was not

suggested. It may have been if I was actively hiving. Whatever they did

use for anesthetic was a bit strange because I remember them tapping some

sort of a tube on my throat which I was told later, is inserted for

breathing. I should have been completely under at that time. I also woke

in the operating room after the surgery and was awake and aware when they

wheeled me into the recovery room. I think most surgical patients do not

wake until they've been in recovery for a while. I have an appointment to

see my surgeon tomorrow as a follow up so I'm going to ask what they used

for anesthetic and why I can remember some things. I also discovered 2

hives on my body today! I hope they're not starting up again! If you have

the thyroid antibodies but no thyroid condition, I'd advise you to try the

synthroid. It is not a dangerous drug like prednisone and it can't hurt to

try it at a low dose. I spoke with an endocrinologist about this and he

said he didn't think it would work but there was no harm in trying. I

proved him wrong! Also, when I was in recovery and itching like crazy, the

nurses there told me I had vitiligo on my back which is a loss of

pigmentation in your skin. I've looked this up and it is also related to

thyroid and auto-immune problems. Do you have that? I'll let you know

about the anesthetic.

[Guest guest]

,

I usually have red streaks on my body all the time. They occur around my

neck, arms, face and stomach. I have trained myself not to touch my face.

Just blowing my nose will leave red streaks where the tissue touched my

skin. The streaks around my neck make it look as though I was attacked by a

wild animal! I just ignore it and the people at work don't make a fuss.

Even with the 180 mg of Allegra, the streaking occurs. My scalp is also

very itchy, so I bring a comb to work and comb it. I wear my hair short and

it is wavy, so running my fingers throught it feels good and fluffs it up a

little.

The hives occur on my back, arms and legs where thin tissue is located. If

I scratch, the hive will appear and the would area feels warm. This is not

a hot flash. I have had those too and they are related to my female

hormones. Hot flashes radiate from the inside chest area out and then I

break into a sweat. I have not had those since this past summer. Back to

the hives...these hives will be as large as the area I scratch, so if I

scratch my back with a hair brush, my whole back will be one giant hive.

They will last for 1-3 minutes and go away. Usually at that point, I take a

zertec. Prior to this diet, I would experience the most itching in the

morning when I get up and at night after dinner. I suspect this is the time

when my meds are decreasing in my system. The hives at night are worse and

usually occur right after dinner.

The diet has relieved the hives but not the red streaks. I am now adding

back food and the hives seem to be occuring at night right now. The

allergist has me restricted to Allegra 180 in the morning with a tagament

and just tagament at night. The tagament seems to help somehow. I am

noticing that my mouth has begun to get itchy again. The roof of my mouth

itches. My reaction is to brush my teeth more often. I have not looked up

there for hives. It does not feel puffy. But I will check the next time it

happens.

I always said I could not lose weight but I guess I can. To put yourself on

a diet is one thing, but when the doctor does it, you tend to follow it to

the letter. The diet is bland but not bad. I have been eating a lot of

butternut squash, broccoli, salad (no dressing) and BBQ meats (no spices).

The butternut squash is the best part of the diet. It is sweet and just

hits the spot. I just hope I don't turn organge!! I have lost 25 pounds

and I am down to 178. I want to lose 40 more. The problem with losing

weight is that I cannot guarantee it will stay off. I love to eat.

My female problems started in November of 1998. I just stopped getting my

period and never really understood why. The endocrinologist laughed when I

told her that the OBGYN doctor said it was menopause. No one in my family

has stopped cycling this early. On Monday I want to get a better

explanation from her about the hormones, pituitary gland and thyroid. She

uses that paper on the examination bed to draw pictures. I'm taking that

big sheet of paper with me when I leave!!! She has all my blood work

results. I am going to get a copy and then I can tell you what blood tests

I had, the lab range for normal values and my test result.

I am located in Pennsylvania. Where are you?

>

>Reply-To: urticariaegroups

>To: <urticariaegroups>

>Subject: Re: Gallbladder surgery

>Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2000 12:21:52 -0330

>

>Hi ,

>I think we are similar in many ways. I am 31 now and began this journey

>with hives when I was 15. I've only had 4 major bouts of hives but each

>one

>lasted for about 1-2 years each and only ended after prolonged use of

>prednisone at high doses (I was taking 80 mg). My flare ups usually begin

>with 1 or 2 hives which progressively worsens over a period of months to

>the

>point where I am completely covered with giant hives, I have swelling and

>stiffness of joints, lip, eyes, and tongue swelling, and severe bruising.

>I

>usually start taking the regular antihistimines which stop working after a

>while, then on to the combo meds which stop working after a while, and then

>on to the prednisone. My last flare up began in June and I was determined

>not to end up on prednisone. When I started taking the synthroid, my hives

>were not at their worst. I wonder if the synthroid would have worked had

>my

>hives been in their worst state. But the synthroid has worked and it may

>work for you. I've been experiencing some intense itching without any

>hives, I haven't had that before. Do your hives follow this pattern as

>well? I have also had some 'women' problems. My cycles have always been

>very regular and predictable. But lately they've become erratic and

>extremely heavy. I've seen an OB-GYN and he says everything is fine. Had

>an ultrasound too. I haven't taken the birth control pill in 8 years. I

>tried for a year to get pregnant with no luck, but I didn't pursue it since

>I had marital problems and am now divorced. I would like to think,

>however,

>that I will be able to conceive at some point. Just wondering what exactly

>showed up in your blood tests to determine that you have Hashimoto's? You

>mentioned you were trying to loose weight. Weight gain is a symptom of

>Hashimoto's. I haven't gained weight but I am very tired and I have night

>sweats but they tell me I do not have Hashimoto's. I have another doctor

>appointment tomorrow to check into this. I also saw my surgeon today and

>asked him about my anesthetic. His reply was, " I don't know what they gave

>you, you'll have to ask the anesthesiologist " . I will try to find out for

>you. Interested in hearing from you.

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I think we are similar in many ways. I am 31 now and began this journey

with hives when I was 15. I've only had 4 major bouts of hives but each one

lasted for about 1-2 years each and only ended after prolonged use of

prednisone at high doses (I was taking 80 mg). My flare ups usually begin

with 1 or 2 hives which progressively worsens over a period of months to the

point where I am completely covered with giant hives, I have swelling and

stiffness of joints, lip, eyes, and tongue swelling, and severe bruising. I

usually start taking the regular antihistimines which stop working after a

while, then on to the combo meds which stop working after a while, and then

on to the prednisone. My last flare up began in June and I was determined

not to end up on prednisone. When I started taking the synthroid, my hives

were not at their worst. I wonder if the synthroid would have worked had my

hives been in their worst state. But the synthroid has worked and it may

work for you. I've been experiencing some intense itching without any

hives, I haven't had that before. Do your hives follow this pattern as

well? I have also had some 'women' problems. My cycles have always been

very regular and predictable. But lately they've become erratic and

extremely heavy. I've seen an OB-GYN and he says everything is fine. Had

an ultrasound too. I haven't taken the birth control pill in 8 years. I

tried for a year to get pregnant with no luck, but I didn't pursue it since

I had marital problems and am now divorced. I would like to think, however,

that I will be able to conceive at some point. Just wondering what exactly

showed up in your blood tests to determine that you have Hashimoto's? You

mentioned you were trying to loose weight. Weight gain is a symptom of

Hashimoto's. I haven't gained weight but I am very tired and I have night

sweats but they tell me I do not have Hashimoto's. I have another doctor

appointment tomorrow to check into this. I also saw my surgeon today and

asked him about my anesthetic. His reply was, " I don't know what they gave

you, you'll have to ask the anesthesiologist " . I will try to find out for

you. Interested in hearing from you.

[Guest guest]

Hi my name is Annette . mY son is 6 now and has had hives for a year can you

tell me when you went to the new specialist what they found out... Have you

had any type of dental work that could be in connection with the hives??? I

am going to try my hardest to find out what could me causing this terrible

thing .. It has to be something .. what were you doing and where were you at

when this first happened