Press for Proper Diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Listen frinds - I'm now in my 21st year of coping with CU, but only

got a proper diagnosis (that in my case its an auoimmune problem

likely triggered by pregnancy) 5 years ago. My heart goes out to all

of you who are new sufferers - I can identify totally with the

endless questioning " could it be this..could it be that.. " , the

continual testing of new therapies; herbal, homeopathic,

naturpoathic, spiritual etc etc etc. Its exhausting, can be

expensive, and is often fruitless. I would urge you strongly to

really press for quality medical investigation into your condition at

an early stage. Don't be fobbed off! In the UK this means asking your

GP for a referral to a specialist in immunology (and keep on asking

until you get it). When I was told theres nothing I can do about my

CU I was actually enormously relieved! Since then I have re-chanelled

my energies into developing coping strategies - trying to arrange my

life in such a way as to avoid my major irritant factors (for me its

things like strong sunshine, alcohol, extreme cold etc),taking extra

rest when the effects of heavy doses of medication takes its toll etc

etc. I wish you all good luck in your quest, and peace of mind and

heart.

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill

Hi and thank you. As a CU sufferer for 9 years, and a resident of the UK, I

am interested to hear you say that I should be pressing my GP for a referral

to an immunologist. I am totally unhappy with my current medication and

have not been under the care of any hospital for years. Just get my repeat

prescription for antihistamines and NSAIDS every month and nobody ever asks

me anything or wants to know. I've seen the dermatologists and the

neurologists (as a result of the kenalog the dermatologists gave me...) and

have really got nowhere. I know I tested positive for DPU (don't I know

it!) and was told my urticaria was not anything to do with allergies (I

tested positive with the blood serum test) but had never heard the term

" autoimmune urticaria " until I joined the group. My GP can't answer any of

my questions and I just wonder what seeing an expert in immunology would

achieve? The fact that it's autoimmune doesn't seem to mean much as far as

finding a cause/cure. I know I'm sounding a bit negative tonight - that's

how I'm feeling! Yours, itching, etc, Carol

Press for Proper Diagnosis

> Listen frinds - I'm now in my 21st year of coping with CU, but only

> got a proper diagnosis (that in my case its an auoimmune problem

> likely triggered by pregnancy) 5 years ago. My heart goes out to all

> of you who are new sufferers - I can identify totally with the

> endless questioning " could it be this..could it be that.. " , the

> continual testing of new therapies; herbal, homeopathic,

> naturpoathic, spiritual etc etc etc. Its exhausting, can be

> expensive, and is often fruitless. I would urge you strongly to

> really press for quality medical investigation into your condition at

> an early stage. Don't be fobbed off! In the UK this means asking your

> GP for a referral to a specialist in immunology (and keep on asking

> until you get it). When I was told theres nothing I can do about my

> CU I was actually enormously relieved! Since then I have re-chanelled

> my energies into developing coping strategies - trying to arrange my

> life in such a way as to avoid my major irritant factors (for me its

> things like strong sunshine, alcohol, extreme cold etc),taking extra

> rest when the effects of heavy doses of medication takes its toll etc

> etc. I wish you all good luck in your quest, and peace of mind and

> heart.

>

>

>

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