Re: ANAPHYLAXIS - you can't just tough it out!

[Guest guest]

That's scary because my allergist said " No one dies from CU. An allergic

reaction that causes acute urticaria may cause an anaphylactic reaction but

cronic urticaria never comes to that " . I was worried because my lips have

swelled a couple of times my throat gets scratchy and I get some congestion

in my chest. I have asthma but haven't had an attack in years. He reassured

me not to worry about that. According to your list of signs of shock I should

have been concerned a couple of times. Last week I had a hive attack after

being outside in the heat. It came on like never before. I felt like I was

going to faint because the blood seemed to be racing to my hands and feet so

fast. I took a benedryl and ran cold water on my hands and feet which gave me

some temporary relief but later was so tired I was slurring my words a

little. I was alone except for my one year old. Had I known about the signs

of shock I would have called someone to come over. It sounds like my doctor

has given a false sense of security that could cost my life.

I doubled my dose of zyrtec because of something I read on this board because

the meds I was on were doing nothing and my hives have tapered to nothing

today. Yey! I just know that it's not going to last. I feel impending doom

like they will be back any minute. But until then I'm relieved.

Thank you very much for this info. I am a new hiver and this group is an

awesome place to be when noone, including the doctor seems to understand.

[Guest guest]

I cannot believe that your Doctor told you that you couldn't experience anaplylaxis with hives--my doctor (wisely) told me that I probably eventually would--and I did. Luckily, because of her warning, I had an epi pen with me at the time. If you have experienced angioedema especially you must carry an epi pen. I went into anapylaxis on a day when i had had two reactin and six benedryl within the previous twleve hours--I had had swollen eyes/mouth many times, but as I lay in bed that night, i became aware of my throat being sore, like I had a cold coming on. Over the next hour, it got worse, and then very suddenly I realized that my throat was closing over. I was alone with my 5 & 7 year old at a cottage with no car--I took my epi pen and called 911. Ten minutes later, my throat was pretty much normal (with the added bonus of the hives going away for 24 hours--sadly, they came back). I had always assumed anaphylaxis was immediate, but it is not always. This took over an hour.

My hives, by the way, are almost gone (this time) after two months--they have lasted from two to six months at a time. This time I ate only orgainc food, avoided known allergins, and drank no alcohol--it seemed to settle me down pretty quickly. This time too, for the first time, i wore shorts, tank tops, etc. and just didn't worry about the splotches/bruises/hives. Life is too short. It can be depressing, but I guess I've just come to accept that this is my cross to bear, as they say, and I don't want to be remembered by my kids as always down and sick. they say to me every morning at breakfast, "How are the hives today Mommy?"like other kids might say "how did you sleep?" It's normal to them--somehow that makes me feel less weird about it. I f they love me, I should love me--after all, it's the only body I've got, so what am I gonna do? I love reading your messages--