Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Dear , That is what most Dr. tell us we have. I don't think they know the answer as to why we have hives. This group has helped me so much. They are loving and understanding and very knowledgeable. The only thing I see you can add is the H2 Zantac. The zyrtec and allegra are your H 1's. Doxipin is an H3. You can get zantac over the counter. I was taking tagamet as my H2 until Jackie informed me that the part of my body that gets rid of histimine. Zantac does not supress it. I have seen an improvement. It seems as if a lot of people your age are getting chronic urticara (long lasting hives). I got mine at 55, I am now 58. I have learned to live with them. There are more people on this list that can help you more than me. They will surely answer you soon. You are at the right place and with the right people. I am sorry you too are experiencing this. Love Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Dear , Welcome to the "animal lovers" urticaria site:):)......hmmmm maybe we should start doing research on the connection between having a tender, loving heart and CU!!!! (just kidding) anyway, on a more serious note, i am so sorry you are suffering like this......of course "an over-active immune system" does not give you an explanation of the underlying cause ....but often that is as much as the doctor knows at the moment........finding the underlying cause has been accomplished by some people, but many others are still searching.... I have just discovered that I MAY have a thyroid connection (time will tell if this is the case).....by having the thyroid antibodies test done....have you had that one done??? you may have noticed in the messages that quite a number of CU sufferers have thyroid hormone levels show up in the "normal" range because their thyroid is fighting so hard to compensate for the antibodies that are fighting the thyroid (Hashimotos disease).............anyway....that is just one possiblity.......if you haven't had the thyroid antibodies test done, you may consider that next......believe me, i wish i had done it years and years ago (if i had only known!!!) yes, there are many other meds to try: many people on this site have tried new medications, new combinations of medications and higher dosages of medications with great results as far as being able to control symptoms....i am sure you will find your "cocktail"..... besides the thyroid antibodies, two things i have learned on this site that have helped me enormously are: Quercitin (a natural daily supplement that you can try unless you are allergic to drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen), and Gastrocream (made from Gastrocrom-- which some people drink with great success) ...there are many many more things that work for various people....so don't give up....ask any questions you think of and there always seems to be someone who can help. love......tree n a message dated 2/17/2002 12:07:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, RescueSpice@... writes: I'm new here, and glad to see so many animal lovers in this group, I rescue cats and have 7 of my own. My hives started 6 months ago, the doctors say I have an over-active immune system, and there's nothing they can do. I take 2 Allegra in the am, 2 Zyrtek and 6 Doxepin in the pm. Still covered in welts, I have to wear long sleeves, since my skin looks like a burn victim's. Some days it affects my face, gets in the eyelids, etc. but mostly it is on arms, legs, torso. Is this "hyper-active immune system" really the best info available, or does it really mean the doctors have no clue? I also tried Prednisone, Tagamet, Atarax, Singulair, all with no improvement. Was tested for all the hepatitis types, Lupus, Liver, Thyroid. Any other tests I should ask for? I'm only 35 and hate to feel so disfigured, surely there are more things to try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Hey girl, I've learned everything about this on this line. The Dr. didn't explain it to me. Just told me what to take and made the next visit schedule.It was 3 months before he told me I had CU. Then I went on the net and found this site. I went back in the archives and read, read, and read. You should check them too. And I just keep staying here and learning. What city and state do you live in? I might want to talk kittens with you. I have been thinking about getting another one. My old boy passed 2 years ago. I still think of him and miss him. He was 17 years old. Love Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Wow thanks Carolyn and Tree, I already learned something new. I wasn't aware of H1, H2, and H3. Where can I read up on that? Funny observation: my doctors have given me very poor explanations of the meds I've been given, the M.D. who gave me Prednisone only said " You'll love it, it'll make you feel high. " (it didn't, it made me feel DREADFUL) but further discussion with my VET has consistently been more useful! She's gladly explained the various drug's side effects, benefits, how they work, etc. Have any of you looked into internal parasites as a cause? I rescue so many stray kitties who come with little bellies full of worms, and the doctor says there's NO WAY I could have worms, but is that really such a crazy question? I'm especially wondering after seeing so many animal people on this message board! Has this been discussed here before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Hi , and welcome to the group. Believe me, I feel sheer rage when I read that comment the M.D. made, " You'll love it, it'll make you feel high. " , referring to prednisone. When I think of how some of our group members have suffered from the side effects of prednisone, it makes my blood boil. That has to be the " Number One " STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE comment of the week!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway......................glad Carolyn and Tree pointed out the H2 issue, which is vitally important. If you leave H2 uncovered it just keeps on making those old hives. Parasitic infections are said to be a very RARE cause of chronic hives, but it's worth getting tested, to set your mind at rest. I do not think they can be passed to you from cats however, but maybe I am wrong. Have you had any root canals done? Any surgery? What else can we think of? Lots, I'm sure! Looking forward to hearing more from you, best wishes, Carol Re: New here - hello > Wow thanks Carolyn and Tree, I already learned something new. I > wasn't aware of H1, H2, and H3. Where can I read up on that? Funny > observation: my doctors have given me very poor explanations of the > meds I've been given, the M.D. who gave me Prednisone only > said " You'll love it, it'll make you feel high. " (it didn't, it made > me feel DREADFUL) but further discussion with my VET has consistently > been more useful! She's gladly explained the various drug's side > effects, benefits, how they work, etc. > > Have any of you looked into internal parasites as a cause? I rescue > so many stray kitties who come with little bellies full of worms, and > the doctor says there's NO WAY I could have worms, but is that really > such a crazy question? I'm especially wondering after seeing so many > animal people on this message board! Has this been discussed here > before? > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > If you do wish to unsubscribe then you can click on the following link: > urticaria-unsubscribe > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > 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. Information provided in this forum is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your health professional before trying anything new. > > 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. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 , Hello and Welcome to the group!! Your diagnosis sounds the same as mine and many others here. I to have been told by my doctors that I have Autoimmune CU and was given all types of Rx's and told to be back in 5 months!! My Immunologist tried to explain this in some detail, but after being told that I have something that is hard to find out the where/what of cause and may have for the rest of my life that is when I went in search for more answers,and found this group. I have learned a lot and will be " armed with questions " when I return!! Sure seems like you are taking some of the right combos, except as Carolyn has pointed out, you are missing the H2 Zantac in your Cocktail. How are you handling the " 6 " Doxepin in the pm? is this 6 pills?? I take 1 25mg at bedtime only when I feel itchy or swelling, this is hard for me because it knocks me into la la land : ) When I feel like a " flare " is coming on, I work myself up to 3 Allegra a day [am,noon,bed] along w/ 2 Zantac [am,bed] and the Doxepin at bedtime, this seems to help me get the hives under control and they dont " appear " on the skin. As for your later post of the doctors comments on Prednisone, I am appalled that he would even think that " feeling high " would matter!! Prednisone is the WORST, but we all have been there and that is the only thing that would give me hive releif/no face swelling and spot free!! But the coming down off of them is terrible. I went thru all kinds of withdrawls and was never so sick as I was on them!! But in order to get myself under control, I had to take them and the Allegra/Zantac combo and taper off the Pred. I am still spot free [only sometimes a few come out] but feel them under my skin always itching to come out!! Sure hope you can get your hives under control soon, I am 35 now also, and was 33 when this all started as a constant for me, sure makes outdoor life tough. As for the " animal thing " we have always had some type of animal running around here, and they never bothered me before so I find for myself, that this is not a cause for me?? Well anyway, you have come to the right place for great advice, this site has been a great help for me! Take care, Y in KY New here - hello > I'm new here, and glad to see so many animal lovers in this group, I > rescue cats and have 7 of my own. > > My hives started 6 months ago, the doctors say I have an over-active > immune system, and there's nothing they can do. I take 2 Allegra in > the am, 2 Zyrtek and 6 Doxepin in the pm. Still covered in welts, I > have to wear long sleeves, since my skin looks like a burn victim's. > Some days it affects my face, gets in the eyelids, etc. but mostly it > is on arms, legs, torso. Is this " hyper-active immune system " really > the best info available, or does it really mean the doctors have no > clue? I also tried Prednisone, Tagamet, Atarax, Singulair, all with > no improvement. Was tested for all the hepatitis types, Lupus, > Liver, Thyroid. Any other tests I should ask for? I'm only 35 and > hate to feel so disfigured, surely there are more things to try? > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > If you do wish to unsubscribe then you can click on the following link: > urticaria-unsubscribe > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > 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. Information provided in this forum is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your health professional before trying anything new. > > 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. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 I am very interested in knowing what the Mayo docs told you I have had this for four years--it has almost driven me insane i have been to many doctors and tired many many med combos and all sort of things am interested in what tests you had at Mayo-i have been thru the gambit here please share info with me if possible thanks brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Welcome!!!! I went to the Mayo Clinic in Oct,2001 and one of the tests was an O & P for parasites. I was on Prednisone then and am trying to avoid it now. I had a terrible night last night and my hubby said we might have to call the doc and go back on it to knock this round down alittle bit. I'm open to any suggestions!!!!!.....I really hated the feelings that went with the Prednisone and the WEIGHT GAIN. I hope you at least got some relief from the itches. Itching in Iowa, -- In urticaria@y..., " sadlersweb " wrote: > Hi , and welcome to the group. Believe me, I feel sheer rage when I > read that comment the M.D. made, " You'll love it, it'll make you feel high. " > , referring to prednisone. When I think of how some of our group members > have suffered from the side effects of prednisone, it makes my blood boil. > That has to be the " Number One " STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE comment of the > week!!!!!!!!!!! > Anyway......................glad Carolyn and Tree pointed out the H2 issue, > which is vitally important. If you leave H2 uncovered it just keeps on > making those old hives. > Parasitic infections are said to be a very RARE cause of chronic hives, but > it's worth getting tested, to set your mind at rest. I do not think they > can be passed to you from cats however, but maybe I am wrong. Have you had > any root canals done? Any surgery? What else can we think of? Lots, I'm > sure! > Looking forward to hearing more from you, best wishes, Carol > > Re: New here - hello > > > > Wow thanks Carolyn and Tree, I already learned something new. I > > wasn't aware of H1, H2, and H3. Where can I read up on that? Funny > > observation: my doctors have given me very poor explanations of the > > meds I've been given, the M.D. who gave me Prednisone only > > said " You'll love it, it'll make you feel high. " (it didn't, it made > > me feel DREADFUL) but further discussion with my VET has consistently > > been more useful! She's gladly explained the various drug's side > > effects, benefits, how they work, etc. > > > > Have any of you looked into internal parasites as a cause? I rescue > > so many stray kitties who come with little bellies full of worms, and > > the doctor says there's NO WAY I could have worms, but is that really > > such a crazy question? I'm especially wondering after seeing so many > > animal people on this message board! Has this been discussed here > > before? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > If you do wish to unsubscribe then you can click on the following link: > > urticaria-unsubscribe@y... > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > 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. Information provided in this forum is not to be taken > as medical advice. Always consult your health professional before trying > anything new. > > > > 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. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Hi - What a wonderful thing you do - rescuing cats. I have 4 cats and a dog - all from shelters. They make the best pets. I am the one Myra was talking about with cold urticaria. What kind of doctors have you seen for this problem so far? It sounds like whoever you went to is just kind of sloughing it off (like many do) in saying that you just have an overactive immune system. The question is " why? " and how can you improve your condition? Why is this happening now and not a year ago - what is different? Please write often and let us know how you're doing. There is so much to learn through this group - maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones who will discover your cause by learning something here. Once you know the cause you can then treat it. -Sheryl in NJ --- mnpawprints RescueSpice@...> wrote: > I'm new here, and glad to see so many animal lovers > in this group, I > rescue cats and have 7 of my own. > > My hives started 6 months ago, the doctors say I > have an over-active > immune system, and there's nothing they can do. I > take 2 Allegra in > the am, 2 Zyrtek and 6 Doxepin in the pm. Still > covered in welts, I > have to wear long sleeves, since my skin looks like > a burn victim's. > Some days it affects my face, gets in the eyelids, > etc. but mostly it > is on arms, legs, torso. Is this " hyper-active > immune system " really > the best info available, or does it really mean the > doctors have no > clue? I also tried Prednisone, Tagamet, Atarax, > Singulair, all with > no improvement. Was tested for all the hepatitis > types, Lupus, > Liver, Thyroid. Any other tests I should ask for? > I'm only 35 and > hate to feel so disfigured, surely there are more > things to try? > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2002 Report Share Posted February 18, 2002 Hi , These vets have twice as much on the ball as the M.D.s! A dear friend of ours is a vet and he just told me not to use any lotions with Menthol, and I was using tons of it. He said it's a vaso-dialator which will cause even more itching. Now when I look back, I had such awful itching and hiving on my legs that I was practically pouring the stuff on. That's when I developed terrible red bumps and they thought I had vasculitis. I don't! Very proud of my grand-son, he's pre-vet. We're all crazy for animals in our family, it would be natural for him to have gone in that direction. Hope he'll treat me when he gets his degree! LOL Be well. Hugging you in my heart. Ging Re: Re: New here - hello Wow - maybe I should call my veterinarian for a consultation! He charges a lot less too (LOL). -Sheryl in NJ --- mnpawprints RescueSpice@...> wrote: > Wow thanks Carolyn and Tree, I already learned > something new. I > wasn't aware of H1, H2, and H3. Where can I read up > on that? Funny > observation: my doctors have given me very poor > explanations of the > meds I've been given, the M.D. who gave me > Prednisone only > said " You'll love it, it'll make you feel high. " > (it didn't, it made > me feel DREADFUL) but further discussion with my VET > has consistently > been more useful! She's gladly explained the > various drug's side > effects, benefits, how they work, etc. > > Have any of you looked into internal parasites as a > cause? I rescue > so many stray kitties who come with little bellies > full of worms, and > the doctor says there's NO WAY I could have worms, > but is that really > such a crazy question? I'm especially wondering > after seeing so many > animal people on this message board! Has this been > discussed here > before? > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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