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Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 09:59 AM Jun 2014

Chronic Hives -Frustration with Doctors

Okay this might get long winded but I have to vent about this. Look I know finding the cause of hives can be difficult if not impossible in some cases but I am pretty sure I have figured it out but it's been very frustrating dealing with the allergist, primary care and GYN on this.

The hives started in January. Had never had them before. I have an allergy to Codine and one blood pressure med but nothing else that I know of. Plus there was no new food or medicine or products, that I hadn't used before that had been introduced to my life then.. I was under stress as my beloved dog of 12 1/2 years succumbed to old age and had to be euthanized. Then in February I got a new puppy whose been a handful but the stress is lowering but I still have hives.

Called PC doc. He was out so doc on call saw me and gave me Prednisone for ten days. Hives went away for seven days came back and have been with me pretty much everyday since. They don't respond to antihistamines, the only thing that helps is Sarna lotion That applied to skin stops the itching.

I called PC again. He refers me to allergist. That doc gives me lists of things to avoid for ten days, I do. Hives still there.

I get blood work taken that was requested by allergist. That shows I have low immunoglobulin levels in A, M, E and a high CH50 level. All allergist does is send me results with a note that says he doesn't know what to make of results since he was expecting the immunoglobulin levels to be high and the CH50 to be low. Doesn't explain what my abnormal results do mean or even recommend a follow-up. I called primary care but he is out again. They have me see nurse practitioner who checks with on call doc they were pretty much clueless about results overall too.

Then I researched on line. Not only does it say low immunoglobulin levels and high Ch50 can all result in Hives but can indicate other more serious health issues. The high CH50 count especially.

Since I read that high CH50 indicates there can be an untreated infection I called GYN as I am often prone to UTI's and yeast infections. They found a yeast infection. They treated me with one course of meds. All symptoms including hives went away for five days. Now meds have left my system some symptoms are coming back including hives.

Called this morning to GYN office. Told receptionist that hives were coming back too, she says well that has nothing to do with infection hives are only caused by allergies. Excuse me since when is a receptionist qualified to make a medical pronouncement like that? She did say she would have a nurse call me. I am still waiting.

From what I am reading online some actual medical sites and nutrition sites do say bacterial and fungal infections can be at least related to hives and hives have gone permanently away when an infection has been successfully treated. They were responding to the med till it left my system. Why would the allergist even order a CH 50 test if an infection isn't a possible culprit?

I feel like they are just hanging me out here with out any answers or true help? Any suggestions? Has anyone else read or heard infections can cause hives?


21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Chronic Hives -Frustration with Doctors (Original Post) Liberalynn Jun 2014 OP
I had reoccurring hives as a reaction to penicillin. Downwinder Jun 2014 #1
That is good that the shots took yours away. Liberalynn Jun 2014 #2
Haven't changed your laundry detergent or something like that? Downwinder Jun 2014 #3
No, not before the hives Liberalynn Jun 2014 #5
Hives pertilotte Oct 2014 #16
my daughter has recurring hives deek Jun 2014 #4
I will have to look into that. Liberalynn Jun 2014 #6
First off, you can become allergic to anything at any time. Warpy Jun 2014 #7
The allergist here said he only tests for mold and grass allergies but that if I wanted to have Liberalynn Jun 2014 #8
My chronic hives were caused by an allergy to sulfates in shampoo, Holly_Hobby Jun 2014 #9
That was good you found the cause of yours. Liberalynn Jun 2014 #11
Get thee to a rheumatologist? hedgehog Jun 2014 #10
Thank You for the links Liberalynn Jun 2014 #12
How are you doing? hedgehog Jul 2014 #13
I have actually been doing a little better. Liberalynn Jul 2014 #14
I'm glad to hear you're having some success - hedgehog Jul 2014 #15
Oak pollen can cause severe rashes and hives... freebrew Mar 2015 #17
Sorry to hear you had hives as well. Liberalynn Mar 2015 #18
Mine turned out to be related to gluten sensitivity. pnwmom Jun 2015 #19
I got hives every time I ate nutritional yeast. (Not the stuff used to make bread, but Nay Jun 2015 #20
$1 tube of Benadryl from Walmart or Dollar Tree helps mine a lot. Patterson Jun 2021 #21

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)
1. I had reoccurring hives as a reaction to penicillin.
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 11:19 AM
Jun 2014

They would go away with an Adrenaline shot only to come back the next day. After a week I got ACTH and cortisone shots that cleared it up.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
2. That is good that the shots took yours away.
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 11:57 AM
Jun 2014

A friend of mine says she's had recurrent hives since she was a child and they never found the cause. She is lucky though in that hers don't itch. Mine itch terrible and I practically have to bathe in Sarna to get them to stop.

I haven't had any new meds or shots. The meds I take for my blood pressure, cholesterol, anxiety/depression are all ones I have been on for years without a problem. Maybe the pharmaceutical company changed something in them but my pharmacy is very good about telling me about things like that. The strange thing is that the med I am on for anxiety actually doubles as an antihistamine. The psychiatrist after talking to the allergist agreed to increase my dose in response to the hives but it's not helping at all.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
5. No, not before the hives
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 01:46 PM
Jun 2014

At the allergist's recommendation I have started to use a non allergenic detergent on my clothes but it hasn't helped.

pertilotte

(11 posts)
16. Hives
Tue Oct 28, 2014, 06:31 PM
Oct 2014

You mention yeast infections and that caused a bell to ring. I think that if you changed your diet to incorporate plain yogurt, the kind that states that it has different types of lactobacillus LIVE bacteria in it and do not consume sugars of any kind, that your hives may disappear. Read all labels as many food products have hidden sugars (yeast feeds on sugars); flavoured yogurts, ketchup, peanut butter, etc, there are literally hundreds. Sodas are particularly bad because of corn syrup.
Then take a close look at hygiene products such as shampoo, soaps, bodywash, etc. They frequently contain sulfates and sulfates cause hives. Try baby shampoo and plain, non scented soap and use baking soda as a deodorizer instead of the commercial kind. Hope this helps.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
7. First off, you can become allergic to anything at any time.
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 02:27 PM
Jun 2014

There are even people who are allergic to things like heat. Has the allergist done a sensitivity test for things you are exposed to, including dog dander? That would nail down whether or not it's an environmental allergy and show the way to treatment.

Don't be too alarmed at that high CH50, it's a very broad based indicator that your immune system is active in some way. You will have it elevated with allergic reactions. If you have it in the absence of allergic reaction, the doc needs to find out why. Yours is explainable.

Finding out what you're allergic to is going to be a long term and frustrating process. In the meantime, the danger signs are numbness, tingling or swelling in your mouth or throat. That means call an ambulance, it's life threatening. As long as it remains hives, you're miserable but OK until they figure it out.

My last one was a drug I'd been taking for a couple of months with no problem until one afternoon, HIVES. Fortunately, I always have extra Prednisone and Benadryl on hand because it took me a week to figure out which drug it was.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
8. The allergist here said he only tests for mold and grass allergies but that if I wanted to have
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 03:03 PM
Jun 2014

other tests he would refer me. The nurse from the GYN just called and said the culture they took still shows an extremely high presence of yeast so they do want me to take another dose of the medicine to treat it. Then if that doesn't work they want me to have my blood sugar tested as a possible source of the yeast.

I guess at this point I will see if curing this infection helps the hives too and if not then go back to hunting for an allergy.

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)
9. My chronic hives were caused by an allergy to sulfates in shampoo,
Tue Jun 10, 2014, 08:39 PM
Jun 2014

and sulfates in a blood pressure med. However, I do have a severe allergy to the antibiotic sulpha. The only bp med I can take is Avapro (Irbesartan). All others give me hives from the sulfates.

I now use a sulfate-free shampoo called Dermorganics.

I hope you find out the true cause, it took years for me to figure it out on my own, doctors weren't helpful and still to this day refuse to believe it.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
11. That was good you found the cause of yours.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 11:40 AM
Jun 2014

It is a shame that the doctors can't be more supportive.

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)
10. Get thee to a rheumatologist?
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 04:27 AM
Jun 2014

Last edited Wed Jun 11, 2014, 08:41 AM - Edit history (1)

Being passed from doctor to doctor is almost as good a sign of autoimmune disease as any blood test!

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-hives/basics/definition/con-20031634

http://chronichives.com/what-is-chronic-urticaria/autoimmune-urticaria/


On edit - Many of us with autoimmune problems "flare" after UV exposure - sunlight!

If you've been spending more time out in the sun lately, that may be part of your problem.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
12. Thank You for the links
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 11:43 AM
Jun 2014

I think after reading those articles an auto immune problem is possible. Especially since the immunoglobulin levels were off on all but the G.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
14. I have actually been doing a little better.
Fri Jul 4, 2014, 01:32 PM
Jul 2014

A Physician's Assistant actually told me to try taking two 75 mg tablets of Zantac(the antacid) twice a day for six weeks instead of a traditional antihistamine. Since I have started doing this I have far fewer breakouts of the hives and they no longer itch.

I am still trying to get a referral to see an immunologist about the immunoglobin levels that were off.

Thanks for checking on me.

freebrew

(1,917 posts)
17. Oak pollen can cause severe rashes and hives...
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 12:34 PM
Mar 2015

depends upon where you live.
I had hives as a result of taking Celebrex for 5 years, at the time no one knew that was an indication of impending heart problems. Now I know.

Winter is worse as the air becomes drier and your skin pays the price.
J&J baby cream works best for me right after a shower.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
18. Sorry to hear you had hives as well.
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:13 PM
Mar 2015

I live in Western N.Y. The immunologist was commenting on my dry skin, and wondering if it might be related. He said he wants to get me through this latest round of hives first, then he wants me to begin allergy testing. He said he changed his mind on that since all my immune blood tests came back normal, before he thought it was something wrong with my immune system versus an allergy.

pnwmom

(109,567 posts)
19. Mine turned out to be related to gluten sensitivity.
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 05:03 AM
Jun 2015

I had to go off gluten because of other symptoms and positive blood tests -- and one of the bonuses was that my intermittent hives disappeared and never returned.

Nay

(12,051 posts)
20. I got hives every time I ate nutritional yeast. (Not the stuff used to make bread, but
Thu Jun 4, 2015, 10:20 PM
Jun 2015

the kind you stir into smoothies, etc.)

WebMD lists infections as one way to get hives, so I have no idea why your doctors act like that's a weird idea:

Chronic urticaria and/or angioedema: Hives or swelling lasting more than six weeks. The cause of this type of hives is usually more difficult to identify than those causing acute urticaria and/or angioedema. The causes can be similar to those of acute urticaria but can also include autoimmunity, chronic infections, hormonal disorders, and malignancy.

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