Hives, Chronic Archives

Cholinergic Urticaria

Dr. Stoll:

First of all, I'm so glad I ran across your webpage. I've been reading through the archives all day and have found the information in these pages more useful than what I've found on other internet sites or from my allergist who is, of course, convinced that just prescribing myriad anti-histamines will make it all go away, and so far has been treating this like it's a runny nose or head cold.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I have cholinergic urticaria, not chronic urticaria. The hives are very small and come on all over my body, except my face. When my body gets hot, the hives come (heat, excercise, nervousness). They are extremely painful and itchy. I have been unable to work outside and the other day, I couldn't go outside because it was too hot (only 75 degrees). I had to stay inside until night came, and I'm worried about what will happen as summer approaches.

My question is: you have said that cholinergic urticaria is caused by a malfunctioning liver and is different from chronic urticaria. How so? Is this due to a diet? What are the differences and are they caused by different things, are they cured through different methods?

Also, I've had food allergies all my life, but am on top of them. Shellfish, peanuts, avocados, melons, etc. But ingesting foods that I am allergic to provokes an anaphylaxis of the throat, never hives. So...is this cholinergic urticaria really an allergy? What's going on? Anti-histamines don't work. I can't even work anymore and I'm sick of my allergist just casting this aside as though there's nothing to do about it and it will just go away.

I'm immensely interested in SR but also in changing my diet so that this problem subsides or hopefully disappears. One question - who do you go to to get bio-feedback results? Psychiatrist?

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think if you have time. Thank you so much for providing this site for all of us who are not feeling well.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Cholinergic Urticaria (Archive.) Walt Stoll 09:15:19 5/17/03 (0)

In Reply to: Cholinergic Urticaria posted by craig on May 16, 2003 at 19:08:05:

Thanks, Craig.

You go to a biofeedback technician to get your SR checked.

I think you will find that I did not say that "cholinergic urticaria was due to a malfunctioning liver and different from chronic urticaria". I think they are the same causes and different genetic expressions. This sounds like something SHAPE would say.

In my opinion, your allergist is praying they will resolve themselves and he is "practicing" in the meantime.

MY concern is that you may be approaching MCS and you do not want to do that. SR is likely the most important single thing for you to do but I also think this is beyond your current allergist and you need to find a good Clinical Ecologist (See the MCS archives for how to do that.)and take him copies of all your medical records along with a lifetime history constructed as suggested in the guidelines for the Health Coaching Protocol.

Let us know what you learn and how you do.

Walt