Re: Another Newbie-Urticaria

[Guest guest]

Hi, Esther. You must be one tough cookie to be not taking any meds for the

hiving. I know I would go absolutely crazy from the itching! If you can

stand it, and there's no other symptoms involved (i.e. going into shock or

throat closure), then I think it's great that you can stay off the meds. I

worry, too, about what all those poisons (and let's face it, drugs are

technically poisons) are doing to my system. If you can stay away from

steroids, you're way ahead of the game. Prednisone and its relatives have

got to be some of the most destructive drugs I've ever had to take.

The biggest problem for all of us, I think, is FINDING the root problem.

I've been dealing with this for so long, I know more about it than most

doctors do (which isn't much). It seems in most cases the hives eventually

subside on their own; the pattern I've seen in myself and others is the

first bout generally lasts about 2 years (which doctors originally told me

would happen). Subsequent bouts tend to last anywhere from a few months to a

year. Every time I've had a bout of hives, I've had to go through all the

testing. Kind of a drag; you'd think they'd find something eventually. I

don't know if it's standard or not, but each time I've been tested for

everything under the sun, from AIDS to cancer to fifth disease (human

parvo). The only one I ever tested positive for was the fifth disease, which

may or may not have contributed to that particular bout (it was my 3rd or

4th one). Definitely not the root cause, though.

Regarding meds and possible combos, the most popular combo seems to be

Zyrtec/Zantac; sometimes Accolate (an asthma med) is thrown in with them. I

participated in a clinical study about 1-1/2 years ago testing Zyrtec and

Accolate; I guess the results were pretty satisfactory, although I did bette

without the Accolate. Everyone's different. Right now I'm on Benadryl,

Zantac and pred; plus ephedrine sulfate as needed. I'm a " shocker " , though,

so the docs tend to keep me on stronger meds to control that. The best combo

I was ever on was Seldane (which has been pulled from the market), Tagamet

and Atarax.

Finally, regarding telling your doctor about the acupuncture; by all means

he needs to know what treatments you are trying. If he doesn't approve, you

might want to find another doctor. In my experience, the allergists I've

dealt with have been extremely open-minded and supportive of alternative

treatments. I don't know if I've just been real lucky, or if allergists in

general are that way. One allergist I was seeing even prescribed wheat-grass

juice for chronic fatigue. Pretty cool guy.

Hope all this helps (boy, am I long-winded or what??). Good luck with your

appointment on Monday. Be well. - itchin' and scratchin' like crazy, Jackie

>From: esthers.1@...

>Reply-To: urticariaegroups

>To: urticariaegroups

>Subject: Re: Another Newbie-Urticaria

>Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 23:14:23 -0400

>

>Dear Friends,

>

>First of all, thank you for all your helpful responses! I feel as if I

>just made 100 new friends :-) I have learned a great deal thus far,

>namely that I should take a combo of antihistamines, specifically, H1 and

>H2. I have taken Claritin, Atarax, PBZ, Zyrtec and Allegra, and varying

>combinations of them all, to know avail whatsoever. I feel somewhat wary

>taking drugs for the hives anyway, since it is in essence ignoring the

>root problem (am I too naive and idealistic?!), and am therefore

>currently taking nothing. Having said that, I will still go and get a

>prescription for a combination of H1 and H2 drugs in preparation for my

>job this September. Which seem to be the best? (BTW, in addition to

>ignoring the root problem, I feel that drugs may make a messed up immune

>system worse! The drugs would, in that case, exacerbate the problem, no?)

>

>I have communicated with some doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center, and

>am seeing a general internist who specializes in diagnosis on Monday

>(never knew such a specialty existed before). After that, I'll see some

>immunologist/allergist and maybe a hetemologist (sp?). I already had all

>my hormones and thyroid checked out by an endocrinologist - clean bill.

>Also, a rheumatologist confirmed that the hives are not rheumatic in

>nature. Anything I should specifically request to be tested for? Wish

>me luck on Monday - hate that hospital gown!

>

>I appreciate all your advice about the job - I will certainly be straight

>up about it. (Gosh, don't even know who my boss IS! My immediate

>supervisor? HR? I'm really new to this whole corporate world.)

>

>XwhyZz@... wrote:

>

>< We all practice different forms of medicine from Chinese herbal,

>accupuncture,

>vitamins, special diets or whatever it may be to try and help

>ourselves!>

>

>I am currently seeing an acupuncturist / herbalist, but have not seen any

>affect so far. Not giving up on it yet, though. I imagine I should

>mention it to the doctor I'll be going to on Monday...a bit nervous about

>that. Doctors seem to think anything other than conventional medicine is

>total hype (a bit arrogant if you ask me when they can't even cure what I

>have!)...what are your experiences on that?

>

>Thanks everyone for your advice on work, drugs, research hospitals and

>just for being there!

>

>Love always,

>Esther in NYC

>

>PS-what's the deal on listbot and egroups? Are they the same list, or two

>different ones? Someone mentioned that they are the same thing..sorry,

>I'm new here, don't know what's going on.

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

First of all, thank you for all your helpful responses! I feel as if I

just made 100 new friends :-) I have learned a great deal thus far,

namely that I should take a combo of antihistamines, specifically, H1 and

H2. I have taken Claritin, Atarax, PBZ, Zyrtec and Allegra, and varying

combinations of them all, to know avail whatsoever. I feel somewhat wary

taking drugs for the hives anyway, since it is in essence ignoring the

root problem (am I too naive and idealistic?!), and am therefore

currently taking nothing. Having said that, I will still go and get a

prescription for a combination of H1 and H2 drugs in preparation for my

job this September. Which seem to be the best? (BTW, in addition to

ignoring the root problem, I feel that drugs may make a messed up immune

system worse! The drugs would, in that case, exacerbate the problem, no?)

I have communicated with some doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center, and

am seeing a general internist who specializes in diagnosis on Monday

(never knew such a specialty existed before). After that, I'll see some

immunologist/allergist and maybe a hetemologist (sp?). I already had all

my hormones and thyroid checked out by an endocrinologist - clean bill.

Also, a rheumatologist confirmed that the hives are not rheumatic in

nature. Anything I should specifically request to be tested for? Wish

me luck on Monday - hate that hospital gown!

I appreciate all your advice about the job - I will certainly be straight

up about it. (Gosh, don't even know who my boss IS! My immediate

supervisor? HR? I'm really new to this whole corporate world.)

XwhyZz@... wrote:

< We all practice different forms of medicine from Chinese herbal,

accupuncture,

vitamins, special diets or whatever it may be to try and help

ourselves!>

I am currently seeing an acupuncturist / herbalist, but have not seen any

affect so far. Not giving up on it yet, though. I imagine I should

mention it to the doctor I'll be going to on Monday...a bit nervous about

that. Doctors seem to think anything other than conventional medicine is

total hype (a bit arrogant if you ask me when they can't even cure what I

have!)...what are your experiences on that?

Thanks everyone for your advice on work, drugs, research hospitals and

just for being there!

Love always,

Esther in NYC

PS-what's the deal on listbot and egroups? Are they the same list, or two

different ones? Someone mentioned that they are the same thing..sorry,

I'm new here, don't know what's going on.

________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Dear Jackie,

I am off the meds because I haven't found relief, not because I'm a tough

cookie! And yes, the itching drives me up the wall - worse is when it's

on your butt and you're taking a 3 hour exam! Gosh, the hell I'm

enduring. Thanks for the advice. Steroids scare me like crazy, so I doubt

I'll go there, even if it would provide relief.

On Sat, 17 Jun 2000 22:07:31 PDT " Jackie Vaughan "

writes:

> Hi, Esther. You must be one tough cookie to be not taking any meds

> for the hiving. I know I would go absolutely crazy from the itching!

If you

> can stand it, and there's no other symptoms involved (i.e. going into

> shock or throat closure), then I think it's great that you can stay

off the

> meds. I worry, too, about what all those poisons (and let's face it,

drugs

> are technically poisons) are doing to my system.

Thank God, I don't shock or get throat clousure.

>If you can stay away from steroids, you're way ahead of the game.

Prednisone and its relatives

> have got to be some of the most destructive drugs I've ever had to

take.

> The biggest problem for all of us, I think, is FINDING the root

> problem. I've been dealing with this for so long, I know more about it

than

> most doctors do (which isn't much). It seems in most cases the hives

> eventually subside on their own; the pattern I've seen in myself and

others is

> the first bout generally lasts about 2 years (which doctors originally

> told me would happen).

It will be three years this November. Seems from reading the postings

that a lot of you guys are long time sufferers. I am starting to despair!

Thanks for the info, I'll keep you all updated.

Love,

Esther in NYC

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