Is this an Allergy and what should I do?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Emichan
  • Start date Start date
E

Emichan

Guest
Ok. I have no insurance so I have no normal doctor and the clinic won't take new patients till next year. I love to be outdoors and I enjoy walking, running, hiking, biking and etc. Now when I walk or run my legs, back, stomach and sometimes my butt start to itch really bad. They break out into hive patches of red and it itches so bad and then it starts to burn. When I scratch it helps but I have noticed that my skin is really really hot. I hate this because it interferes with my love of nature and being able to hike and be outside. Could this be allergies? the same thing happens to my sisters. My younger sister had the same problem and she had allergy tests done and she is alergic to everything pretty much. See it use to just happen to me when I walked in wooded areas and now its just about anywhere.It even happens in the cold when Im walking my frienRAB doggy alot. I really really hate it. Am I allergic to nature? This never happened when I was a child because I use to hike all the time. It started a few years ago. I just want it to stop. Any advice? thank you so much.:angel:
 
You may actually be allergic to exercise. Exercise induced hives are quite common. You can be allergic to cold and sunlight too.

Try taking an antihistamine an hour before you go far a walk. Or try taking a 24 hour antihistamine before bedtime and you are covered all day. Zyrtec is a good 24 hour antihistamine and for a quick one, try Benadryl. Makes some people tired but if you use the liquid, you could probably take a single dose and then walk in 15-20 minutes.......works fast.

I'm sure some others will be along with even better suggestions but this is what I do when I get my cold weather hives.

Jenny
 
The fact that it happens even in winter suggests it isn't a typical "outdoor" allergy like pollen. Have you tried just walking indoors, like in a gym or mall?

Jenny could be right about the allergy to exercise. Or maybe it's friction from clothing, or something in your clothes.

I'd make the appointment at your clinic. Meanwhile, antihistamines are a great idea.
 
I never got any relief with Claritin so I'm not sure about it, Jenny. Sorry...but zyrtec is very popular for hives.
 
But I remeraber something about Allegra and Claritin only being released as antihistamines for outdoor allergies and not indoor. When Zyrtec went OTC, it was for both if I recall.

Anyhow, you're right....Claritin doesn't do a thing. Try Zyrtec.

Jen

PS. I even like it better than it's expensive Rx cousin Xyxal
 
It happens when I am walking indoors sometimes but not all the time. It has happened when I have been walking around a mall and it does not matter if i have shorts on or pants on. Its just so irritating and annoying. my sister has the same thing happen and she is on claritin.
 
I agree and disagree on the Claritin question:

1) Theoretically, any antihistamine should work on any allergy. I assume that the reason Claritin is approved only for outdoor allergies is that the manufacturers only bothered to test it on outdoor allergies.

2) Yes, I also find Claritin is completely useless--the least effective antihistamine out of the many I've tried.

3) However, my friend with severe allergies insists Benadryl is useless and Claritin is the only thing that works for her!

As far as your hives, taking an antihistamine is probably your best bet. Try a few different ones until you find something that works without side effects.

Also, people with exercise-induced asthma find that warming up slowly helps, and that temperature and humidity can make a big difference. (cold air is worst.)
 
It may be allergy problem. You can try out home remedies because there only effect but no side effects. Just try out Ginkgo Biloba, Omega-3, Nettle, Eat something full of Quercetin.
 
SounRAB more and more like exercise induced hives. There is also exercise induced asthma....so it does exist and has a label.

Claritan is a fairly weak antihistamine and if I recall, it only for outdoor allergies?(help me here Titchou). Zyrtec is indoor and outdoor and is recommended for "idiopathic hives(hives for no reason). So I'd try taking even half a tablet a day and see if it makes a difference. Makes any kind of dent in your reaction , then try a full tablet. Some people I've know who get stuff like this have to take 2 Zyrtecs initially and then once the hives are gone, can back it down to 1 tablet or even a half because 2 WILL make you tired.

You can do all sorts of things to try to fix your immune system but quite frankly I just pop a pill. All the testing and alternative stuff I've done over the years(my primary MD was a licensed acupuncturist and homeopath and MD)has changed NOTHING. I am still as allergic now as after all his stuff, if not more so. Finally realized that most of it is inherited. So I take my antihistamins and now doing more allergy shots and finally getting some relief.

Give it a try.

Jenny
 
Back
Top