28 Responses for "Jane Pauley Has Chronic Urticaria"

1. shaunquell Dubose May 23rd, 2003 at 1:47 pm 1

   Mrs. Jane I understand how you feel because I suffer with the same thing.I’ve been dealing with Chronic Urticaria for four years and I havened had any success. My allergist can’t even find any allergy’s in my blood all of my results came back negative. I hope you find out whats cause your break out because minds haven’t been found yet.

2. dyan July 11th, 2003 at 1:18 am 2

   I too have chronic urticaria that have been at times life threatening. Every inch of my ody is covered with hives. They are so intense they leave bruises. I have been to lots of doctors they all say the same thing. I am on steroids for several months every year. I have to put up with those side effects. I was hoping someone has maybe found out something that works. One doc say she thinks I have hashimoto thyroid disease. Has anyone heard of this?

3. Terri August 4th, 2003 at 10:48 pm 3

   Last night my legs broke out so bad with hives that I couldnt walk then the hives turned to bruises. I to have Chronic Urticaria.I cant keep a job is there any help out there?

4. Valerie Cortazzo October 20th, 2003 at 8:36 am 4

   I too have DPU. I wish someone like you would speak out about this. The doctors don’t take it seriously and when you have it you usually can’t continue to work and most of us don’t have the financial stability to get through this. I myself have had to file bankruptcy trying to find out what is wrong with me. Now that I know I realize a lot of money was wasted and I am no better. Please get out and make this known. Thanks

5. Kim November 4th, 2003 at 4:00 pm 5

   I was recently “diagnosed” with Chronic Urticaria. I don’t think I have it as bad as it sounds like some of you do, but I do know how frustrating it can be. Sometimes I get up in the morning on a bad day and I just want to turn around and go back to bed. Its almost kept me from joining sports, and other activities, and it makes me feel like my body is discusting, since it looks and feels so bad. I am so glad that I have a name for it now though. I feel so alone in this but it is nice to know there are others out there feeling the same thing, since no one I know does. Don’t give up people…there is hope! Trust in God and he WILL help you get through this.

6. Amber November 7th, 2003 at 7:39 pm 6

   I too have chronic uticaria. I have been hospitalized so many times I know the staff personally (and schedules too). I know what you are ALL going through. I have exhausted every “specialist” in town (Seattle) and am looking to go else where. If anyone has an outstanding physician, I would love a name and contact number!!!

7. Lloyd January 30th, 2004 at 7:19 pm 7

   I have had chronic urticaria for 15 years now, benadryl 50mg 10 x’s a day once helped, so did hismanal and all kinds of steroids but now I take 4-5 10mg of zyrtec daily. I am usually fine all day, it is in the evening when my episodes usually occur, I wonder if anyone has had severe urticaria and found some other meds. which have worked? Thanks.

8. tony March 23rd, 2004 at 12:54 pm 8

   I’VE HAD CHRONIC URTICARIA FOR 3YRS.I AM TAKING STEROIDS.BEEN IN THE ER
   TWICE IN THE HOSPITAL ONCE.SEEN 3 SPECIALST.I HAVE KNOTS ON MY FEET. I’VE HAD HIVES EVERY PART OF MY BODY.
   ANY KIND OF PRESSURE AFFECTS
   ME.IT IS LIFE THREATING FOR
   ME.

9. LINDA JOLLIFFE April 4th, 2004 at 9:30 am 9

   I too have urticaria. I have been on steroids and various other drugs for which none have helped. My consultant has run out of ideas as to how to treat me other than keep me on steroids indefinately. I began getting bad bouts of urticaria soon after the birth of my son. I now suffer on average twice a month and it does effect my life as i feel unable to go out.

10. Laura April 24th, 2004 at 9:27 pm 10

    I have chronic uticaria and am a student nurse. While going through school I am looking for answers about my own health problems and have come to the conclusion that mine is highly corelated with hypothyroidism. I have had some success using a fairly new over the counter anti-histamine aerius. It is not covered by most drug plans (as it is over the counter, but is the one pill that has worked well for me.) Cheers and best of Luck, email me back if you find anything new…

11. Laura April 24th, 2004 at 9:27 pm 11

    I have chronic uticaria and am a student nurse. While going through school I am looking for answers about my own health problems and have come to the conclusion that mine is highly corelated with hypothyroidism. I have had some success using a fairly new over the counter anti-histamine aerius. It is not covered by most drug plans (as it is over the counter, but is the one pill that has worked well for me.) Cheers and best of Luck, email me back if you find anything new…

12. jon crawford May 4th, 2004 at 4:48 pm 12

    I share all of your frustrations! I tried many different combinations of medicine until I FINALLY mixed 75-100 mg of Doxepin with 10-20 mg of Zyrtec each day.. This combination keeps ALL hives and angioedema away. I get the hives mostly while I sleep if I don’t take the medicines regularly. I take 10 mg of Zyrtec in the morning with 25 mg of Doxepin. At night I normall take 50 mg of Doxepin. If I feel any hives starting at all, I take an additional 10 mg Zyrtec at bedtime and 25 mg extra of Doxepin, either in the morning or night. This consistently keeps all signs of chronic uticaria away! GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU !!!

13. Julia May 21st, 2004 at 3:34 pm 13

    Help, I am like the rest of you. I have had chronic Urticaria for four years. I have been to every kind of Dr. and had every kind of test to no avail. They say its ie idopatic. I know if there is a symptom there has to be a cure. Mine started after a had a hysterectomy. I was on premarine for 3 years and a patch(esclim) for 6 months. I am now on Natural bio-identical hormone BIEST. My hives a are still everyday. I take 4 zyrtec 2-4 doxepin and that gives a little relief. I wish some famous person would come forward and help us find a cure. I am miserable everday of my life and so is my husband

14. christina May 25th, 2004 at 12:26 am 14

    I am29 years old and have been suffering from chronic uticaria for 2 years. After taking zyrtec for 2 years they simply disappeared only to reappear again. I was diagnosed with Grave’s disease about 8 months ago. The hives just came back 3 months ago. I am going to an allergist. Sounds like it won’t be much help. I believe that it is due to my thyroid.

    ANY ADVICE??

15. rebekah May 29th, 2004 at 11:54 pm 15

    I have suffered with hives for 14yrs. I too was told it was chronic idiopathic urticaria. I even went to the Mayo in Jacksonville, Fl. I went through EVERY department. My doctor and I were hoping if they couldn’t find anything maybe they could put me on an experimental drug. No such luck. I got so sick over the years. I had been on and off prednisone then on for over 8 yrs. nothing else controlled the hives. You can imagine the damage. Well, 2yrs ago I got a diagnosis! YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTORS!!!!!! I went to a REAL allergist. Naturally, having just met me–not knowing the extent of my problem he put me on an allergy diet which of course was a waste of time BUT not actually. That did not help. I had extensive allergy testing. Testing on my left and right arms–alot of subq shots. alot. They were all positve for the environmental allergens. I was positve for 4 foods. Lettuce, tomatoe, potatoe, and peanuts. Lettuce? Pesticides and Insectides!!! Watch for what goes into your food. Does your belly hurt after you eat = even hours later? mine would until I started paying attention-that’s where the allergy diet comes in and organic foods but you gotta watch out for them too. They aren’t all they say they are. Study before you eat. I started taking allergy shots but slowly. Don’t mix every thing up at once. So, you can have more control. The secret. Only put something into your body every 4–5 days. Let the allergen get so low your body does not recognize it hopefully then it won’t recognize it and you won’t have a reaction. I do suggest you stay away from the sugars as much as possible. The gut plays a big role in our body. There is alot of bacteria in our gut and it seems that blatent sugar can aggrivate some problems. Even fructose (a sugar). If you want to eat these sugars time them so if they do make you sick you will be home so you can take your meds or go to bed and get comfortable.
    Finally, the blood test. IgE, IgA, IgG with subclasses. Make sure they run the subclass with the IgG. MY IgG was normal but one of my subclass was non-existing. There in lies my hives. This is a Bone Marrow Disorder. Every month I get IVIG infusions. After 2yrs I’m starting to get my symptoms under control and off the prednisone for longer periods at a time. I have an implantable port for my infusions which is not inhibiting my activities. That way I don’t need to get Stuck with an Iv everytime. They numb the port site and it does not hurt so much. Pains in my legs I have had since an adolescent are now explained. It’s my bone marrow trying to produce the immunoglobulin I don’t have. I was tested for stress fractures more than once. I thought they were shin splints. Sharp, needle like, pains in my left tibia. Fatigue Since early on. Many other symptoms realted to this deficiency and allergies. Sorry to go on and on but I want to share this info. I hope It helps some of you. Remember: ALLERGY DIET, ALLERGY TESTING, IMMUNOGLOBULIN TESTING WITH SUBCLASSES! BEST WISHES AND HEALTH

16. rebekah May 29th, 2004 at 11:55 pm 16

    I have suffered with hives for 14yrs. I too was told it was chronic idiopathic urticaria. I even went to the Mayo in Jacksonville, Fl. I went through EVERY department. My doctor and I were hoping if they couldn’t find anything maybe they could put me on an experimental drug. No such luck. I got so sick over the years. I had been on and off prednisone then on for over 8 yrs. nothing else controlled the hives. You can imagine the damage. Well, 2yrs ago I got a diagnosis! YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTORS!!!!!! I went to a REAL allergist. Naturally, having just met me–not knowing the extent of my problem he put me on an allergy diet which of course was a waste of time BUT not actually. That did not help. I had extensive allergy testing. Testing on my left and right arms–alot of subq shots. alot. They were all positve for the environmental allergens. I was positve for 4 foods. Lettuce, tomatoe, potatoe, and peanuts. Lettuce? Pesticides and Insectides!!! Watch for what goes into your food. Does your belly hurt after you eat = even hours later? mine would until I started paying attention-that’s where the allergy diet comes in and organic foods but you gotta watch out for them too. They aren’t all they say they are. Study before you eat. I started taking allergy shots but slowly. Don’t mix every thing up at once. So, you can have more control. The secret. Only put something into your body every 4–5 days. Let the allergen get so low your body does not recognize it hopefully then it won’t recognize it and you won’t have a reaction. I do suggest you stay away from the sugars as much as possible. The gut plays a big role in our body. There is alot of bacteria in our gut and it seems that blatent sugar can aggrivate some problems. Even fructose (a sugar). If you want to eat these sugars time them so if they do make you sick you will be home so you can take your meds or go to bed and get comfortable.
    Finally, the blood test. IgE, IgA, IgG with subclasses. Make sure they run the subclass with the IgG. MY IgG was normal but one of my subclass was non-existing. There in lies my hives. This is a Bone Marrow Disorder. Every month I get IVIG infusions. After 2yrs I’m starting to get my symptoms under control and off the prednisone for longer periods at a time. I have an implantable port for my infusions which is not inhibiting my activities. That way I don’t need to get Stuck with an Iv everytime. They numb the port site and it does not hurt so much. Pains in my legs I have had since an adolescent are now explained. It’s my bone marrow trying to produce the immunoglobulin I don’t have. I was tested for stress fractures more than once. I thought they were shin splints. Sharp, needle like, pains in my left tibia. Fatigue Since early on. Many other symptoms realted to this deficiency and allergies. Sorry to go on and on but I want to share this info. I hope It helps some of you. Remember: ALLERGY DIET, ALLERGY TESTING, IMMUNOGLOBULIN TESTING WITH SUBCLASSES! BEST WISHES AND HEALTH

17. mandy June 3rd, 2004 at 1:24 pm 17

    i have had hives now for 2 and a half months, i have been to a dermatologist my gp and an allergis immunologist and have been diagnosed with chronic uticaria. Well at first i didn’t know anything about it and was terribly worried that it would never go away i took benedryl, aerius, reactine and used any cream on the market to help control the intense itch. Some days i was covered head to toe with hives even on my face and was soo embarrassed to leave the house i began getting extremely depressed about my looks and the outcome of the horrible disease. Anyways the last time i was at the allergist he sent me for some tests all have come back normal, so he explained to me that some peoples antibodies begin to attack them as result of them being confused and although that sounds grim he put me on doxepin, and singulaire, at first you start my taking 10mg of doxepin once a day every week increasing by one pill so week two take two pills a day, i take them at bedtime as they tend to make you very tired at first but the good think is is that you can sleep. Anyways i have been on them for two weeks and although i am not hive free i went from having them alllllll over my body to the point where some days you couldn’t see a flat spot on my legs to now today i have 4 on my arms and 2 on my butt and 4 on each leg just small ones. I am not completly better but i would suggest trying it. Doxepin is an antidepressent antianxiety but it has a strong antihistimine action as well it goes right to the central nervous system and instead of masking the hives tries to get rid of them
    anyways i hope i was of some help and maybe if there is anyone out there who has gotten over hives in less than a year to let me know i am feeling verysad because i amsuppose to be getting married in less then a year from now and i keep hearing all sorts of stories about people having hives for years and yaers the doctor told me majority or cases clear in 6months to a year but it can last longer or your whole life can someone bring some light into my life. good luck!!

18. vee June 12th, 2004 at 3:53 pm 18

    I feel everyones pain…especially since I still have hives…
    i’ve had them for 8 years now and have no clue where and why it comes up….i only get them from june-end of sept, but the problem is i have found nothing that i am allergic to during those times…it is a pain to trying to figure out why…where is this source coming from…i’ve been to accuputurist and tried everything imaginable…i came to an article about a man who had chronic hives for 30 years and he started to get arthritis pains so his dr. gave him some prescriptions for his arthritis and the pilll cured his hives completely! you should all ask your dr. about this however, the study was never approved on why this worked for some and not for others…hope this info. helps.

19. Jim June 15th, 2004 at 1:18 pm 19

    Something that I haven’t seen anyone mention is that Zantac (an H2 antihistamine) added to Zyrtec or other H1 antihistamines will often improve the efficacy. When you can purchase a 120 tablet bottle of the 75mg size for about $10 at WalMart, it’s an inexpensive way to get better control.

20. Michele July 26th, 2004 at 9:31 pm 20

    I have cold urticaria. I have had this condition for more than 15 years and until recently, have been able to control the hives by taking Rynatan, a prescription, non-drowsy antihistamine. About 2 weeks ago, I had a bad episode and now unless I take benedryl every 4-8 hours, I cannot keep the hives away. I have taken steroids and a combination of zyrtec and other antihistamines, but benedryl is all that works. The problem is, I cannot function. It makes me so sleepy. Any suggestions? (I have no idea what made this condition so bad 2 weeks ago…)

21. Tracy July 27th, 2004 at 10:56 am 21

    What a relief to find this page. I have been searching the internet trying to cure my hives since no doctors seem to care. I too have idopathic chronic urticaria. I can go for years with out haivng an attack so in some cases I guess I am lucky. Unfortunatly I am going through an attack now. The last one I had lasted for 6 months and left some scarring. The only thing that seems to work for me is steroids which I know can not be good for you. Besides they make me blow up like a balloon. I have had blood work done and alergy testing, nothing. I also tried one of those organic whole foods diet, that didnt work either. What is this I am hearing about Thyroid disease? I also feel that there has to be some kind of cure. Any iformation would help.

22. Julie August 20th, 2004 at 2:59 pm 22

    I have had chronic hives for ten years. The first eight they were easily controlled by antihistamines.Two years ago all at once they turned antihistamine resistant. The only one that lessened them even a little was doxepin. I had the thousand dollar allergy test and everything was negative. Why don’t doctors take seriously something that is a torment and a life destroyer.After being on prednisone for a solid year and gaining 70 pounds I tried sulfa salazine. It worked for a while until it turned summer. My hives always get wose in summer and also when I go to bed at night. I would encourage
    anyone to try sulfasalazine before they destroy their bodies with prednisone . And if that doesn’t work try cyclosporine. It is very exspensive but probably worth it. You will have to order it online from overseas of course because no doctor will consider your little nuisance condition worthy of such a prescription.

23. Tibby August 23rd, 2004 at 10:10 pm 23

    I have had hives this episode since July 03. Before I had them for as long as 4 years. I am so SICK of this but it isn’t sick of me. I have taken prednisone and now I am paying for that. I am having rapid heart rate. So I will never if at all possible take it again. It has been the only thing that has helped at times. But I don’t think it is worth the side effects anymore.
    I went to a environmental place to see if they could help me. And I was getting worse. They had me injecting myself with histamine 4 times a day and if I had symptoms more times than that. This seemed to make me worse than ever. I finally gave up on them and came home. Went to one other doctor after that and he said that it has allot to do with my hypothyroidism. So I am now off Levoxil and taking Armour Thyroid and it seems to be getting better. Wouldn’t that be great if it were that simple.
    I don’t know but this is the weirdest thing to have. I feel like I am in another world sometimes when I break out. I can’t describe it all. I do have cold urticaria also. But extreme heat can get me too. Also any tight chings on my body also I get pressure hives at night. I feel so crazy and I know everyone is sick of it that I live with but I am more sick of it than the are. The latest thing I seem to be having is congestion in my lungs. I can’t decide if it is from hives or the new heart thing.
    Any way, I feel for all of you that have this. I keep saying that if the right person ever gets this maybe then they will work harder at finding more info. But I pray at the same time nobody else has to suffer with this.

24. chris besh August 26th, 2004 at 11:55 pm 24

    I have had chronic urticaria for almost 3 years now and have been miserable. Mine started about 5 months after having my daughter and was severe for about a year. my skin would hurt so bad and the hives were so bad they covered my entire body. I have taken everything; benedryl,zantac,zytec,doxepin,singular,prednisone all in different combinations-nothing has helped except the prednisone and of course i gained 70 pounds and thought i was going to wind up in a mental institution. I had to come off the steroids after almost a year. These hives are very odd looking too. They are circular and are huge. sometimes they even leave bruises or scarring behind from scratching so bad. I feel so bad for everyone out there including myself for this terrible nightmare that has happened to us.
    i am a registered nurse and feel like i too have been lost in this terrible medical system we have now. doctors treat me like i am crazy. i know my family thinks the same. my marriage has really suffered through all this. sorry i keep going on and on but i feel like you understand and know where i am coming from. I have been to allergy specialist,GP,Dermatology and even went to a doctor in Atlanta who put me on cyclosporin-did not work. The hives got somewhat better after a hysterectomy last year but came back after a few months. I have never been a nervous person until now. I find myself screaming at my kids all the time and just on edge 24-7. Some days I just don’t know if I can make it another day living this way. I just feel so helpless in finding a cure for this. If someone could help please!!!! we are desperate for an answer. I have given up on going to the doctor and now just waiting on a miracle. I also have angioedema or so they call it.
    I get these extremely tender spots on the soles of my feet and palms of my hands that swell up and sometimes make it difficult to even walk or write with a pen. sometimes my joints swell-esp. my knees and it feels like I have maybe fluid in my joints-can be very painful. thanks for listening to me ramble on Good Luck-hopefully soon we will all get our lives back

25. Kathy August 28th, 2004 at 2:20 pm 25

    I am so grateful for this site..and I ran across it by accident. I am having my second bout of uticaria..my first was March-June of last year with 3 trips to the emergency room, only to be made to feel like I was the one doing something wrong or not paying enough attention to something that might be an allergen to me. I was very frustrated and on steroids for 3 months. Now they are back with a vengeance, and my Dr. is hesitant to prescribe prednisone for me and am I, except that I know it gives me relief and all of you know how important that is for quality of life. So here is the cocktail they have mixed up for me. Zyrtex in the morning..Clarinex in the afternoon, and hydroxyzine in the pm right before bed, which is an anti-anxiety with antihistamine combo…I don’t have any relief yet..it’s very frustrating..if anyone has had any success with anything, please e-mail me..this is also creating some depression in me.

26. Mike August 28th, 2004 at 10:47 pm 26

    I have had hives also for about 20 years. For about the first 10 years it was just a temporary distraction. Then it became unbearable and I couldn’t sleep. I was on Atarax for several years, then something else, then finally zyrtec. Now I have limited my Zyrtec to 1 ml per day (I get the liquid) and if I take this at bed time I have no hive problems at all. If I miss a dose, like clockwork, the hives will attack as soon as I try to go to sleep. If my dosage gets off schedule, an attack may come during the day, and usually it is accompanied with painful bumps similar to ingrown hairs on my neck and scalp.

    Some interesting things. Alcohol seems to wipe out the zyrtec in my system and bring on the hives sooner. A common cold, but not a virus, will prevent the hives for as long as I’m getting sicker. I can tell when I’m starting to get well because the hives come back before my cold goes away. I have gone without hives for up to 4 days without medicine while sick with a common cold. When I’m not sick I must be medicated.

    I cannot figure out why 1 ml. per day is so effective since the hives are so severe. If I take a 10 mg zyrtec pill, then I will not have symptoms for about 3 days. Rather than take an avg. of 3.3 mg per day, I just take 1 ml since my body seems to dispose of the drug anyway.

    One other interesting note: when my hives first became chronic, I would not have any symptoms if I was away on a relaxing vacation and not working. This led me to believe that they were stress related. In any event, if they were stress related then, they are chronic now because only the zyrtec works.

    The allergist said “hey, you should be thankful for the zyrtec”.

    I suppose he’s right, but I still wish I knew what was wrong with me.

27. mike August 28th, 2004 at 11:02 pm 27

    Has anyone tried this: http://www.urticaria.com/
    And if so, did you find it to work?

28. Melissa Kaplan August 30th, 2004 at 3:42 pm 28

    I am so grateful for this site. I recently heard about Jane Pauley’s hive conditon and came across this. I started getting hives 8 months ago. I have been miserable. I scratch myself so much that my skin bleeds. I am living off atarax, benadryl, allegrea, zyrtec etc. My Doctor wanted me to go on steroids, but I had a bad instinct not to take them. I am also on antidepressants for major depressive disorder. When I heard abt steroids making Jane Pauley bipolar, I am thankful I didn’t take them.
    In addtion, I went to the rheumatoligist, dermatoligist etc. I am so tired of being asked if I am using a new soap or detergent. I do not do anyhthing out of the ordinary.