My cure for hives after 21 years
Posted , 24 users are following.
I thought after 21 years, I would NEVER find a cure. I was diagnosed after taking two Ibuprofen. It almost killed me, and the lasting effect was hives. I couldn't do anything or go anywhere without being covered in hives. I could no longer wear sundresses, shorts or capris because my legs and arms were ALWAYS covered in hives. I went to bed with them and I woke up with them. I was allergic to everything. I saw more than my share of doctors, even a Hematologist. Nothing worked. I took every prescription, cream, lotion, and shot available, including two cycles of Xolair. Nothing. The stress of itching all day, every day was overwhelming. The swelling it caused in my hands and feet was unbearable. Then one day, I remember having an allergic reaction to Aleve years ago, ending up in the ER where they gave me an IV drip of Pepcid. I thought that was odd. I even mentioned it to my doctor, and he said huh, an H20 inhibitor. Not knowing what he meant by that, it didn't mean anything to me. All these years I continued to suffer with no hope in sight. One day I started thinking about the drip they gave me and while I have been on Prilosec for years due to having Asthma and Acid Reflux, I had never taken Pepcid AC. I had been on Zyrtec for years for my allergies, but it did nothing for my hives. I decided to switch fro Prilosec to Pepcid AC and used it with my Zyrtec instead. After a few days, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had them before on my hands and feet. Now, nothing! I was shocked they were going away. Over time, they continued to disappear. It's been about a year now, and I have not had one hive. I feel as though there are phantom hives on me, when I look, there's nothing there. I am so relieved of the stress of having to deal with it everyday. I know this may not be a cure for anyone, but for me it was a Godsend, because I was at the end of my rope. I take 4 Zyrtec and two Pepcid AC everyday. NO HIVES in almost a year. My doctor was shocked that that combination worked, but since he was at the end of his rope and there was nothing else he could do, I think he was relieved I healed myself. I didn't change my diet, my environment, or anything. Good luck to you all and I hope you find a cure, because I know exactly what hell you are going through. After 21 years, I AM CURED!!!!
7 likes, 71 replies
itchy17915 rene87378
Posted
hi everyone I want everyone to know the cause of my hives in 2018.
The cause was a bacterial infection known as helicobacter pylori. Anyone with hives should be tested. Ask your doctor for a urea breath test and don't take no for an answer. I tested positive, had the treatment and never had hives again. Doctors fail to correlate heliocobacter pylori with hives, so you must insist on being tested. Good luck.
purusha57785 rene87378
Posted
Thank you for sharing this. I too have been suffering with chronic hives for almost 15 years or so. I have actually stopped counting. My hives would come and go. Then one day in 2014 they just stopped. I thought OMG I'm cured. Well little did I know it was a thing called remission. Whatever it was, I felt great for the longest time. Then June 2017, they came back and I was like noooooo. So I was in remission for 3 years. They continued for any 3 years straight. Well I would get relief when they got so bad I had to ask my doctor for some prednisone.
In February 2018, I decided to change my eating habit and move to a 50/50 plant based diet. I lost 40lbs or so, which was great. I must have reverted to my old habits because in August 2018 the month I was getting married they started to come back. So back on prednisone I went bcause I knew I wasn't going to be able to bear being in Las Vegas with all the heat and sun. I think it kept them at bay for about a week or so. But still got hives just not as bad. I can't remember the year I went on ranitidine, but that was truly as you said Godsent. Then they pulled it off the market. Talk about devastated. The one thing that I knew was somewhat helping was no longer available. Ughhhh.
2019 was a blur and most of 2020. I was still getting the hives. It was awful!!!
In December 2020, they went away again. I was thinking ok this a a good thing. Yayyyy! Then March 2021, they came back with a vengeance. I was truly at my wits end. I had tried famotidine before, but I didn't find that it helped much. Especially after they pulled ranitidine.
I started to use logic. If I had to increase Zyrtec, I wondered if I just increased the famotidine would it make a difference, well sure enough it helped. I didn't realize it was the famotidine that was really helping until I ran out of it. For whatever reason, I was in denial that it was in fact the famotidine, since I was taking so much other medications.
For a couple days of being out of the medication, my hives were absolutely awful!!!!! I finally decided to order famotidine and it came in I think yesterday. Almost instantly the hives were gone like I never had them before. I'm on day two 90% hives free. I'm taking a pretty high dose, but I'm hoping to be able to bring it down to 20mg two times a day, at least. Currently self medicating at 40mg two times day. But that's what's helping me for the moment. I'm not saying this will work for any and everyone. What I do know is that it is working for me. So I hopeful like @rene87378 said she has been hives free for almost a year. I hope that will be my story as well.
Thank you for again for sharing. It definitely helped to confirm what I was currently going through.
My next question would be then why does this medication help and what is really going on in our stomachs/intestine/body that is causing our bodies to react in this manner. I really wish there was more definitive solutions. I definitely don't want to be on this medication forever. I'm definitely concerned with the long term effects of what may be happening to my liver and kidney's.
Nonetheless, I take it as a blessing. And patiently wait for a cure for answers.
Good luck to everyone that is reading this. You are not alone in this journey. We feel your pain and pray in solidarity with you and for you.
Sending you all healing vibes, love, and light! Be well!
tash28858 rene87378
Posted
im a 35 year old female, wish i was healthier but ive been breaking out in hives for 2 years now. One day i broke out in hives after getting out of the shower, then like 6 months later at sea world, then i started to break out weekly then daily. I have seen a dermatologist and allergy specialist and they agree i have cu
Cholinergic urticaria . I break out when my body temperature rises, even a little bit. Taking a shower, on hot days. They told me to try Zyrtec, Claritin, benadryl, allegra, and montelukast. Nothing worked. I took blood test everything was fine. They told me to see family Doctor which i have appointment. But i did research myself. So theres like histamine and h1 and h2 and saying to try both together, h1 is Zyrtec, benadryl, allegra, Claritin. h2 is pepcid ac so i decided to try it cause right now im frustrated. For two days now i tried zyrtec and pepcid ac and no hives. im so happy and will continue to take. but i will talk to doctor because i dont want to take pills forever.
lisa81007 rene87378
Posted
Do you take more than zyrtec at a time. I am going to try this. I am going thru a really bad flare and I decided when I get anther flare I am not doing prednisone anymore. Did you ever try Xolair?
joshuapryce1987 rene87378
Posted
I experienced hives every now and then, i believe the mental state usually activities hives. But, hives have many different forms of origin.