MIA

I haven't posted on here because things really haven't changed too much. I still get little flares...but mostly, they're nothing to write about..

I know what triggers so I avoid...and I know what to do when I feel the "itch" coming on...

I guess, since I'm so poor and without health insurance, I'll be continuing like this...

Days 28-31

Thursday night my small hives continued but then eventually turned into a large, welt-like mass. They disappeared over night.


7/17: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Food: Water, Noodles, Beer
Symptoms: Small hives. Itching. Tired

7/18: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 75mg Ranitidine
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Food: Mac N Cheese, Tuna, water, chips
Symptoms: Itching. Small hives on arms.

7/19: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 75mg Ranitidine
PM pills: 1 Xyzal, 4mg childrens Singulair, 75mg Ranitidine
Food: Ham sandwich, chips, water, turkey sandwich, ice cream
Symptoms: Itching. Small hives on arms. Spent day in the sun but kept a fair amount of meds in my system just in case. Plus was exposed to chlorine for the first time.

Currently: Itching. Have hives on arms. Have eaten onion chips, and water.

Days 26, 27

7/14: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Food: Water, Pizza
Symptoms: Hives, lots of itching, joint pains

7/15: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair
PM pills: 1 Xyzal, 4mg childrens Singulair
Food: Mac n Cheese, tuna, water, crackers
Symptoms: Small hives, lots of itching, joint pains, tired

Currently: Tired. Have lots of itching. Small hives on arms, chest, neck, back, and thighs. Eaten Mac n cheese, tuna, water, chocolate

Days 22-25

Weekend: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Food: Various fair foods
Symptoms: No noteable itching nor hives. Super tired though. Sunday felt a little sick but was probably from being in the sun too much.

7/13: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair
Food: noodles, cheese, beef, water
Symptoms: Some itching. No hives. Tired.

Currently: I am itching and breaking out in hives. I've noticed some constant red spots where my bra rubs. Itching is also on my face today and I'm very uncomfortable. Have only had water so far.

Just some thoughts...

I've been reading posts by other people with CU for some time now. Things are starting to click from my past and from what they've said has happened to them.

Here's some thoughts:
-Mom said I would get a "rash" right before I got sick when I was little
-Feb '08 when I first saw hives then they went into remission until June '08
-June '08 had severe joint pain on two occassions
-Sept '08 hives disappeared..but still felt some discomfort in joints
-June '09 hives are back...joint pain has only occurred badly once in July '09
-Beginning of '09 I had a few weeks when I would wake with my eyes nearly swollen shut. I thought it was an allergy to something...but I couldn't figure it out
-Beginning of June '09 I felt like I was getting sick because I'd wake with a swollen throat for about a week then it went away...

Days 20-21

7/9: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Symptoms: Developed hives early in the afternoon. Itching wasn't too bad. Tired.
Food: Rice, burrito, water

Currently: Hives beginning to develop now at 5pm. Itching isn't too bad but still there. Tired. Have eaten burrito, cake, water.

Days 15-19

Rx have been the same except on 7/5 I took 2 Xyzal in the morning when my symptoms I woke up with were not going away.

I have also sometimes added another Children's Singulair 4mg at night to help.

Foods have been just as bad as before...my diet needs work.

On 7/5 hives were fairly bad on my arms. 7/6 hives were bad on arms and feet.

Currently: I've forgotten my Rx this morning but have a "stand by" Benadryl in my office for just in case..might take that in a few if I feel like there's some itching beginning. Otherwise, I'm exhausted still from the meds... read that some people do get used to it..but I guess I'm just not.
Have eaten pizza and had a small pop today. Will probably flush my system with water now.

Day 14

7/2: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Symptoms: Itching but no hives. Tired
Food: Hamburger, Fries, tea, water, chicken nuggets

Currently: Itching, hives on arms, extremely tired. Eaten hamburger, potato salad, water, pop

Day 13

7/1: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal, 4mg childrens Singulair
Symptoms: Hiving on arms. Not as bad as day before. Itching all over. Super tired.
Food: Hamburger, chips, potato salad, cookie, pop, pizza

Currently: Itching but no hives. Tired. Eaten hamburger, fries, tea, water

Day 12

6/30: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Additionally took 1 Benadryl Max. Strength
Symptoms: Arms covered in hives by 4pm and lasted until sometime after I'd fallen asleep. Itching continually through that time as well.
Food: Pizza, pop, chips, dip, water

Currently: Itching all over all day. Few red spots on arms and legs. Super tired. Eaten hamburger, chips, potato salad, cookie, pop

Day 11

6/29: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Symptoms: Itching but no hives. Some red areas where body creases. Itching was intense when I went to bed but no hives. Dehydrated and tired.
Food: chips and spinach dip, water, pizza

Currently: Was doing well this morning until I ate pizza and drank a pop then I began to itch a lot and small patches of hives popped up. I'm going to try doing the low-histamine diet that I've found many CU patients have tried. Maybe it'll help. Eaten pizza, pop.

Days 8,9,10

6/26: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Symptoms: Small hive patches on arms, legs, and chest. Super tired. Slight itching.
Food: Water, Taco Bell burrito, strawberry pina colada slush

6/27: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Symptoms: Itching but no hives. Elbow pains.
Food: Water, Chipotle Chicken burrito, Steak, potatoes, cornbread, salad, beer

6/28: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 1 Xyzal
Symptoms: Itching but no hives. Extremely tired.
Food: Mac N Cheese, Tuna, chips, spinach dip, water, powerade

Currently: Itching but no hives. Some red areas where body creases. Have eaten chips and spinach dip. Drank water.

Also, have felt super dehydrated regardless of drinking a lot of water...

Day 7

6/25: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Symptoms: Lots of burning itching. Hives developing into the night. Took Benadryl at around 7pm to calm symptoms. Mellowed them for a little but then got super tired.
Food: Ramen noodles, noodles, tomato sauce, pork chop w/ spices, water

Currently: Small patches of hives forming on forearms, legs, and chest. Slight itching. Super tired. Have had water, Taco Bell burrito, strawberry pina colada slush

Day 6

6/24: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Symptoms: Had hives where scratching occured. Spent some time outside though. They did diminish after a shower but then as the night continued I felt itchy regardless.
Food: cheese crackers, mac n cheese, energy drink, cookie, noodles, garlic & herb tomato sauce, sausage, water

Currently: I haven't had any joint pains today. Do feel drowsy at the moment. Itching has been horrible all day and now at 4pm I'm noticing more and more spots of hives coming up. I've had one spot on the top of the thigh for last two hours. Have thought about taking Benadryl to possibly counteract the hiving.

5:45pm...I have a burning itch all over my skin. There are more and more small hives breaking out. Mainly on my feet, ankles, thighs, and forearms that I have noticed so far. Did not take any Benadryl yet.

Day 5

6/23: AM pills: 1 Xyzol, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzol
Food: ramen and cheese crackers, drank plain water, chocolate bar, cheddar bratwurst
Symptoms: Itching without hives, very tired, SEVERE knee pain in the PM

Currently: just started getting some hives at 3pm, seems like they're following where I scratch. Did spend an hour outside in the sun and heat. Have eaten cheese crackers, mac n cheese, energy drink, cookie. Knees hurt bad this morning but have felt better throughout the day.

Day 4

6/22: AM pills: 1 Xyzal, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzal
Food: crackers, ramen, and drank water and Vitamin water; noodles with hamburger and cheese, iced tea (crystal light)
Symptoms: itching, small patches of hives, tired

Currently: Having taken the 2nd Xyzal, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck this morning. My hips and knees hurt the worst and I hardly wanted to walk because they were so stiff and sore. I've been in a sort of fog all day. My skin still itches but I haven't found any hives yet. I'm also feeling very tired. Have eaten ramen and cheese crackers, drank plain water.

Day 3

Dr's appointment: June 19,2009 4pm....chronic urticaria

6/20: AM pills: 1 Xyzol, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 2 Xyzol
Food: wild rice, bratwurst, cheddar cheese, tortilla, wheat bread, chocolate, water
Symptoms: Had some itching but no signs of urticaria

6/21: AM pills: 1 Xyzol, 8mg childrens Singulair, 150mg Renitidine
PM pills: 1 Xyzol
Food: beer, BBQ chicken, chips, deviled egg, potato salad, choc. cake, crackers, garlic artichoke jalapeno dip
Symptoms: Felt like I'd been "hit by a truck" in the morning so decided to try lowering night dosage of Xyzol. Had mild itching throughout the day but no hives. Did expose self to sun the whole afternoon.

Currently: After the reduction of night dosage, I'm experiencing more itching and have small patches of hives on arms and legs. Will go back to higher dosage again to see if it helps. Have eaten crackers, ramen, and drank water and Vitamin water.

Xyzol does make me super sleepy too...