u/MickeyGee05

In a CIU flare after an almost 4 year remission. I’m consulting a new allergist next Wednesday and the office advised to stop antihistamines 5 days prior, presumably for skin prick testing, though this wasn’t pursued the first go-around so I’m not even sure if this is standard of care or just something the office staff tells anyone just in case testing is done. I have been “maintained” on daily Zyrtec, Pepcid, and Benadryl at night. Today was the last day I can take these. What can I do until then?

I had what was said to be chronic idiopathic urticaria from July 2021 to September 2022, improving after the birth of my first child. I really thought it was just a weird thing that happened and was convinced it was over. Almost exactly 5 years from my first bout, it’s back with a vengeance. Horrible in the morning, body wide hives-including palms, soles of feet- and scalp, and facial swelling, hives usually becoming flatter, less itchy as the day goes on if I take my cetirizine and famotidine, then coming back at night. During my flare ups, I can’t take any non steroidal anti-inflammatories or I get more angioedema. I’m on day two of a steroid pack and I swear it’s making the burning and itching worse instead of better. I think another year+ of this is going to drive me crazy. Never got to Xolair last time because I was pregnant. Would love to hear people’s experience with that or anything else that helped.

I had what was said to be chronic idiopathic urticaria from July 2021 to September 2022, improving after the birth of my first child. I really thought it was just a weird thing that happened and was convinced it was over. Almost exactly 5 years from my first bout, it’s back with a vengeance. Horrible in the morning, body wide hives-including palms, soles of feet- and scalp, and facial swelling, hives usually becoming flatter, less itchy as the day goes on if I take my cetirizine and famotidine, then coming back at night. During my flare ups, I can’t take any non steroidal anti-inflammatories or I get more angioedema. I’m on day two of a steroid pack and I swear it’s making the burning and itching worse instead of better. I think another year+ of this is going to drive me crazy. Never got to Xolair last time because I was pregnant. Would love to hear people’s experience with that or anything else that helped.