Cold Urticaria

[Reble]

My husband Glen just wanted to show you what we seen on the News today.

He has had this problem for 20 years.

also with pressure, hot and cold is called pressure, cold urticaria which he gets severe pain, hives, itchy and welts, he was finally diagnosed from a Doctor many years ago, that had it.

Took many trips to see specialists and treatment to finally get it under control.

Very few people have it or understand it..

Finally we seen this on the news, feel sorry for the 10 year old girl.

We sent information on to CTV news on what Glen takes hoping to help this young girl.

Here is the video and information on it.. Finally people will be aware.

http://swo.ctv.ca/health/

 

[Miniv]

I think it's wonderful that you and your husband can reach out and share with the family of this youngster. I hope what you've learned and experienced over the years will be of help.

Not to make light of this obviously serious condition, but it sure is a reason for moving to a warmer climate!

 

[ohmt]

Very interesting and probably not fun at all to have to live with. So does the cold trigger an inflicted person's immune response to attack its own host cells?

 

[Reble]

Very interesting and probably not fun at all to have to live with. So does the cold trigger an inflicted person's immune response to attack its own host cells?

Good question, No it has nothing to due with immune system.

The cold, hot or pressure in my husbands case, makes his antihistamine to collect under the skin and creates hives, than becomes itchy, sore and creates pain.

 

[Reble]

I think it's wonderful that you and your husband can reach out and share with the family of this youngster. I hope what you've learned and experienced over the years will be of help.

Not to make light of this obviously serious condition, but it sure is a reason for moving to a warmer climate!

Not taken your comment in any wrong way, we do hope one day to go some where warmer for sure..But in his case he has a problem with heat but not as severe as the cold.

He has cold, hot and pressure urticaria, example if he wears a belt he gets a hive right around his waist, where the belt was tighten.

Climbing on a ladder and standing there for a length of time gives him a welt on his foot. All caused by pressure.

He also could not be sedated when he had a belly hernia operation, because the tube down his throat could of caused it to swell and cut off his breathing.

He has adapted to his condition.

Just as you say, hope we can help this young girl, to help her cope with the cold and be able to lessen her problems.

 

[Flying minis]

Thank you for posting this - I get hives with heat - have for about 3 years now, not so much from being outdoors (unless I'm sweating) but hot showers and baths are a thing of the past, as is any thought of going into a sauna or hot tub. My Drs think it is from my MS. But this year started getting the hives from the cold - which is NOT typical of MS, so I think I will ask them about this and see what they think.

Hope your husband continues to be able to manage his and do well - those hives will drive you crazy, I know.

 

[Sue_C.]

I never thought of it being an allergy...just one of those things...perhaps mine not as severe, or a different pain threshold. It would be a shame for that girl (or any others) who live their lives shut in because of this. I, and others I know have had this always, and just had to learn how to regulate your time spend outdoors, buy and wear the warmest clothing, and put up with a "bit" of discomfort if you push it too far. I hope that this kid doesn't end up "living in a bubble" because of something that really is NOT that uncommon, and is easily regulated. Glad to hear your husband has found something to make it tolerable for him, and hope it helps this girl and others.

 

[Reble]

I never thought of it being an allergy...just one of those things...perhaps mine not as severe, or a different pain threshold. It would be a shame for that girl (or any others) who live their lives shut in because of this. I, and others I know have had this always, and just had to learn how to regulate your time spend outdoors, buy and wear the warmest clothing, and put up with a "bit" of discomfort if you push it too far. I hope that this kid doesn't end up "living in a bubble" because of something that really is NOT that uncommon, and is easily regulated. Glad to hear your husband has found something to make it tolerable for him, and hope it helps this girl and others.

yes, it can be an allergy, and you are correct with not doing things too long in the cold or hot, but the pressure condition my husband has made it even more unbelievable, not looking for sympathy, just not too many with this pressure urticaria, and makes things worse, but he does have it under control with medication, and can do what he has too, and not be up all night with the itchiness and pain.

Your right need to make sure not to over do it, he knows when he forgets to take his pills, and than he pays the price.

 

[SampleMM]

My cousin has this problem too. I was shocked when the Today show featured a little girl that had it as I had to no idea just how serious it really is. We live in the snow-belt and it is not uncommon for us to receive a hundred inches of snow; after watching this segment I called her and told her she needed to move to a warmer climate. My cousin never exhibited symptoms until she and I were stuck on a chairlift while skiing for over 3 hours and after that she became seriously sick with the hives and such. I'm going to have to tell her about your husband having this too.

 

[Reble]

My cousin has this problem too. I was shocked when the Today show featured a little girl that had it as I had to no idea just how serious it really is. We live in the snow-belt and it is not uncommon for us to receive a hundred inches of snow; after watching this segment I called her and told her she needed to move to a warmer climate. My cousin never exhibited symptoms until she and I were stuck on a chairlift while skiing for over 3 hours and after that she became seriously sick with the hives and such. I'm going to have to tell her about your husband having this too.

I believe it is nice that people with this condition is now being recognized.

They just want people to understand what they are talking about.

My husband for many years, just stopped trying to explain, to friends, family and co workers, they seemed to be uninterested, and being he was older understood.

Must admit sometimes I did not either, but did see what he had to go through when the hives became very noticed and looked like welts.

He used to walk the floor at night in pain with golf balls on his feet, and at times I was not sympathetic and than he would get up early morning and go to work.

Thanks for allowing us to share this condition, I am sure more people have this problem.

 

[Sonya]

I actually have 2 friends that have this condition, but not severe like Reble's husband. They will get hives/welts for a while but they disappear after a bit.

 

[Minimor]

I've had this for years & years. It's annoying at times, but no big deal--I take an antifhistamine & the hives soon go away. People tend to look at you funny if you tell them "I'm allergic to the cold". Actually I'm allergic to a few other things that will give me hives too. The cold doesn't bother me too much for this time of year, because I'm dressed for it. Having my face get cold won't trigger at attack of hives, but if my legs get cold (or my shoulders) then I'm soon itching with hives. They usually start in those areas that felt cold, but if I didn't take an antihistamine then they would spread. The worst time of year is late fall--I'm likely still wearing lighter clothes to do chores & such at that time, so I feel the cold more then.

Most often it's my legs that get cold, and then I break out in hives all over my legs, wherever they were cold. At one time I could run a hot bath and sit in the water for a bit, and the hives would go away. Later, though, they wouldn't go away, they'd just move up out of the water to a higher portion of my body. It was no fun being up to my chin in HOT water trying to cook my hives away!! I gave up on that method of getting rid of hives and have used just the antihisamines since then.

I do have to switch antihistamines every few months, because whichever kind I use for an extended time I tend to become immune to it. When that happens, the antihistamine takes longer to work and I may end up having to take 2 to make the hives go away completely.