Long battle with Chronic Urticaria

Well this isn't a pleasant topic or conversation I am writing in but for people who are suffering the same conditions as I am, do not be afraid- you're not alone. I am one of the unfortunate souls who is suffering from it for nearly a year now...it's called Chronic Urticaria or more commonly known as hives. Urticaria is a distressing but generally benign and self-limiting condition.  It has many causes. Urticaria is unpredictable and results in a great deal of distress because of the intense pruritis & the interference it causes to sleep & daily life. Urticaria and angioedema can be caused by allergic & non-allergic mechanisms. While acute urticaria usually resolves quickly, chronic urticaria can persist for years. Treatment includes avoiding the factors which provoke the reaction.More often antihistamines remain the treatment of choice. A non-sedating antihistamine is preferred. More severe cases may require corticosteroids or immunosuppressant drugs.

It started in August 2013, when i returned back from a business trip (Darwin-Broome) visiting my vessels and major suppliers in the WA-NT states. My manager who went with me was fine but I was totally in havoc. After 1 week of returning back from the business trip, it started with 2 funny mosquito bites on my right hip. At first I didn't know what it was and thought it was a bite so i applied hydrocortisone cream. It didn't work and kept spreading. The spots wheal up and looked like a big rash. I took some Phenergan pills to treat allergy symptoms and itchiness but it didn't go away. Then the spots end up on my face sometimes on my eye lids and lips swelling up. It was a horrible sight. 

Then the symptoms became worst when urticaria wrecked my internal digestive system. I was admitted to hospitals and went through Emergency Room services for 5 times. 3 times in Maroondah Hospital, twice in Box Hill hospital and once in Alfred Hospital in the CBD.
Before that I struggled to fly back to Penang and even went for my planned Europe trip which was not pleasant at all as I fell sick when i was in Paris. Luckily my friend from Germany had her Tiger Balm ointment with her so she helped to massage my problematic tummy where I threw up whole night. Thankfully God was on my site on that week and I managed to pull through and came back to Penang safely. But 2 days later I swelled up again and was admitted to Adventist Hospital with severe abdomen pain & vomitting.
The doctors didn't know what it is and did a thorough scan and ultrasound again. I was on steroids that controlled the swelling and spots but it wasn't a long term fix. Steroids will eventually destroy the immune system and cells. I went to see a skin specialist in Island Hospital with tons of expensive bills but to no avail.

I returned back to Melbourne after my break and broke into hives everyday. It was an awful experience when one day at work I threw up non stop while my stomach was churning in pain. Alfred Hospital staff took me for an ultrasound scan and found out my smaller intestine was swollen and blocked. I was on morphin to ease the pain and IV drip. They decided to refer me to a Gastroenterology department for a MRI scan but that'd take up to weeks. I had no choice but to see my normal GP and asked for a referral. In Australia, it takes blinking weeks and months to see a specialist--- before I knew it, I'd have been dead if I didn't beg or asked for an earlier appointment. It sounds ridiculous but that's how the medical system works in Oz. Sighs, trust me... even if one has private health insurance it doesn't make much difference. My mother has to fly into Melbourne in mid December to accompany me for visits to carry out the endoscopy and gastroscopy tests in Frankston. The tests turned out fine and didn't have any polyps. Tons of tests were carried out, I was not gluten intolerance, no problems with my feces, nothing wrong with my tyroid, glands, no Helicobacteria in my stomach...etc. What else could go wrong! I was in desperate condition! I remembered I cried in front of the ER doctors asking what's wrong with my body. Why am I suffering this bloody condition!

In late January 2014, finally I managed to see an allergist in Mount Waverley. I spend quite a huge sum of $$ on medicines, tests and specialists' fees. The allergist saw my condition where my lips swelled up, hives wheal up on my body and wherever I felt itchy and hot. At times i couldn't sleep eat and sleep well. It was all worry, anxiety and panic attacks. I lost nearly 10 kg from this illness and people who saw me knew I was sick and pale. The allergist tested on my skin that I was super allergy to all grass pollens. I was told to take antihistamines whenever I could, go on a strict diet (no pork, milk, nuts..etc) Only fresh food, no frozen/junk food,no caffeine, no tea, no nuts & yeast-free. I could only have flat bread (Mountain Bread)- where it's yeast free, egg free and no preservatives. I cooked only fish and chicken for weeks with fresh vege, no weird sauces except lots of ginger, garlic, a bit of soya and oil.
The diet worked well and slowly I weaned off from this terrible disorder. Again in mid Feb when i went to see the allergist, i wasn't taking as much antihistamines (previously i was taking 3-4 a day- various brands, you named it, i have eaten all of them!)

By March 2014, I slowly recovered with few spots per day and I have gone on a healthy diet. I started juicing back again (green apple, carrot and beetroot). My diet consists mostly of fresh fish, vegetables, chicken and rice-milk with oats for breakfast. I do take muesli with lots of yoghurt too. One thing I must say the stomach problem went away when i started consuming Probiotics. Probiotics helped a lot and it was good for GI tract, digestive & immune system. I took 2 Ester-C vitamins and Vitamin D per day. My immune system improved a lot as I didn't need to take the flu shot this year. Nowadays I could drink coffee, have my usual desserts, a bit of almonds, sometimes naughty with biscuits. I stay away from bread/buns/junk food & preserved meat & fast food. I did my blood test in July 2014 and my cholesterol level was good, sugar & triglycerides improved too (previously I must have taken too much sugar & carbo)

It's been nearly a year after I struggled with this chronic urticaria where I couldn't find the main root cause of it. The key to stay healthy is to eat healthy, exercise, no alcohol/smoke free environment and stay positive. By the way my wardrobe was revamped as I couldn't wear tight skinny fit clothes. Pressure will make my hives pop out. I am now taking 1 Zrytec every alternate days to keep the urticaria in tact. Sometimes I get a spot or two on my body and it doesn't wheal up as serious as it is. Urticaria is something not everyone knows or understand until one suffers from it. It's a disfiguring condition when it swells on the face for 24 hours. For my case I went through hell and came back to earth again. In desperate conditions, I was praying hard to every God and deities (went to every temple, church, religion I could think of) and with God's grace and family's support I pulled through. I wasn't a religious kid but after this big lesson, I learned in life nothing is more important than good health. 

For urticaria sufferers out though, don't give up as I didn't. Take it as it is, it's probably our karma to suffer this round and we can overcome it. Healthy diet, exercise, good support and positive thinking and visit an allergist is the key to survive this condition. 

Stay healthy and happy to all... for I know I've been blessed with some friends and family to help me when i was feeling so down. Cheers to all! 

Signing off,
-Ling- 
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