Comments on: Delayed Pressure Urticaria Treatment and Cures

By: Jdog

Jdog — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:34:03 +0000

OK, well I have just started with these dang hives almost two months of four time dosage of Zrytec and twice the daily amount of Pepcid barely keeps the hives at bay. They move around back of my ears, scalp, legs, arms, lip,s eyelids, you name it. I’m going to do a body detox and eat natural and see if it helps. I just shot a nice deer so I have plenty of additive free food in the freezer, wish me luck.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:57:07 +0000

Hi Wendall, I’ve had it on and off for over twenty years. The whole time it was gone I was on allergy shots. I went off and a year or so later got it again. Now I am almost at maintenance and it’s getting better. I would absolutely try the shots. Docs will tell you allergy shots do not work for urticaria, but they also don’t have anything else to offer. I have another post above that you may want to look at. I was never in any type of war zone, unless you count Katrina but the first time years ago when I got this I had never been in any type of toxic environment except for a toxic relationship, thanks Lynn.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:44:23 +0000

Hi Eric just an FYI, not necessarily from food additives, although cutting out such things can’t hurt. I had this for around seven years and when it went away I was not avoiding additives. I ate anything I wanted.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:41:56 +0000

Sue, how are you doing? I agree it’s nice to have blogs with others in our situation. In the 80s-90s when I had this it wasn’t around. Hope you are managing, take care.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:39:40 +0000

Well I never did the delayed allergy testing. My traditional allergist wouldn’t give the order. However I have to say the DPU is better. It is not gone but much better with shorter lasting times and much less inflammation. The only thing I can attribute this to is the allergy shots. I’m almost to the maintenance level. It hasn’t been fun as my entire upper arm sometimes swells from the shot. I don’t think it’s the strength of the serum as much as it is the amount. When I’m at .5 ccs I swell a lot more than when I’m at the lesser amounts even if the it’s from the next vial, which is stronger. As I’ve said in previous posts, allergy shots do not directly help urticaria and Angioedema; but this is the second time that taking shots have helped.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:24:46 +0000

The cause of DPU is food additives. If you want to get rid of DPU, you have to stop eating anything prepared and out of a package. Even the organic packaged foods. I have had DPU for a few years, and if I eat like a caveman then it goes away. Fruits, vegetables, meat. It’s not a coincidence that anyone that fasts goes into remission. That whole thing about it being autoimmune is complete BS. DPU sucks, and the cure is a food lifestyle change. If you want to be cured, you can’t eat anything that doesn’t exist in the natural world of food. Even bread, without soy lecithin and half and half, and no di-sodium phosphate. It’s that simple. Don’t believe me? Try not eating for one weekend, and see if you have DPU. It seems that phosphates might be the cause, which would make sense because most food additives have phosphate salts. Phosphate salts do not exist in anything you would eat in the natural world.

By: Wendell

Wendell — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:51:53 +0000

I’m here to find out if there is some kind of cure for this problem. My 19 yr. old son has developed this problem and we have been trying to deal with it for the past year. I am also a Iraqi veteran and now I am worried that maybe I brought some thing back that may have caused him to get this disease. Thanks for all the helpful information.

By: Aaron Parker

Aaron Parker — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:52:32 +0000

I was in Iraq in 2005 19 years old healthy kid when I came back I had this intense itching at first doctors didnt do much at all, told me to take claritin because it was spring and the pollin was maybe the cause. Didnt work so I started taking Zyrtec been on it ever since its something overseas I blame Halliburton they had a lawsuit from civilians who sued them for using bacteria filled water for our showering systems the water was border line yellow and over medicated we should all get disability for the rest of our lives for this its a nightmare to fear sweating, and have to ensure you always have a pill near.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:03:16 +0000

I am getting ready to do “delayed food allergy testing” with subsequent restrictions. I will keep y’all informed if this helps. Has anyone else done the blood tests? Thanks. Also FYI there’s a facebook group “Urticaria Friends.”

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:49:12 +0000

Wow! So I finally figured out I’m not crazy! I have all of these exact symptoms and have had them for about 5-6 years. I am not a member of the military nor have I ever been, but have been trying for years now to figure out what is wrong with me. I am a 41 year old female, so I would say I was approximately 35-36 when these symptoms first appeared. Mine started in the feet, what I thought was my shoes doing it, wherever the shoe rubs or fits tightly will swell up and becoming burning hot, itchy and severely inflamed. Mostly the sides of my heels, ball of foot, arches, but I have had some joints in my toes swell up also. The more I would research this the more I would come up with Gout and Lupus, but this just didn’t add up for me. Then I began noticing the joints in my fingers would at times swell up and become inflamed, also carrying shopping bags, pushing a stroller, vibration from a lawnmower, or electric trimmers for bushes would swell up the palms of my hands and they would also itch and burn terribly. This is not a daily occurrence for me, but more of a monthly one. I have narrowed it down I think to my pre-menstrual time seems to be when I’m the most sensitive. Some months definitely being worse on me than others, some triggers I have noticed are heat and I am now reading that alcohol is a trigger. There have been flare ups when I could barely walk for 2-3 days at a time, or have had trouble sleeping due to the hot, itching, throbbing tissues in my feet. With passing time, I am now noticing some new symptoms I did not have before, my face and tongue have been swelling, if I suck on a piece of candy too hard, that side of my tongue will swell up and be sore for a day or two. I have also read and have to concur private parts can be affected. I thought it was just me, but I have also noticed I cannot wear tampons for an extended length of time, due to swelling. I have not been to a doctor from the sheer fear of being a guinea pig, and as I’m reading these posts, seems like there’s not a whole lot a doctor can do for me. I would appreciate any suggestions for treatment, or ideas as to what I can do to help with these breakouts. I’m so glad I have finally found an answer to what this is though, and reading others posts have helped me tremendously. Thanks!

By: sanbreck

sanbreck — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:38:57 +0000

Julia, so sorry to hear about your condition. You might try soaking in a bath with this unique water purification product. It is worth a try. Watch MMS documentary. We have heard testimonials of people receiving great relief from many skin problems. Also, it is very affordable.

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:52:28 +0000

I have had chronic pressure hives for eleven years now. I went to India on a missions trip and came back with malaria and hives. During my two pregnancies, the hives completely went away but otherwise I have had them every day.

By: Laura G.

Laura G. — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:20:18 +0000

Wow, I am also ex-military and have been experiencing this for over two years now. I had no idea what was wrong. It also progressed to the point of anaphalaxis a couple weeks ago. I just started a histamine releasing restricted diet. Found that propylene glycol was a HUGE part of this. It is in everything, shampoo, conditioner, soaps, toothpaste, hairspray, makeup, foods. Since I own a cleaning service, I was basically marinating in this chemical all day. Since changing to Burt’s Bee’s and chemical free products, the scalp itching and skin rashes have gone away. Now the welts and hives seem to be decreasing. I am still scared, if I am not taking steroids, they are much worse. I am trying to calm my immune system and detoxify. I never realized how many chemicals we unknowingly put into our bodies. Thank you so much for this forum. I felt so alone. I once again feel sick at the thought that the anthrax vaccination is once again coming back to haunt me though. I went through ten years of inflammation issues in my 20′s that was also blamed on it. I will update this post to let you know if my very bland, boring diet and change of lifestyle has helped.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:25:30 +0000

Naguib, most research on DPU comes from Italy, Turkey, etc. very little in the U.S where I am. Here it is not common enough for pharmaceutical companies to invest their dollars. Right now I’m trying Xyzal, Claritin, Zantac, and Singulair which all probably go by different names in your country. I just started this regime, and it is not working yet. I have lumps on my foot right now. They are very painful to walk on. See my post from November 14th about allergy shots. Good luck and take care, Lynn

By: Lisa B

Lisa B — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:00:26 +0000

I have suffered from DPU for over five years. I have not had any vaccinations of any kind in the last twenty-six years. I am using Zyrtec and this helps. I go to the gym everyday and have found that releasing adrenaline reduces or completely eradicates the welts. I have also found that drinking alcohol, even just a couple aggravates the situation immensely. Has anyone else found similar connections? This condition doesn’t seem to have any set rules to it from person to person.

By: Kevin K.

Kevin K. — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:37:27 +0000

Iraq War Vet. Same exact issue. Onset was about five years after vaccines and initial deployment.

By: sanbreck

sanbreck — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:27:04 +0000

Hi Lynn, Since you have tried so many things, you might also want to try EFT. We have direct reference of people who have cured many allergies. So give it a try! Check out the movie The Tapping Solution DVD

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:49:46 +0000

I was twenty-eight when I started with urticaria and angioedema. I am now 50. The first few years I had it so bad I was on disability. Anything from sitting on a hard surface to going through file folders would make me swell. Even without pressure I could wake up and my eyes or lips could be swollen, often looking very freakish. It was difficult being at work and meeting with clients who sometimes thought I had been beat up, lovely.

After several years it went away. It kind of was always lurking in the background but much much better. Then a few couple of years ago it started again. I have to say the delayed pressure aspect is the worst. My feet have even swollen from a label being on the inside sole of the shoe. I have been to every type of doctor. Alternative, integrative, traditional, even the Mayo Clinic after I walked into my primary care doctor’s office requesting a cortisone shot because I had hives from head to to. She even did biopsies. The Mayo Clinic treats very traditionally. They just kept adding antihistamines to the point where I couldn’t function.

I only have one kidney after having cancer in 2006, and I am guarded about taking too many drugs. During the first years a doctor started me on 80mg of Prednisone a day. I got Cushings Syndrome from it including what they call a “moon face”, and I gained a ton of weight. My face was so different that when I went home for a visit my best friend did not recognize me. She told me this years later.

I have to say I think there is an emotional aspect that could bring this on. In the early years I was in a difficult marriage which has since ended. This time after hurricane Katrina. But I truly believe there is just something that hasn’t been discovered yet. There are histamine blockers, and in the last few years leukotriene blockers, none of which work for me. Maybe there is something else not discovered.

Unfortunately there’s not much research on it because it’s quite rare. In the U.S. Big Pharm won’t be sponsoring research for such a small group of us. I’ve tried and tried to make sense of this. I did realize that during some of the years that it had gone away I had been on allergy shots. I stopped them when I moved. With allergies as most of you know, your cup cannot over flow. Your body can handle a certain amount of allergens THEN it reacts. So after trying everything from hormones, many drugs including every type of antihistamine, leukotrienes, anti gout, etc etc. food diets, homeopathic, acupuncture, just about everything, I’ve decided to start shots again which means having allergy tests for the fourth time in my life and it’s quite miserable with my entire back getting swollen and going back on shots.

I am allergic to so many things they usually divide it into three shots and within 6-12 hours my arms are itchy and swollen. So they usually ignore local reactions for me. In the US they do the scratch tests because there’s better reimbursement. Other blood tests can be just as effective, but they also do “shots’ instead of sublinguals here, lucky me.

One amazing thing it that if i kneel everyday or do something, on a regular basis, it seems to get used to it and doesn’t swell. It’s the weirdest thing. Maybe we should all get massages on a regular basis. When I occasionally get them the lady tells me it’s just like rubbing oil on me. She doesn’t have to work hard because of me being so sensitive to touch.There is definitely a fibromyalgia type aspect of this for me. For the ladies out there I’m sure you know sex can be very difficult, as can holding a child in your arms. My arms cramp up.

Right now I’m up and on the internet because I started exercising at a gym yesterday and every place my body touched the machines has itchy hives. I’m hoping to get used to it. One more thing, I have found that Tylenol or a pain reliever can actually help stop some of the itching sometimes. Nothing seems to be consistent with this condition, except that explaining it to friends and colleagues seems impossible. They think you’re nuts. My husband understands it but that doesn’t make it any easier. Sometimes he’s afraid to touch me fearing he’ll cause a welt. Hairdressers really don’t understand what I mean when I tell them putting my head against the wash bowl will make the entire back of my head or neck swell. Ahhh life with urticaria and angioedema. Thanks for listening.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:52:26 +0000

I’ve had DPU for the past two years. my allergist has prescribed xyzal , and Singulair during the day and two pills of Zyrtec at night. It does not stop the hives, but it reduces the itching and burning. If I miss one day of taking my medications, the itching is so bad and painful. I was told the cause is unknown and there is no known cure. For some people, it can take two years to get over it but for others it can take even decades.
With the help of these drugs, I can continue with my activities. The medications have also helped control my severe hay fever symptoms. I am only worried about what side affects these medications might cause taking them for years.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:30:59 +0000

So glad I found this site. My Husband also served in Iraq and is dealing with everything you all have described above. What is causing it? I believe it was the ajuvtive (sp) that was put in the anthrax shots prior to deploying overseas. It causes many autoimmune diseases. To all you veterans please check on Anthrax with Squalene. Do your research and let me know what you think. Not only these symptoms, he also has “blow outs” where his joints become inflamed, to anyone one else, it looks as though his ankle is broken, it gets that swollen. But the next day, it is normal.

By: Naguib

Naguib — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:17:46 +0000

Can anyone suggest a good anti histamine that will work for DPU and does not encourage eating or cause drowsiness. And please state the country so I can find it, thanks.

By: Naguib

Naguib — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:13:38 +0000

I also developed the same symptoms about four years ago. It started mild but irritating. It woke me up and I used to run to the bathroom to put my feet, namely my toes under cold water. I treated myself with “Claritine” an anti-histamine since we do have allergies history in the family. I didn’t know what to tell the doctor. It starting getting worse, like I say walking on painful tennis balls. I get it also if I sit on hard surfaces, stand for a long time a couple of times I got those swelling on my knees. I had many of the same problems as in this forum and others. Currently as I’m writing I have one between my fingers since yesterday and it wouldn’t go away.
A year and a half ago I was taking my daughter to the dermatologist and I explained my symptoms and she diagnosed as DPU. She was surprised and said it was very irritating and there was no cure yet but she prescribed TRIACTIN or CYPROHEPTADINE HCI. It did work very well and kept the attacks away, but unfortunately I gained a lot of weight taking this drug so I stopped it and the pharmacist advised ZYRTEC which helps. But I have daily attacks and take Zyrtec daily which calms it but I’m living with it. The doctor also advised not to wear flip flops or the like to avoid straps and strings. And told me to put the affected area under cold water. Also I realized since I live in Egypt and it gets really hot here, the heat worsens the case and my feet swell and redden and then those tennis balls start developing. I thought I’d find a cure when I travel abroad. But it seems hopeless. Good luck, but it is disabling at times.

By: Teri

Teri — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:31:35 +0000

I have had this for about 6 years now but it has recently become an everyday occurrence. I have now been referred to a major medical center as I am beginning to have my throat swell shut. If I am not on Prednisone I cannot breathe. I have found that hormone levels effect my ‘outbreaks.’ I have recently found out that I have a brain tumor in my pituitary gland which regulates hormones in the body. So the thought is, remove the tumor, symptoms will improve. I feel for everyone who deals with this as it is very painful! Good luck to all of you!

By: Clare

Clare — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:06:57 +0000

My pressure hives started fifteen years ago when I was pregnant, and I didn’t know where to turn. I visited a general practitioner a good number of times and was told it was infected eczema. After ten years of absolute trauma I decided to look it up on the net and self diagnosed my problem. I visited the general practitioner again and showed him my findings and was prescribed 180mg Fexofenadine. This has helped calm the itching down from time to time but still comes back with a vengeance from time to time. I work as a hairdresser and spend a lot of time on my feet when my hives allow me and really need to see the back of this. I have had it now for fifteen years and would try anything to sort it out.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:10:56 +0000

I’m noticing a trend here. I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq from Sept. 2006 until Sept. 2007. I went on in May 2007 and was carrying a heavy backpack for several hours. When I arrived at my destination I had two welts on my shoulders where the straps were. I didn’t have any further symptoms until we were leaving Iraq. After loading trucks my hands swelled several hours later and I had a low-grade fever each evening for about three days while in Kuwait. When we arrived back in Fort Dix, I had hives, welts, and a low-grade fever. It passed during our week there but it all returned the day after I returned home. I went to the VA Hospital and was tested for everything under the sun. I was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria by the allergist there. The one thing he couldn’t figure out was why I would have fevers along with the episodes. After having the mother-of-all attacks this morning I did more research online and found the description for delayed-pressure urticaria and this blog. All of the symptoms fit perfectly to what I am experiencing, unlike the chronic idiopathic urticaria diagnosis. I have also been unresponsive to the antihistamine treatment that has been given to me for this diagnosis. I suspect the onset of my condition is related to exposure to some form of toxins while deployed in Baghdad. I was in Victory Base Complex and we had an area that was referred to as “Camp Trash Can” where they burned refuse. I don’t think they controlled what was burned there. It is hard to say what I might have been exposed to in that environment. The fact that I see several soldiers complaining of the same ailment after deployment is very disconcerting. I have another appointment at the VA this Thursday and I will bring my research findings to the attention of the Dr. there. If anyone else that is former Military and served in Iraq or Afghanistan is experiencing this same problem, please post!

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:18:58 +0000

I have had these symptoms the you all describe for the last two years, and I am frustrated. It started on my feet and then my hands. I can’t walk some days and forget exercising which is something I enjoy doing. I can’t sleep at night, and I drink just to knock me out for a couple of hours. My job consists of lots of lifting and standing so of course this makes my hands itch more and my feet swell. I can’t recall in the the last year that I have worked a full forty hour work week because of the hives. Thank God for FMLA or I am sure I would have been fired by now. I have bad allergies and asthma. I have been to three doctors including a VA doctor; I am a veteran and served six years in the Army. I was overseas for two years. No one has an answer. I’m trying to not give up; I don’t know what else to do. I am getting so depressed. I am also seeing a behavioral therapist. Can anyone help?

By: Clifford

Clifford — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:54:44 +0000

I have had this problem for four months now and up until then I was completely fit and healthy with no medical problems whatsoever. At first my doctor offered me no explanation to my problem and they seemed lost for options so I self diagnosed myself using the internet and returned to my general practitioner where they confirmed that I did indeed have delayed pressured urticaria. This has been a life changing condition for me as I was a highly successful competitive power lifter who was ranked top five strongest men in the world for my weight category, but now I have this condition I cannot exert the pressure from weightlifting on my body. After twelve years of training it has ruined a part of me inside. I wish there was a real cure for this debilitating disease. Can anybody help me control this condition?

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:01:51 +0000

I don’t know if this will help. I have had this on and off for fifteen years. The longest was five years. Alas it looks like I have it back again? I can hardly walk at present. I was in the military for sixteen years. However, I did not develop Pressure Urticaria while in the forces. I work in a very high pressure job and I am quite active. I slipped in a car park in January and twisted both ankles out of alignment. I have been seeing the Chiropractor for several weeks but I appear to be suffering from delayed pressure urticaria again. I have started to take my old tablets again. These were prescribed to me by a specialist in 1995. 1x antihistamine 2x Cimetidine 200mg together a day they worked in the past. I tend to agree with Wendy, trauma and stress
tend to trigger it off, and also if I eat or drink too many wheat type products.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:02:02 +0000

I don’t know if this will help anyone or not, Ive had this for thirteen years now. It started back in 1998. One day out of nowhere the bottom of my foot started to swell. I thought it was a spider bite or something. It hurt so bad and I couldn’t even walk on it. I finally thought to take a Benadryl to see if it would help. Little did I know that, that was going to be the start of my codependent, love hate relationship with Benadryl. After that day it seemed to happen all the time. I would cry, my eyes would swell, my shoe was too tight, my feet would swell. I drank too much one night, threw up and my throat would swell. Not good, it got so bad that even smoking cigarettes would make my throat swell, and it got to the point that my insides would swell, and every time I swallowed it hurt. I had multiple visits to the emergency room and nothing. No one seemed to know what I had. Ive read allergies to food, clothing, etc. After so many years I figured out on my own that I was allergic to pressure, and luckily for me a nightly Benadryl for the last thirteen years has for the most part kept it under control. But I wonder if one day because Ive been taking it for so long if my body will become immune to it? I hope not. Plus, Ive been on it for so long that I cant sleep without it. It sucks. But back to what caused it. I had a traumatic accident the year before this all started. I was in a car accident that almost killed me. I had to have three titanium plates put in my head. I have always wondered if it was the titanium. But I read a few years ago that this is an autoimmune disease that is caused from trauma. So in other words, your body being put through trauma can cause you to get an auto immune disease. After I read that it all made a little sense. So, maybe you guys in the military are having this because you have experienced traumatic events, stress, etc?
I’m not sure, but this is the closest thing that Ive read that explained how it could have happened. I have learned to live with this. I had to just accept it, and try my best to keep it at bay. If anyone ever comes up with a permanent fix, let me know. Also, thanks Marcia for your story. I was really wanting to know if I became pregnant if it would cause me problems because of all the pressure. I guess that was God looking out for you.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:18:43 +0000

I have been dealing with pressure induced urticaria for about three years now with no known cause and no known cure. Also military and it began during a deployment. Would like to hear from anyone else military who has this urticaria. Trying to find a possible link as to where we were deployed to. Also have a friend who deployed with me and has the same symptoms though no diagnosis yet. Please can you leave a post.