Histamines

My husband was diagnosed with angioedema a couple of years ago (an autoimmune condition resulting in large, raised hive patches on the skin).
Not wanting to be taking drugs constantly & feeling dopey on antihistamines, we recently researched histamines in food, & found an extensive list of offending foods. He has eliminated many of them & cut back on others, & has been much better. Mind you, it has challenged me a little with the shopping/cooking.
I feel he had a build up, rather than a specific allergic reaction, so now he has an occasional restricted item eg red wine on the weekend.
Just another of life's interesting experiences!
mj

MJ - this is interesting because my husband was diagnosed with chronic hives last September. After months of doctors, they have not found (or even looked for) a cause. He gets some that look like large blisters, some that are typical hives, and some that look like big bug bites. His entire body has been covered at times. He has scars all over him.

He has been on Prednisone, Decadron, antihistamines and Dapsone. He's had several biopsies and they all said "allergic reaction to a medication or bug bite". Not one doctor has done allergy testing, thyroid tests or any further testing.

There is no way I could get him to try a new diet. He wouldn't even give up nuts which I suggested could be the cause. Stubborn!

Hi Sandi,
Greg was convinced he had an allergy, allergy specialist took one look at photos of huge welts on his body & said he had angioedema. Treatment includes steroids (no thank you) & antihistamines.
When I looked at the list of offending foods to do my shopping I laughed & said he could become a vegetarian. Not funny . . So how do you make a sandwich with no meat or tomato, including sauce or chutney? Anyway, he is a lot better for having modified his diet somewhat, if not entirely. Things like tomatoes, red wine, chocolate, meats, seafood, pickled/preserved foods, coffee, etc. were highly consumed. A bit like gluten free, you adjust gradually. Had to try something, it was getting really bad. Mind you, this has been occurring over several years, & it took that long for the 'stubbornness' to give way to proactive behaviour.
mj

Did he have the swelling -eyes, lips, or other parts of the body? My husband does not. Just gets the welts and other weird things. They have him on Allegra now.

So you had a stubborn one too? You named all of my husbands favorite things...there is no way he would give that up! Suffer then, what else can I do? I have tried talking him into trying this or that...he won't do any of it.

Sounds a little different - here the welts are large, swollen, subsurface, hot, itchy & present on inner arm, thigh, around mouth, hip or bottom area - usually 1 at a time. They appear randomly, & take a few days to disappear. He only takes antihistamines when the welts are around his mouth & he's frightened he'll scare the grandies! or when very uncomfortable. Due to the nature of work (farming) is is not good to be feeling sleepy during the day, making decisions & driving machinery etc.
It was suggested he use a low dose of antihistamines for several weeks, as a precautionary measure, but the welts returned.
mj

I was asking because I read that angioedema usually has swelling of lips, throat, etc that goes with it. My husband doesn't have that. He has different types of hives though. Large welts, blistery-types, and ones that look like boils. They appear everywhere and we can't seem to find what triggers it.

It has calmed down a bit since the beginning. He only gets a few at a time.

Sounds nasty, poor chap. I hope you can get some answers soon. I would at least be asking for some allergy tests to be done. Very frustrating not knowing what we are dealing with!

Cheers,
mj

Too soon to speak, but I think we may have found what is causing the hives. His biopsies kept coming back as a "reaction to medication or bug bites". So, I decided to look at fillers of his meds. He remembered that one of his medications had been changed to generic a few weeks before the hives, so I looked up other manufacturers and told him to tell the pharmacist to give him one of those (white pill as opposed to beige). No new hives in over a week. Fingers crossed!

Wow - excellent detective work! And a perfect example of what we have to do for ourselves and not count on our doctors for. Wouldn't they think to ask not only, has your medication changed but also, has the brand of your medication changed.

Any idea what the filler ingredients could be?
Erica

I have no idea what the fillers are. I didn't investigate that far. I just thought we'd start with a different manufacturer.

Hi Sandi & Erica,
Had the electrical guy come to talk me through our new oven the other day. Apparently he has what is known as 'pustula hives', little pimple like, raised hives on the soles of his feet, hands etc. Over the years he has found out that certain foods & stress are the causes. He is allergic to chicken, shellfish, various nuts, egg & a few others I can't remember! It was very interesting hearing his story. He's a local, so we know the family. Again, it was personal research & advice from other sufferers that led him to relief.
mj