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Serious hives for a week after extreme workout

I'm in my early 40s and have been dealing with recurring hives since high school. I've finally found what appears to be the cause, but I'm not sure what to do next. When I heavily use muscles that haven't really been exercised in a few weeks or more, I get very sharp pain in those muscles the next day or two. That's when I know the hives are going to come. Unlike most exercise-induced hives I've read about, the hives don't come when I exercise, but a day or two later - always after the sharp muscle pain. The first few times I got them they got so bad I ended up in the emergency room where they gave me epinephrin, etc. and they went away. The strange thing though, is that they came back again and again over the course of a week to a week and a half. Now that I can recognize them coming right away, I usually knock them out right away with a double dose of Benadryl, which I then have to take every 4 hours - tapering the dosage off over the course of the week. They still come back over the week, but they never get out of hand if I keep up with the antihistamine. So I can live with it if I have to, but the Benadryl does make me less productive and I'd really like to figure out how to eliminate them for good. I went to an allergist several years back and he wasn't particularly helpful. So for now, my best solution seems to be to exercise regularly enough to avoid the "new exercise program" pain that always seems to trigger the hives and then to have a good supply of Benadryl ready when they do come. I experience this week-long bout maybe 2-3 times a year now. Any ideas?
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Avatar universal
Hi stradev, I have exciting news!

My bodybuilding coach led me to what it seems to be the solution to prevent the hives ,believe it or not: GLUTAMINE!

I have been lifting serious since January this year,about 6-7 times per week and my routines change every four weeks. initially, my trainer prescribed only 5 grams of glutamine per day, with this dosage I still got the hives but not so severe.  Then the next month, we increased to 15 grams and boom NO HIVES AT ALL especially after the new routine.

Depending on the intensity of my workouts for the month the dosage can go up to 20 grams per day. At the moment, i am on 15 grams per day, 5 grams with my morning tea and 10 grams with my before bed snack.

To give you an idea my height is 1.54 cm and weight is 50 kilos.

I could not be happier with this, as training plays a big part in my life!

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Wow it’s been a few years since this topic has been raised but at 42 I have just had my first bout of hives and I’m looking for the cause. It’s hard to figure out since I have only just now had it but my gut feeling was telling me that is could be due to me returning to weight training after lockdowns and I had the worse DOMS because of it. A few days later I developed the hives which almost a week later I still have despite taking antihistamines. I wonder how long your bout of hives last each time? Waiting for them to clear up and then I’ll go back to the gym and see if my suspicions are correct.  
Avatar universal
I wanted to thank you all for starting this thread. I suffer from Rhabdomyolosis, and when it comes I get severe hives. This thread is a GODSEND as I can deal with the pain and will work hard to flush my kidneys without the ER a hospital stay, but I CANNOT deal with the hives. They are terrifying to me. Folks that suffer with intense muscle soreness, keep an eye on the color of your urine. If very dark, you could be in Rhabdo, which can severely damage your kidneys. I can't wait to get started on the L-Glutamine if the hives come.
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Avatar universal
Hey,
just wanted to confirm after trying it for a month with intense workouts that it does indeed work!

I'm at about 65kg currently, 21yo and take 6-7g in the morning and another 6-7g some time before going to bed, though I am still experimenting, if it is really freezing outside and there are big temperature fluctuations I do still feel some slight discomfort and have a very mild outbreak of hives, especially if I got my blood pumping.
However with a bit of a higher dosage that is easy to avert.

I recommend you to get some pure L-Glutamine (the most common form of glutamine) in powder form as it is the cheapest and take at least 5g per dose, going too low will not work, because you need to overcome a certain threshold, which you should keep in mind if you are thinking of just getting some via a protein shake with glutamine in the mix, you might need quite a bit of it.

I am super happy to be able to go all out again, hopefully it helps you guys too!!
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Avatar universal
Wow. I cant believe I found this. I have had this for years.  It took me couple of times of this happening for me to put two and two together with the muscle soreness after lifting weights and the onset of hives.  Like you guys if I work out with weights, on a new muscle group and get the sorness.....the day after the workout I get hives.  Particularly hands and feet.  But only if I touch something cold..barefoot on the floor...or holding something cold.  Hands/feet swell up, turn red and get a deep internal itch.  Very unpleasant.  

When I told my doc that I get these ONLY after I work out and get my muscles sore, they look at me like I'm making it up.  Good to know I'm not crazy and that my connection between the two are correct.  I'm going to order some glutamine from Amazon and see if this helps
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Avatar universal
Wow. I cant believe I found this. I have had this for years.  It took me couple of times of this happening for me to put two and two together with the muscle soreness after lifting weights and the onset of hives.  Like you guys if I work out with weights, on a new muscle group and get the sorness.....the day after the workout I get hives.  Particularly hands and feet.  But only if I touch something cold..barefoot on the floor...or holding something cold.  Hands/feet swell up, turn red and get a deep internal itch.  Very unpleasant.  

When I told my doc that I get these ONLY after I work out and get my muscles sore, they look at me like I'm making it up.  Good to know I'm not crazy and that my connection between the two are correct.  I'm going to order some glutamine from Amazon and see if this helps
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi All,

I had this issue and later figured out that I have thyroid disorder.
Have a "Thyroid Function Test" done along with "TPO Antibody" test.
Make sure your thyroid levels are proper and you are not affected by auto immune disease.

Thanks,
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone,

I have been facing the EXACT SAME problem. I am only 21 and not being able to exercise is frustrating.
Please please tell me if the glutamine solution actually works. I will be forever grateful to you.
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Avatar universal
I am sitting at home suffering from hives right now..ive just been travelling for 8 months and hadnt hit the gym at all..im usually very well trained..came home my mate saod come to the gym so i hit it hard from day 1..im 36 and fit but never experienced doms like it in my life..thought best to get it done but i came home from heavy leg session yesterday feeling really hot and had a itchy swelling feeling on my head then realised if i just touched anywhere id get hives.. Cant believe its caused by doms..is the histamine a by product of the damage.. i thought i was allergic to whey then i thought stress (being home from travelling) but it seems its this..im glad also glad the glutimine seems to help..ill get straight on it..
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Avatar universal
That is excellent news!
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Avatar universal
Very very interesting. I have suffered from this for 25 years and have a very severe allergic reaction if I have DOMS around day 2. I have been hospitalized at least 10 times when the allergy/hives gets out of control to the point my throat completely swells. At this point all my heat areas (armpits, groin, ear canal, throat and eyes) become covered in hives and I need an adrenaline or phenergan injection.

I have managed the allergy by keeping fit and when I do get caught out (1 or 2 times a year) I immediately take 5mg of prednisone (antihistamine) the instant I have DOMS. The hives then don't start if I follow this routine.

Interestingly, I only suffer from a reaction if the soreness is an upper body soreness. My legs can get as sore as they want and nothing results. I will be interested in trying the glutamine to see if this is a pre treatment. Thanks for the advice.
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Avatar universal
Also read this interesting  medical term

DOMS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness

Related to accumulation of histamines which I beleive to be my intolerant enzyme  at a too high level. It is a form of known urticaria.

Anti histaminic product could probably work, but i never tested and I will probably never as i can now control it.

BTW,
Once I have this Hive, it also start reacting to other stimulus like heat and cold. So the best way I found is to simply rest and sleep  more and  wrap myselft in a blanket to get temperature stable. the hive crisis dispear in few hours.

The main hive will stay for several day after it disapear completly usually with the soreness of the muscle.


Hope this help you guys !
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Avatar universal
Hi am experiencing this as well and did a lot of research ....but i am no doctor and this should be taken in consideration.

This is related to the body regeneration.
Some call it the Healing crisis. The healing crisis is the result of every body-system, in concert, working to eliminate waste products through all elimination channels and set the stage for regeneration.

It seems to be normal in the Healing process of the body, simply some person are more affected by symptome. It seems also related to Rhabdomyolysis  process in some sort. the Hive is often a side effect, with many other.

On big solution to this is to avoid too much body damage...one shot.
Give your body time to acclimate and repair little at the time, avoid the big surprise.

At the end when you can minimize the body desctruction, of after you went to one or several Healing crisis, your body will  not have so much surprise repair to do .....and the hive will stop appearing.


Like I said, I am no doctor,but I still beleive this to be an immuno reaction to one of the enzyme or waste created byt the regeneration process...

Some kind of allergy to yourself when certain level is reached....

This would explain why some people will never react to this.
Which enzyme/waste, there are way too much involve to even think finding it and it could be combination of many, so lets take them all together.


Simple solution :

Get proper nutriment income to maximize regeneration...this mean the normal food guide...and not mcdonal menu.

I read people having result with supplement like glutamine , but I consider this to be different and up to each body type. Up to you to test.
Good hydratation
More stretching ...before and after

More intelligent workout +++ smooth start...going really progessive over longer period ....speaking in days/week to acclimate..

More rest


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Avatar universal
Good luck. I hope you have the same success I've experienced.
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Avatar universal
It's crazy I suffer from this exact same thing, I used to be very physically fit because of weight lifting 6 days a week, I quit a few years ago and every time I start back the hives are terrible the day after I workout when my muscles get very sore, I estimate I have gotten hives from muscle soreness about 5-7 times in the past 3 years, I will definitely try the glutamine as well because I started working out again this week and am sitting here right now with a case of hives
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Avatar universal
It's been a while since I started the glutamine based on your suggestion. I wanted to go through several tough workouts before reporting on the results. After a few months taking about 10 grams a day (just in the morning, with a bit extra at night after really tough workouts), the hives have stopped. I had several cases where I experienced the sharp muscle pain 1-2 days after the workout - the same pain that previously would guarantee the hives were coming - and no hives. This has been amazing. Thanks so much for posting it. You've had a real impact. It's great now to be able to work out as hard as I want and not have to pay for a week and a half afterward. For the first time in 30 years, I can actually prevent the hives!
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Avatar universal
That's awesome news peq! I haven't checked this forum in a while but I'm glad I came back. A few weeks ago I came across someone on another urticaria forum that has claimed to also rid themselves of hives taking glutamine so I'm really glad to see it confirmed here by someone with the specific symptoms that we have. I actually bought a container of the powder a few days ago and have been taking about 10 grams when I wake up on an empty stomach and about 10 grams before bed. I have yet to put this to the test by rigorous weight training but I hope to within the next few days. I will get back to you all and let you know how it goes!
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Avatar universal
Hello Stradev, i've just came across this great thread finding those rare mates having hives outbreak 12-36 hrs after intensive workouts; and thank you and others here for starting and continuing this thread (none of my doctors took seriously my suggestion on connection of urticaria with workouts except possibility of reaction to sweating which is clearly not my case).
I'm wondering if you've or anybody esle here tried Glutamine as suggested by pequenaana, and what was the effect, if any? Thanks
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Avatar universal
I use Optimum Nutrition Glutamine 1000mg caps, top product! Good luck with it and let us know the outcome!
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Avatar universal
Just figured it out... You must be in Europe and using different convention than us in the US. 154 cm... Makes more sense.
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Avatar universal
This is great news. Thanks so much for sharing it. I will look into glutamine. Are you taking it in pill or powder form?

1.54 cm huh...?

I'll let you know how this works out for me.
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Avatar universal
Yes, I was born with asthma.
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Avatar universal
I have never been diagnosed with any form of asthma.
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Avatar universal
I am 43 years old. I first experienced this form of exercise induced hives at 21 years old.  This condition led me to totally abandon exercise (e. g., running, weightlifting) for years. During the past two years, I began to exercise again and adopted a vegan diet. I try to make sure that I am consuming half my body weight in water. Most of my workout consists of 45- 50 minutes of cardio, and I have not had any problem.

I recently worked with a trainer to introduce weightlifting, and the soreness and hives followed. Yes. Even with my so-called healthy lifestyle, with lots of nutrients, I had an outbreak of hives.

There is medical research that suggests that pomegranate juice is effective for reducing the soreness associated with DOMS (i. e. delayed onset muscle soreness), but it is not clear whether the pomegranate juice will prevent a hives outbreak.

Everyone does not suffer from this condition, so we might looked to our past medical/health history for answers. One thing that I would like to know from everyone who has posted information to this forum is whether anyone has ever suffered from mild to severe asthma as I have. Allergy symptoms to almost any change (e. g., change of weather, stress such as not lifting weights to lifting weights) can trigger an immune response when you have asthma whether you think you have rid yourselves of asthma or NOT.

Easing into exercise might be the best advice. After all, introducing triggers at modest levels is a common approach to treating, and even relieving people from outbreaks of hives.
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Avatar universal
I have been dealing with this since I was about 16 as well and am now 25. It took me a long time to figure out what exactly was even happening with my body. When it first started I tried all the usual things, changing detergents, deodorants, going to different gyms, then I got into the food aspect, changing my diet and eliminating certain known allergens to see if it had any effect.
     It's really hard to do because you have to devote so much of your time and effort into this, you have to completely change your way of life and sometimes avoiding certain foods can be nearly impossible. I've tried removing gluten which seemed to help but I still got the hives, same with dairy, I no longer eat it but still get the hives a day or two after an intense workout which usually involves weight lifting. I've spent countless hours browsing the internet searching for answers and have yet to find anything solid. I've heard everything from people saying you just need to drink a ton of water to people who say just stop taking hot showers..
     I agree many people including doctors are quick to throw out some answer that isn't really thought out and they are not aware of our particular condition which I believe is somewhat rare. I've been to allergists which was no help, he did one of those spot tests on me with samples of a bunch of different allergens like shellfish to see which would cause a reaction. The thing is this was during a time that I was working out and experiencing these reactions so when he did the test my skin rose and puffed up for every single one and he literally just told me I was allergic to everything which obviously is not the case. If he was to take the test during a time when I wasn't working out I'm sure it would yield different results. The only answer I got from him was take antihistamines, which to me is just a cover up and not a solution.
     I have found a couple of cases while reading through the internet where people claimed to have found the cause and are now hive free. One possible "solution" that sticks out to me is taking digestive enzymes. Some people believe that the problem lies in your body not producing enough or the right types of enzymes to break down the food so when your body goes to use food that you've "digested" to repair your muscles it acts as if it's something foreign and shouldn't be there resulting in the hives. One of the cases I read about the guy said he had to take digestive enzymes consistently with every meal for about three months before he noticed a difference.
     Anyway, I'm just as puzzled about this as the rest of you guys and I try not to let it get to me but it can be extremely frustrating at times. Especially when I know I feel the best after a good workout, it's hard to consider the fact that I'll never be able to work out to my potential. I love the stress relief and health benefits a good workout provides and I really hope we can all find a solution to this.
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