i have aqaugenic urticaria, does ANYBODY else have it?!

okay so ever since i was a baby my mom told me that when she would bathe me i would scream bloody murder and cry and cry and i would turn bright red over my whole body and i would get really bad hives all over me and i obviously dont remember any of that but what i do remember is always growing up not being able to swim or go near water and i can only take shours for 5 minutes tops because of the pain from the hives. my hives turn purple and swell up and anywhere water touches me i get a hive. i cant sweat either, or go in cold water because i could go into anaphalectic shock because i have such a bad case of it. any type of water contact sends my body off and in a fuss and crazy with hives. i remember doctors telling me when i was 11 years old that i was crazy i was lying blah blah i was depressed but i finally found this one doctor in childrens hospital whom my sister had been to for asthma ask me about it because he saw my chart, he ran test after test after test and the simplest thing gave me the diagnosis.. he put an ice cube on my arm and let it melt. ill be darned if my arm didnt swell up and get hives all over it. i was FINALLY diagnosed with something. he told me im the only person where i live to ever have it and i have one of the top worst cases in any of the nearby states hospitals. people doubt me everyday and say im lying its not possible, ive had to prove my teachers wrong because they said i faked it. i hate being doubted by doctors too. i really just need somebody to talk to with it because people dont realize how hard it is living like this, i dont know what its like to be able to swim in the summer and i cant go to waterparks or go on waterrides or people stare at me because i look like i have some skin disease. i carry around an epi pen too, i have to. but i really just need some support. anybody out there with it?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Water urticaria, or aquagenic urticaria, is a rare condition in which hives develop within 1 to 15 minutes after contact with water. The hives last for 10 to 120 minutes and do not seem to be caused by histamine release like the other physical hives. Most investigators believe that this condition is actually exquisite skin sensitivity to additives in the water such as chlorine but distilled water can also cause this reaction.

Treatment of water urticaria includes epinephrine, antihistamines, or cortisone-like drugs. Itching can be controlled with cold packs or commercial topical agents that contain menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, aloe, antihistamines, or cortisone preparations.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted.