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Sudden Bout of Hives, Acid Reflux, Dizziness, etc....
Last Sunday, I woke up with huge bumps on my lower body that were extremely itchy, red, hard, flat, and hot. Never having experienced or seen anything like this, I panicked. I also got very dizzy and had trouble breathing for a good three-five minutes. I have no history of allergy to anything - food, weather, dirt, dust, nothing. My husband took me to the hospital, I was treated for hives, and was told to take Claritin once per day. The hives went away for the rest of the day. The next night I was awakened by terrible upper body muscle aches, and a sharp pain in my chest, behind my chest bone. The hives bumps also reappeared. All these symptoms then went away for the remainder of the day. The same occurred the next day, with the terrible muscle aches and sharp chest pain and bums that then disappeared. The third day, however, I woke up with the left half of my face completely swollen, and unable to move it. I went to the hospital again. I was told I had acid reflux and that the hives are causing the muscle pain, but that the swollen face is a mystery and that I should see an allergist. I was given pepcid for the acid reflux, and a steroid for the hives, and benadryl at night. Since then I've been getting the hives every morning and then they go away, and the acid reflux is just settling in (now it occurs throughout the day too) while the muscle pains have gone away completely. What's also weird is that after that first day of itching, these bumps don't itch at all. They are there, swollen, and red, and ugly, but they don't itch. My problem is that I have this acid reflux ever since I got this strange bout of hives and have no idea what to do about it and when it'll go away. Nothing in my diet changed, I'm not allergic to anything that I know, and I literally did not change anything in my lifestyle - it's a complete mystery. Please help me with some explanation about what happened to me.
Hi, did you get the result for the h pylori test? Any news on what the condition is? I'm getting the test this week. I had to ask specifically for it.
I can't get the dr interested in my problem, I got a dismissive diagnosis, acid reflux & prescription for omeprazole. It's been going on for over 2 months. I switched to pepto bismol because the meds were making the stomach issue worse. I want an h.pylori test but can't seem to get it. They say drs make a diagnosis in 30 seconds, without listening to all the symptoms. Let me know if the antibiotics work. There is a 5 day course which works just as well as the 14 day one from what I've read.
Thank you to all those who posted on this subject. I too have had the hives/heartburn combo for the past 5 weeks and will be seeing a Dr. on Wednesday. A Gastro doc, who I hope will test me for h. pylori. I read about a German study in 1998 where 100 hive sufferers were tested and 25% or so were positive for h pylori. Since heartburn is a sign of h phlori, I think it makes sense that I have that. In all the cases, antibiotics cured those in the German study.
Anyone else have success with antibiotics?
Anyone else have success with antibiotics?
I found this forum because I am experiencing digestive problems & hives. I thought the hives were the result of the medication I was taking (omeprazole) from the onset of a stomach disorder, acid reflux, but now I realize the two are related. Because I was taking benedryl to help me sleep, I didn't immediately see the two symtoms together. But I stopped the medications because of the hives, & I'm still experiencing the hives. Because I am unemployed I have no insurance, so have to go to a free clinic. The diagnostic process is slower because of this. At first I experienced bumps on my buttocks, which I thought were mosquito bites. Then I got them on both sides. About the same time I got severe heartburn & have had it for 5 weeks, with no relief. The hives come & go & they appear in strange places. I began itching on the soles of my feet & palms, then the hives appeared on the back of my upper thighs, dozens of them. Then several times the itching started on my ummm "vajayjay" & I thought I developed a yeast infection, then more hives on my inner thighs. It is the strangest thing. And like another poster said, my mother was a hypochondriac so the last thing I do is go to the doctor & I hate the idea of an ongoing medical condition. I won't accept that I now have a permanent stomach condition when I have been in good health all my life. I have an order for blood work this week & will ask them to check for h.pylori. The doctors are so quick to call it acid reflux & treat for that. Thanks to this forum & putting in the right combination of queries in google, I feel I am closer to resolving this issue. Tonight I have the foot itching again & a lump appeared on my foot sole. Took benedryl & maalox. Keep me posted on a possible diagnosis & cure please.
I have been going though the same symptoms of hives and bad heartburn for a few years. Please keep this post updated if anyone is close to a cure.
Hi Everyone,
I'm glad I found this forum! It is a good feeling to find people who actually know what you are going through.
I have been suffering from chronic hives for 2 years now. (i mean daily hives and swelling of the face, lips, eyes, ears etc.) It has absolutely horrible to live like that and doctors can't seem to figure out the problem other then giving me a prescription.
Just recently I took some blood tests and found that I have H. Pylori. My doctor says current research suggests there MAY be a link to chronic hives. Anyway, once I finish my antibiotics I will let you guys know if the hives clear.
Just wanted to know if anyone has been tested for h. pylori and has cleared up the miserable hives.
You are not alone!
I'm glad I found this forum! It is a good feeling to find people who actually know what you are going through.
I have been suffering from chronic hives for 2 years now. (i mean daily hives and swelling of the face, lips, eyes, ears etc.) It has absolutely horrible to live like that and doctors can't seem to figure out the problem other then giving me a prescription.
Just recently I took some blood tests and found that I have H. Pylori. My doctor says current research suggests there MAY be a link to chronic hives. Anyway, once I finish my antibiotics I will let you guys know if the hives clear.
Just wanted to know if anyone has been tested for h. pylori and has cleared up the miserable hives.
You are not alone!
Hello,
I just began having heartburn and hives 2 wks ago. I get the heartburn at night after about 5 or 6 pm to the point of doubling over in pain. (I have had minor heartburn once or twice a year for a few years, but nothing like this!) Started popping TUMS and then wake up in the morning with hives. They would only last a few hours and initially I thought nothing of them and that maybe I was having a reaction to the TUMS, so I stopped taking them. The odd thing is that the hives seemed to be on various joints of my body each day (wrist and ankles day1, then elbows and hips day 2 then knees and elbows day 3, then my abdomen the next time). The one that made me become more concerned, though, was when my chin became swollen and within 1 hour, my throat was swollen and tight. It didn't block off completely or interrupt my breathing, but it did affect my vocal cords and take my voice nearly completely away. This last episode with my chin was also the only one that occurred at night. So I took some Benadryl and went to bed. (I have a hypocondriac mother and unless I can't breathe- I don't panic too much!!) When I woke up in the morning, I still had tightness in my throat and hives covering my ENTIRE body. At this point I went to the ED where I was given Solumedrol( a steroid) and IV benadryl and was told to see my family Dr. because they didn't know what it was. I have an appointment with my Doc on Monday and am thankful to all of your feedback as I will take these posts with me.
I was glad to finally find something online, because until my husband saw the full body hives, I thought I was becoming my mother! Hopefully some kind of answer can be found!
I just began having heartburn and hives 2 wks ago. I get the heartburn at night after about 5 or 6 pm to the point of doubling over in pain. (I have had minor heartburn once or twice a year for a few years, but nothing like this!) Started popping TUMS and then wake up in the morning with hives. They would only last a few hours and initially I thought nothing of them and that maybe I was having a reaction to the TUMS, so I stopped taking them. The odd thing is that the hives seemed to be on various joints of my body each day (wrist and ankles day1, then elbows and hips day 2 then knees and elbows day 3, then my abdomen the next time). The one that made me become more concerned, though, was when my chin became swollen and within 1 hour, my throat was swollen and tight. It didn't block off completely or interrupt my breathing, but it did affect my vocal cords and take my voice nearly completely away. This last episode with my chin was also the only one that occurred at night. So I took some Benadryl and went to bed. (I have a hypocondriac mother and unless I can't breathe- I don't panic too much!!) When I woke up in the morning, I still had tightness in my throat and hives covering my ENTIRE body. At this point I went to the ED where I was given Solumedrol( a steroid) and IV benadryl and was told to see my family Dr. because they didn't know what it was. I have an appointment with my Doc on Monday and am thankful to all of your feedback as I will take these posts with me.
I was glad to finally find something online, because until my husband saw the full body hives, I thought I was becoming my mother! Hopefully some kind of answer can be found!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for keeping me posted!
Common allergens are pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, synthetic fiber, cosmetics or drugs. Have you got an allergy test done, either a skin test or RAST, to know what you are allergic to? Fungal infections like tinea corporis and tinea cruris too can be the culprit. Liver problems and worms in stool too should be looked into. Diet can cause allergy through the type of food you take. Gluten is the commonest cause and so also preservatives in tinned foods.
I am just enumerating the possibilities. You need to go over them to check if they have been looked into. Was a thyroid antibody test done? Another possibility is shingles. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for keeping me posted!
Common allergens are pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, synthetic fiber, cosmetics or drugs. Have you got an allergy test done, either a skin test or RAST, to know what you are allergic to? Fungal infections like tinea corporis and tinea cruris too can be the culprit. Liver problems and worms in stool too should be looked into. Diet can cause allergy through the type of food you take. Gluten is the commonest cause and so also preservatives in tinned foods.
I am just enumerating the possibilities. You need to go over them to check if they have been looked into. Was a thyroid antibody test done? Another possibility is shingles. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I have already been tested for all of those things... H Pylori, thyroid issues, etc. All were negative. Also got tested for a whole host of other things that were also negative. Not quite sure what to do at this point.
Has diet or weight ever been known to cause hives? I know food allergies can do it, but I don't have any of those.
Has diet or weight ever been known to cause hives? I know food allergies can do it, but I don't have any of those.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
You will be surprised to know the bacteria responsible for GERD, heart burn, acid reflux etc called Helocobacter Pylori or H pylori. Antibiotics given to clear up the bacteria also take care of the hives. I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system). A number of times autoimmune components are associated like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hence you must get your thyroid function too tested along with the thyroid antibody test.
You can read more about this bacteria on this link: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/
Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for writing to the forum!
You will be surprised to know the bacteria responsible for GERD, heart burn, acid reflux etc called Helocobacter Pylori or H pylori. Antibiotics given to clear up the bacteria also take care of the hives. I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system). A number of times autoimmune components are associated like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hence you must get your thyroid function too tested along with the thyroid antibody test.
You can read more about this bacteria on this link: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/
Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
I have had chronic hives for the past 7 months. I am 31 years old. When the hives first appeared, I had awful heartburn during the middle of the night that kept me up for most of the night. I had a hard time breathing. When I woke up, I had hives all of my chest and waste. I have continued to experience them in regular waves ever since. I have been to a Dermatologist, Internist and Allergist. I am now on 180mg of Fexofenadine (Allegra) per day. This wipes out 95% of the hives. If I forget the meds for a day, my hives will pop up. I still get the feeling of heartburn, kind of a "peanut butter in the chest" feeling that often seems to correspond to flares of hives. The doctors have run a ton of tests and cannot find any cause. It seems like heartburn and hives are not a rare combination, just which the doctors knew more!
I have been reading the line of coments concerning Hives and Chest Pain. I started experiencing the same two weeks ago and had to go to the emergency room regarding the chest pain. EKG and heart issues ruled out - gastro intestinal issues suspected due to either stones in gall bladder or enflamed gall bladder. Been taking Benadryl for hives, chest pain comes and goes, antacids are ineffective, Phazyme over the counter helps somewhat - contains simethicone, seems to tamp down chest pain (gas?). Anyway, am scheduled for an ultrasound next Tuesday of gallbladder, some blood and fecal tests ordered, waiting on those. Decided to take things into my own hands and see a Naturpathic Doctor (ND). Appt is today - they treat illness holistically, mind, body, spirit, etc and seek to treat the CAUSE, not the EFFECT, unlike our current medical system. I suspect Candidiasis, too, good call clair60, but we'll see. I recommend you see a naturpathic doctor in your area, soonest. The candidiasis can manifest itself in a number of ways, all unpleasant, and regaining control of your health should not be put off. And good luck!
Had the same symptoms, hives, reflux, body aches, etc. Took a while, but Systemic Candidiasis turned out to be the culprit. It's a slow recovery, but after about six weeks, no more hives or body aches, and reflux/chest pain greatly reduced. Worth researching.
Hey guys! Cheers from Canada!
Just browsing the net for this interesting combination of hives and heartburn.
First off, briefly about myself: I'm in my early 30's, and have no known allergies. About four years ago I developed hives just out of the blue. They came on fairly strong, affecting my face, arms, back, etc... It was something that I've never experienced before.
So, after a few days of discomfort almost non-stop, both night and day, I went to see a Doctor. We tried many drugs over time. Cortico-steriods, anti-histamines like Aerius, even Sinequan at one point. Nothing really worked all that well. Hydroxyzine was the one drug that I did find to help a little bit with the itching, and it's fairly cheap also. (Hydroxyzine here available only by prescription).
I also tried to eliminate everything that may be a possible contributor to my hives. I tried altering my diet, no coffee, different laundry detergent and dryer sheets, etc... Nothing made any difference. I even spent a couple of months out of town on an extended 'holiday,' and the hives did not improve. So, even a completely different environment did not make any difference in the outbreak.
Then, after about four months or so, they disappeared as quickly as they arrived. This was about four years ago, and right now my third outbreak is just starting again, after being completely free of hives for many, many months. The Doctors are stumped, and can offer no solution. The weather or the time of the year have no bearing whatsoever on when they'll appear or disappear. On top of the itching, it's also embarrassing to have hives on your face. I hate it. Even going to the store with red blotches around my eyes, and even slightly swollen lips at times just isn't cool.
At this point I have realized that there is no solution for the few of us that suffer from this, but I'm glad I'm not the only one. The only thing I can suggest is, Hydroxyzine for the itch, and maybe some OTC anti-histamines.
So, back to the original topic! I have never suffered from heartburn in the past, and now only when the hives are active. I don't really know what the correlation is there. Also, I find that when the hives hit hard, I'm actually affected 'mentally.' What's a better way to describe this... It's an 'uncomfortable' and tired feeling, like the brain isn't firing on all eight cylinders. Whatever is causing the hives is also causing some sort of chemical reaction to occur in my brain. I wish I could've described the last part better, but sometimes things aren't so easy to describe!
Anyhow, I wish you all the best of luck, and hopefully one day they'll find a solution to this very irritating problem.
Just browsing the net for this interesting combination of hives and heartburn.
First off, briefly about myself: I'm in my early 30's, and have no known allergies. About four years ago I developed hives just out of the blue. They came on fairly strong, affecting my face, arms, back, etc... It was something that I've never experienced before.
So, after a few days of discomfort almost non-stop, both night and day, I went to see a Doctor. We tried many drugs over time. Cortico-steriods, anti-histamines like Aerius, even Sinequan at one point. Nothing really worked all that well. Hydroxyzine was the one drug that I did find to help a little bit with the itching, and it's fairly cheap also. (Hydroxyzine here available only by prescription).
I also tried to eliminate everything that may be a possible contributor to my hives. I tried altering my diet, no coffee, different laundry detergent and dryer sheets, etc... Nothing made any difference. I even spent a couple of months out of town on an extended 'holiday,' and the hives did not improve. So, even a completely different environment did not make any difference in the outbreak.
Then, after about four months or so, they disappeared as quickly as they arrived. This was about four years ago, and right now my third outbreak is just starting again, after being completely free of hives for many, many months. The Doctors are stumped, and can offer no solution. The weather or the time of the year have no bearing whatsoever on when they'll appear or disappear. On top of the itching, it's also embarrassing to have hives on your face. I hate it. Even going to the store with red blotches around my eyes, and even slightly swollen lips at times just isn't cool.
At this point I have realized that there is no solution for the few of us that suffer from this, but I'm glad I'm not the only one. The only thing I can suggest is, Hydroxyzine for the itch, and maybe some OTC anti-histamines.
So, back to the original topic! I have never suffered from heartburn in the past, and now only when the hives are active. I don't really know what the correlation is there. Also, I find that when the hives hit hard, I'm actually affected 'mentally.' What's a better way to describe this... It's an 'uncomfortable' and tired feeling, like the brain isn't firing on all eight cylinders. Whatever is causing the hives is also causing some sort of chemical reaction to occur in my brain. I wish I could've described the last part better, but sometimes things aren't so easy to describe!
Anyhow, I wish you all the best of luck, and hopefully one day they'll find a solution to this very irritating problem.
Hi, I've had these symptoms on and off for a year now and I have them really bad at the mo. Anyone know yet?
This is what I have been experiencing, and everyone looks at me like I am crazy. I am miserable. The chest pain scares me a little as I understand that hives can occur on the lungs.
I also have the same exact thing!! Been going on for about a month, major hives, major heartburn (acid reflux so badly burning that I went to hospital ) and extremely dizzy...don't know whats going on, wish I could fined some answers!
Jodie
Jodie
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