Extreme Itching Without Rash Allergy Asthma

[jifnif]

i have posted on another forum in reference to a urticaria type rash that develops during exercise and w/ emotional or body temp changes.  this rash develops only on my chest and arms but is very severe.  I also get a burning itching that starts at my feet and I can feel it travel up my entire body til it reaches my scalp.  This is a completely different episode than the urticaria and happens w/ the onset of temperature change in my body.  There is no rash w/ the itching and burning.  When I have the urticaria there is rash but no itching.  I have asthma and allergies which i take zyrtec, pulmicort and albuterol for.  I might add that I am 17 weeks pregnant and drs will not do testing right now.  Any help???  Is this anaphylaxis??  I also called University of Penn here in philadelphia and they said they prescribe zyrtec to most of their urticaria patients but rarely find a cause!!???  I need to find the cause to stop this.  Help.

[jifnif]

i just wanted to add that i was doing some reading on exercise induced anaphylaxis and cholinergic uriticaria and its seems that what i describe is both at separate times.  Never together.  Where does this lead me and what specialist do i start with.  My immunologist does not specialize in urticaria???

[lmroswell]

I get a very itchy small rash on my legs when I go walking.  Not all the time, but most of the time.  A while ago, I read a medical column by Dr. Donahue, which described exactly what I had.  Actually, he had two possible exlanations.  One, was cholinergic urticaria.  People who have this release acetycholine when their body temps rise.  Acetycholine is a nerve chemical, which activates cells that release histamine, which in turn causes the itch and rash.  An antihistamine is recommended for this condition before exercise.  If you are considering this diagnosis, make sure you check with your doc about taking any antihistamine, which I am sure you would do since you are expecting (congrats).  The other condition that he mentioned is exercise induce anaphylaxis, in which a rise in body temp causes a dramatic reaction.  Blood pressure drops and the skin breakes out in large hives.  Headache and abdominal cramps are common.  In the article the doctor stated that the reaction can be of such magnitude that the person passes out and requires emergency treatment.  Talk with your doc about these possibilities.  This article that I have is from 1999.  I saved it because no one ever heard from getting hives and itches while exercising.  Good luck and congrats...

[lmroswell]

I just read your second post, and you are already in the ball park with this.  As for which medical specialty, I am not sure, but I would maybe start with an allergist or an internist.  Keep at it, I am sure you will get answers.

[lmroswell]

Sorry for the third post, but maybe the meds that you are taking are allowing for the rash, but are inhibiting the itch?  Just a thought.  Signing off permanently, now....

[jifnif]

thanks for feedback....i considered the meds messing things up but i had an episode of no rash post an episode w/ rash!!!  So weird, these two seem to be living simultaneously and i cant seem to find what triggers the one w/ out a rash.  I willkeep searchingm, thanks!  Do you still present w/ any of these symptoms??

[lmroswell]

Only when I take a walk around the neighborhood to exercise.  Another weird thing happened yesterday to one of my daughter's friends.  She jumped into our pool, belly flop style, so she hit the water pretty hard.  Only on the places of her body where she hit the water really hard, she broke out into hives, some of the very large.  Did not itch.  Just hives.  This little girl does have allergies to grass and certain other things.  But, I have never seen skin react to a water stimulus like this.  And, she had already been in the water for about 15 minutes with no problem.  Just after the belly flop.  Go figure that one out...

[Apeverden]

I read your posting about your problem.  I arrived back from Mexico two weeks ago and had got very burnt there.  I peeled and now that my skin appears physically fine, I have an itch on my arms and shoulders that will not go away.  I have to plan my day around this.  I just want to be at home without anything touching my skin ina  cold environment.  In addition to that, I am also 17 weeks pregnant.  this is so extremely frustrating.  I have never had this problem before and it is literally ruining my life.  I feel like I am going crazy and want to cry about this.  Any suggestions or remedies?  I have tried topical products but of course cannot take and medicine for it.  
Amy

[jenking]

My sister Amy did the same thing back in 2000.  You dont lay in the sun when you are pregnant.
You will burn ten times faster than you have in your whole life. She applied shopped clothes to her burns.
My problem is that I started itching two days ago. It started in my palms and has traveled up to arms, neck, face and head.  No bumps not rash nothing??????

[jenking]

That was Tea soaked clothes

[Dream_corp]

Hi Guys, I have a similar problem. I am a 20 year old collage student and every time that  my body temperature rises due to a change in temperature caused by various situation like going from out doors to indoors (during winter) and exercising, my upper body feel like i am getting electric shocked. Mostly in t