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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Hives?
        
(Message started by: kyitb on Dec 8^th, 2007, 2:52pm)

Title: Hives?
Post by kyitb on Dec 8^th, 2007, 2:52pm

For the last 3 weeks or so everytime I get an attack both my hands go numb and by the time my attack is over I have hives all over both my hands and no where else. Anyone else experience this? Anyone have a clue as to why?

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by SchwarzenSchafe on Dec 9^th, 2007, 3:22pm

During one of my worst cycles I got what I think were hives, I'd get little red dots/bumps all over my upper body and arms that were incredibly itchy. I don't know if it was related to the clusters, I think it was more likely caused by spending a lot of time in an old, musty basement, but regardless having your entire body itch so bad it makes you dance while being hit with a bad cluster is pure hell.

Never had numbness though.

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by George_J on Dec 10^th, 2007, 12:27am

Have never had hives--ever--but I've heard they can be caused by emotional upset or distress. A CH hit is pretty distressing--perhaps that has something to do with it.

Just speculation.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by kyitb on Dec 10^th, 2007, 9:50am

Thanks for the feedback guys. I concur that an attack is extremely stressful. My main concern is the numbness. Over all i've been doing alot better lately despite the cold weather. Last winter was awful! I'm back on the hot showers they used to be effective last year (at least I think they were). For awhile they seemed to have no affect. Once again they seem to help deal with the pain and decrease the amount of time that I am pain. Sadly redbull no longer helps now. Gotta love the game the beast presents!

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Monty on Dec 10^th, 2007, 3:11pm

Histamine.

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by kyitb on Dec 10^th, 2007, 11:20pm

Histamine?

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Emily on Dec 11^th, 2007, 5:56am

I used to get hives as a kid from sugar OD. It could be the red bull (if you're still drinking it).

I think what monty means is take an anti-histamine (taken for hayfever/cat allergies etc). It will cool the skin down and reduce the itchiness.

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Monty on Dec 11^th, 2007, 11:36am

Histamine is one of the most common causes of hives (urticaria). Histamine and serotonin are also released by various cells in the body during a cluster attack - clusters were once called histamine headaches. While clusters are more complicated than just histamine, I suspect that the hives could be a result of the histamine. The inflammation may be affecting the nerves or circulation to the point of causing numbness.

Will an antihistamine help prevent this? I don't know, but that is a standard treatment for them. Antihistamines or histamine desensitizing help some people with clusters, but they are not a cure-all. Cromolyn might also help - it doesn't block the histamine receptors, but it does make the mast and blood cells less likely to release histamine in the first place.

Not sure of what interactions there might be between antihistamines and other meds - better to check-it out before hand if you go the antihistamine route.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hives

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by swimchica623 on Dec 12^th, 2007, 10:06am

I've gotten little red dots all around my stomach and back before. A nurse friend of mine thought it might be heat rash since my body temperatue rises so much during a hit. But I would think hands and feet would be the coolest part of your body. My rash did respond to a antihistimine cream so that could have been part of it too, but I think those creams might help any kind of itchy red rash, even if histamine isn't the cause to begin with. It might be a good thing to try because it should give you relief even if it's not histimine related, whereas a antihistamine pill would only work if that was the cause for sure. If you think stress and anxiety about all this is the problem, I'd do something about relaxing yourself, and go see your doctor if that numbness persists!!!
Ohh and you might want to take a picture of your hands, too. If you are trying to explain the rash to your doctor and it is gone by the time of your appt, it is helpful sometimes to have a picture of what it looked like.
Hope you are feeling better soon. :)
Lisa

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Turts on Dec 16^th, 2007, 6:07pm

i definately get hive while in cycle. It can be an indicator that a cycle is coming as i dont generally get them at other times.

Like Monty, i have read that it can be related to the amount of histamine that is dumped into the body during a cycle.
I just take an anti-histamine. relieves the itch, but can still be unsightly.
i have played tick tack toe on my arms with the hives.

Turts

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Sandy_C on Dec 18^th, 2007, 2:07pm

If I have an allergic reaction to something, most often shellfish, but not every time, I will get hives...the big itchy bumps. They most often appear on my face and upper torso, not on my extremities. This does not occur with me during, or after a CH hit.

However, during a CH hit, my body temperature rises very sharply and dramatically. As soon as the hit ends, the temp drops like a stone, and my hands and fingers itch and feel somewhat numb.

There is something called Raynaud's phenomenon, which has do do with poor circulation in hands and fingers. With a sudden drop in body temp, Raynaud's can occur causing the hands to appear reddish, but the pads of the fingertips to appear almost white, and numb, and it feels itchy. I can get Raynaud's at any time, most often in winter, not only after a CH hit.

Raynaud's is not an allergic reaction though. Possibly, like me, your body temperature is going from one extreme (hot) to the other (cold), and the blood vessels in your hands and fingers need a little time to catch up.

I'm no doc, but just warming, massaging my hands, or a hot shower after a hit, restores full feeling, no itch very quickly.

Hope this helps.

Sandy

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Monty on Dec 18^th, 2007, 2:19pm

Sandy,

Got Fish Oil?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=2536517

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by kyitb on Dec 18^th, 2007, 7:17pm

Thanks again for the feedback! I tend to get very cold both during and after my attacks. My approach to aiding in pain relief is an extrenely hot shower. Perhaps that's my problem. I'll take the hives and numbness though the perceived aid I get from a hot shower far outweighs the side effects. Thanks again!

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Sandy_C on Dec 19^th, 2007, 1:48pm

on 12/18/07 at 14:19:53, Monty wrote:

Sandy,

Got Fish Oil?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=2536517

Thanks! I don't get Raynaud's often, but when I do, it's annoying to say the least. A little fish oil, Huh? I'll give that a shot. What type of bait to I need? ;;D

http://bestsmileys.com/fishing/1.gif

I'm working on it! ;;D

Sandy

Title: Re: Hives?
Post by Chappy on Dec 19^th, 2007, 2:57pm

When my chronic CH took a turn for the worse about a year ago, I started waking up many mornings with my legs feeling frozen, often with the rest of my body dripping sweat. Numbness and tingling on my CH side, mostly in my hand and foot soon followed. That's what first sent me to a neuro (pre-diagnosis), and when she put me on topomax 100mg the symptoms decreased immediately. She increased to 200mg and they haven't come back since. I've also been taking verapamil since the increase, so that may play a part.

Also, my CH took a second turn for the worse in July, making me step down from my company to see if "relaxing" would help with all of these symptoms since doctors had told me for 8 years there was nothing wrong with me. That same week. I developed a hive-like rash all over my lower back (mostly toward the sides, but its everywhere), and shoulders and chest. It hasn't gone away, and I have an appt with a dermatologist in January.

With CH and the hypothalmus' involvement, Ive learned just about anything's possible, but I'll have it checked out just in case.