Urticaria And Celiac

[jello5]

Hi

I have cold induced urticaria. It started six years ago two months after I had given birth to my youngest child. I have never played in the snow with him as I will break out in hives after being exposed to the snow. Or wind or anything under sixty degrees. Or I will get hives if there is a slight breeze. Anyway, I have been searching to find the cause of this until earlier this year when I found a study done in Madrid. Basically it said that in a case of cold induced uticaria, celiac disease should be ruled out. Well, I went to a very reputable naturapathic dr. who found that I have a gluten and dairy intolerence. (as well as soy and corn). I have eliminated all dairy and gluten from my diet since august 5 of this year. After many nights of reading about celiac, I am so convinced I have found the answer to my hives-and that I truly am celiac. My family has a history of lymphoma as well. From what I have been reading, I know I need to be patient and that it could take months or years for my symptoms to clear. (I also developed eczema on my hands while pregnant-then the cold urticaria-then a year later, asthma). I am feeling good since going gluten-free/CF. I sleep really well now, am no longer bloated and have tremendous energy and am no longer lethargic. My question to those of you out there is how long did it take for your symptoms to clear? Has anyone had hives and celiac and has it resolved? After taking a walk this evening in the beautiful midwest in 64 degree temps, I had hives WORSE then ever. I am a bit confused. ( I have been tested for lupus and RA, both negative)

[mushroom]

Yours seems to be an extreme case with any temperature under 60 degrees. My husband has this problem but it doesn't kick in until the temperature is below freezing. He is also celiac.

[ravenwoodglass]

I had cold induced asthma and pressure hives prediagnosis. Thankfully I didn't have cold induced hives as I wouldn't be able to leave my house for months at a time where I live. The hives took a couple of months to resolve and I have only had them a few times in the last 7 years. The only time I get them now is when I get 'soyed' but thankfully they don't appear when glutened. I should note that I have both an allergy and an intolerance to soy that appears with both injestion and if applied topically.

[jello5]

Thank you both for the input. I also have the intolerence to soy and corn as well. I figured I would eliminate gluten and dairy first. Then soy, and then the corn. It seems eliminating gluten and dairy is quite a job but I have been vigilent about it and am doing ok. Soy and corn seem to be in everything. I am avoiding them but havent eliminated them 100% yet. Maybe it is the intolerence to those two as well that could very well be contributing to the hives. I am also taking the multi-vitamins as well as other supplements-b-12, folic, etc.

[Glutens gotta go]

coincidental that these 2 subjects are listed together....because  i have had cold urticaria since my teens, i am now 32. also, i tested positive for the dq8 celiac gene (in the process of other testing to get diagnosis). Also, around the same time , my 6 year old son started showing signs of cold urticaria- although his is much worse than mine ever was. he has since been diagnosed with allergies to grass, dog dander and cold. His ped started him on a daily allergy pill around one month ago, but he is still showing signs of celiac....most obvious hands and feet tingling and headache. i want to have him tested for gluten allergy, as my gut (no pun intended) tells me that he has celiac too. what are your thoughts

[cyclinglady]

His symptoms could be just related to his allergies. I have cold urticaria too since I was a baby. Swelling and huge itchy hives that would last until I thawed. Horrible looking and itchy in a bathing suit (wetsuit solved that) and I only ski in warm conditions (feet swell so much that I can not remove my boots). I was the only girl allowed to wear pants to school (back in the day), but I had to remove them in class and put them back on for recess and I live in a mild climate. It was handy getting out of school when I was injured in sports! The school nurse would have me sit with an ice pack and then I would get the hives and swell up! The nurse always called my Mom who would pick me up and take me shopping or to the library. (Thanks, Mom for being so cool!)

I would not link it to celiac disease, but to my many other allergies.

If you really think he might have celiac disease, It would be easier to get testing done (insurance) once you have a confirmed diagnosis. Many others here might have more input. You both should be consuming gluten until all testing is complete.

Good luck!

[Kelsie]

Hi, I also have cold urticaria. I am 33 and currently waiting for a gastroscopy for celiac diagnosis. I started having problems with wheat about 6 years ago. Around the same time I developed cold urticaria. Mine can also be severe 10 degree (50 f) can cause hives, itching, bright red, burning fingers. I can swim in any lakes, or pools, unless they are heated to 90 degrees or so.

I have also started wondering if this is related to my gluten/wheat problem. I'm starting to think it is.

[across]

Have you ever seen the documentary "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead"? In that, two guys with urticaria both stopped having outbreaks and were able to get off their steroids after going on 60 day juice fasts. It makes me wonder if it wasn't the juice fasting that was effective, but perhaps the elimination of gluten? 

 

I'm not at all telling you about the movie because I think juice fasting is a cure for urticaria. I know that we're all very complex, and different people respond (and don't respond) to different things. I don't do juice fasting myself, as I'm not really a believer in it. I just found it to be an extremely inspiring documentary (especially the second half), and well worth watching. It's also quite entertaining. Anytime I'm getting ready to do a Whole 30 again or do anything to try to improve my health, I like to watch it, as it gets me inspired seeing how much these two men's health (especially the second man's) changed over 60 days.

[dzrtrz]

With the cold weather I went outside to play with my daughter and broke out in hives.  This happened a couple of other times while I was working outdoors at a chemical plant. At the time the plant nurse practitioner blamed it on a chemical exposure.  I googled my symptoms and came up with Cold Uticaria.  One article referenced Celiac so my next googling was Celiac and Cold Uticaria and I found a bunch of articles relating the two.  My Celiac diagnosis was unclear. The gluten antibodies that I tested positive for was not the big one that is associated with Celiac.  I also tested negative for the two Celiac genes which 97% of the Celiac patients have.  Ive had digestive problems all my life that come and go, but got worse 3 months after having a baby.  My doctor concluded that he "didn't think I had Celiac" but all signs keep pointing that way.