The Life of Chronic Hives

This post is to fill everyone in on my latest health update. I will entitle the post, a typical day of hives. So, just to recap. I first noticed hives back at the beginning of January. Initially we thought it was a strep rash because I had these big ping pong sized welts all over my body. After a week or two of these welts I began to think something was seriously wrong. I itched SO bad...at least that's what I thought was itchy (I had no idea!) These hives continued. I would wake up with them, they'd fade during the day, and at night come back with a vengeance.

Around May, I went to the Dermatology Dept. at the University of Utah and they did a biopsy of one of the hives. Basically, they didn't know what was causing them and put me on some medicine called Dapsone (designed to treat Leprosy). It worked for about a month and a half and that's when I ended up in the hospital thinking I had Leukemia because little did we know I was allergic to Dapsone and it wiped out my immune system. After a week in the hospital and every test known to man, the doctors figured out I was allergic to the Dapsone.

After that I had had it with medicine. I decided I would just live with the hives. Well that wasn't a good idea either. About two weeks ago my family convinced me I should go see an allergist, so I made an appointment. In between that time, my parents came down to take Jordan, Ali, and I out to dinner. During dinner I started to itch BAD and I looked over at my mom to tell her I didn't feel good. Well, I looked a lot like I did in this picture but worse. A mouth full of hives, swollen eyes, and swollen lips. My family immediately picked me up and took me out to the car to get to a health center before my throat closed off.

It was kind of a relief to have a reaction like this while I was eating. Because of this upcoming appointment I couldn't take antihistamines prior to the appointment. That is why I reacted so intensely. I thought, FINALLY an answer, I am allergic to food. Who gets excited when they think they are allergic to food? Anyway, the next day I was really careful with what I ate and I reacted again. Jordan's parents were here that night and were really nice and got me an epi-pen just to be safe because this time my throat started to swell.
After that, I decided not to eat for a few days. I ate only a little white rice and apple juice figuring they were pretty bland, right? No, This picture is what happened. I finally went to see the allergist--and not helpful at all. Except that he told me I am not allergic to food, without testing me. He's probably right.

We had a couple tender mercy experiences the last couple of days and found that the hives are probably related to issues with my digestive system since I have colitis. Both are autoimmune diseases. So, we'll see what the gastroenterologist has to say in a couple weeks. I probably need to prepare myself for another endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Basically, I just want to know why I have the hives. The hives, I can live with, it's the peace of mind I am seeking. To know that I can have kids that will be healthy and that the hives won't affect them. Luckily, I can take Zyrtec while pregnant some day if I still have them! I truly am blessed. It's been a long, crazy road, but I thank Heavenly Father every day that I have what I have because so many people are going through things much harder than mine.

There's the update. I have the BEST husband in the world who still thinks I look pretty even when I look like this. What a gem! So the next time you have a bout of hives, give me a call, and I will be sure to sympathize with you!