Advice needed please

[Mormor1]

HI all, I'm new here. Graduate of C25k in September and have managed 10k twice..took me 80 minutes bur I not worried about speed. My problem is that I'm allergic to my body heating up! It sounds bizarre I know but it's a condition that exists and means I break out in hives at the end of a run. So annoying as itching is maddening. I'm so pleased to have started running.. I'm 69 and really want to keep it up. Question is, does anyone else suffer from this, and how do you deal with it. Any replies welcome. Thanks.

[Hidden]

Are you wearing wicking type clothing Mormor1? You may have an allergy agravated by your perspiration...

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I do, but actually I never sweat very much...never did really but never coukd stand alot of heat without getting into water....it's not so bad in the summer as I can run to the sea(north sea) and swim..

[Hidden in reply to Mormor1]

It could be a problem for a dermatologist to resolve perhaps, I know that I suffer with PLE polymorphic light erruption it's all from the UV rays a suncream that blocks uv helps 👍, also anti hystamines for the itch, but I'd definitely get it checked to see what you can do!!

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I've finally got a Dr's phone call booked this afternoon... Have tried otc antihistamines and they don't help this time, also all the anti itch creams possible... And tepid showers which I hate!

[Hidden in reply to Mormor1]

Prickly heat is caused by the a rise in body temperature, it could be that, even though it's winter, but the Drs are the best people for you to get checked by ✅

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10]

I’ll be interested to read the replies as I’ve just stared sneezing continuously after a run and then feel crap all day. I think it’s exercise induced Rhinitis. I’ve been reading up and this sort of things tends to happen to allergic type people anyway, which I am. It seems to suggest that there is no cure but that antihistamines taken before a run can prevent the release of histamines and so prevent the reaction, be it nose or skin. Antihistamines can really stop the itching of hives too. You could go through the usual things for causing itching and rashes like making sure you haven’t changed your washing powder or that a new t shirt isn’t too irritating. You could keep a food diary to check it isn’t something you are eating the day before that is showing up when you run. Reactions can be delayed for quite a few hours sometimes. A food diary helps you identify possible triggers that you can remove one by one to see if it makes a difference. If not then an allergy specialist may help, an immunologist. They have one at every hospital but this might not be practical right now 😏. HC45 will also help with the itching of hives. I’ve been there. Antihistamines and Cortisone cream really help. Sorry not much help as I don’t think it’s curable, just manageable. Like I said, I’ll be interested to read the replies.

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

I agree, think it has to be prescribed antihistamines and cortisone cream now...just fed up of it not going away after a couple of hours..itches at night too...I react in the autumn to dust and mould... Itchy eyes and nose...otc stuff helps then.

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

I manage my allergies with over the counter antihistamines. My immunologist told me it was cheaper to buy one a day antihistamines and take up to 4 per day. I have got some prescription ones too for when I’m very bad and I’ve also got an epipen. I buy the HC45 cream from the chemist too. I have to pay for my prescriptions so it works out cheaper for me. Good luck with it all. The itching is maddening! 😫

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Interesting that you can take 4 of the 1/day without bad side effects... Will let you know what gp thinks.

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

Well, not very helpful... He mentioned an H2 blocker he'd prescribe if he could.... But that there was a world shortage! Otherwise he didn't think there was anything... I couldn't remember the name of one I read about online... What do you take that's prescribed?

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that. Fexofenadine is the prescribed one. Don’t take it very often now that I’ve identified my triggers. I think I’d try taking an antihistamine before I go out and one as soon as I get back and see how that goes. I find they can take a couple of days to build up in the system before they start to control the histamine release. I really do hope you find a way to manage things 🤞

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Thanks for your interest and responses.... As always it is helpful just sharing the difficulties and knowing there is empathy out there. I hadn't realized that loratadine takes a while to build up in your system, so I've started taking tgat daily and a chlorphenamine at night to help sleeping though the hives....I live in hope and definitely won't stop running.

[Yogamaz Graduate10]

Sorry to hear that you are suffering with hives after running as I know how awful this is to live with. I have suffered from chronic urticaria for 16 years now which is caused by heat and pressure and I am yet to find a solution to the problem so if you find one please let me know!! I have given up taking antihistamine now as none of them offer a long term cure and I don't want to take them every day for the rest of my life! I have found that the hives are worse when I wear something new that presses on a different area and so I try to wear the same clothing when I go out for a run so I have several pairs of the same running leggings of the kind that I find comfortable. I find that the best are ones that have a high waist as these don't press into my waist so much and tend to stay in place. I always have problem with the sports bra though as I need the pressure to keep everything in place and so can't get round this. I do hope you find a solution to your problem but if not then I am thinking of you and hope it helps to know that you are not the only one suffering with this. Please keep running and I hope that as your body gets used to it that the hives happen less frequently.

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Yogamaz]

Thanks. I always wear high waisted...walking trousers when not too cold as they are loose... more airy...leggings now it's frost.. Sports bra more of a problem.. Tissues where it connects with skin!The test will be tomorrow as now taking loratadine daily..Hopefully it has built up a bit in my system.....watch this space!

[Yogamaz Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

Good luck for tomorrow 🤞 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

Well, both yesterday and today I did 5k and hardly itched at all....that was a first...Maybe the combination of antihistamines really does work. I didn't dare shower immediately after tho, thought that was pushing it too far...it was really cold running tho.. Even tho I was down to a t shirt I wasn't really warm...very happy with no itching.