I am Allergic to Running and Working Out: My Uticaria Story

I am allergic to running. I can also say I am allergic to working out.  Here is my story.

Developing Hives Immediately after Running

Last March I had sinus surgery and I hoped that my breathing issues would be resolved so that running was easier.  After sinus surgery I was (and am) able to breathe better.  But then something crazy happened to my body .  Last summer (2013) I started getting hives every.single.time that I ran.  I am a runner, so hives after or during running is a big deal.  People joke that they would love to be allergic to exercise, but let me tell you this….it is downright miserable!  I got hives whenever I worked out or broke a sweat (so a class, running, or even the elliptical).

The hives started as just itchy spots.  In the beginning I didn’t realize I had them.  I would scratch without realizing that I was scratching.  They would then welt up really big and I would want to cry.

Initially I tried changing my detergent because maybe somehow I had become allergic to it even after months of using it?  I had my doubts since I laundered out clothes with ECOS which is plant based and not full of ingredients I cannot pronounce.  Changing laundry soaps did not help.  I switched to both a scented and free & clear and my hives still persisted.

I also tried adding an antihistamine (Zyrtec) to my day.  That helped with the intensity of my hives, but did not make them stop.

When it came time for my physical I brought up my hives with my primary care doctor.  He ordered the normal blood work and would call if I had any abnormalities.  He was unconcerned.  I didn’t hear from him and eventually called to get my results, which were normal (for me).

Procrastination Does NOT Pay

So I waited and debated.  I didn’t know which specialist I should see.  Would a dermatologist have the answers or would an allergist?  What if I just waited?  Would those hives eventually go away?  In one of my least smart moves ever, I let 2013 end without seeing a specialist.  Considering I had sinus surgery in March, I met my deductible for the year and my visits and testing would have been essentially free (just my copay).   It was a dumb, dumb financial decision to not follow up on my health care in 2013.

A Trip to the Dermatologist…and an Endocrinologist?

In February 2014 I just couldn’t take it anymore.  I went to see an Allergist/Immunologist.  He was incredibly thorough and diagnosed me with Uticaria.  Uticaria is chronic hives of various sized that appear and disappear.  Blood work to check my thyroid was ordered since there is a loose correlation between hives and thyroid issues.  So now I had a diagnosis of uticaria, but what could I do about it?  Well, I researched and found that uticaria is just one of those odd things.  Many people found that diet helped them.  But I didn’t want to do anything until my blood work came back, and when it did I was at risk for having thyroid problems.  A trip to the endocrinologist yielded nothing about the hives.  But I do need to have my thyroid monitored closely now since I will likely end up with Hashimoto’s.  Well, at least I know to keep an eye on it.

Allergy Testing Results

I was still getting hives so I went back to the allergist and we decided to do a full allergy panel including environmental and food allergens.  It was 138 pokes in my back of common allergens.  It was not fun.  Like, at all.  But I did get some answers to food allergies (the environmental ones I already knew about).

As the nurse told me I was allergic to strawberries and potatoes I became sad.  Really?  Strawberries?  I live for strawberries in the summer.  And then they added apricots, oats, hops, cherry, grapefruit, peanut, soy, string bean, walnut, brazil nut, and grapes to the list.  Whomp Whomp!

And the kicker – the allergy test cost us $985 out of pocket since I had only paid $15 to meet my deductible in 2014.  At least my deductible has been met this year.  I will NOT procrastinate on any medical issues at the end of the year.  In fact, I will drag my girls to the doctors’ offices over Christmas break if I have anything going on that needs medical attention.  If I had been tested last year…I would have had to pay just my $35 copay and not $985.  Thank goodness for maxing out my husband’s FSA.

High Histamine Foods

We decided that I needed to go on a low histamine diet.  I would need to avoid tomatoes, spinach, nuts, egg whites, strawberries, and more. Here is the list

• Citrus fruit
• Fish
• Additives
• Papaya
• Crustaceans
• Licorice
• Strawberries
• Pork
• Spices
• Pineapple
• Egg white
• Nuts
• Peanuts
• Tomatoes
• Spinach
• Chocolate

Looking at that list…..I ate so many of those things.  Scrambled eggs were my breakfast or a hardboiled egg was my lunch.  Another lunch alternative was a turkey & spinach wrap.  Chocolate needs no explanation.  I bought a bag of walnuts to eat as a snack, since I love them.  It’s totally Cutie season and oranges are cheap…so we have had lots of those.

And then it hit me.  It is very possible that the foods that I am eating are causing my histamine bucket to overflow and to develop itchy, stupid hives when I sweat.

My Current State

So instead of posting deals, ways to save with coupons, or fun crafts (I have so many ready to post), I have been trying to figure out what I can eat  and just doing a lot of research.  I have also been experiencing  upset stomach so I know for sure that something is going on within my body.  A low histamine diet is what I am trying for right now.

Has anyone else been diagnosed as allergic to working out or running?  I would love to hear your experiences too!  Oh, and if I glossed over something and you want more details, please just ask.  I have no problems over sharing.  In fact, I almost posted the picture of my back during my allergy test….but I decided to withhold!