My chronic uticaria started in August/September of 2000. I had just returned from a month long vacation in Spain/Greece where I partied like a rock star. By the time I got home, I was beat-up and run-down. I know now that uticaria can sometimes be triggered by stress or a "weakened physical state". I figure my overseas binge brought this on. *sigh*

However, at the time, I had no clue what was happening to me. Hives started appearing all over my body. When my lips started sweeling, I finally visited a doctor. He told me I was having an allergic reaction. That didn't cut it for me...I was still worried. After several more attacks, I finally visited an allergist. He gave my "allergic reaction" a name...uticaria. I was worried for a while that they would have to name a new disease after me. Anyway, since then I've been on and off of Zantac, Zyrtec and Prednisone. One attack had me swelled and in the hospital at 3am getting pumped up with cortisone. After that attack, I went on a STRICT diet. For about a month, I ate NOTHING except eggs, plain pasta, baked potatoes, plain tuna, spinach and OJ. What a hellish month. BUT...the attacks stopped! When I re-visted the doc, he stopped my pills and suggested I re-introduce 1 new food a week. Instead of trying "safe" foods, I went for the 1 thing I thought may be the cause. Dairy. Monday I ate half a container of cottage cheese. Tuesday I swelled up like the Michelin Man. Bingo! Since then, the only other attack I've had was after accidentaly eating some tartar sauce (I didn't know it contained skim milk). Occasionally I still get itchy...but nothing like the huge hives and swollen eyes/lips I had before. So, I think I'm about 95% sure that the culprit is dairy. Bummer...I love cheese.

Basically, uticaria *really* stinks. I'm an active 27 year old male. I've been healthy my entire life. I've never had a major illness...I play sports...I workout. Now this. However, it could be worse. I've missed plenty of days of work because I didn't want to scare everyone at the office with my freakish face. However, I'd much rather miss work than be laid up in the hospital with something much more debilitating. Chin up, folks!

Sorry for the long-winded post. Its just a relief to know there are other people going through this.

OK...I'm done. Thanks for listening!