ok, so now i am freaking out. I have been thinking for months that my symptoms were caused by histamine issues. The glands on my neck, behind ear, behind head swell so much my glands can look as big as a cherry to where my neck area and base of head look deformed. Deformed like the "elephant man". Next day they either go away or diminish in size. These are so itchy I can't stand it. I of course think I have cancer. Here is the synopsis I got from the Enterlab report.
"
TEST INTERPRETATION(S):
Interpretation of Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score: A fecal fat score greater than or equal to 300 Units indicates that an abnormally high amount of dietary fat has passed undigested and/or unabsorbed into the stool. Malabsorption of dietary fat almost always is associated with malabsorption of all other nutrients as well (protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc.). When associated with gluten sensitivity, elevated fecal fat usually is due to gluten-induced small intestinal functional damage and subsequent malabsorption; this does not require there be villous atrophy present. However, deficient production of enzymes by the pancreas can also be associated with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity with autoimmune attack on the pancreas, causing maldigestion and malabsorption of dietary fat and other nutrients. Some other causes of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency include chronic pancreatitis from any cause (alcoholism being the most common), pancreatic resection, pancreatic cancer, or common bile duct obstruction. Pancreatic insufficiency as the primary cause of fat malabsorption usually causes significant elevations of fecal fat values, usually into the moderate (600-1000 Units) or severe (>1000 Units) ranges.
To distinguish between small intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic maldigestion, a fecal pancreatic elastase test is necessary, which is now available from our laboratory.
Other possible causes of elevated fecal fat (steatorrhea) include - another inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease which can be associated with gluten sensitivity); deficiency in the production or secretion of bile salts; overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine; diarrhea from any cause which can, in turn, cause dietary fat to rush through the intestine unabsorbed; consuming very large amounts of dietary fat; eating unabsorbable synthetic dietary fat substitutes; or taking “fat blockers;” and resection of the small intestine causing “short bowel syndrome” (if you have had an intestinal resection).
Any elevated fecal fat value should be rechecked in one year after treatment to ensure that it does not persist, because chronic fat malabsorption is associated with osteoporosis and other nutritional deficiency syndromes.
Interpretation of Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA: The level of intestinal anti-gliadin IgA antibody was elevated, indicative of active dietary gluten sensitivity. For optimal health; resolution or improvement of gluten-induced syndromes (mainly falling into six categories abbreviated as NAAAGS – neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, asthma, abdominal, glandular deficiencies/hyperactivity or skin diseases); resolution of symptoms known to be associated with gluten sensitivity (such as abdominal symptoms - pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation, chronic headaches, chronic sinus congestion, depression, arthritis, chronic skin problems/rashes, fibromyalgia, and/or chronic fatigue); and prevention of small intestinal damage and malnutrition, osteoporosis, and damage to other tissues (like nerves, brain, joints, muscles, thyroid, pancreas, other glands, skin, liver, spleen, among others), it is recommended that you follow a strict and permanent gluten free diet. As gluten sensitivity is a genetic syndrome, you may want to have your relatives screened as well".
Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 930 Units (Normal Range is less than 300 Units)
Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 171 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
I am tempted to go to the hospital to get checked out since my insurance doesn't cover me for a gastro dr where I live now.
Can someone please hellp me? Is this a histamine issue, do I have mast cell issues, or cancer? Thank you all so much
Swollen Glands/lymph Nodes Etc
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi,
I am hoping you are 100% gluten free after looking at these results because that high fecal fat score says possible Celiac. Tex explains these a lot better
But the score of 171 of anti-gliadin totally means your body is reacting to gluten in a big way so it is a must to remove Gluten from the diet.
I'm not getting any feeling it is cancer unless you have had issues with it in the past or recently.
I got gland issues along my neck often until I resolved to being gluten free, even now after working on fixing diet and healing for about 3 years I will get a lesion or a seeping behind the ear lobes that just drives me crazy. I blame it on Candida Albicans yeast so I check my diet and start removing any extra sugars that I may have acquired over the last few months and start eating the correct way like I should be. I will get an occasional gland issue but they are few an far between now, I think it has just taken my body a long time to remove toxins and they come out in the dangest ways! Rashes, wheals, seeping lesion....I'm probably leaving something else out too.
I can't say that some extra histamine hasn't made its way in to my intestines at some point or another too so I take an antihistamine fairly often. With the double dose of colds I have gotten in the last 45 days I have had to take 1 benedryl at night to help with the runny nose and itchy eyes, guess my gut isn't ridding the histamine very well when it isn't feeling good.
So with all that said....I hope you are feeling a bit better and aren't as worried as you seem. By all means if your symptoms come an go an then all of a sudden stay I'd go get it checked out otherwise it sounds like an immune response to something the body does not like.
I am hoping you are 100% gluten free after looking at these results because that high fecal fat score says possible Celiac. Tex explains these a lot better
But the score of 171 of anti-gliadin totally means your body is reacting to gluten in a big way so it is a must to remove Gluten from the diet.I'm not getting any feeling it is cancer unless you have had issues with it in the past or recently.
I got gland issues along my neck often until I resolved to being gluten free, even now after working on fixing diet and healing for about 3 years I will get a lesion or a seeping behind the ear lobes that just drives me crazy. I blame it on Candida Albicans yeast so I check my diet and start removing any extra sugars that I may have acquired over the last few months and start eating the correct way like I should be. I will get an occasional gland issue but they are few an far between now, I think it has just taken my body a long time to remove toxins and they come out in the dangest ways! Rashes, wheals, seeping lesion....I'm probably leaving something else out too.
I can't say that some extra histamine hasn't made its way in to my intestines at some point or another too so I take an antihistamine fairly often. With the double dose of colds I have gotten in the last 45 days I have had to take 1 benedryl at night to help with the runny nose and itchy eyes, guess my gut isn't ridding the histamine very well when it isn't feeling good.
So with all that said....I hope you are feeling a bit better and aren't as worried as you seem. By all means if your symptoms come an go an then all of a sudden stay I'd go get it checked out otherwise it sounds like an immune response to something the body does not like.
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Hi K,
You can relax — you just have MC. Swollen lymph glands are common when this disease is really active. I had that problem for 2 or 3 years before I discovered the diet. I also had TMJ and could barely open my jaws some days. You have a lot of small intestinal damage according to your fecal fat score. You might be a celiac.
As Erica noted, you are producing a lot of antibodies against gluten. Are you sure you're 100 % gluten free? Your swollen lymph glands suggest that you're not.
Tex
You can relax — you just have MC. Swollen lymph glands are common when this disease is really active. I had that problem for 2 or 3 years before I discovered the diet. I also had TMJ and could barely open my jaws some days. You have a lot of small intestinal damage according to your fecal fat score. You might be a celiac.
As Erica noted, you are producing a lot of antibodies against gluten. Are you sure you're 100 % gluten free? Your swollen lymph glands suggest that you're not.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Foods I have been eating/drinking:
LaCroix sparkling water
regular water
ground turkey cooked in olive oil or coconut oil
cauliflower,carrots, squash, broccoli blend sauteed in olive oil
I made a bone broth using turkey breast with ribs, pepper, sea salt, onion, basil - so it is a soup actually
Enjoy Life brand semi sweet chocolate as a treat - its dairy, nut and soy free, gf
Sun Butter Sunflower Butter if I want something nutty
below are my other results: I've been so focused on eating gluten free and eliminating all the foods below including any ingredients in gf pasta, etc. I'm just a nervous wreck because I'm always itching. I do get heartburn often as well and of course I read that could be a hidden sign of pancreatic cancer. So I'm freaking out. I've been online trying to eat an AIP, GF, nut free, paleo, dairy free diet and the anxiety and depression I already suffer from is off the charts.
Here are the meds and supplements that I take: are these excessive?
Chlorphen-12 Allergy for about 1.5 weeks
VSL#3 one a day - about 3 weeks now
Methyl B12 (Country Life)- started 2 days ago
Doctor's Best High Absorption Magnesium 100% Chelated (2 in am after breakfast an 2 after dinner)
Gaia Curcumin syner turmeric supreme extra strength (1 day) the label says it does not have gluten ingredients
Doctor's Best 12-hour Vitamin C 1000 mg a day
D3 5000 iu every day
Levohyroxine 137 mcg 1 a day (thyroid, had thyroidectomy in 2016 bc of papillary thyroid cancer
Venlafaxine HL ER 300 mg a day (depression/anxiety)
Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 930 Units (Normal Range is less than 300 Units)
Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 171 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 27 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 15 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-soy IgA 27 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Mean Value # Antigenic Foods 19 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 19 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:
Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity: Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+):
Corn
Rice
Chicken
Pork
Beef
Almond
Cashew
Walnut
White potato
Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+):
Oat
Tuna
YES I AM A HOT MESS
Can you recommend what I should eat since I am so limited and have th symptoms I mentioned? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED HELP --
LaCroix sparkling water
regular water
ground turkey cooked in olive oil or coconut oil
cauliflower,carrots, squash, broccoli blend sauteed in olive oil
I made a bone broth using turkey breast with ribs, pepper, sea salt, onion, basil - so it is a soup actually
Enjoy Life brand semi sweet chocolate as a treat - its dairy, nut and soy free, gf
Sun Butter Sunflower Butter if I want something nutty
below are my other results: I've been so focused on eating gluten free and eliminating all the foods below including any ingredients in gf pasta, etc. I'm just a nervous wreck because I'm always itching. I do get heartburn often as well and of course I read that could be a hidden sign of pancreatic cancer. So I'm freaking out. I've been online trying to eat an AIP, GF, nut free, paleo, dairy free diet and the anxiety and depression I already suffer from is off the charts.
Here are the meds and supplements that I take: are these excessive?
Chlorphen-12 Allergy for about 1.5 weeks
VSL#3 one a day - about 3 weeks now
Methyl B12 (Country Life)- started 2 days ago
Doctor's Best High Absorption Magnesium 100% Chelated (2 in am after breakfast an 2 after dinner)
Gaia Curcumin syner turmeric supreme extra strength (1 day) the label says it does not have gluten ingredients
Doctor's Best 12-hour Vitamin C 1000 mg a day
D3 5000 iu every day
Levohyroxine 137 mcg 1 a day (thyroid, had thyroidectomy in 2016 bc of papillary thyroid cancer
Venlafaxine HL ER 300 mg a day (depression/anxiety)
Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 930 Units (Normal Range is less than 300 Units)
Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 171 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 27 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 15 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Fecal Anti-soy IgA 27 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Mean Value # Antigenic Foods 19 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 19 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:
Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity: Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+):
Corn
Rice
Chicken
Pork
Beef
Almond
Cashew
Walnut
White potato
Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+):
Oat
Tuna
YES I AM A HOT MESS
Can you recommend what I should eat since I am so limited and have th symptoms I mentioned? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED HELP --Some of us react to onion but otherwise your diet looks OK except for the chocolate chips. The chocolate is probably the cause of your itching due to the fact that chocolate is a high-histamine food. How long have you been taking magnesium? Craving chocolate is a sign of a chronic magnesium deficiency. Depression is a symptom of a chronic magnesium deficiency. Anxiety is another symptom of a chronic magnesium deficiency. With a fecal fat score that high, you probably have had a major problem absorbing magnesium (and a lot of other things) for years. So you may need to take a higher dose or add some topically-applied magnesium, or use Epsom salt foot soaks or baths.
The venlafaxine is probably causing your MC reaction symptoms. Effexor is a well-known trigger for MC.
Tex
The venlafaxine is probably causing your MC reaction symptoms. Effexor is a well-known trigger for MC.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex,
I've been taking magnesium since Feb 1 and I take 4 capsules a day (servings are 2 tablets at 200mg. How much should I take? I just crave sweets in general.. Unfortunately, I've suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life, it's hereditary...I am 56 now. I bet the Effexor is what brought on my MC or at least the acne I started getting in 2016. The hives started one year ago, but it's pretty bad now. The chocolate chip ingredients are: cane sugar, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), non-dairy cocoa butter. Are there any other supplements you would recommend?
This is the part of my Enterolab report that gives me much anxiety: "However, deficient production of enzymes by the pancreas can also be associated with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity with autoimmune attack on the pancreas, causing maldigestion and malabsorption of dietary fat and other nutrients. Some other causes of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency include chronic pancreatitis from any cause (alcoholism being the most common), pancreatic resection, pancreatic cancer, or common bile duct obstruction. Pancreatic insufficiency as the primary cause of fat malabsorption usually causes significant elevations of fecal fat values, usually into the moderate (600-1000 Units) or severe (>1000 Units) ranges.
To distinguish between small intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic maldigestion, a fecal pancreatic elastase test is necessary, which is now available from our laboratory. How serious is intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic maldigestion?
Other possible causes of elevated fecal fat (steatorrhea) include - another inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease which can be associated with gluten sensitivity); deficiency in the production or secretion of bile salts; overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine; diarrhea from any cause which can, in turn, cause dietary fat to rush through the intestine unabsorbed; consuming very large amounts of dietary fat; eating unabsorbable synthetic dietary fat substitutes; or taking “fat blockers;” and resection of the small intestine causing “short bowel syndrome” (if you have had an intestinal resection)."
I am particularly concerned with a problem with my pancreas. I have not lost weight, I have energy, etc. I don't have any diarrhea which I thought they mentions malabsorption and maldigestion, not sure what the difference is. My symptoms are: chronic constipation (although now that I take Magnesium, I go BM everyday (yay), hives, swelling of glands, hives, small canker sores, tiny blisters on lips, I don't have pain at all - I just have the swollen glands and hives and when I ingest gluten, my stomach becomes distended. My stomach is not distended ever since I started a gf diet. I'm not sure if I should combine the GF diet and AIP diet and lso exclude all the foods I'm sensitive to.
Thank you in advance for any advice.
I've been taking magnesium since Feb 1 and I take 4 capsules a day (servings are 2 tablets at 200mg. How much should I take? I just crave sweets in general.. Unfortunately, I've suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life, it's hereditary...I am 56 now. I bet the Effexor is what brought on my MC or at least the acne I started getting in 2016. The hives started one year ago, but it's pretty bad now. The chocolate chip ingredients are: cane sugar, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), non-dairy cocoa butter. Are there any other supplements you would recommend?
This is the part of my Enterolab report that gives me much anxiety: "However, deficient production of enzymes by the pancreas can also be associated with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity with autoimmune attack on the pancreas, causing maldigestion and malabsorption of dietary fat and other nutrients. Some other causes of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency include chronic pancreatitis from any cause (alcoholism being the most common), pancreatic resection, pancreatic cancer, or common bile duct obstruction. Pancreatic insufficiency as the primary cause of fat malabsorption usually causes significant elevations of fecal fat values, usually into the moderate (600-1000 Units) or severe (>1000 Units) ranges.
To distinguish between small intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic maldigestion, a fecal pancreatic elastase test is necessary, which is now available from our laboratory. How serious is intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic maldigestion?
Other possible causes of elevated fecal fat (steatorrhea) include - another inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease which can be associated with gluten sensitivity); deficiency in the production or secretion of bile salts; overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine; diarrhea from any cause which can, in turn, cause dietary fat to rush through the intestine unabsorbed; consuming very large amounts of dietary fat; eating unabsorbable synthetic dietary fat substitutes; or taking “fat blockers;” and resection of the small intestine causing “short bowel syndrome” (if you have had an intestinal resection)."
I am particularly concerned with a problem with my pancreas. I have not lost weight, I have energy, etc. I don't have any diarrhea which I thought they mentions malabsorption and maldigestion, not sure what the difference is. My symptoms are: chronic constipation (although now that I take Magnesium, I go BM everyday (yay), hives, swelling of glands, hives, small canker sores, tiny blisters on lips, I don't have pain at all - I just have the swollen glands and hives and when I ingest gluten, my stomach becomes distended. My stomach is not distended ever since I started a gf diet. I'm not sure if I should combine the GF diet and AIP diet and lso exclude all the foods I'm sensitive to.
Thank you in advance for any advice.
Lymphocytic Colitis 2015
Papillary Thyroid Cancer 2016
Hysterectomy 2008
Papillary Thyroid Cancer 2016
Hysterectomy 2008
Malabsorbtion, canker sores, lip blisters, and pancreatic insufficiency are all common symptoms of MC. Most of us have those symptoms. Some cases involve no pain, others are very painful. And many of us who have histamine issues associated with MC have hives or rashes.
Constipation is a symptom of chronic magnesium deficiency. It usually takes months or years of higher doses of magnesium to relieve a magnesium deficiency. You will probably need to take 500–600 mg for a few months or more in order to resolve the deficiency.
Pancreatic cancer usually doesn't cause any symptoms. If you are concerned about pancreatic cancer I would suggest that you read my book on pancreatic cancer. You can download it free of charge in digital form at the link below.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/665808
A printed version is available, but of course you have to pay the cost of printing and Amazon's profit. I get no royalty from this book. It's available on Amazon in either printed or digital form, but Amazon charges for either version.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... yne+persky
Do you have jaundice? It's a symptom of pancreatic cancer that's often overlooked. Steve Jobs had jaundice and everyone incorrectly assumed that it was from eating so much fruit. At least 6 common forms of pancreatic cancer cannot reproduce without fructose. Steve jobs ate a huge amount of fructose.
Tex
Constipation is a symptom of chronic magnesium deficiency. It usually takes months or years of higher doses of magnesium to relieve a magnesium deficiency. You will probably need to take 500–600 mg for a few months or more in order to resolve the deficiency.
Pancreatic cancer usually doesn't cause any symptoms. If you are concerned about pancreatic cancer I would suggest that you read my book on pancreatic cancer. You can download it free of charge in digital form at the link below.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/665808
A printed version is available, but of course you have to pay the cost of printing and Amazon's profit. I get no royalty from this book. It's available on Amazon in either printed or digital form, but Amazon charges for either version.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... yne+persky
Do you have jaundice? It's a symptom of pancreatic cancer that's often overlooked. Steve Jobs had jaundice and everyone incorrectly assumed that it was from eating so much fruit. At least 6 common forms of pancreatic cancer cannot reproduce without fructose. Steve jobs ate a huge amount of fructose.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I see you are sensitive to soy. Check your ground turkey, because most brands contain rosemary or celery extract, which usually are extracted with soy oil. And that is the case with many brands of "nitrate-free" deli sliced meats too. The rosemary extracts contain whopping amounts of nitrates and nitrites, but are considered "natural" so the items can be labeled as "free from added nitrates" and seem healthier. It's a big scam! My best luck in finding just pure ground turkey is to look for frozen, organic ground turkey at Whole Foods, Sprouts, or other organic-oriented grocery stores.
Rosie
Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
Rosemary extracts are bad news and they are widely used by turkey processors. Rosemary is fine/safe. Rosemary extract is not. When a label lists rosemary extract, as far as we're concened, that's like listing soy. If you're looking for supplements to help prevent pancreatic cancer, the only two I'm aware of are magnesium and vitamin D. But magnesium and vitamin D are recommended for MC also. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that a magnesium and/or vitamin D deficiency are associated with virtually every disease known. The book lists a lot of things to avoid when trying to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex, I've had hives on my neck, back of neck and woke up this morning with some on my back. I haven't had any gluten at all. I haven't and will not have any red wine since Sunday. I have to be honest, up until Sunday, I was having red wine with friends quite a bit. Last night with the recommendation of a member who posed above, I went to Sprouts to buy some frozen ground turkey, but they didn't have any. But because during this healing process I am supposed to have animal protein, I picked up some organic ground beef (beef is at the bottom of my sensitivity list, so I though it would be ok). I woke up this morning with additional hives. I took 2 benedryl last night before bed and 2 zyrtec this morning with no relief. I am at my wits end - I don't know what is going on.
I can't seem to find frozen organic ground turkey anywhere so now I don't know what to eat. This morning I had cream of buckwheat with salt, water and a few blackberries. I will have the same for lunch because I can't find the ground turkey. How long does it take for the histamine issue to resolve itself? Does it get worse before it gets better?
I can't seem to find frozen organic ground turkey anywhere so now I don't know what to eat. This morning I had cream of buckwheat with salt, water and a few blackberries. I will have the same for lunch because I can't find the ground turkey. How long does it take for the histamine issue to resolve itself? Does it get worse before it gets better?
Lymphocytic Colitis 2015
Papillary Thyroid Cancer 2016
Hysterectomy 2008
Papillary Thyroid Cancer 2016
Hysterectomy 2008
I doubt that the beef had anything to do with the hives. If you can't find safe turkey, can you find lamb? Lamb should be safe for everyone.
The hives are due solely to elevated histamine levels. You might have either a bad case of mast cell activation disorder or systemic mastocytosis.
When I have hives they usually fade away in less than a day (often in less than half a day), but if they are persistent, they can be treated with a topical corticosteroid cream or ointment such as Triamcinolone Acetonide. If you're taking all those antihistamines and still getting hives, you're reacting rather severely to some high-histamine food or some other high histamine source (such as a skin contact allergy) in your environment.
Maybe your clothes or your detergent is the problem. Or it could be your bed sheets. When I was younger, I had to stop wearing a new shirt (even after it was washed twice) because of some chemical or something else in the fabric of one sleeve that caused my arm to itch incessantly.
Tex
The hives are due solely to elevated histamine levels. You might have either a bad case of mast cell activation disorder or systemic mastocytosis.
When I have hives they usually fade away in less than a day (often in less than half a day), but if they are persistent, they can be treated with a topical corticosteroid cream or ointment such as Triamcinolone Acetonide. If you're taking all those antihistamines and still getting hives, you're reacting rather severely to some high-histamine food or some other high histamine source (such as a skin contact allergy) in your environment.
Maybe your clothes or your detergent is the problem. Or it could be your bed sheets. When I was younger, I had to stop wearing a new shirt (even after it was washed twice) because of some chemical or something else in the fabric of one sleeve that caused my arm to itch incessantly.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Kberry,
I agree, that it's very possible it's a skin allergen, but I will add one thing that's helped me in the past.
Some psych meds can have the side effect of a skin rash/hives. You may want to check with your doctor to see if this is a possible side effect of the Effexor. I've also experienced strange side effects when the medication I'm taking has changed manufacturers (often this is done for cost reasons by the pharmacy). There are several fillers in meds, so it's possible you're reacting to something in the medication other than the main ingredient. You could ask your doctor/pharmacy about this and you may even ask to try another brand. If needed, you can even work with a compounding pharmacy to get a "pure" form of the medication.
Hope you feel better soon!
I agree, that it's very possible it's a skin allergen, but I will add one thing that's helped me in the past.
Some psych meds can have the side effect of a skin rash/hives. You may want to check with your doctor to see if this is a possible side effect of the Effexor. I've also experienced strange side effects when the medication I'm taking has changed manufacturers (often this is done for cost reasons by the pharmacy). There are several fillers in meds, so it's possible you're reacting to something in the medication other than the main ingredient. You could ask your doctor/pharmacy about this and you may even ask to try another brand. If needed, you can even work with a compounding pharmacy to get a "pure" form of the medication.
Hope you feel better soon!