Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
What is causing my chronic hives, angioedema and anaphylaxis?
I am a 23-year-old female with no history or family history of allergies, chronic hives or angioedema.
2 months ago I started to break out in hives all over my body and am taking medications to control it. I have had 2 episodes of anaphylaxis and angioedema, the second time was very severe as my lips, cheeks and eyes swelled up to 4x their usual size and I felt dizzy, faint and passed out and couldn't breathe. The only thing these episodes have in common is that they were both exactly one month apart and on the very first day of my menstrual cycle.
Skin prick tests came back negative. I have antibodies targeting my thyroid gland (I think the number was 600). My TSH is 2.3 which is good. Other symptoms are fatigue, dizziness (haematinics in normal ranges), hair loss, joint pain in my knees, knuckles and wrists when hives flare up, feeling hot and getting shivers.
Could it have anything to do with catamenial anaphylaxis?
