FYI: PCOS and Allergies

scarletsquirrel · 03-14-2006, 06:02 AM

So, I've had chronic hives for 1.5 years now. Ever had them? Then you'll know they are horrific. I regularly see an allergist who I consider to be one of the best.

So, at my last exam he says this "You have PCOS, right?" and I nod. He asks "is it being treated?" and I explain no, that I'm afraid of the metformin side effects and I've been rebelling. So then he comes out with this humdinger "Well you know that if your hormones are out of balance that increases allergic response in the body".

I started my met the next day.

I had never heard any correlation between hormones and allergies, and I consider myself pretty informed.

Eva37 · 03-14-2006, 03:35 PM

hi

I have lots of allergies, too. But I've never been told that it's to do with pcos.

Eva

waiting.for.baby · 03-14-2006, 05:02 PM

I always thought there was a connection...from first hand experience. My allergies have gotten much worse as well as my PCOS symptoms over the years. The two def. collaborate. Thanks for sharing that!

Pattyannruss · 03-14-2006, 05:31 PM

My allergist is the one to push for my first sonagram after being DX PCOS.
He said the cronic hives are triggered by internal infection usually caused by bursting cysts or infected organs.

The cysts didn't appear on the sonagrams for almost 2 years and 3 scans.
So just because they can't "see" the cysts, doesn't mean you don't have a problem.

My hives were so bad, they made my face swell(I was once told by a nurse going through my line that hives don't affect the face.---I proved her wrong!!)

At my worst flairs I was on ....
AM_ Allegra
Tylanol
Predisone
PM Zyrtec

When it started, I was taking up to 8 or 9 Benidryl with little relief.
I had welts the size of my hands. I swelled so much I removed my rings for 2 years.

Thought I would share,

Patty

longing4abab · 03-14-2006, 06:03 PM

WOW, thanks for the info...

scarletsquirrel · 03-14-2006, 06:37 PM

Wow, thats wild. My doc hasn't said anything about burst cysts, but it makes a lot of sense!

My hives are finally getting better after over a year, but for almost that entire time I had them in HUGE red swollen splotches covering my calves, thighs, stomach, back.. you name it. It was horrible. I was on clarinex, zantac, benedryl, and singular. He tried to get me to take prednisone but I couldn't handle the insomnia and eating everything in sight.

Sew Crazy · 03-14-2006, 11:22 PM

I had never thought of a correlation with allergies and PCOS. I was diagnosed PCOS almost 2 months ago. I had a few allergies as a kid, which the pediatrician always told my mother I would grow out of. Instead of growing out of them they grew worse and I developed more. This makes a lot of sense, esp the bursting cysts causing infection. I have heard that infections can cause hives. I had hives over my entire body for 3 years. They came on quite suddenly and started in my mouth and throat after about 2 months. I did 4 courses of steroids, which did not help at all. My allergist at the time put me on every allergy medication known to man, along with zantac (H2 enzyme blocker) and Paxil thinking maybe stress was causing the problem. I took 33 pills a day and was still covered, just not as severe. My current allergist recommended cutting out all sugars and tested me for food allergies (the first would not, he thought I was to high risk) and even the things which I am supposedly mildly allergic to I have to avoid or I will get hives. I have not had regular hives now for 2 years. I hope you can figure it out I know how miserable and painful it is to always have hives.

coachswife · 03-14-2006, 11:52 PM

I got hives from taking Metformin. So I am going to the endo for a different treatment.

SnowFlower · 03-15-2006, 01:39 AM

thanks for the info!

Leikela · 03-15-2006, 09:14 PM

See that's one thing that I've never been afflicted with is allergies. I don't sneeze in the spring (or ever for that matter, except when I'm sick), have itchy or runny nose or eyes, or any of that stuff. I just don't have allergies at all. I guess it's possible for some PCOS'ers to not have allergies.

guineapig · 03-22-2006, 06:59 AM

Ooo, oo, I'm so excited about this topic!! Yes, hormones influence allergies BIGTIME! Estrogen increases your body's immune response (aka sets off allergies) bigtime. That's why pregnant women always have their nose dripping down their face, or suddenly develop asthma. Most PCOS are high in estrogen due to lack of ovulation, so our allergies get worse. Progesterone, or the androgen testosterone subdue the immune response (calm down allergies). They've actually done studies where severe asthmatics who kept getting hospitalized right before AF (when estrogen is the only hormone in the bod) got big shots of real progesterone. The asthma stopped, or at least to the point they didn't have to go to the ER! My allergist says most of his ER admits are the week right before or after AF (when estrogen is high & unopposed). Some of them had to be put on bcp to control asthma.

After coming off metformin, but still on spiro, I was not ovulating but producing mad amounts of estrogen w/o any progesterone (thanks met). I got asthma for the first time ever and inhalers really didn't do squat. Suddenly when AF started, it would disappear. Now I'm on Prometrium after O and PCOS meds (well, DCI) and O'ing I think, I don't really have it anymore--even though it's springtime here.

Actually, I have been able to track my ovulation once or twice because right before O my asthma gets bad again (estrogen up) and after O the progesterone kicks up and my asthma goes away (and temps spike). Terrible fertility monitoring, but just wanted to show ya--it's not all in your head.