Delayed Pressure Urticaria

Hi guys... I have had DPU for about 3 years now. i got insurance a year ago and went to an allergist. He knew right off what it was. He prescribed me Zyrtec. It wasn't over the counter then, but thank god it is now. So far it seems to help. The spots that get pressure get a Lil red, but nothing like the pain i used to get in my feet and hands.
I really love to lift weights and this disorder stopped me for about 2 years.. Well one day i was fed up. i started lifting and dealing with the pain and swelling i would get. (i didn't know about zyrtec then) After a month or so of just working through it. it became less and less affected. I'm not sure how that worked, but it did.
People keep putting out as much information as possible for all of us to read. This seems like the only way we can all help each other.

Hi guys... I have had DPU for about 3 years now. i got insurance a year ago and went to an allergist. He knew right off what it was. He prescribed me Zyrtec. It wasn't over the counter then, but thank god it is now. So far it seems to help. The spots that get pressure get a Lil red, but nothing like the pain i used to get in my feet and hands.

I really love to lift weights and this disorder stopped me for about 2 years.. Well one day i was fed up. i started lifting and dealing with the pain and swelling i would get. (i didn't know about zyrtec then) After two months or so of just working through it, it became less and less affected. I'm not sure how that worked, but it did.

People keep putting out as much information as possible for all of us to read. This seems like the only way we can all help each other.

Hi.

First time I can remember was when I was in the army 19 years old.
Now im 37 and still have it. Mine DPU has become worse the last 2 years.

My symptoms usually are sleepless nights with painfull swollen hands, fingers, feet and toes but I can also get it other places. My DPU are induces by heat and pressure. Escpecially heat (Thank God I live in Norway where the winter is long).:-(

I usually get it during the night (while sleeping) or after handling tools, gardening, excersising, standing or walking to much.

Since last summer Iv taken 120mg telfast and 10 mg Cetrizine 2 times a day (moring and evening). It took about 8 months before it really worked and had full effect on my body. For about 1,5 months this winter I could not notice any symtoms. Now the summer has come in full force also to Norway. My DPU has flared up and Iv had it continiously for the last 6 weeks. Last night i didnt sleep at all. I barely managed to get up and go to work.

Befor I only took antihistamins when I got DPU and not preventive. This did not work so I stopped taking them after a few days. Turns out I had to take them every day (preventive) for it to work on this disorder. Iv been to about 5 different dermatologists and 4 regular doctors, but none of them told me this. Not befor I was written into my regional hospital last summer did I find out that I had to go on antihistamins continiously.
I fine bunch of doctors or what ?:-(

I cant wait untill winter again so my DPU hopefully gets better again.
I really like summer, sun and nice weather, but because of this disabeling condition I cant enjoy it.

My DPU has dictated my life since I got it. Iv had to choose a line of work
where I dont walk, stand or do to much excersise.

Like many other here have pointed out dermatologist really dont bother finding a reason for this condition. They say there can be many causes for each case so they dont have time to go through them all.

Also, as I understand DPU is a rare condition that many regular doctors have not heard about.

Based on this I am not very hopefull finding a cure for the future.

My husband was diagnosed with DPU 8 years ago. He was treated with steroids and colchicine (a gout medication.) He was told his DPU would go away as quickly as it came and the doctors were right. He had the condition for 3 years and it went away on its own...up until a month ago. He has DPU again, and this time the gout medication isn't helping. He has an appointment to see his original dermotologist at the end of this month. When he had DPU years ago it would sometimes lead to chills and a low grade temp, along with swelling, mostly in his feet and hands. After a good nights sleep his symptoms would vanish and he'd be okay. Now the swelling in his hands and feet last a few days. We're wondering if any new treatments have been used with success in the past few years. He does not have gout but in the past the colchicine helped the most. He felt pretty good with the steroids too but no one wants to take them regularly. His sed rate was also monitored every other month while he was on the steroid. If anyone has successful treatments we'd appreciate hearing from you.

Hi, I am 41 and have had DPU for the last 16years. It can be a real problem but over this time I have found out how to “manage” my symptoms.
1. Firstly I take Zytrec every evening before I go to bed and since it can make you drowsy then this can be a good thing.
2. I always sleep on my back, if I sleep on my front then my face swells up.
3. I never sit with my head in my hands otherwise 6hrs later my cheeks or lips will swell up, it tends to effect fleshy parts lips cheek hands feet etc
4. Most importantly for me - try and cut down on wheat, if I have a wheat based cereal for breakfast then I know I am in for trouble, I now I stick to fruit and yogurt. For me reducing my wheat intake has made the biggest difference to my condition and is certainly something I would recommend trying. Wholemeal flour is better than white flour but still not great, wheat based beers and drinks are a disaster for me.
5. The doctors I have been to over the years have unfortunately shown very little interest in DPU. They initially told me I would just grow out of it and they are still telling me the same thing 16years later.
I hope this post helps someone out there and I also hope that we all “grow out of it sometime soon!” Thx

Hi I am 51 and diagnosed with Chronic Uritcaria as well as DPU when I was 35. I am generally covered in weals, with swelling occurring most days, especially in the feet and hands area. I rarely sleep well and get very irritable with the condition. I have been told by the hospital that I will not have it when I'm old? How old do you have to be? The condition definately worsens when my diet is poor, sweets, savoury and spicy foods as well as alcohol and fizzy coloured drinks. I'm fearful of many things and stress definately contributes to how my skin and body reacts so I try to keep a grip on this and relax more. I also react to hot/cold very quickly, summer is miserable for me. I am unable to carry things or do anything strenuous as 5/6 hours later the muscles and joints will flare. and it's really painful. I will also suffer gout like symptons in my feet frequently. Nobody professional has come up with any answers and seem to want me to accept that this is how it is and I have and to get on with it. I don't want to accept it, it limits me too much. This site however has helped and I shall be looking into some of the medication mentioned as none have been suggested to me by doctors before. Thanks for the advice everyone and I wish you well with any progress you make in getting well again.

I have had dpu for 3 years now and have taken dioxipin which did not work. I also took oral steroids for about 7 or 8 months which helped dramatically but the health risk of the steroids are much worse. I have found that cold packs applied directly to the skin greatly reduces the itching and pain. also try to stay away from ibprofren that seems to increase my breakouts.

I've had it for 21 yrs and it just get worse. Don't let know tell you it will get better.Sometimes It will go away for a month or 2 but it comes back with a force.I don't think it's the exact same with everyone but I think it's it's close.I will tell you what I can but it's nothing good my email is (_[removed]_) I'm really sorry. bry2beth

I have had it since I was 17 and am now 52. They thought I had Rheumatoid Arthritis at first. Just reading this board makes me feel so much better. For years I thought I was in horrible condition and everyone would make fun of me for not being able to play 18 holes of golf or walk in High heels or to install shelf paper (where I had to push the thumbtacks in!! I too get the chills and fever when I have over extended myself. I also have pain and swelling in my fingers, hands, lips, and feet. The skin gets very HOT as well. When I get a massage I have to make sure to tell them to got lightly and still I will get the shakes and aches at the end of the day. They say it is because the toxins are being released. Maybe a whole body detox is in order, has anyone tried that yet? I have been taking Cyclosporine and prednisone and Zyrtec for the past 5 years, I have FINALLY gotten to the point where I can cut out the prednisone and only take 100 mg of the Cyclosporine.
After reading these posts, I realize that while I may never get rid of it compeltely, I can certainly control it. It has gone away for 5+ years, then returns with a vengance

Hi, I'm 44 have had dpu for aboutt 8 years. I have had no help from my doctors as many of you. I take prednisone every day 2.5 - 5 mg depending on how bad it is. This is the first time i've looked into others that may be suffering as I am. I'm going to try some of the other medication some seem to have had luck with. I just realized in the last few months that beer and pasta seem to make things worse for me, beer seems to get worse after about 2 days or so. Has anyone looked ino glutin free foods/drinks?? Do you think it might help. Thanks to all who have shared here, it's nice to know your not alone. Mike

I've had DPU for several years now, and I too experience swelling (mostly in my hands) after performing a rigourous activity such as digging with a shovel, ect. Mine used to be worse, and even carrying in the groceries seemed to trigger it. I have found that if I take a Kroger Brand, Non-Drowsy 24 Hour Allergy Relief tablet every morning, it takes much more that daily activities to cause a flare up for me. It seems that not everyone has the same effect, but this is true in my case. For those of you without a Kroger's nearby, the active ingredient in the tablets that I take is Loratadine 10mg....Antihistimine.

Hope this can help someone else!

To this web site and the many responders - many many thanks. I now know what I have. Two doctors visits were of no use. They said "it will go away" or "there's no way to determine what you have"!

I got my first symptoms on October 2, 2008: A 2" across horshoe shaped swelling on my neck with a sore spot in the middle, small red, itchy pimple like things on my wrists and ankles, a 2" long, itchy red welt at my beltline, red spots on the palms of my hands (usually starting as a small sore pinpoint mark spreading out to about an inch in diameter.

Since then I have experienced sore finger and toe joints and swelling on the back of my hand(s) and swelling of the soles of my feet where the arch meets the sole 5 hours after working in the yard or using tools. Long walks or standing for long periods can trigger foot soreness and arch/sole swelling.

I will take your advice. Thank you all.

Im 22 and have had DPU for almost a year. It started last christmas with small whelts under my shirt neck line. I dont have problems with my hands swelling, but I dont wear long socks any more as its too tight around my leg (because of the elastic) and i end up with a reaction. Every night when the belts, bras and such come off the whelts come out. I
Ive been attempting to control it with anti-histamines but they just arnt enough to stop a big break out as i also suffer with idiopathic urticara(which makes my lips swell up, amongst other things, and i end up going to work looking like ive been punched in the face). Im going to have a go at some of the diet changes suggested and see how they go. Im going to cut out wheat and alcohol.
Wish me luck.

For what it is worth, I was diagnosed with DPU a couple of months ago. I since have determined it started when I was 31 years old (almost at the mean age of 32). Through posts on various boards I have attempted to manage any outbreaks with the following routine:

1) Every night, at the exact same time, I take 10 mg of cetirizine
2) I ONLY sleep on my back and have trained myself to neither rollover to my side nor turn onto my stomach (my previously preferred method of sleeping). Additionally, I am exceptionally cautious of any bed/pillow contact with my face, other than the back of my head. This is because I am fearful of facial swelling that will force me to miss work with badly puffed cheeks and lips.
3) I carry prednisone (last resort; i.e. if I have an important client meeting), epinephrine and ranitidine with me wherever I go. The epinephrine would be life saving in an emergency.
4) I eat small meals and no longer skip any in order to prevent overwhelming hunger and overeating. I hypothesize that I have had DPU on/around the stomach organ when I overeat and expand my stomach, which in turn presses against other internal body parts causing exceptionally painful and dangerous acid reflux. I have recently been able to preemptively combat this by taking ranitidine, which has worked to suppress the buildup of acid in the stomach. I am not taking this regularly, only AS NEEDED when I feel the reflux process begin, which is usually 24 hours before any significant pain has occurred. I had 3 significant reflux episodes before I tested ranitidine. The last of which caused me to throw-up from the acid backtracking up my esophagus. Nothing I am keen to repeat.
5) I am constantly adjusting my position, from sitting to standing to walking, as to not apply too much pressure to my body at any particular time. I believe it is not only the amount of pressure, but also how long the pressure is applied; i.e. large pressure for short time period AND low pressure for long period will both cause DPU outbreaks.

I am unclear if alcohol, or certain types of foods worsen my situation, but when I have the time I will coordinate self-administered tests to determine this.

hi fellow sufferers, i have had this condition for 17 years and can appreciate what you are all going through. i am a manual worker and suffered most days with swollen hands and as most just lying in bed. however this may sound strange, but i had a stroke in may this year (2008) 100% fine now and tried all kinds of anti hystermine tablets (please excuse the spelling lol ) in the past. as a result of my stroke i have to take blood thinning tablets which were aspirin PLEASE DONT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN it makes it worse 10 fold. i told my doctor i would rather warferen, but he put me on a different tablet which is called CLOPIDOGREL and cant thank him enough because i have had no problems since and no side effects whatsoever. i am not a doctor mind you, but there arent many answers for this condition so every bit of information is a help it worked for me hopefully you too, good luck and a very merry pain free xmas to you all.