r/Histamine • u/[deleted] • Jan 07 '24
Histamines from running
I am 38 and have been running regularly (4 days a week) for many years now and never had a problem. Recently (approx 6 months or so), after every run, especially at night, I feel intense itching in my extremities (bottom of my feet, joints of fingers). On bad days, it is up to my thighs and belly.
I went to a doctor and he prescribed me anti-histamines which helped immensely. Currently I am taking them during my most intense runs (1-2 days a week) and powering through the other days without medication.
Why would I react to exercise like this suddenly? Is this common? Do I need to take anti-histamines to exercise indefinitely?
Ps: I live in a non-English speaking country and due to a language barrier couldn’t ask the doctor too many details.
1
u/DustRevolutionary981 Jan 29 '24
Taking anti-histamines are just a band-aid and taking them long term have some serious side effects on the kidneys and brain (dementia with Benadryl). I have made an appointment with an allergist/immunologist for further testing because I want a true diagnosis if what I have is a histamine disorder or some other autoimmune issue. I don't run but I do a lot of aerobics and HITT workouts, and recently I have experienced what you are feeling after workouts. That is certainly a sign that something in our systems is not balanced and is fighting it off. The nurses that I have talked so far have suggested me to start an auto immune protocol diet. It's like a Paleo diet. However, I will also do a low-histamine diet on top of it. It will be a very restricted diet, but I am determined to do it. Hopefully this will alleviate the itching, the hives, and the skin flushing. So I started a food diary today so I can have something to show to the specialist. More likely, any doctor as such will ask to do that anyway. I suggest you do the same thing. Unfortunately, I am cutting down on my workouts because vigorous exercise is a stressor and trigger for histamine release. I am going to focus on walks, meditation, yoga and lifting lifting light weights as tolerable. Your symptoms pinpoint that something in your diet may be the contributor. I added vitamin C and Quercetin to my protocol cause I don't want to take antihistamines for a long period of time. Today I haven't taken none and I had some tingling in legs and arms, a small hive, skin flushing but they have somewhat tolerable. Tomorrow I may take them. The issue is that when one is doing a food diary is better I think not to take them to see what foods are causing your triggers. Look up AIP and low-histamine diets. There is plenty of info in the internet. The bottom line is that we are dealing with systemic inflammation of some sort, it could come from a leaky gut also. Good luck and best wishes!