If you've just been diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria, you likely want to learn more about it before your appointment. That includes how it can affect you and what treatments and lifestyle changes may help manage symptoms and prevent the condition from getting worse.

“I thought it was something I was doing. Maybe I was washing my clothes with the wrong soap or eating the wrong foods.”

When you go to your appointment,expect to answer more questions. If the doctor you’re seeing isn’t the one who diagnosed you, they’ll probably want to do an assessment to better understand your symptoms and rule out other causes. Here are some other ways to get ready for your appointment.

Try to keep calm. Dealing with chronic hives can be really frightening, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing them. I was crying at the doctor’s office because I was so scared. Just remember that the doctor is there to help you.

You’ll want to learn as much as you can about chronic spontaneous urticaria and what your treatment plan may be. Knowing what to ask your doctor is half the battle. Here are some questions you may want to ask. You’ll be able to email, print, or copy them.

Sometimes you will have to ask your doctor or people on your care team for more information or more help. Here are a few reasons why you may want to speak up during your first visit.

You might leave your appointment with a clear diagnosis and treatment plan, or you might be advised to schedule additional tests. Either way, you’ve probably been given a lot of information that may be hard to understand or keep track of. These tips might help you as you start this journey.

Try to be patient. I ended up having allergy tests and blood tests. It can be frustrating when tests come back normal and all you want is to figure out why you’re having this problem. But there isn’t any test that directly proves CSU. Instead, your doctor will need to rule out other conditions that might be causing similar symptoms.

Expect some trial and error. Since the underlying cause of CSU is unknown, it can’t be directly treated. Instead, your doctor will probably recommend one or more treatments aimed at controlling the symptoms. There are a lot of options, ranging from over-the-counter allergy medications (antihistamines) to prescription drugs you get under the skin. I’ve tried several. For now, a newer antihistamine seems to work best, but that might not be true for you.

Keep tracking your symptoms. Keeping tabs on how you feel is really important. It can help you figure out if a treatment your doctor recommended is working or if you need to move on to something else. It can also help you figure out if there are warning signs that it’s time to take your medication.