Living with Chronic Hives: The Vicki Lawrence Story
Vicki Lawrence, famed for her role on the Carol Burnett Show, has been battling chronic hives for years. She shared her ordeal starting from an unexpected morning in August 2012 when she experienced intense itching in her hand palms.
Initially dismissing the sensation as a quirky sign of impending fortune, she humorously suggested to her husband, Al Schultz, that they should purchase a lottery ticket. “I told Al, ‘My palms are itching, which must mean we’re about to get rich!'” she recounted in an interview with PEOPLE.
However, the situation quickly escalated from a light-hearted moment to concern. “We laughed it off at first, but then it started getting serious,” she explained. She tried to soothe her inflamed hands with ice water, which only temporarily alleviated the symptoms. “I was left wondering, ‘What on earth is happening?'” she recalled.
The relief was short-lived, and the hives began to spread. “Suddenly, they were creeping up my wrists, and I started to panic,” Lawrence described. The hives soon covered her entire body. “It drove me insane. I scratched so much that when I eventually looked, I saw huge red scratch marks across my stomach, back, and hips,” she said.
Desperate for relief, Lawrence sought help from an allergist. Despite undergoing two intensive rounds of treatment with high-dose steroids and antihistamines, her condition did not improve. It was only after receiving a proper diagnosis that she began to find some relief.
Her specialist identified her condition as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), a persistent type of hives that lasts for six weeks or more and is generally incurable. The doctor prescribed a bi-weekly injectable treatment over six months, which fortunately proved effective for Lawrence. “The medication worked wonders almost immediately,” she expressed. “I was astonished and so thankful, as it really was a miraculous solution for me.”
Lawrence emphasized that this condition could affect anyone and is often exasperating due to the difficulty in identifying a specific trigger. “People get frustrated and anxious not knowing what causes it,” she explained.
Since her initial episode in 2012, she has thankfully only experienced one other major outbreak. She remains optimistic and encourages others dealing with similar issues. “There is a way to manage it, and there are solutions out there. Keep searching and don’t lose hope; you are not alone in this,” she advises others suffering from chronic hives.
Hi, I’m Emily, a passionate and dedicated member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a keen eye for detail and a love for writing, I ensure that the latest celebrity news, major economic trends, and helpful tips for your home are presented in the most engaging and informative way possible. Fun fact: During a particularly exciting news story, I once managed to finish an article in record time, fueled solely by copious amounts of coffee and pure adrenaline!
