I got rid of fish when I was told they were to blame for rash but it was my bra

I got rid of fish when I was told they were to blame for rash but it was my bra Morgan Lee now avoids wearing a bra or leggings A teaching assistant rehomed her goldfish after doctors said they were responsible for her rash - only to discover her bra was the trigger for a condition that affects millions. Morgan Lee Godden unexpectedly broke out in hives across her back in January, but put the rash down to an allergic reaction to her new bedding. However within a few days the 22-year-old's eyes and lips had swollen to double the size - and the rash had spread across her entire body. After visiting her doctor, Morgan Lee said she was told her symptoms were 'likely an allergic reaction' and advised to remove anything new from her bedroom. This included Morgan Lee's new goldfish Flow and Rick that she had recently welcomed into her home, with doctors concerned that the water or fish food was triggering her allergies. But after rehoming her pets and other bedroom items, Morgan Lee was still breaking out in painful rashes, noticing that her flare-ups were particularly bad after wearing her bra and leggings. It was only when Morgan Lee went to hospital after suffering a high temperature and diarrhoea for two weeks that doctors confirmed her symptoms were not an allergic reaction. A specialist confirmed that Morgan Lee had chronic urticaria - a long-term skin condition defined by itchy red welts, swelling, and a rash, caused by the release of histamine - and angioedema, a sudden swelling beneath the skin caused by a build-up of fluid. The condition is thought to affect between 0.5 and 1% of the population in the UK at any one time and women are more than twice as likely than men to be diagnosed. Luckily, Morgan Lee is able to manage her symptoms with medication, but has been told a sudden release or overproduction of histamine in the body could cause her to go into anaphylactic shock. Morgan Lee, who lives in Sheerness, Kent, said: "The first symptom I had was that I came up in hives on my lower back. It was really itchy and I could feel raised lumps on my back. I thought it was an allergic reaction to my new bedding I'd got as a present. "Within that week, my eyes and lips had swelled and then over my entire body. I went to the doctors and they said it was very likely an allergic reaction. I was told to remove my fish tank that I had recently got in case it was the bacteria in the water or the fish food. "Apparently it's quite common. I had to rehome my two goldfish Flow and Rick I'd had for about four months. I'd also bought a blue rug from Shein so they thought the chemicals from the blue dye could be causing some sort of reaction. I was told to remove basically everything new from my bedroom." Despite rehoming her pet fish and removing her rug, Morgan Lee was still breaking out in hives - and soon realised that her symptoms arose after wearing tight clothing and doing exercise. Morgan Lee said: "I had to stop wearing makeup, stop wearing perfume. I also realised tight clothing was a trigger, especially underwear. "The rash would be in the shape and outline of my bra. I used to wear leggings for work. The material of them, I could just feel them irritating my skin. I was later told sweat, overheating, stress, hormones can all be triggers. "Every time I come on my period, I get a rash. Once me and my partner went swimming and I came out of the pool and I came out and my entire body was covered in a rash. I started noticing what my triggers were. I was going on bike rides and swimming and noticed if I'm exercising it's worse. "When I do get a flare-up, it's really itchy and painful. And it burns - it feels like I'm on fire. I look like a Pepperoni pizza. And I get a temperature and diarrhoea as well. The rash was actually the easiest thing to deal with, it's everything else that came with it." In June, Morgan Lee was eventually diagnosed with two long-term skin conditions - urticaria and angioedema - after being referred to a specialist. Luckily, Morgan Lee's symptoms are managed with medication and through avoiding triggers such as: tight clothing, sweating, excessive exercise, stress, hormonal changes. Morgan Lee said: "I felt relieved because I thought at least now I can get better. I've always wanted children, but now I'm worried if that's an option for me because of how much pain I could be in because of the hormone change. "They told me my body could go into anaphylactic shock but it wouldn't be from an allergic reaction, it would be because my body was overproducing histamine. That does scare me. My anxiety is higher. I never wear leggings anymore, I don't wear bras as much and, if I do, I just have to deal with the flare-ups. "The medication has massively made a difference. The rashes are controlled. I just feel more like myself."