A dedicated fitness enthusiast has revealed she is now "living in fear" after being diagnosed with an exceptionally rare allergy to exercise that could trigger potentially fatal reactions.
From Gym Enthusiast to Medical Mystery
Ellie Sullivan, a 35-year-old beauty salon owner from Honeybourne in Worcestershire, received the shocking diagnosis of suspected exercise-induced urticaria (EIU) on January 25th, 2026. The condition means that just a few minutes of high-intensity physical activity can hospitalise her with severe symptoms including an itchy rash and dramatically swollen lips.
The Terrifying First Reaction
The alarming symptoms first appeared on Thursday, January 24th, after what should have been a routine training session. Following a brief 100-metre run with her personal trainer that lasted less than three minutes, Ellie returned home feeling unusually warm.
"It wasn't until I got upstairs and looked in the mirror that I was covered in this bright red rash from my bra upwards," Ellie explained. "It was super itchy but it wasn't a typical hive rash. It was a completely flat rash but just all over my face, neck, ears, back, and chest."
As she examined her reflection, her lips began to swell dramatically, leaving her completely wiped out by the unexpected reaction.
Medical Confirmation and Growing Concerns
After consulting her GP the following day, Ellie was stunned to learn she might have EIU - a rare condition that causes hives, itching, and flushing during or after physical activity. Her concerns deepened when another flare-up occurred just days later.
On Sunday, after spending just five minutes on the cross trainer and completing her usual strength exercises, Ellie experienced tingling sensations followed by her lips doubling in size. She rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed the rare exercise allergy, though they remain uncertain what has triggered the condition.
"The doctors had to research it while I was there because it's so rare," Ellie revealed. "Every time I have a reaction it's getting worse. The problem is they don't know if it's going to turn into anaphylaxis."
Life-Altering Adjustments and Constant Anxiety
Ellie, who had "fallen in love" with the gym just a year earlier, now faces heartbreaking restrictions on her fitness routine. She has been forced to completely eliminate cardio exercise and must incorporate additional resting periods during strength workouts to prevent her heart rate from spiking.
"It's gutting not to be able to do cardio," she admitted. "This could end up affecting everyday life because it seems to be when my heart rate increases that my body is having a complete histamine meltdown."
The condition has created constant anxiety in her daily life. "I'm terrified it could one day develop to weights as well," she said. "It's simple things like if I run up the stairs is it going to trigger it off? Even if I was walking it could potentially affect it."
Living with Uncertainty and Spreading Awareness
Ellie now carries antihistamines with her at all times and must visit hospital during any flare-up. She has shared footage of her reactions on social media, captioning one running clip with "when you are literally allergic to exercise."
"I'm living on the edge because I just don't know what's going to happen," Ellie confessed. "I'm living in fear of these flare-ups and not knowing if they're going to turn because the doctors don't know."
The fitness enthusiast is now urging others to take similar symptoms seriously. "I think it's taking it seriously because at first I didn't take it seriously," she advised. "It's not something you'd connect it to. You wouldn't connect exercise and an allergy together, it's just getting it checked."
Ellie hopes that by sharing her story, she can raise awareness about this rare condition while anxiously waiting to see if her symptoms worsen. "I really didn't think it was going to be potentially as serious as it could be to the point it was life-threatening," she concluded.
