[imatter2]

yes I'm shouting, you bet. I have this random case of hives that's been coming every afternoon for 2 months, only to disappear by morning. So of course they're never there during doctor's office hours. After the first doc didn't believe me (at an urgent care place) I got smart and started taking pictures when I'd break out, with my phone so that I had them handy the next time I went in. Sure enough, i had no hives a that appointment either but with the pictures he was willing to Rx a stronger antihistamine and wanted to do Prednisone (I declined, it screws with my already dismal sleep).

Well, it's getting worse, the little buggers are now spreading out - appearing on my arms and feet instead of just trunk and upper thighs like before. So I just got off the phone with my PCP's office ... the earliest appointment I can get is not till the 24th! I don't know that I'll still have skin in a week! Nor any measure of sanity at all, for that matter

I am so sick of itching, so sick of trying this home remedy and that home remedy and that other one too; sick of creams and pills that don't work (benadryl doesn't touch it and the rx antihistamine is a $15 copay JOKE)

aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghhhhhhh!!!!! sorry, just needed to shout about that for a moment. I don't think anyone has died from a case of hives on their legs and belly; if it was on my neck or face I'd freak a little more but as it is I'm sure I'll survive till my appointment, I'm just going to be mightily miserable. i want to cry (more than usual, i mean... )

[googley]

I'm so sorry you have hives. Is there anything new in your life? New foods, new soap, new medicine? I hope you are able to get rid of this soon. I'm sorry your doctor can't see you sooner. Hopefully (assuming they are still around) you have them so he can see them when your appointment is so you can get an accurate diagnosis. I have a friend who's antibiotic kept giving her hives. Good luck.

[Perna]

One children's chewable Benadryl helped my daily hives. I had an outdoor cat so didn't know I was allegic to him until he got sick and spent too much time on my lap in the evenings; I'd break out in really bad hives, welts on my neck that itched like heck

It wasn't until after he died that I realized what they were from (they stopped :-) There's a good chance that an owner will grow accustomed to one's own pets over time and my two cats now are much more lap-friendly than my previous cat but I don't get hives from them.

I would look at everything that may have changed in your life since you've gotten the hives regularly, especially everything you do at that time of day. Could be a med you take then too, that side effect could wear off and then rear up again the next day when you take the next pill.

[shezbut]

((((Phrick))))

Gentle hugs to you. I have been there, unfortunately, and it does suck!

Have you tried going to urticaria groups? There's one that I've used (and recommended) many times. http://www.urticaria.thunderworks.com
A few people, like Jackie, are extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the symptoms and causes, tests, as well as helpful treatments. Many, many members are very supportive, as they've suffered too. It's a very helpful site.

Very best wishes to you Phrick!!

[mygaysassy]

idk why but i always get hives too. i find that benadryl works pretty well.. just makes u sleep. im alergic to everything and its mom. from alcohol to.. grape fruit.. red food dye.. yup yup. =]

[(JD)]

They come every day about the same time? That's a big clue!

It could be a food, drink, lotion, (even toothpaste) hair product, laundry product, or even stress about a certain topic. Only you can figure it out, knowing your routine. Food allergies though generally don't upset the system like that until nighttime (think of the passing of hours...in case your day to day waking/sleeping cycle isn't like most) But some reactions can occur within minutes or a short time. The other reactions will be determined by when you rise, shower, dress etc. . . like I said only you can track this down.

As for the stress (which is a very common cause) ... is there a particular time that someone who irks you calls, or when you begin worrying about something (like going to work) or whatever... only you know.

Now, there are great products such as Aveeno and Eucerin that work (as per my allergist and my experience) and OATMEAL works good too. (Aveeno is an oatmeal based product.) Put regular long cooking (or quick cook but not mixes or instants) oats in a sock and tie it off at the top. Put it into a warm bath and soak! I used to get hives all the time as a child, and this worked great. It still works for me for the rare times I have hives.



Work on meditation and calming also. The histamine reaction is what makes the hives worse. EVERYONE is allergic to histamine but most people can take an anti-histamine (like benedryl) to fix that. I can't take it, and sounds like you can't either.

Hi, I get hives, too...I was on an antibiotic at a low dose for a long time for a UTI and ended up allergic to it. My allergist said once the hive reaction gets turned on it is very hard to turn it off (I stopped the antibiotic this past december if that tells you anything), and I know exactly how miserable you are. He also said that very often no underlying cause is determined...he himself had hives for two years and never knew why! So unless you have switched something in your routine recently, don't kill yourself trying to determine the cause if you can't figure it out (although stress never helps, of course...but who isn't stressed??).

Benadryl is not going to do it since you are as itchy as you say you are...most likely it is not strong enough. I was taking allegra (prescription) for awhile and then they were breaking through that, so the allergist gave me some prescription xyzal samples and mentioned the active ingredient was quite similar to that in zyrtec...which is over the counter. So I have been taking zyrtec for quite awhile now (months) and have found that it works wonders for me! The Wal-mart generic version of zyrtec is the cheapest that I have found...you can definitely get a good deal on that and it is worth every penny! You take one every 24 hours. I think it might cause some drowsiness in some people, but has no effect on me.

I did get a blood test to make sure there was no underlying cause, so I would recommend that to you.

Do keep us updated on your progress and I hope some of this was helpful!

P.S. They were on my neck and chest and stomach, and I DID cry, so I am right there with you...totally sucks!!

[imatter2]

I made an appointment with an allergist last week, it's coming up this Wednesday the 8th. So since the 1st September, I've been keeping a detailed log of what time, where on my body, and how severe the hives are when they do come on. It appears we have made a correlation between the onset of hives and my nighttime dose of lamictal! EEK!! I've also been chronicling every scrap of nutrition that goes into my mouth in case this may be helpful to the doc (plus if nothing else it makes me feel like I'm being proactive at least). My P mentioned recently that she wants to get me off Lamictal anyway, so in a way I hope this is connected so I have a real PHYSICAL reason to take the plunge and not be so scared of "what if." I don't think it's Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, as surely after 2.5 months of the hives reaction I'd be dead by now - but the hive mass looks eerily similar to some of the SJS pictures I've seen online, some days. I have pictures of some of the worst days I plan to take to the allergist, because you KNOW I won't have any traces of hives on the day I go and I will NOT be disbelieved or brushed aside again. Enough of *that* particular brand of BS.

Now if I could just hurry Wednesday along, already!!!