Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should write a song)

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Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should write ... - 12/6/2008 1:46:36 PM

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So I'm suffering from what are basically chronic hives with no determinable allergen.

That's all well and good, the main problem is that, despite taking an extraordinary amount of anti-histamines (in addition to the ones I'm prescribed daily, I'm also taking the max dose of my 'emergency' ones almost daily as well) I'm *still* getting them, and they're BAD.

Does anyone have any remedies (besides topical creams, which have actually not helped, or seeing a doctor since I am) that they could suggest?

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 2:05:15 PM

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I used to get hives right around xmas and never could figure out why. Finally, it dawned on me...it was the chocolate! I ate a LOT of chocolate. What worked for me, but I'm not saying would work for anyone else...I couldn't stop eating the chocolate so I'd drink Benedryl with it. Sounds nasty (and it was), but I stopped getting hives :)

(in reply to aravain)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 2:20:12 PM

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The active ingredient to combat hives in Benedryl is an anti-histamine :(

Thanks though.

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 2:46:07 PM

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Search for "hives" at WebMD.com, they give a whole host of things there that can cause hives. Possibly something in that list will jump out at you and help you determine what might be triggering the hives. Of course, they specifically note that sometimes it's impossible to know what causes them!

My sister used occasionally gets hives in cold weather, on her hands. Occasionally I'll get one or two on my hand, usually in the same place...

Sorry I can't be more helpful. :-( I know how itchy they can be! Hope you get it squared away..

--cs

(in reply to aravain)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 2:54:06 PM

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I've already done all that :( My specialist says that there is, likely, no trigger for my hives. He says that it's an auto-immune reaction that gets worse by itself (as in, getting hives triggers MORE hives, and things like that).

It started in early fall/late spring and has been getting slightly worse in a gradual fashion.

EDIT: And, of course, thank you :) I do hate having them, it's more of a problem when I have a performance, and they're affecting my ability to, you know, perform.

< Message edited by aravain -- 12/6/2008 2:55:11 PM >

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 4:05:49 PM

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Have you been to an allergist? Perhaps testing and desensitization will help? My son had two episodes of full body hives, after this he was tested and found to have a ton of allergies. He took a course of desensitization injections and has had no recurrence of hives.

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 4:49:16 PM

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I looked at medicinenet.com and there are different types of anti histamines

Sometimes physicians combine these with other types of antihistamines called H2 blockers, such as ranitidine (Zantac) and cimetidine (Tagamet).

Oral steroids (prednisone, [Medrol]) can help severe cases of hives in the short-term, but their usefulness is limited by the fact that many cases of hives last too long for steroid use to be continued safely. Other treatments have been used for urticaria as well, including montelukast (Singulair), ultraviolet radiation, antifungal antibiotics, agents that suppress the immune system, and tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [Elavil, Endep], nortriptyline [Pamelor, Aventyl], doxepin [Sinequan, Adapin]). Evidence to support the benefit of such treatments is sparse. In ordinary cases they are rarely needed.

you can read more info here about hives http://www.medicinenet.com/hives/article.htm

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 5:11:08 PM

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Hives can be serious and go in your mouth and throat. I once had a mouth and throatful. I was 5 at the time. Good luck, and seek medical advise. Baking soda baths may help itching. Keep a food journal, and a journal of symptoms. If your current dr can't seem to find out why, find a new dr. I teach, and hives can be reason to call 911 in students.

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 6:03:48 PM

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I know you mentioned that you are seeing a doctor, but have they considered a thyroid problem? Hypothyroidism can sometimes present with hives. I had hives more often then usual for a few years, but never really thought much of it because I have various allergies (so it wasn't exactly unexpected.) It wasn't until I was diagnosed with hypothyoidism and got my levels under control that I realized I got then a lot less often (almost never.) After having hives almost every day for 2-3 years.. I haven't had a hive in almost 6 years.

The fact that you mentioned they didn't respond to anti-histamines made me think of it, because while they helped me (itch wise) they never actually went away. It may be worth asking your doctor about the next time you see them.

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 6:06:39 PM

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Hives can be caused by stress. This I know to be so First Hand.

Perhaps some therapy or medication which would alleviate that?

If there is some on-going high stress in your life, find some way to ameliorate that.

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(in reply to aravain)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 6:17:52 PM

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That's the most ever annoying kind, I remember for almost a month strait I brokeout for no reason. they'd start lil like a small bump then blow up huge like half dollar sizes, and nothing would help, not even benidryl since i had taken everyday for a week.

And then one day randomly as they came they left and aint been back since.

quote:

ORIGINAL: aravain

So I'm suffering from what are basically chronic hives with no determinable allergen.

That's all well and good, the main problem is that, despite taking an extraordinary amount of anti-histamines (in addition to the ones I'm prescribed daily, I'm also taking the max dose of my 'emergency' ones almost daily as well) I'm *still* getting them, and they're BAD.

Does anyone have any remedies (besides topical creams, which have actually not helped, or seeing a doctor since I am) that they could suggest?

(in reply to aravain)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 8:26:30 PM

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I am sorry about your hives. I have had them every year for the past 5-6 in the winter. For me, it seems to be soap related. I do a double rince on my washing machine and avoid those fabric softener sheets and that seems to help.

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 8:30:13 PM

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I see irony in the fact that a little while ago I realized I'm scratching the hell out of my hand, and oh look, there's a hive..

I don't generally get loads of them, I will get like.. one or two and they itch like nothing else, it's like.. WAY deep inside so I want to scratch my hand off, and I tend to realize suddenly that I'm scratching myself raw, which is how I find them. :-( It also helps somewhat to put warm compresses on, that helps to relieve the itch a bit. Maybe try something like that or the baking soda bath(which I'm guessing, you've already tried.. ).

You mentioned performing.. I don't know what kind of performing you are doing, but maybe the stress IS the cause. I mean, even if you don't think you *feel* stressed, that can exhibit itself in other ways, like this....

--cs

(in reply to YourhandMyAss)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/6/2008 9:45:51 PM

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Oh you poor thing, I really can sympathise. I broke out in chronic hives 3 months ago and they lasted about 6 weeks. Shins, thighs, hips, tummy, boobs, back, arms and bottom...pout! The cause was never properly determined although my suspicions are an antibiotic allergic reaction. What eventually worked was 75mg of Prednisone a corticosteroid. It's a hefty dose, and you don't want to be on it long term but it did the trick. Within 24 hours the itch was GONE and over the next week the rash vanished. Antihistamine did nothing to relieve itch or appearance and i found icepacks the best.

(in reply to CookieSlave)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/7/2008 12:41:32 AM

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@KatyLied
Yep,

He's determined that it's definitely not an allergy.

@Maya2001
Thank you :) I'm on an H2 Blocker and 2 other anti-histamines, currently, twice daily, to be exact :) I was also on a decreasing dosage Prednisone for slightly less than 5 weeks. Thanks for the link!

@sweetpea29
Yeah, that happened earlier this week. I almost had to go to the hospital for a steroid shot to reduce swelling in my throat so that I could breathe :( Not fun.

@amativedame
He has, but wanted to give his current treatment a try before looking more in-depth into it. A thyroid problem would be interesting, because it would mean that several other health problems that I have that were previously considered unlinked could all be symptoms

Not sure if that would be good or bad, though!

@kiyari
Mine are usually started during non-stressful moments (times of distraction) but stress DOES make it much worse quickly. Lucky for me it's finals time, right? I already have therapy and medication to combat stress and similar.

@YourhandMyAss
That's basically what happened to me the first time I had hives (around, gosh, 3 years ago). I started getting these little red, itchy bumps, and they got bigger and bigger... so big that I had one that literally wrapped *around* my entire stomach to my back on both sides. that was an 'average' sized one.

@ygraine
Thanks! :D

@CookieSlave
Oooooh, that's the worst! I hate not noticing I have them until I notice that I'm scratching my leg/arm/hand/scalp/wherever often. I've been getting them around my joints, recently, too (so that it's hard to move some of them without a lot of pain). I play the french horn, and performing actually relieves a lot of stress for me. Unfortunately this isn't just happening when I have a performance coming up :(

@Kitty4Maitre
I got a 100+ shot when I had to go to the hospital a few months ago, and then ANOTHER shot (the same size) from my doctor's less than a week later. The episode came from nowhere, and since then I'm having all of this happening very often. I wish I could be on steroids long term, they seem to be exactly what made them go away when I was taking them.

(in reply to KatyLied)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/7/2008 1:08:45 AM

angst

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Hi aravain -- I wonder if this info will help ...

I am 23, and have had chronic hives (urticaria) for over 8 years now. Hives are an allergic reaction, but in my case, they are caused by the hormones produced by my thyroid gland. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroid--a disease in which the body attacks the thyroid and I have had to deal with a hypoactive thyroid for a long time. I am on synthetic hormones for that. (It may be a good idea to ask your doctor about your "T4" levels and whether or not you should have bloodwork done.)

To combat the intolarable itchiness, and even soreness, from the hives, my doctors and I tried all kinds of medications--a steroid treatment included. I found that Zyrtec controlled the hives most effectively. Currently, I take Claritin every day. I recommend trying these or similar drugs with the approval of your doctor until you find relief. Also, if you want the best tool I have ever used for scratching the hives, minimizing the itchiness, while not damaging your skin, I'll share with you my secret: I find a soft-bristled brush of medium firmess; it provides so much relief but it will never tear the skin so to leave raw patches or cause bleeding. One of the worst tools I've used for scratching, is my finger nails--they almost always damage my skin. (I am breaking out as I am finishing this post!)

Feel free to write to me if you think I can be of any help, and I wish you well.

--Angst

(in reply to aravain)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/7/2008 1:15:21 AM

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Oh, wow! Thank you so much! I'm going to add you to my friends/favorites after replying to this

I've tried zyrtec, but it's not helped much. Claritin actually makes me physically ill, but I'll ask him about similar treatments when next I see him.

Does anyone have any Thyroid disease-specific websites that are particularly good to look at, for men especially?

(in reply to angst)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/7/2008 6:10:02 AM

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Try calamine lotion?

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RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/7/2008 6:34:51 AM

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you may be allergic to your laundry detergent. try using All laundry detergent it is hypoalergenic and contains no phosfates which will usually cause hives or a rash like symptom. This happened to me over 3 years ago. so I went to the store and bought a bottle of liquid all and the problem went away. I to was taking benedryl by the hand fulls.

plasticslave2

(in reply to aravain)

RE: Hives again (I'm beginning to feel like I should wr... - 12/7/2008 9:07:59 AM

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Try chlorampherinemaleate instead of benadryl.

You can buy it as a single ingredient at pharmacies, 4mg tablets, works better than benadryl. Makes you sleepy so take it at night.

Loratidine can prevent hives, have you tried it? Loratidine = Claritin.

I deal with thyroid issues, too. Factor in a bottle of wine with Sulphites and it's instant misery.

Get your thyroid levels checked, avoid wine, stop eating any shellfish, shrimp, anything with iodine.

My secret topical weapon is a solution a friend told me about, sounds nutty but it works.

Take a 16 oz bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol, put 44 non coated 250mg aspirin in it and let them dissolve overnight. Shake and apply to unbroken skin. I use it on poison ivy lesions, too. I don't know why but it works great. Beats cortizone creams cold.

TM

< Message edited by TexasMaam -- 12/7/2008 9:16:35 AM >

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