The Hives Thread

[Imjustwondering]

How about we start a Hives thread. anyone with hives or past experiences with hive please post treatments, or solutions. Hives includes reactions from heat, cold, pressure, scratching, that produces red skin, swelling, or welts. All information is helpful and much appreciated.

I'll start by saying I've had Hives due to pressure and scratching which is called Dermatographism, Antihistimines seem to be the best solution but im trying to find which would work the best. I also need to find an antihistimine that I can take for long periods of time. But if there is something wrong with the body then there must be a cause right? I think I will start looking into allergy testing. I've heard of thyriod problems causing hives, anyone know about this? Any other triggers that I havn't mentioned would be useful. Please people respond! Some of us are in desperate need of advice. Later all.

[Imjustwondering]

Apparently my parents recall me never having hives before I took a dosage of penicillin. Obviously this is the culprit as it happened both times I tried the penicillin. I'm just wondering why I didn't hear of this sooner. Has anyone ever heard of a connection between penicillin and hives. What about ways in which I could be absorbing penicillin everyday. thanks alot.

[dsheldon3]

I've had hives for about 15 years.I get mostly Aquagenic Urticaria,Dermatographism,and Cholinergic Urticaria.I also get them from certain (Mostly spicy) foods when succeptable.I don't take medication for it.After this long I have learnt to just ignore them.Sometimes if I get some really itchy ones though that I can't mentally fight off I find that if I take my Sonicare toothbrush with an old soft toothnbrush in it and go over the area(over top clothes) about 5-10 minutes the itch will go away.This works best for me and avoids them bloody scratchmarks from scratching yourself to death.
AVOID ALL ALCOHOL .Alcohol is the WORST thing you can take when you have hives.Do not drink one beer,no once a month shot.DO NOT TOUCH ALCOHOL.

[dsheldon3]

Another thing,try not to take too much Vitamin C ,Zinc vitamins or any of those immune system boosters like Echinichea.

[RedeemedHeart]

Hi, I am new to this board. I thought I would share my hives experience.

I have had chronic hives for 13 years. I have been to several dermatologists and have tried everything imaginable over the years.

The first Dermatologist to give me a diagnosis was so excited about the demography he was making on my back that he called in several others to have a look-see. Scared me to death! I didn't know what he was talking about.

For the last 3 years I have taken 5mgs of Zertec at night and when I have a flare up I take 10mgs Zertec and 50 mgs. benadryl.

I know that the hives started with a hormone problem. I kept telling my OBGYN that I got hives mid-cycle around the time I should ovulate. She said that didn't have anything to do with it.

So about 9 years later I had a full-blown hormone testing done and found I am severely estrogen and progesterone deficient.
I take HRT and it helps some with the hives and much with the other symptoms of hormone problems. But I still get hives sometimes.

Things I know triggers them is too much stress, grass outside and almonds (I think).
I
t is so frustrating!
I was diagnosis with fibromyalgia last July. The Dr. I see for that says that hives can be one of the symptoms. I laughed because everything is a symptom of FM! Its not funny, I have a lot of pain various other strange symptoms but it seemed like, why not? I think I am getting cynical,sorry.
Blessings,
Kathy