I have had chronic urticaria since around November of last year. I have been to an allergist and had extensive bloodwork done as well. The doctor can't tell me what's causing this. From the research I've done I know it's hard to pinpoint the cause of this. I take zyrtec, atarax, allegra, and pepcid. It seems like alot of meds to be taking, but they got the hives under control. About a month ago, they came slowly and randomly back. Now, they're back almost every other day, head to toe. It feels like they're even in my throat...Wakes me up between 2 and 4 am all the time. This is what I wonder, does or did anyone else have this, and what helped? It makes me so mad when they come back and my poor husband is up all night because of me. I wonder if anyone with this condition has to take this many antihistimines? I know everyone's body is different, so different meds work for different people. I am extremely frustrated as my doctor kind of blows me off. I truly think nobody knows how exasperating this is until they've experienced it. Anyone?
I know how awful it can be to have hives that go on and on that way. I've never had it that long, but I've had several bouts that lasted a month or so.
That many antihistamines? Definitely. I find that until the cause is identified and eliminated, it doesn't matter how much medication I throw at it, even Prednisone barely slows it down. You could ask your doctor about adding Benadryl at night, or increasing the dose of one of the others.
Also, keep your bedroom cool, and use as few blankets as possible. Maybe a cool shower before bed.
If the allergist can't help, maybe a dermatologist. The allergist did say it was hives, though, not a contact dermatitis or eczema?
Finally, crazy idea here, is it possible the original cause is gone and you are allergic to one of the ingredients in one of your medicines?
hi Jane, thanks for answering. I went to a dermatologist who then sent me to the allergist. The allergist said they might never know what is causing this, as the cause of a histimine reaction is very hard to determine. Maybe I need a second opinion? I don't think it's the meds, I just started them a few months ago and the hives have been here way before that. Do you still have yours?
laur
hi Jane, thanks for answering. I went to a dermatologist who then sent me to the allergist. The allergist said they might never know what is causing this, as the cause of a histimine reaction is very hard to determine. Maybe I need a second opinion? I don't think it's the meds, I just started them a few months ago and the hives have been here way before that. Do you still have yours?
laur
don't know why this posted twice, and I couldn't get it off
I've had chronic delayed pressure urticaria for over 20 years. Up until a few years ago it was controlled with antihistamines but then I developed an allergy to all antihistamines and they made the hives worse and I had a paradoxical response to all of them. I was put on 20mg prednisone and as the hives became controlled the prednisone was lowered. I now take 5mg a day unless I have a flareup then I raise it to 7.5mg, then 10mg if needed. Unfortunately I'll probably always have to take the prednisone because I can't live with the hives and my allergist has tried everything else. Without it I can't drive or do anything using my hands or they will swell twice their size with miserable hives. I can't even open a water bottle! Seams in my clothes cause hives along the seam line. The quality of my life is reduced to the point I don't want to live.
You're right, doctors don't understand what a horrible affliction this is. I had a dermatologist say that his patients were "annoyed" by their hives. I told him off and never went back!
Prednisone is causing me problems like cataracts, pneumonia and some bleeding problems but even those aren't as bad as having the hives! My doctor now understands and has agreed that I'll have to continue with it probably forever. We just try to keep the dosage as low as possible to keep them under control. If I ever have to stop the prednisone I don't know what I'll do because I definitely won't go through that again. I can sympathize with you and I also had a difficult time getting a doctor that was compassionate about the illness and now that I have found one I treasure her!
Don't give up on finding something that relieves the misery. I wish you the best of luck and my prayers are with you.
Allie
The following user gives a hug of support to GoodDog: num1laur (04-06-2012)
allie- I sometimes feel that way with the hives too, not wanting to go on. I know what you mean, it's depressing. Please be careful with the prednisone. I know you need it, but lemme tell you, I have multiple sclerosis also, and I took alot of steroids throught my 10 year disease, IV and pill form. I developed avascular necrosis, joint death caused by lack of blood flow, due to steroid use. I'm 41 years old and I have a hip and shoulder replacement, and need another shoulder on the other side. I don't know what i would do if I had to be on steroids for THIS too! Dang if ya do and dang if ya dont! Prayers to you.
Jane- I'm glad yours are under control. It's very frustrating. thank you both for answering. Knowing someone else out there knows how I feel helps soo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
laur
I try to keep the prednisone at 5mg so I don't have a lot of the problems associated with it. That's terrible about your joints, I didn't know that!! I also have Lupus and the prednisone helps my joint pain. Unfortunately it has also caused me to gain a lot of weight and that is hard on my joints.
to jane,
Wow, my husband has been saying this all along, about my replacements. My mom said I could not wear earrings ever, since I got them pierced when I was 12, and I still can't wear them to this day! Sounds alittle coincidental. Also, if that is the problem, I'm not sure I would want to go through the surgeries to replace the metal. The hip, maybe. The shoulder , no way. It was the most painful awful recovery. I was in so much pain that I couldn't sleep for 3 days when I came home and I was getting really mentally wrong. My husband almost took me back to the hospital. My allergist said absolutely
not when I asked him. I highly doube doctors and what they tell me anymore.
Laur
to allie,
I'm sorry that you also suffer with lupus. What kind do you have? I know that the prednisone makes you gain weight, I did too when I was on it, and I know it doesn't help things. How long have you been diagnosed with the lupus, and did it take them a long time to diagnose you?
Laur
A patch test or scratch test on your skin can find out for sure if you are allergic to anything in the replacements. Unfortunately, to do the test, you'd need to be off antihistamines for a few days AND have a decent sized area of hive-free skin to test on.
If you are, you don't have to have them removed. You could probably get desensitized instead.
A patch test or scratch test on your skin can find out for sure if you are allergic to anything in the replacements. Unfortunately, to do the test, you'd need to be off antihistamines for a few days AND have a decent sized area of hive-free skin to test on.
If you are, you don't have to have them removed. You could probably get desensitized instead.
What does that mean? Also, I didn't say, but we had extensive water damage on the second floor of my home from a roof leak. I know we have several types of mold in our house. I thought it might be that, but again, my doc blew that off saying mold allergies are "overblown". I think he's full of crap.
She's talking about allergy testing...either the scratch test or patch test will show what you are allergic to and then you can determine what method of treatment to pursue.
its another form of allergy testing...they stick some things to your back that says there for about a day or two. Then you go back to the dr office to get the patch removed and the results read
The Following User Says Thank You to shof515 For This Useful Post: num1laur (04-08-2012)
What does that mean? Also, I didn't say, but we had extensive water damage on the second floor of my home from a roof leak. I know we have several types of mold in our house. I thought it might be that, but again, my doc blew that off saying mold allergies are "overblown". I think he's full of crap.
A few very vocal cranks out there attribute all sorts of unrelated or imaginary symptoms to mold allergy. This leads some doctors to dismiss mold allergy.
The fact is, mold spores are a nasty allergen, and indoor mold can cause a lot of health problems in sensitive people.
Ask if you can get skin testing for allergies. Like I said, you'd need to be antihistamine-free and with clear area of skin to do the test.
You may also need a new allergist, if he's not even trying to find the real cause of these hives!
The Following User Says Thank You to janewhite1 For This Useful Post: num1laur (04-08-2012)
to Jane
You may be right. This allergist thinks that it's ok to not know the cause, then he got me thinking the same way. There has to be a cause. It isn't a normal occurrance for people to have hives head to toe! That's why I don't buy the idiopathic diagnosis.
laur
IF the antihistamines were keeping your hives under control, it might be OK. But they aren't, so if it were me, I would devote at least some more time and effort to trying to find the cause.
