Horrible Hives

Hello @thoferer81017,

Welcome to Connect. I can imagine how disabling and frustrating this must be!

Here is some information on chronic hives (urticaria), from Mayo Clinic: http://mayocl.in/2fe76A6

I found a few members who have discussed hives; please meet @lamerex4, @bluecinnamon, @kamuela, @dwead1, @debras, @cdavaine, @conniesgore, @amberpep, @suzieapples, @marigold, @sjthate, @lakemichigan1, @bcsurvivor2006, @upinatreehouse, @brendabirkman, @bettyann.
You may also wish to view a discussion on "Chronic Hives and any Cure?" here: http://mayocl.in/2lnrCzm

@thoferer81017, how are you coping everyday? Have you been advised to avoid certain triggers?

Hi ..... oh my ... I feel SO sorry for you .... they are just awful. When I get hives (normal sized ones) I take 2 or 3 Benadryl; but twice I have also had them that were the size of dinner plates .... once when I got bitten by a juvenile black widow spider and the other time from a medication I was getting when I had my knee replacement. With those, my doctors gave me Prednisone .... sometimes called a Pred Pack. I also took Benadryl too at the same time. Talk to your doctor about Prednisone. There is a regimen you have to follow, that is why the Pred Pack is so simple. Please keep us updated. Good luck.
abby

I have had Chronic Pressure Urtcaria for almost two decades. My clothes aren't an issue. The worst trigger is carrying plastic bags or a pile of boxes or where the seatbelt hits my neck. When I had an epidural for pain relief after a total knee, you could see where the tubing had been coiled on my back for more than 6 months. I take Ranitidine 300mg and Hydroxyzine Pamoate 25mg every night before bed. I still get breakthrough hives on this. I have assumed it is autoimmune. I would not recommend long term use of Benadryl especially since it seems ineffective. It's very difficult for me not to know the cause and just mask the symptoms with medication long term. I have been reading about Low Dose Naltrexone for my Fibromyalgia which is also autoimmune, so I've been wondering if it might also 'cure' the hives. You've come to the right place for support!

I finally found relief when my allergist prescribed cyclosporine, I was on it for a year full strength and gradually decreased until I didn't need it ant longer. I still take zyrtech and Singulair, which is now keeping it under control. I found out that if I drink alcohol I break out, so none of that for me anymore. I blame the out break on a stressful new job which got better over time. I'm glad I finally found relief, it was the most painful thing I've had to go through.

I suffered from hives for 18 months after an intensive round of antibiotics for H Pylori called a Prev Pac. I was desperate and beyond miserable. The Mayo Clinic did some overnight skin allergy testing and discovered I was allergic a couple things, including Balsam of Peru. I had never heard of such a thing and was squeezing lemon and lime into my drinking water several times a day. Once I stopped doing that (which I had done for many years - no prior allergy to citrus) the hives vanished. When I have vanilla, or citrus (mostly lemon or lime) the hives immediately return. But reportedly Balsam of Peru is one of the top five allergies today and if you have taken antibiotics (who hasn't?!!!) it could kill off some gut bacteria and trigger a food allergy. I tested negative to any food allergies, so this really came out of left field. Good luck with your hives. I suspect hives might be related to missing gut bacteria and there is more research being done in that area. How our gut bacteria impacts our immune system is the new frontier in medicine.

Thank you guys for all your replys! I had gone to the Indocrinologist yesterday she says i may have an autoimmune disease Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Im looking into family history. She had also said it probly not the cause but it is making the hives worse. Taking some more blood test and a ultrasound on my thryroid today and see how that goes. Now that you mention H Pylori I remember having going thru that about 2yrs ago but never rechecked it. My skin is still red and patchy all day:(

I'm so glad to hear your reply. Sounds like you're on the right track with a good doctor.
abby

Hi @thoferer81017,

Although it's disappointing and stressful to learn about one's condition, it must be a relief to get some diagnosis. We have a few members on Connect who have experience with Hashimoto's thyroiditis; please meet @taterjoy, @michellecrcrn, @kyjeanne, @dogmamat, @sebley12, @jillnc.

You may also wish to read this discussion:
"How many people have autoimmune diseases or even know what they are? http://mayocl.in/2lC6mGc, where you will meet @sebley12, @roysbaby, @breni, @birdsong, @kimpf, @klisa24, @katiandtylersmom, @kyjeanne, @ambrose, and others.

@thoferer81017, could you tell us how your tests went?

Many who suffer hashis also suffer allergies and vitamin deficiencies. Make sure to have your vitamins checked like vitamin D. Diet modification is crucial in helping with inflammation. cutting out gluten, refined sugars and processed foods. Go slow!!! Add probiotics and look into maybe thyroid groups online. I found one on fb and have learned a lot. Don't expect an overnight success, it takes time and patience. Be sure to journal everything down. What you ate and overtime you may start to see a pattern. Alcohol was a big Nono for me.

Hi @thoferer81017. I am sorry you are going through such an ordeal, and having a hard time getting a proper diagnosis and therapy. I, too, have Hashimotos, which was undiagnosed until I visited an endocrinologist in 2001 after experiencing chronic fluid retention with "limbs" continually falling asleep; severe muscle cramps at night and upon waking; loosing much of my hair; daily headaches; clammy skin that felt like it was not apart of my body, etc . About 16 years prior to the diagnosis, I had chronic hives on both arms (upper and lower, and underarms); also experienced exercise (heat-induced) hives and facial swelling. I was treated with steroids topically (arms), and an anticholinergic drug called Atarax, which helped. Because I also had exercise-induced welts and facial/throat swelling, I also carried an epipen and an inhaler. Happy to report that these bouts of hives and exercise-induced welts are much less frequent since I began taking Synthroid in 2001 for Hashimotos related hypothyroidism. I still get hives, but very infrequently and they do not persist. I also experience a few welts when exercising, but warming up slowly and cooling off slowly afterwards helps reduce their occurrence, number, and persistence. Sudden, hot showers can also bring on itching and welts. Taking "cooler" showers and laying clothes so that I can control my body temperature have helped reduce hives and itching. I hope you find out the cause of your itching/hives and that your condition can be cured or at least treated effectively. It is miserable!