Hives

For the last few weeks I have been breaking out in itchy hives at night and/ or in the morning when I wake up. The fist time it happened, I thought it was a fluke and dismissed it, but then it happened 3-4 mornings straight, went to my gp, and of course the hives were gone by the time I saw her so she said to take Zyrtec and if it continues to goto an allergist. Well now it is happening about every other day or so, they are mostly on my lower stomache, elbows and upper thighs. I haven't changed anything in my diet or detergents, body washes, etc. I don't think it's stress because I am a teacher and off for the summer. I feel like the allergist is gonna think I'm crazy since they go away and I won't have anything to she him..

Re: Hives

Funny you wrote this because I randomly wake up with hives and today was one of those days. I had about 8 hives on the inside of my thigh. Super itchy. I don't get them every day, but I would expect I might get them again tomorrow because once they pop up, I usually get them for a couple of days. They generally go away within a few hours of waking up. I have no idea what causes them, but it's not something that bothers me enough to go to a doctor. Besides, I'm thinking they won't be able to figure it out either!

Re: Hives

I have been getting hives since I was 12 years old. Went through tons of allergy testing. I will get them them days in a row, then nothing for a long time. or just a random day.

are you stressed? Cause I have realized that when I am upset, very stressed, etc. that is when it seems to happen.

I know they are uncomfortable... but I would not be to concerned about it.

Re: Hives

i was diagnosed with AICU (autoimmune chronic urticaria) aka - autoimmune hives.

no one knows why it happens, likely stress and hormone related. I go through periods where I don't get hives for months, then outbreak periods where i get them for weeks on end (awwwwfffullll)

it began in december of 2007 out of nowhere.

i would start by seeing an allergist who specializes in immunology!

eta - i usually get swollen, ITCHY patches on my hands, forhead, ears and sometimes my lips swell.

very rarely are they isolated hives here and there. Stress definately made it 10x worse.

Message edited 7/11/2012 1:51:06 PM.

Re: Hives

The same thing happened to me about 9 months ago. I had a UTI and was put on cipro. I finished the entire 10 days of cipro and all of a sudden started to break out in hives. I went to an allergist and she said it could have been the cipro (delayed allergic response) or it could have been from the infection. She said that once your body start producing histamine there is no telling when it will stop. It lasted months!!! It slowly went away. I still get a hive here or there but nothing like 9 months ago. I would def see an allergist and get some tests. But if nothing comes up, maybe give it some time. If it doesn't go away in a few months then maybe see an autoimmune dr.

Re: Hives

I have spontaneous hives too. I went through allergy testing (b/c of the hives, you can't get the skin test) and they only found that I was highly allergic to dust.

I take a zyrtec every other day or so. If I feel the hives coming on, I pop a zyrtec and it's gone within 30 minutes. Some people get sleepy with zyrtec, so you can take it every night before bed and it will last into the next day.

I get my hives on the sides of my face, neck, back, upper chest, stomach and upper thighs. I took pictures of them to show the Dr. at the appointment.

While they don't come out b/c of stress everytime, if I am stressed (and no zyrtec in system) they will definitely come out. The secretary at work saw my scratchmarks on my neck and said I looked like a battered woman!!


On a sidenote: the allergist told me that I should never dive into a pool headfirst without being wet first. She said the cold water can send you into anaphylactic shock. I have an epi pen sitting in our closet b/c of that.

I started getting hives from water in 1993ish and spontaneous hives in 2008