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I've been getting hives and we don't know why.

I had one hive about a week ago, but it went away when I applied Benadryl cream. On Tues, I had quite a few, applied Benadryl cream, and they got worse, so off to urgent care I went (We moved here so recently, I don't have a Dr., yet. That changes Monday.) Urgent care doc gave me a steroid shot and put me on Prednisone. I was OK for the next day, then YESTERDAY, they started coming back in spite of the Pred. I called and Urgent Care doc called in an antihistamine and told me to go to the ER if I had further problems.

Now, I'm scared because I had a similar problem a couple of years back and spent so much time being sent from specialist to specialist, it never got diagnosed. THREE months, I lived with horrible swelling, itching, etc. that left me bedridden.

I have several auto-immune diseases and I think the Pred. just isn't strong enough to kick whatever-it-is back. Not with all of the other stuff I have going on.

Prior to this, I wasn't on ANY meds. We can't figure out what's causing it!!

I so hope I make it until Monday OK and I hope this Dr. can help me.

I have a hard time grasping why things seem to be so difficult, at times.

Thanks for listening to me whine.

I'm so sorry to hear this, TIKY!

I do hope you'll meet a specialist who'll be able to give you a proper diagnosis and treatment. Since it had happened before, I hope the doctors will look into this more seriously.

Sending healing mojo and prayers.

Do you live where it is really cold out? If so, drastic temperature changes can cause hives. I get them on my legs during the winter from being outside and then coming back into the house. The hives swell up to 1/6th of an inch. It is very painful. I will also breakout from my own sweat. Certain water types will do this too.

If you have very sensitive skin it is very normal to be effected by stuff like this. I have a friend who son's skin is worse than mine with the cold. He gets whole body hives from the cold.

I always treat with benadryl and motrin. Sometimes I have to be on it for a day or so to get complete relief.

Hives are often related to autoimmune disease. Zyrtec is the best over the counter antihistimine for most people, but any of that class will work, and Benadryl as well though that makes you sleepy.

I have had hives on and off since I was 12. They are autoimmune. Have you had your thyroid levels checked lately (and not just TSH)? That is the most common cause from an AI perspective, but half the time there is no identifiable cause.

Stay on the AH for awhile even if you arent getting them for a few days to let your system calm down.

I feel for you, they are annoying as hell!

My H is on the downhill slope of a chronic hives episode - this is 3 months since the onset. Blood work showed An antibody causing his Mast cells to release histamine.

And why is it happening? Well, just like "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" The world may never know.

He was on huge doses of Prednizone and a cocktail of antihistamines as well as a prescription antihistamine. Slowly tapering off and is having success, but he was miserable for a while. Hope you find some relief soon.

[This message edited by Lucky2HaveMe at 2:37 PM, November 2nd (Saturday)]

I'm holding steady today, but stress is piling up on me, so I'm scared it will happen again.

I live in a pretty warm climate, so that isn't it. I'm thinking it's more along the lines of autoimmune and/or thyroid.

I don't mind being on steroids, since they help with my other issues, but you can't stay on them for long without causing damage. This is my first time back on in four or five years, so I should be OK.