Help with Hives, please! Going crazy scratching

[drfrog1]

Wednesday morning when I went back into the office after 2 extra days off, I broke out into hives. They started about 9am and I've had them since. They're primarily on my upper body from about waist up & at times are much worse than at others. I've had them consistently on my head/scalp, face, neck & hands the entire time. I've been able to just sit & watch them pop up on my skin & my coworkers have too. I've even got them while at home so I don't think they're stress related which is what I originally thought. (At times, in extreme stress, I do break out into hives but never like this).

We've made absolutely no changes to anything. No new detergents, foods, cleaners, soaps. If it was something that has changed in my office building, I would think once I leave for a few hours, the hives would go away, but that's not the case. Everything is exactly the same as always.

I'm taking Benadryl & it basically has no effect. Any suggestions on what I can do until I can call my doctor on Monday & see if I can get in to see him?

As I type this, I have hives over 60% of my body (I'm like a pinkish califlower according to my 7 year old ... she says that's what the hives feel like & she's right since there are so many). My entire face, back & left arm, hand & leg are completely covered. I've even got them in & around my ear. Hives stop at my ankle & I don't have a single one on my right arm, leg or even on the right half of my chest or stomach. It's very strange.

[cintinative]

Does your doctor have an emergency line? I would call it. You may be able to take more benadryl than the package specifies, and he may recommend you to use some type of steroid cream such as hydrocortisone. I would definitely call--to have those for so many days is worrying. You may need to have an epi pen on hand so if you don't have one you will want your doctor to call one in to your pharmacy for you.

Also, are you on any new medications and/or have you eaten anything new?

[shelleyf]

I am sorry you are going through this. Did you take a new prescription by any chance? I had this happen to me a few years ago and I broke out in hives everywhere and it was from the medicine. I took benedryl and was out of it for 4 days around the clock. My husband would wake me up to eat some soup and quick cold bath he would help me with. Then I was out of it again. After 4 days I was completely healed of the hives. Some people put aloe vera gel on it, but not the kroger brand. It doesn't work well at all. I pray you get better very soon.

[drfrog1]

No new medications. I started one nearly a month ago & all my others have been consistent for months. Haven't even opened any new bottles of any of them. I've not ate anything new & haven't been to any restaurants so again, new food is out.

My doctor doesn't have an emergency line but I have emailed him but I don't know if he deals with that on weekends. I unfortunately can't take extra Benadryl because my husband is out of town & home with my kiddos alone. I don't have anyone that can help out with them either especially since my little boy has a swallow dysfunction & has had 6 choking episodes in the last 24 hours which is more than he's had in the past year.

But, I'm going to try the hydrocortisone cream on some of the worst spots to see if that helps some, at least for a bit.

[wookin]

You can make a paste out of corn starch and water. i remember years ago I put a whole box in the tub and laid in it for awhile then put calamine lotion on it. You can also use Fels Naptha soap on it to help dry it out. You can find the soap in the laundry detergent asile. Sure hope you get some relief soon.

[434Teresa]

You can take Benadryl every 4 to 6 hours if you need to and see if that helps. when I had knee sugery I broke and he to go to the ER and that is what they told me to do. Also if you a epi pen or can get one that might help also.

Sounds to me like there is something at your job causeing this since other have the same problem

[434Teresa]

No new medications. I started one nearly a month ago & all my others have been consistent for months. Haven't even opened any new bottles of any of them. I've not ate anything new & haven't been to any restaurants so again, new food is out.

My doctor doesn't have an emergency line but I have emailed him but I don't know if he deals with that on weekends. I unfortunately can't take extra Benadryl because my husband is out of town & home with my kiddos alone. I don't have anyone that can help out with them either especially since my little boy has a swallow dysfunction & has had 6 choking episodes in the last 24 hours which is more than he's had in the past year.

But, I'm going to try the hydrocortisone cream on some of the worst spots to see if that helps some, at least for a bit.

If you can you may want to go the ER and be saw for this could also have something to do with your son choking being so many times in such a short time..you and him both may need to go just to be on the safe side

[shashabell]

OMG I feel for you. I get them like that for no reason at all from time to time. Never figured out what caused them....although at one time a dermatologist told me it was my skin being sensitive to the feel of clothing. Hmpf!
If I left them alone which was hard to do, they would eventually go away.

[joshmamabear]

I had hives last month and after elimination of possible irritants, I pinned it down to the new comforter. Benadryl OTC did not work for the itch, I had to have scripts for Prednisone and prescription strength antihistamine (hydroxyzine HCL). Right after the initial dose of the steroids and the RX antihistamine, I had great relief from the itching on my extremities. I took only 3 dose of the antihistamines, but I finished the course of steroids.

Going to the ER may be more expensive than just going to an OPD clinic that can also deal with your case without charging ER fees. There are also injectable antihistamines in case you need immediate relief depending on the severity of your urticaria. But if there are no urgent care or OPD clinics open in your area, go to the ER.

I hope you get relief soon.

[billnick]

i have suffered from hives my whole adult life. at one time i took allergy shots, 2 at a time. it did helped. so i understand what youre going through. there are so many reasons for getting hives and you probably will never know what causes them. im allergic to over 100 things and to this days i cant pin point what brings them on. but there are so many things that can help you out or make you feel some what better. a fast fix me me is. rub ice cold milk on them, cool shower, daily allergy meds, oatmeal bath. ice packs, aloe vera. But you should start paying close attention to what you have done thats new, maybe a new makeup. ect..if it doesnt go away soon then you might want to go see your family doctor or better yet a dermatalogist.. good luck hope you feel better soon..