Hey, do any of you have any experience with having hives. And do you know of ANYTHING that is effective in preventing/treating them? When I get them, its severe. I've actually had my eyelids swell up, my lips... I'll get spots that look like hickies on my neck. At first it will itch, then it will burn like hell. Then it gets so painful... irritable... and crusty and take over a week to completely go away. The bad thing is is that I get the worse kind... the ones that can cause difficulty breathing etc. so its like my body is rejecting something... and I wish I knew what it was, or at LEAST, what works to releive this irritation. This has happened to me once in awhile, through the years, and at first I thought it was some kind of cycle, but now I think it's an allergic reaction to something.. I have pinpointed a food allergy to wholewheat so far, I'm quite sure that is one of the triggers. But I have eliminated that from my diet, and now tonight... I broke out with hives again. My face is so painful... and I dont know what caused it. Its so miserable. I take claritin when I have allergies to pollen but that doesnt help much with hives. Benadryll works... sometimes. But thats not even helping me now. This is so frustrating... because I missed opportunities to work a few times as a temp at a vegetarian cafe, because I'd come down with hives on some of those days. I didnt want to go in when I had those horrible rashes on my face. I'd thought I'd found the trigger, but now I guess its more than one thing. Maybe my body is just super sensitive right now, or, I dont know. I just wish this didnt happen to me. (Whyyyy me? lol) Really the only relief I have found, is to keep patting a cold damp over the hives. Does ANYONE get severe hives and do you know what helps?
Well, I was going to suggest Benadryl, but if you've already taken that and it doesn't do any good, that's the strongest thing you can get over the counter. Hives are definitely an allergic reaction-the question is, what are you allergic to? If Benadryl doesn't help much, you probably need to take oral corticosteroids for it, which you would have to get from the doctor. If you knew what you were allergic to, you could take the medication before you were exposed to it to reduce your chances of getting the hives. The doctor will probably suggest getting allergy tested, which costs a ton of money if you don't have insurance.
Thanks for the reply Charise. I really wish I could have gotten allergy tests, just never have had the insurance/money to go through with that. I have almost definately discovered through trial and error.... that I am allergic to whole wheat. Some things I am suspiscious of now, is ... high pollen levels in the air my cat (Ive had him 10 years though, but maybe my body has developed an allergy to him?) soy products ... which I normally dont have a problem with, unless again, my body may have developed an allergy to those. stress, seems to make me more prone to hives sulfites in wine? I had some wine to drink last night. But I use to drink wine, alot, and have never had this problem. .....I am very frustrated, enough to cry really... because it happens when I least expect it, and it ruins plans for me. I cant exactly go out places looking like a monster lol. And mostly the unpredictability of it. I also hate the idea of being dependant on medications to prevent symptoms. And I hate my body right now for being so sensitive to everything. Plus I feel awful right now. I got so ill last night because the hives hit me so fast. Besides the redness and swelling and burning/itching, I also got chills and shakey. I think I must have been feverish. I slept with a wet rag over my face to relieve some of the irritation. Today my face looks just as bad, and I feel weak and icky to my stomache. ... And now, Im sitting here having a pity party for myself lol. I guess I needed to vent about this. I know it will go away.... but I just get so frustrated because I feel helpless. And I need to find out what else is causing these symptoms.
Yeah, I know how you feel. All of those things you mentioned can cause allergic reactions, and stress can definitely help bring on the attack. You might not really have to have the allergy tests-the oral corticosteroids really shouldn't be expensive if the doctor's nice enough to prescribe a generic and not insist on the allergy tests. Be sure and take some potent multi vitamins and vitamin C-that really helps me to build my system up to fight the allergies.
stress. i got them on my face and neck during some very emotionally-trying months of coping with my ex. stress can do a number on your body, it's given me heart pains, even have you gone to an allergist?
i hope your hives have gone away and that you don't need this information right now... if so, maybe it will help you in the future. i recently had a similar experience - i broke out in hives all over my body, except my face, and they recurred for a week. i think it was a reaction to food or maybe something environmental, stress-related, etc. it's really hard to pinpoint something like that, since there are so many variables. anyway, i normally don't use allopathic medicine, but i took some benadryl for a quick fix and it didn't work. i just felt psychotic and broke out again. the hives got so bad that i went to the er, but i would never do that again... i felt poisoned and had to take steroids for a week. here's what i found to be helpful: wild oil of oregano: take drops under the tongue (i take 3, 3x/day), and/or apply topically. this can sting, but it helps. the capsules (oregacillin) are also good. i take both. since oil of oregano is good for everything, you can use it for something once the hives disappear. it's a great investment. aveno baths: this helps to relieve the itching. urtica urens: a homeopathic remedy indicated for rash due to food allergies. if you try this and it doesn't work, try remedies for dust, mold, and yeast, and/or for animal dander. apis mellifica: a homeopathic remedy indicated for burning, swelling, and stinging inflammation improved by cold. happy camper: if it's stress related, this herbal blend will help calm you and thereby get rid of the hives. desert essence tea tree oil relief spray: i've used this for bug bites, sunburn, etc., and it's great. fasting: i would fast, probably on juice / green drinks if i broke out again, then reintroduce foods to test them. hope this is helpful and that you're feeling better! shannon
marbchic, yeah I used to get them in the past from stress too. Thats the most frustrating isnt it! endlesssea ... yeah I have still been getting them. Last night I broke out badly, because I was handling a skirt that I had dry-cleaned using one of those at-home kits. At least Im almost sure thats what it was that broke me out. Ive gotten itchy while using the drycleaning stuff before. So drycleaning chemicals and wholewheat are what I know of so far. and stress of course but havent had a whole lot of that lately. But anyways ... thank you SOOOO much for all those helpful things you listed!!!!! I really appreciate it I'm going to start trying them!
if wheat is a problem, you might want to eliminate all gluten from your diet for a month to see if that makes a difference. Gluten is found not only in wheat, but in barley, spelt, even oats that are processed in the US. It is in anything that says "modified food starch" on the label... It seems really daunting to think about eliminating all wheat and gluten from your diet, but if it makes you feel better, it's not so hard. Getting started is the hard part. Maybe you can keep a food diary to see if you can spot any patterns between your allergic reaction and the things you eat. You may also want to reconsider whatever products you use on your clothes and body. Artificial fragrances create big problems for some people. for such a severe reaction, I would get one of those injector pens, whatever they are called I can't think of it right now. Epi-pen? anyway, one of those steroid shots to carry around with you wherever you go. Some allergic reactions get worse with each exposure. Some can just suddenly appear out of the blue. Allergies should be taken very very seriously.
free2fly, hives are not only unsightly and uncomforable, but can be the start of anaphylactic shock. It if often impossible to guess just exactly what you are allergic to, in detail, especially if you have multiple allergies. Your best bet is a good allergist. Hives get worse and worse, and you may need an EpiPen to allow you enough breathing time to get to the ER (as my allergies have gotten worse, this is what I need, if I accidently eat shellfish, or peanuts) Stress, in my case, has little to nothing to do with my anaphylactic allergies, or things I get hives from. But, everyone is different. I can't go within a mile of a cat. I actually can't breathe, get hives, need an damn inhaler, eyes swell up, skin itches, nose runs until it burns ect. But, it looks like you also have multiple allergies, too, please, seeing a good allergist is best. None of these herbal products can treat anaphylactic shock. You need an EpiPen and then an immediate ER visit. Allergies like this get worse, not better. Benadryl can be QUITE sedating. However, it is distantly related to antipsychotic drugs and won't cause a psychotic reaction. You may get really sleepy and buzzy feeling, but psychosis isn't one of it's side effects. I only use this stuff about once a year, if I have been eating something that may have been near shellfish, or I get a reeally bad "cat attack" I don't like the way it feels, but it is what most ERs will give you, in addition to corticosteroids, pepcid (it is a different type of histamine blocker, in addition to a stomach remedy) epinephrine (to keep your blood pressure up, as you could bottom out during a really bad allergy attack) If you really can't take Benadryl (and no one is "allergic" to it, as it IS an antihistamine, it just makes them feel gross) they will give you something else. The newer "nondrowsy" antihistimines don't work well for hives at all. The old fashioned antiH's do. Some people do well on the newer Singulair, but this needs to be taken every day, not just when you get an attack. Only a good allergist can help you decide what is the right meds for you, however. I hope you can get some help. Mamaboogie, you almost had it right An EpiPen is for severe anaphylactic allergy attacks, gives you enough time still breathing to get to the ER, (it is meant as a stop gap, not a real long term treatment) You can actually just ram in in anywhere. Even into your pants, if neccesary, if you need an EpiPen, it is best if everyone in your household knows how to administer ot, in case you become unconscious before you can inject yourself. It contains Epinephrine, not steroids. The Epi in EpiPen. This keeps your blood pressure UP until you can get to the ER, and get some treatment. Many people with shellfish or Bee Sting allergies have less than 20 minutes, even with an EpiPen to get to the ER. Most people get an hour or more. Thing is GET into a car someone else is driving (DON'T DRIVE YOURSELF) or call an ambulance, and get to the ER as soon as possible, if you have anaphylactic allergies and have had an exposure. It is NO fun. But, the stuff keeps you alive until you can get Emergent Medical help.
The risk of anaphylactic shock is the reason that I went to the emergency room for my hives; of course, if you are having a very bad reaction, it is advisable to go to the hospital. However, these other treatments are things that either my osteopath suggested or I found through trial and error that have really worked for me and might bring some relief to someone else also... And I was not saying that Benadryl causes psychosis, just relating how it made me - a person who is extremely sensitive to medications - feel. I was both extremely drowsy and wired, didn't enjoy the feeling of elevated blood pressure, and felt as though I was hallucinating. I know that that may not be everyone's reaction, and that not everyone would feel so disturbed by these symptoms. In the ER, I shared my experience and said that I didn't want more Benadryl, but they ignored me and gave it to me in an IV, along with cortisone and pepcid. And, yes, the hives went down, but I felt awful otherwise. Was it a good experience for me? No. Would I advise someone at risk of anaphylactic shock against going to the hospital? Of course not, and I apologize if it came across that way.
Benadryl can certainly make you feel like crap. I get really irritable on it, because all I want to do is sleep for about 2 days. I understand what you meant, now. Sorry, if I didn't understand before. The "drowsiness" is so irritating, it could be interperted as feeling like you are crazy. Trying to stay awake could, I guess, make you feel your are going to hallucinate. Probably related to how you feel when you are really sleep deprived. I hate taking this stuff, too. My sister takes it almost every day. She is one of thoes people who has built in tolerances to some meds. I don't know how she does it. I take a child's dose of Benadryl and am out for hours.
I have really bad reaction to benadryl myself. It does not make me drowsy, it makes me feel like I drank ten pots (not ten cups, ten POTS) of coffee. And it makes it really hard for me to breathe, very similar to the allergic reaction I had to certain antibiotics. I don't doubt that some people really are allergic to it, or to something in it anyway.
