Hi Rachel,
I see that this post is pretty old, and hopefully you have resolved this issue since. But I did have questions:
1. Despite the external hives, did the prednisone help your joint pain?
2. Does the Benadryl take care of the hives, if not the pain?
3. What medication were you given for Graves' disease, and why was that the diagnosis?
It sounds like something autoimmune is in play. Maybe rheumatoid arthritis? Lupus?
Whatever you do, get enough sleep and try not to stress, because too little sleep and too much stress make everything worse, especially autoimmune.
I couldn't be MORE serious to say that you have been on WAYYYY to many antibiotics and probably have a Candida Overgrowth causing ALL your symptoms because I would swear what you have written here - is what I HAVE BEEN GOING THRU TOO!!!!!!!!!!! To top it off - Steroids make the candida grow more!! To test for Candida - ask your doctor or allergist for a stool sample test and a blood test - I send my test into Genova Labs (i think it's Smoky Mtn Labs now)...it's $46.
with the results being positive on me for candida - I take nystation powder now and stay away from sugars and things that produce my reactions!