Please Help Chronic Hives!! Unknown cause! 6months

On July 21st 2008, I started developing "giant hives".  I tried Benadryl, the hives persisted and continued to grow to reach approximately 6-8in in diameter and were raised a half inch off my skin. They last anywhere from 16 to 48 hours before subsiding.   I went to prompt care, were I received a steroid injection and a three week Prednisone 10mg tapper.  Without relief, I sought the help of a high recommended dermatologist.  Upon being seen I was given another steroid injection, Periactin 4mg/ 3x daily, Atrax  25mg/ 2 tablets up to 4x daily and Triamcinolone (topical).  I also had several blood test and a chest x-ray, which all came back fine.  I continued to develop giant hives daily.  On average I have anywhere from 4- 30, sometimes covering most of my upper torso, to the point I am unable to sleep.  I was referred out  to a Allergist in October.  I was told not to take any medication for 14 day s in order to have allergy testing.  Two days before my scheduled appt. I called the allergist office crying, 70 percent of my upper torso was covered in hives.  I was seen that day by the allergist, she ordered more blood test.  Her diagnosis "Chronic urticaria most likely idiopathic".  She told me "Your skin is having a party and the only thing I can do is try to make you as comfortable as possible. This generally last 9 to 36 months". She prescribed: Xyzol 5mg/2x and/or Zyrtec 10mg/2x, Zantac 150mg/2x, Atarax 25-50mg/4x.  Needless to stay these medications have turned me into a walking zombie.  Since western medicine has failed me, I enlisted the help of a Chiropractor who also practices muscle testing and Neuro-Emotional Techinique.   I was placed on the following homeopathic drugs: Formula 303 3tblts/ 3x, Antronex 4tblts/2x and NET allergy spray 6sprays/3x.  I see him 3x a week, my symptoms have slightly decreased in intensity, but still offend times feel unlivable. I still suffer from chronic hives, which have now started developing on my  face.  The hives will form on my lips making them feel as though they are going to ripe open, causing them to become 3x their normal size.  Hives on my lips cause my mouth to go numb as well as disfiguring me.     Generally, my hives seem to be brought on by heat, friction and any physical activity. I can not walk around the grocery store, work a shift or wrestle with my God daughter with out developing hives.  Which has brought my physical activity level to a halt.  I have gained 28 pounds.  There are no warning signs and they very day to day in severity.  There are days that are so terrible I don't want to get out of bed or leave me house.  There are mornings I wake up and would rather not live though the day, I have never felt this way before in my life.  My body itches so bad that I want to cut  the hives off my skin.  I try to remain strong, but this all feels so bottomless.  No one seems to grasp the impact this condition is having on my life.  I feel like my own body is terrorizing me.   I can not partake in any physical activity with grave consequences.   Please keep in mind I have no insurance and have paid approximately five thousand dollars in medical expenses thus far.  My prescriptions  total about $400/per month.    It's been almost 6 months,  I have no relief, I want my life back.  I would welcome  and greatly appreciate any and all input and ideas.          

[kelly282009]

I too am in this boat.  Almost 3 years ago I started developing hives which turned into dry, itchy, red skin.  I went to my general prac who had no idea and referred me to a dermatologist and allergist.  The derm suggested I sleep in a tight wet body suit (for real?) and the allergist said I was only allergic to dust and that it was just stress and will go away.  Since then I go to the doctor at least once a month to get a steroid shot and I take 2 allergy meds a day, and 2 more for relaxation and sleep that cost me $3 a day (and I just lost my job).  The last time I got a steroid shot I had the hiccups for about 36 hours and was even more uncomfortable than normal.  I finally have an appointment with another allergist, which I hope will identify a cause.  I barely leave the house because I'm so embarrassed by my appearance and I've gained about 60 lbs over the last year which my doc says is due to the amounts of steroids I've taken.  I will follow up next week after my allergist appointment.  I only hope we can find something, because this is no way to live.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Urticaria or hives is usually triggered by allergens, such as drugs, foods, insect bites, inhaled substances, in response to sunlight, cold, heat, stress, exercise, or a viral infection. Other common allergens are pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, or cosmetics. Since you experienced an itch, just go over these possibilities in your mind. Something may strike you. In many cases, hives clear up themselves and don’t require diagnosis or treatment. However if they persists you may need to see a specialist called an allergist to determine what is causing the reaction. You must get an allergy test done, either a skin test or RAST, to know what you are allergic to.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[kimmijohn]

My sister had the same thing happen to her and she is getting quite a bit of assistance from her allergist and a shot called Xolair.  You might want to look into that.

[mollyg373]

I have had the same problem. I had never had hives or any sort of allergic reaction to anything before about 8 months ago. I woke up with hives covering my neck, face, back, and torso. Since, then, every single day, without fail, I have broken out in hives. Like yours, they vary in size, severity, when they occur, even sometimes shape. I have been to countless doctors. I have been tested for every allergy possible (they happen when I am across the country, so it's not just a regional-allergy.) I have had blood testing, tried several presciption medications; at one point when I was covered so severely (scalp, hands, feet, legs, arms, torso, face, lips...my entire body was swollen and red like one giant hive) that I went to the emergency room and begged them to do something. About a month ago, a doctor told me to go on a combination of Zyrtec (an allergy treatment) and Zantac (an acid reducer), which can be bought over the counter prescribed. The Zyrtec stops the hives and the Zantac works as an extender for the Zyrtec (no idea how this works, but I'm not a doctor.) It is a miracle. I still experience hives and don't know why, which upsets/concerns me, but it has made my life livable for the time being, until I do figure it out. I get the hives, take anywhere between 50-70 mg (5-7 tablets of 10 mg Zyrtec) and 10-40 Zantac (1-4 tablets of 10 mg.) The hives stop itching, begin to fade, and completely lose all swelling/iflamed-ness. The faint outlines are still there and they never completely go away, but theyt do not itch and torment me, and most of all don't affect my day. The best part is that although they both made me extremely drowsy for a few weeks (like Benadryl, which sucked), it's mostly faded away. I don't know if it will work for you, and honestly I don't know if it will continue to work for me (since I have been on meds that worked for a brief amount of time and then stopped working before during this whole ordeal), but so far it has worked for the longest and really helped. Sorry this post is so long, I hope it helps, and just know that you're not the only one who feels like that and doesn't know what to do. Best of luck