extreme outbreak of hives

[kygranny]

I am 49 yr old female premenopausal and have suffered from a rash for the past 10 yrs.I have been tested for allergies.. been to numerous doctors. I take Zyrtec everyday and my last ourbreak put me in the bed for 3 days completely exhausted.The outbreak is located upper torso including neck and face with a fever and my chin peels.When the hives are gone I itch terribly. I tested to be allergic to milk which I have avoided, didn't break out for 4 months, then last month I got a sore throat swollen glands, fever and chills and broke out again,had blood work done and it came back normal. My skin get so hot. I take cool showers and that makes the rash worse, and at times I feel prickly needles where I break out and is very painful.Can you suggest any specific testing that could give me a definite diagnosis? What medical specialist should I see for this condition?

[CINDY4]

You need to see a rheumatologist and have an autoimmune workup, with ANA ,ANCA, ESR,CRP, metabolic panel, CBCw/ diff, for starters. DId they do any of these tests, or just a basic blood count? Autoimmune disease can have totally normal blood counts at times, and then sky high the next, so even if they did a good workup if you are continuing with this problem it should be repeated. A recurrent rash is very suspicious for an autoimmune disease, espcially the way you describe it coming with fever, being painful, exhaustion, tingly feeling and peeling afterward. Look up on google vasculitis, it sounds very much like vasculitis to me. Look up vasculitis and rash, and you should find many informative articles that can help you see if that sounds like what you are experiencing. Does this rash fade to normal skin color when you rub your finger across it? Or does it stay a bright red all the time?  It is raised or a flat rash? A rheumatologist would be your biggest help, an allergy dr should be on the alert for vasculitis, but many are not, vasculitis is fairly rare and many drs have never seen a case. I would go to a teaching hospital, because they are the most up to date. If you have a university hospital near you, that would be your best bet. Take care.

Cindy

[lazydog]

I agree.  Sounds like an autoimmune response.  Did you test for gluten intolerance?  Hives also associated with Lupus/Hashimoto's/Celiac Disease all of which are auto immune diseases.