help for hives?

Hi
Ive had hives (plus swollen lips and at times, eyelids and eye area)since April  07; had allergy tests on arms  , had blood tests and poo analysed.
No result. Should I do food tests myself?..Home pharmacy kit? Should I get thyroid tested? What do you  reckon on hivotin? If its good then we'd all be cured?
Im on 1 antihistamine tablet a day (tried Xyall Claratin and benadryl:all make me drowsy)
I dont have emergency andrenaline;should I?
Thanks hive sufferers  It's a real pain..

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Urticaria, or hives, is truly not one disease, but a reaction pattern of the skin.

They are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Many cases of hives are "idiopathic," meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections or medications.

The mainstay of treatment of hives is antihistamine which may be necessary for prolonged periods (in excess of 6 weeks).Take Over the counter antihistaminics like benadryl or Claritin.Sometimes double conventional doses of non-sedating antihistamines such as Cetirizine(zyrcet), Loratadine(Claritin) and Fexofenadine may be needed to get symptom relief. Sedating antihistamines such as Chlorphenamine(benadryl) or Hydroxyzine are used at night to get urticaria control. Short courses of oral cortisone or steroids are taken for short periods (one to three days) to settle more severe symptoms.
You may take Vitamin C along with the prescribed treatment. Vitamin C is a general anti-allergy supplement. It helps stabilize mast cells so they are less likely to release histamine.Also apply 1% corticosteroid(dermacort) cream on the itchy areas.

If the hives don’t go after 6 wks of treatment also, then it can be a case of chronic urticaria which needs further evaluation as it may be due to auto antibodies.You need to consult a physician then.

Take care and pls do keep us posted on how you are doing.