unexplainable hives

2 months ago i woke up itchy like crazy all over my body. I did not change anything in my diet and did not change any detergents, lotion, etc.  I was taking metridonazole, an anitbiotic.  Went to the doctor, prescribed predizone. Did not work. Got a shot of epinephrine and corticoricoid. Did not help..told me to take claritin, pepcid, and an anti-depressant because they are all anti-histamines.  Just been taking claritin and pepcid, did not want to take the anti-depressent.  I do not itch anymore but I break out in hives for no reason and then they disappear after a short period.  The hives are big long welts and if I do scratch them then tend to get worse.  My lips also swell up real easy if I just barely bump them on something.  Like I said I never changed anything in my life besides the anitbiotic, which I stopped taking.  Could this still be in my system after so long?  Could there be something else?  Dont' really have the money to spend on an allergist.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes.You seem to be having chronic urticaria. The cause of chronic urticaria is often more difficult to identify. Most cases are called chronic idiopathic urticaria, which means they're caused by the body's unexplainable development of antibodies to itself (auto-antibodies).
Chronic urticaria is often accompanied by coexistent physical urticaria, triggered by environmental exposure to heat, cold, sunlight, vibration, pressure on the skin or even exercise.

Yet it is essential to rule out the presence of serious illnesses of which recurring hives can be a symptom. Examples are hepatitis, hyperthyroidism, lymphomas, collagen vascular diseases, and cancers of the rectum, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Chronic infections such as chronic sinusitis can be associated with urticaria.
I sincerely advise you to consult a dermatologist and get these possibilities evaluated.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.