Really bad hives help!

Posted , 3 users are following.

I've had really bad hives since June, their out of control and all over my body and beyond itchy! I've tried switching laundry detergents and other stuff and it hasn't worked at all. It's so bad where I have to cancel my plans because it's all over my face and it's embarrassing. I've become depressed because of these hives I have cried so many times and the itch gets so bad sometimes that I can't even sleep at night. My doctor prescribed me some Apo-hydroxyzine first at 5mg it worked the first week stopped, then the hives returned so went back and he upped the dosage to 10mg that worked for a week but stopped working and the hives are just really bad I feel like I'm allergic to EVERYTHING!! We don't have a dermatologist on the island unfortunately and I'm so fed up and done with this I've tried to stay positive but I just feel really down and moody nowadays please someone with something similar help!!

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi kelsey87809,

    Firstly I’m sorry to hear about your condition I’ve been there and had all the painful experiences with this condition and now I’m on my third case of urticaria over a period of 3 years and 7 month, so far this bout has lasted 14 week and I actually saw another dermatologist on the 13/11/2014 which was not a positive experience because she was more concerned about me taking medication for long term and higher doses rather than trying to get to the root cause of the problem even though I asked her if I could have some allergy tests because I felt it could be related to my stomach and food. The Doctor was not interested and proceeded to talk herself up about how long she had dealt with this condition and she seemed very agitated when I asked her any questions about certain things about my condition and she seemed to have made her mind up what she was going to do with me before I walked into the room, anyway enough about that.

    The advice I can give you for a quick fix if you have a bad episode is take 3 chlorphenamine tablets which you can buy from ASDA and one 5mg prednisolone which must be prescribed by your Doctor other than that it would be interesting to find out what your diet is like and if your lifestyle has changed in any way over the last 6 months.

    • Posted

      Hey thanks for your reply, 

      I feel like my doctor does nothing for me can I just ask to get prescribed the prednisolone? I hope that works I'll definitely try that what I'm trying right now is I'm getting tested for the bacteria H pylori, read that it could be the source of these chronic hives. I'm also trying a low carb diet and reading the ingredients in everything I eat make sure there's no flavour enhancers I hope I get better soon it's literally ruining my life there's always hives on my face ugh

  • Posted

    Hi Kelsey, you mention 'The Island', where are you?

    I had itching all over my body and my GP prescribed Hydroxyzine 10mg to begin with, and then 25mg, which helped me sleep as much as helping the itch.  I eventually saw a Dermatologist and although by now I had blisters and they had to biopsy some of them, they started me on Prednisolone [UK or Prednisone elsewhere]  and the itching disappeared, which was absolutely wonderful.

    Because of the autoimmune disease that I have, I took Prednisolone for 3 years and recently stopped it.  I am taking a steroid sparing drug, Methotrexate, to keep my blisters damped down.

    Ask your doctor if s/he will prescribe steroids for you.  You might need to take them for some time but it will be worth while.

    Have a look at DermNet NZ, it has a wealth of information about skin diseases and you might see a photo that looks like your rash.

    Good luck.

     

    • Posted

      Hey I'm from a small island in canada called Prince Edward Island and unfortunately we don't have a dermatologist at the moment, in January we will be getting one though but that's a while away and not sure if I can last that long with these hives. Thanks I'll take a look at that site for sure I've been doing a lot of research and reading stuff on this site trying to get ideas what to do. Next time I go to my doctors I'll ask to get prescribed cos the itchiness is starting to bother my sleep
    • Posted

      Well the hydroxyzine 25mg helped me.  I took that for 18 months, then dropped the dose and stopped it as the Prednisolone started to work.

      I can tell you what the Dermatologist did for me in the beginning, it might help guide your doctor.  She put me on 20mg Pred/ daily for a couple of weeks, then I dropped to 15mg/daily for a couple of weeks, then hovered between 15mg and 10mgs daily for a couple of years.  My Dermatologist realised that she hadn't started me on a high enough dose at the beginning but by then, it was too late.  But [I am not a doctor, only a patient!]  if you can start onsomething like 20mg daily for a couple of weeks, then drop to 15mg daily for another couple of weeks and see whether it helps at all and, assuming it does, then stay on a reasonable dose until you can see a Dermatologist.

      I have heard of Dermatologists doing consultations via Skype, I wonder whether that is possible where you are?

    • Posted

      Hi again,

      Prince Edward Island sounds a good place to live lots of potatoes and fish although a little cold and stormy in the winter, also not sure if there is a Walmart near you that sells medicines like this (maybe in Charlottetown) Anyway small amounts of prednisolone 5mg daily is fine as this is a very small amount, but remember taking steroid tablets for long periods of time can be very harmful to your body, also remember to take antihistamines with the steroid tablet, if this does not work well then up the dose of the prednisolone, always start off with low doses of drugs at first, if that does not have an impact try larger doses.

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