Hives

**MirandaK** · 02-04-2008, 04:23 PM

So I woke up this morning with the worst hive/s I've ever had. The biggest one was the size of my hand and it was on my neck. THere were smaller ones all around my neckline and I had one coming off the outside corner of each eye. I took a prednisone that I had and put cortizone cream on it assuming it would clear up. (I had taken my zyrtec last night as usual so I didn't think I needed another antihistamine) At 11:00 it became clear that I needed to go to the doctor...it was still an angry red and puffy and itchy. So I went to urgent care (where I am sure I contracted the plague while waiting in that waiting room!!

) and the doctor, upon finding out I had already taken zyrtec and prednisone (which is what he prescribed me anyway!) gave me 3 different antihistamines and had me take them right there. That makes 4 perscription strenth antihist. in my system right now. I am literally barely able to keep my eyes open right now and I'm at work for another 40 minutes...ARGH!!

Plus, I still don't know what caused the hives in the first place.

Any advice/home remedies for hives? I hatehatehate taking prednisone...it's makes my heart race and over long periods it causes weight gain.

HELP!!

**nodmicks** · 02-04-2008, 05:43 PM

ugh! Soaking in quite hot water helps cut the itch. Hope you feel better !

**Momto2Boyz** · 02-05-2008, 08:06 AM

When I was little I would get unexplained hives, every once in a while. My mom would put me in a warm bath (never hot, don't know why), with a few shakes of baking soda in it. It always seemed to help.

**Darlene** · 02-05-2008, 08:51 AM

You feeling better?

**MirandaK** · 02-05-2008, 09:04 AM

Thanks for asking! Whatever he gave me knocked me out. I got home at 5:30 and was asleep on the couch before 6. BF woke me up at 8:30 and I was back in bed asleep before 11:30. Today you can see clearly where the hives were as my skin is still a bit pink in those areas but the swelling and itching are gone.

I need to remember the baking soda bath tip...I was craving a bath last night too.

**staceyy** · 02-05-2008, 12:56 PM

Sorry. I hope you're feeling better. I often get hives. I was taking Benedryl but on our local news they said Benedryl slows down your metabolism and can cause you to gain a great deal of weight fast which was happening to me.

My sister recently developed hives on her neck and face and found out it was the result of a new colorful afghan she had bought. She was covering herself with this when she took a nap and her neck and face were touching it when she slept. Her clothing prevented her from getting the hives on other parts of her body.

**glidernanny** · 02-05-2008, 03:42 PM

Plain old oatmeal is another skin soother for the bath. You can cut a square from an old tshirt and dump a 1/2 cup or so on it then tie it up with a string or just a rubberband and hang it in the running water then drop it in the bath when it finishes running(don't open it unless you want to clean up a mess). You might avoid your regular soaps for a few days as they may irritate the healing process and slow it down. I have horribly sensitive skin and find that almond oil is one of the few things I can use on a regular basis although it's not way up there on the frugal list. I'm a greenie so since I don't spend money on commercial chemical laden lotions and such it's not so bad and just a drop goes a LONG way. I feel your itch quite often just from nerves so I sure hope you find what works the best for you and get lots of relief soon.

**sweetlittle** · 02-05-2008, 03:48 PM

My son gets hives every once in a while from some strange nut that people must put in cakes although he can eat them plain....It really is a guessing game for us at this point too. Baking soda or oatmeal in the bath works for him too. We use virgin coconut oil to help heal our skin for hives, rashes and general dry skin.

Hope you are feeling much better!