Tap Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 How bad would you let hives get before you took a teen to the urgent care? DO you know if an urgent care does shots for hives or would it have to be an ER? Any other ideas for hives that we have done here? Any new treatments or suggestions....I have dealt with this in years. DD13 has allergies and gets allergy shots every 3-4 weeks for seasonal pollens/grasses/trees etc. Her last shot was 7 days ago and she is about 2 years into shots so we are pretty used to flares that occur after shots, this not that type of flare. This morning, I noticed her arm was a bit red, but thought it was her KP (a bumpy rash on the back of arms). It seemed redder than usual but not alarming enough for me to actually stop and look at her arm. She came home from school around 4pm and told me she had hives. Sure enough her arms were pretty well covered in hives from the shoulder to the wrist. Her legs had a patchy red look to them, but the rash was flat. I gave her 50mg of benadryl and called the allergist. The office said the same thing: benadryl and watch for breathing issues, they called in an EPI pen to the pharmacy for her for the night (and we should have one due to her allergy shots anyways). 5pm. They are more raised on her arms, cover more area, and now her legs are definitely affected. I gave her Ranitidine (a different type of antihistamine commonly used for the stomach) and Allegra, to cover all the classes of antihistamines we can. LOL She took a bath in baking soda water and now we are just playing the waiting game. 6pm. Maybe looking bit better but I think they are still the same. At least not getting worse. 7pm. Getting worse. She is due for more benadryl at 8pm. I think I am going to give it to her now. The epi-pen is only for breathing issues or blood pressure so hopefully we don't need to use that. When my son was little we used to take him to the ER for epi shots and steroid shots for his hives but they were Severe. These are just bad, not severe LOL. I don't think we are to that point yet, but I am just curious at what point should I get us moving that direction? It is 7pm here, so we aren't going to bed for quite a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisamarie Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Personally? I wouldn't go in for hives only, I would only go in if it moved into the respiratory area--breathing, swallowing. We generally do benadryl or prednisone around here and wait and see. Only one epipen shot and resulting ER trip so far, but plenty benadryl/prednisone wait-and-sees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 oops..double post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Zyrtec is better for hive control than benadryl in my experience. We've had some nasty hive allergic reactions here. I've only done ER for anaphylaxis. Did they tell you to call 911 if you have to use that epi pen? It's just to buy time to get help. I'm glad you have one given this reaction. Yikes! That said, I don't expect you're going to need it with this one given the time that's passed. I hope not. You could do oral steroids, and we have, but I'd avoid them unless I needed them given the downsides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LillyMama Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 My sister's allergies got really bad through puberty, and she eventually traced the worst of her hive outbreaks to her cycle. I don't remember where in the cycle, but I would make sure you make a note of this for future reference. And I agree with the Zyrtec. We do Benadryl cream on the hives and liquid Zyrtec. As for what I'd do- depends on which of my kids got the hives. My daughter has only presented hives, once, so if she got them again, I'd try Benadryl cream with Zyrtec liquid first. My son, who presents with anaphylaxis, I would take in to Urgent Care for hives in a heart beat, because they would be so out of character. I'd dose him up, but put him in the car anyway. That's just me, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 Well she is still asleep and I am keeping a diligent eye on them for now. She is asleep on the floor by my bed so I ca watch her tonight with a flashlight. LOL They seem to be stable and not getting worse right now. She took zyrtec for so many years, that it doesn't seem to work for her any longer, thus the Allegra and benadryl mix. The hives also don't feel as hot as they once did, so I am hoping that is a good sign. Just to answer the question..yep, I know that the epi is a precursor to the ER, but thanks for making sure I knew that.....it is important to remember. If they aren't gone by tomorrow, I will see if her allergist will call in a script for steroids. I suspect she is going to need them to get her over this reaction. I would say that she has hives on 20% of her body right now. At least 1/2 of her upper arm is one hive....not small clusters....just one solid red hive. :001_huh: I have seen a lot worse on her brother (he was once covered in one hive, over 75% of his body--the hives left bruises when they went away they were so bad), but since this is new for her, it worries me a bit. Thanks for answering, it makes me feel better knowing that others with hive experience would wait on the dr too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Well she is still asleep and I am keeping a diligent eye on them for now. She is asleep on the floor by my bed so I ca watch her tonight with a flashlight. LOL They seem to be stable and not getting worse right now. She took zyrtec for so many years, that it doesn't seem to work for her any longer, thus the Allegra and benadryl mix. The hives also don't feel as hot as they once did, so I am hoping that is a good sign. Just to answer the question..yep, I know that the epi is a precursor to the ER, but thanks for making sure I knew that.....it is important to remember. If they aren't gone by tomorrow, I will see if her allergist will call in a script for steroids. I suspect she is going to need them to get her over this reaction. I would say that she has hives on 20% of her body right now. At least 1/2 of her upper arm is one hive....not small clusters....just one solid red hive. :001_huh: I have seen a lot worse on her brother (he was once covered in one hive, over 75% of his body--the hives left bruises when they went away they were so bad), but since this is new for her, it worries me a bit. Thanks for answering, it makes me feel better knowing that others with hive experience would wait on the dr too. :) Yes, it sounds like you are doing all that you can do right now. It does sound like she will need a steriod shot but unless breathing is effected no need for epi or ER. My dd is having a major flare up of exzema right now covering all of her arms and legs. We are doing zyrtek and benedryl round the clock and are scheduled for a steriod shot ourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Please do not wait for breathing or low bp before using an epi! Im surprised an allergist would say that. Anaphylaxis is when 2 or more body ststems are involved. My son's reactions usually involved gi (diarrhea) and skin (non hives rash). Mine were itchy hands and neurological (confusion and arguing with myself over using the epi, but then wondering why i am even thinking about the epi). Sometimes just one system is involved- swelling of the face, itchy tongue/throat. Eta- wheezing alone, trouble breathing, or low bp are single systems that require epi. And if you ever have to go to ER, you need to be monitored for 4-6 hours. Demand it if they try to release you. A second reaction (biphasic) comes on quicker, more intense, and does not respond to epi as well as an initial reaction. I hope everything went well during the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan123 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I treat my son with ranatidine, zyrtec and benedryl. We went to the ER when his lips and mouth started to swell, but he never had any problems with breathing. IMO I'd be weary of using the epi pen (more so of the right time to use it). I believe you'd know if you had to use it. It would be less of a watching and waiting moment and more of I gotta do something now moment. I hope she's feeling better this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisamarie Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 IMO I'd be weary of using the epi pen (more so of the right time to use it). I believe you'd know if you had to use it. It would be less of a watching and waiting moment and more of I gotta do something now moment. I hope she's feeling better this morning. :iagree: So true. My DS has had many reactions over the years and we've always done the wait and see after administering benadryl. The one time we had to use the epipen, we were still eating dinner (fish) and DS said his throat felt funny, his lips started swelling, we dosed him with benadryl, kept watching, and then he started slobbering and couldn't swallow or barely talk and he started crying while babbling. DH said I should still wait for the benadryl to kick in, but I grabbed the epipen and shot him in the leg anyway. Sorry, I've seen reactions before that benadryl would fix, this was beyond that. I used to worry that I wouldn't know when to use the epipen since I'd never had to use it before. Don't wonder anymore. It's pretty obvious when it's needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 How is she? :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LillyMama Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 How is she? :001_smile: :iagree: Yes, I'm wondering about you both today, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 Thanks for everyone's BTDT and advice. She is better today but they are definitely still there. We are still medicating her and want her to continue for another day or so. The scariest thing is that we have NO idea what caused them. Thank you everyone! I really appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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