Dr Hive...help with hives

[Tammi K]

The last few months have been awful. I break out in hives at the drop of a hat - and a LOT of hats have been dropping here! I've had allergy tests done and there isn't a specific allergen I'm reacting to but instead just producing high histamine levels that are demanding attention.

 

I've been popping benedryl like tic-tacs every night but I can't take them during the day as they knock me out. I do take allegra but, still, the hives break out.

 

I'm sure that it is in part ( a big part) stress related. Does anyone know of anything natruapathic or homeopathic that might help calm things down? I'm getting really frustrated.

 

Thnaks

[Staceyshoe]

Do you know what your vitamin D levels are? Vitamin D deficiency leads to inflammation in the body and can cause all kinds of immune system issues (aggravating autoimmune conditions, etc). If they are low, it can take A LOT to get them back to normal. Taking Rx vitamin D still didn't get me in the normal range so I'm taking very large doses of OTC vitamin D and waiting to get re-tested.

[sbgrace]

How miserable! I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

 

For control try Zyrtec if you haven't. It helped both my son and my father with chronic hives. My son's came on from a reaction to a food but they stuck around for a very long time (months). My dad was a combo of stress and perhaps a reaction to a medication. His lasted 6 months despite stopping the medication (ibuprofen) immediately. But both were controlled with Zyrtec.

 

It is good to suspect the vitamin D levels. Lots of people are low. Most are in fact unless supplementing. You want a level of 50 to 80 on a 25(OH)D test. The lab slips often call 30 plus normal but it's actually quite deficient. The vitamin D council online has good information. But most people who test that aren't supplementing are actually below even the 30 mark.

 

Even with normal levels you can safely take up to 10,000 IU per day of D3 form--over the counter D3. I'd start now, even if you can't test at this time. Vitamin D deficiency is a cause of chronic hives. http://www.medicalne...ases/213251.php

[Susan C.]

I had chronic hives years ago. I couldn't continually take prednisone, so the doctor said to take H1 and H2 blockers. H1 would be Benedryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc. H2 blockers are Zantac, Pepsid, Tagamet.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

I had chronic hives years ago. I couldn't continually take prednisone, so the doctor said to take H1 and H2 blockers. H1 would be Benedryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc. H2 blockers are Zantac, Pepsid, Tagamet.

 

 

This is what my doctor recommended when I was having chronic hives, take both H1 and H2 blockers. I did for a while and it helped. I was able to stop taking them after a while. I also went to dye free perfume free everything, my skin was extra sensitive to everything during that time.

[catz]

I have had chronic hives at different points. Things that make a big difference for me are low yeast diet (little to no processed sugar, corn syrup is a big problem for me, minimal to no white flour, probiotics, flax based fiber, ACV), exercise, yoga, meditation, good stress management. A naturopath may be able to help bring your body back into balance. I wouldn't hesitate to have a blood workup, but when I was having issues, ultimately the more natural things helped me more and are always ongoing.

[Trillian]

If you can talk to your Dr as well, when DS had chronic hives, the allergist had him on double the recommended dose of Claritin. I remember because I made him write it down as a prescription even though I was getting it OTC because I was sure I was going to cause an overdose and be arrested. He was on the double dose for years and fine, although all allergy meds except Benadryl now make him crabby. No idea if it's related or a fluke.

[tabinfl]

I had chronic hives years ago. I couldn't continually take prednisone, so the doctor said to take H1 and H2 blockers. H1 would be Benedryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc. H2 blockers are Zantac, Pepsid, Tagamet.

 

My husband's urticaria (idiopathic in his case -- no known reason / trigger, though he suspects stress and heat, specifically on the back of his neck like in a hot shower or standing in the sun) needs the H2 blockers as well. Zantac and Zyrtec are what he used last time around. Fortunately he only gets outbreaks once every several years, but they're pretty severe (sent him to the ER in shock last go-round) if he doesn't get them under control quickly. During one flare-up he kept getting them on his hands, and Zantac was the only thing that would keep them from itching all day long.

[Tiramisu]

I know someone without a wheat allergy who had hives for months and was recommended by a natural doctor of some kind to stop eating wheat. She did and the hives stopped. I'm not sure how long she gave up wheat but she can eat it now, but she does start not to feel as good if she eats lots of it. The hives were not caused by the wheat but somehow it still helped to give it up for a time.

[Guest maski]

I have had chronic hives for over a year. I had all of the allergy tests, and was eventually sent to a rheumatologist who ran a ton of blood test, finding I had some indicators for auto-immune problems and very low vitamin D levels. I had been taking a lot of antihistimines and these were not helping. He put me on a drug called hydroxicloriquine (generic name, it is for auto immune diseases, and after about 8 weeks, my hives were under control for about 7 mths, I have started having problems again, mostly at night, because it is winter I am under the covers at night and get warm and that seems to bring them out. I had gotten lax on taking my vitamin D and I am wondering if that has added to the problem again so am back on it fully now. He was the only one who was able to help me even though I obviously am not done with them yet. I hope this helps someone out there, this is the most miserable thing I have every had, for 5 mths when I was unable to get anything that helped me, I walked the floor, as they were so bad I could neither sit or lay down for very long, and sleep was horrible as they got so bad anytime I was warm......very difficult to wear clothing so very hard to go anywhere for very long.............I did a lot of praying and it brought me through.